Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

A hymn inspired by Jesus' Seven Last Words from the Cross

A hymn inspired by Jesus' Seven Last Words from the Cross
Father, Forgive Them
ADELAIDE (5.4.5.4 D) ("Have Thine Own Way, Lord")

"Father, forgive them!" Jesus, you prayed;
Even at death, your love was profound.
You were rejected, you were betrayed —
Yet in your word here, mercies abound.

Two hung beside you, dying in pain;
One saw, in faith, your love's sacrifice.
You told that man who called on your name,
"You will be with me in Paradise."

"This is your mother... This is your son."
You blessed the life your loved ones would share.
So in your church, you give to each one
Love's healing bonds — an answer to prayer.

You prayed a Psalm that everyone knew:
"Why have you left me here all alone?"
Did you recall that Psalm's ending, too? —
God will deliver! Let it be known!

You cried, "I'm thirsty!" suffering Lord.
Who would give comfort? What would they do?
Teach us again: When we serve the poor,
We too are giving water to you.

"It is completed!" All was fulfilled.
You had been faithful, living God's way.
You knew the truth: Love could not be killed;
There would be triumph on the third day.

"Father!" You cried out, praying to God,
"Into your hands my spirit I give."
Then on the cross, as love's final Word,
You died so all God's children might live.

Biblical References: Luke 23:33-34, 39-43, 46; John 19:25-29; Mark 15:33-34
Tune: George Coles Stebbins, 1907 ("Have Thine Own Way, Lord")
Alternate tune: HAMBURG, Lowell Mason, 1824, from a Gregorian chant ("When I Survey the Wondrous Cross")
Text: Copyright © 2011 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net     New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/

This hymn is copyrighted and is not covered by any organization (such as CCLI or OneLicense) that gives churches permission to use church music. If you would like to use this hymn, please make a reasonable amount for your church to pay. We will ask that you make your donation to C.A.R.E.S., ("Children are Reading, Earning, Succeeding"), a project educating Honduran children. See www.carolynshymns.com/cares.html for more information on this project.

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