J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.
Here are the stories behind the songs on our 15th single of 2025:
WHAT’S THE SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
How this for irony: The title for "What's That Supposed to Mean?" popped into my head on June 8, 2023, and sang well, but I had no idea what it pertained to. So I literally had to keep asking myself, "What's that supposed to mean?" It wasn't until July 20, 2025 (nine days before recording the vocals) that I finally started getting words for the verses, which clued me in.
There have been lots of times in my life when I've seen a T-shirt or bumper sticker and thought, "I wonder what that means?" Usually, I'll consult my phone or computer, but some people just come right out and ask. Back in '88 or '89, I had a "God said it, I believe it, that settles it!" bumper sticker on my car. One day, a young couple pulled up next to me and asked what it meant.
Many people use shirts or bumper stickers to share biblical or evangelical messages. Some folks may think that's trite, but I don't, as long as the person with the shirt or sticker follows 1 Peter 3:15.
I got the lyrics for the first verse finalized on July 26 and told my wife about them. The next morning, I passed a lady who often walks her puppy when I take my daily walk. The puppy always insists on saying hello, and, as I was petting him, she commented on the T-shirt I was wearing: “I love all your shirts. Every day I look for them.”
I've owned a few Christian "message" shirts in my day, but I wasn't wearing one at the time or the previous times she saw me; they were funny pop-culture shirts. But the timing was still amazing.
"What's That Supposed to Mean?" features J. Jackson on lead vocals and backing vocals, Tom Tincha on guitars, Rich Mannion on keyboards, Keith Haynie on bass, and Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner on drums and percussion.
TURN TO JOHN AGAIN
It's common knowledge that Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. You can find that story in all four Gospels. A lesser-known fact is that Jesus officially reinstated Peter.
First, in Mark 16:7, after Jesus rose from the dead, the angel at the tomb singled out Peter when he instructed the women: "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Later, in John 21, when Jesus met some of His disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?” Although Peter's feelings were hurt by this repetition, Jesus had given him the chance to reaffirm his devotion the same number of times as he had previously denied.
And each time Peter answered in the affirmative, Jesus told him to "feed my lambs" (verse 15), "take care of my sheep" (verse 16), and "feed my sheep" (verse 17). So Jesus wasn't just forgiving Peter; He was entrusting His flock to him.
The title and final section of this parody can be taken in two different ways:
1. It's advising the listener to turn to the Gospel of John and read chapter 21 again to get a detailed account of what Peter is singing about.
2. It's alluding to the fact that John 21:20 says Peter turned and saw John was following them as they were having their discussion on beach. In the second verse of the song, Peter had already mentioned that "John was nosy, so he tagged along to see what Christ said then."
"Turn to John Again" features J. Jackson on lead vocals and backing vocals, Tom Tincha on guitars, Rich Mannion on keyboards, and Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner on drums and percussion.
