How Deep the Father's Love for Us

A couple of weeks ago, we sang this song at church: "How Deep the Father's Love for Us". As we sang, it just hit me--how many songs do we have like this today? The entire point of this song is the misery Christ endured on the cross for me. The first line explains the rest of the song--God's love is infinitely great, that He sent His Son in the first place. The rest of the song almost entirely deals with the Son enduring the cross. The last stanza remind us of the results Christ's sacrifice: no more debt.

How many songs today focus on that? Don't get me wrong--songs like Matt Maher's "Christ is Risen" or Phillips Craig and Dean's rendition of "Revelation Song" are both beautiful songs of worship--"Christ is Risen" speaking of how the Christian is now free from sin, and "Revelation Song" speaking of God's sheer majesty and glory. Chris Tomlin's songs are also deeply moving. But how many songs do we commonly sing today speak about the utter horror, pain, and agony of Christ on the cross? Shouldn't we have more songs like "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"? After all, isn't the cross the only reason why we can sing to God in the first place?

I realized something else as I sang this song; at the point of the line "It was my sin that held Him there," it sorta clicked--just for a moment. It was my sin that kept Him up there! Below are the lyrics to "How Deep the Father's Love for Us"; I hope they impact you the same way they did me:

"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 a 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 in Jesus 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."