Songs for Holy Week (2)
Song: How Deep the Father's Love For Us
Written by: Stuart Townsend
Words:
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)
The Father turns His face away
ReplyDeleteI never quite know what to make of this line. So many people have the idea that the Father ran to the other side of the universe and covered His ears during the crucifixion. He did not. In fact, the full force of the wrath of God against sin was visited upon the Son. That is what it means to say that Jesus became sin for us. He wasn't a vicarious whipping boy. He took on my sin. He felt the shame and guilt that was by right mine to experience. He received the punishment that was by right mine to bear. My sins were not overlooked. God punished them, every last one. Divine Justice was satisfied - a justice that would have otherwise required an eternity in Hell for me. An eternity existing before the face of God when that face shows only wrath.
God did not turn his face away. He was there at Calvary with a rod in His hand, and He brought it down again and again and again until all the wrath of God against all the sin of all the Elect was propitiated. We will never comprehend what happened in those three hours. The physical crucifixion was a shadow. The spiritual reality was infinitely more severe.
carl
It's good to know that someone (Carl) was an actual eyewitness at the Crucifixion. It makes it all so much more real! And that 'rod'! My goodness, that was some scary thing. Was it Aaron's rod, Carl? Or was it another one you got for God from Smith's City/ You are so privileged to have been our 'on the spot' reporter.
ReplyDeleteI was there when they crucified my Lord. Weren't you there also, Ron?
ReplyDeleteCarl,
ReplyDeleteIf you have not done so already read 'Pierced For Our Transgressions' by Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach. It makes the case for Penal Substitution better than any other work I have read on atonement theology, with a detailed and pretty exhaustive review of Scripture, the Fathers and the Reformation. It also has a very good section dealing with current objections to the doctrine.
I usually can't finish this song. Too choked up.
ReplyDeleteFather Ron Smith
ReplyDeleteI can give a pretty good description of the charge of the First Minnesota Volunteers at Gettysburg as well. Last I saw, I wasn't there, either. Hrmmm. I wonder how it is I am capable of doing that? Hrmmm.
Anyways, was there an actual argument somewhere in that comment, or are you just content to mock the Cross?
carl
Here, carl, in your own words, is the answer to your last question:
ReplyDelete'We will never comprehend what happened in those three hours. The physical crucifixion was a shadow"
I guess my problem with all your certitude, is that it seems as though you 'have comprehended'.
It may be that 'a shadow of comprehension' can be experienced in the Sacred Liturgy of the Church but talking about it can never give justice to the reality. But you sound SO CERTAIN! That's a worry.