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.
Stuart Townend.
Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music
Sentient
Sentient 
this is one of my favourite songs to play on the piano.
happy easter!
God bless
Happy Easter Katherine and your family too.
It’s so nice to hear from you and know you are visiting here and reading of our coming and goings.
This is a song which I, too, have appreciated greatly since first hearing a few years ago. At a time when many contemporary Christian songs have little substance and focus more upon our feelings than upon the God whom we worship in all his grace and mercy, this song brings us face to face with Christ and his passion. It is song which I have regularly included in Good Friday worship in recent years.
We sang it again last Friday, at our local church, at a wonderful service in which our minister spoke of the contrasting attitudes of the two thieves crucified with Christ. One, still angry as he received the punishment for his sin, blamed God and anyone but himself for his situation. The other, recognizing his responsibility for his situation, sought and received Christ’s forgiveness, even as they hung together on crosses.
After the sermon we sang the song “How deep the Father’s love . . .” and I stuck on the line “the Father turns his face away” and could not sing any more as I pondered those words.
Is that so? Did God not look as Jesus was crucified? Did God turn his back? Did the Father dissociate himself from what was happening to the Son? I think not.
Certainly Jesus felt alone. “My God; my God; why have you forsaken me?” was his cry. Such was his anguish. But he was also confident of his Father’s presence with him as, at the end, he committed himself into his Father’s care.
God was very present with Jesus as he hung upon that cross. Much as it pained God to do so, he was very present, watching as his Son was crucified, bearing the suffering and the humiliation. And I am glad for that.
Knowing that God did not turn his back on his Son makes me confident to claim that God does not turn his face away from my suffering or yours. Even if our pain is self-inflicted, or even if our sufferings may be brought about by our own foolishness or sinfulness, God hangs in there with us.
I will continue to sing the song and appreciate the richness of its biblical images. And I will also be thankful for a God who, in spite of our weaknesses and failures, continues to look upon us with love and grace and mercy, inviting us to join him in the Kingdom.
HD