How Deep the Father's Love
Keith Lancaster & the Acappella Company Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
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
The lyrics to "How Deep the Father's Love" by Keith Lancaster & the Acappella Company express the incredible depth and vastness of God's love for humanity. The song begins by highlighting the incomprehensible measure of God's love, depicted as a father sacrificing his only son to redeem and cherish a wretched individual. It emphasizes the immense pain and separation experienced by God the Father as He turns away from His Son, who willingly takes on the wounds and suffering that ultimately lead to glory for many.
The second verse shifts the focus to the crucifixion of Jesus, depicting the singer's realization of their own sin and the weight of guilt placed upon Jesus' shoulders as He hangs on the cross. The singer is filled with shame as they hear their own voice joining the chorus of mockers. However, it is through Jesus' sacrifice and His dying breath that the singer finds new life and the assurance that their redemption is complete.
The final verse acknowledges the singer's humility in recognizing their own limitations and the futility of boasting in worldly achievements. Instead, they choose to boast solely in Jesus Christ, His death, and His resurrection. The song concludes with a contemplative question, pondering why the singer should gain any rewards from Jesus' sacrifice. Though unable to provide an answer, the singer affirms their unwavering belief that Jesus' wounds have paid their ransom, emphasizing the transformative power of Jesus' love and sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
How deep the Father's love for us
The immense and profound love that the Father has for us
How vast beyond all measure
Extending beyond any possible quantification
That He should give His only Son
The Father sacrificially giving His one and only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
To transform a miserable and undeserving person into a precious possession
How great the pain of searing loss
The magnitude of agony and heartbreak
The Father turns His face away
The Father, unable to bear the sight, averts His gaze
As wounds which mar the chosen One
The injuries that scar the divinely selected Son
Bring many sons to glory
Leading numerous individuals to a state of honor and ultimate salvation
Behold the Man upon a cross
Witness the sight of a crucified individual
My sin upon His shoulders
My wrongdoing burdening His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Filled with shame, I hear my derisive words
Call out among the scoffers
Join the crowd of those who scorn and ridicule
It was my sin that held Him there
It was due to my transgressions that He remained on the cross
Until it was accomplished
Until the work was completed
His dying breath has brought me life
His final exhalation has granted me existence and vitality
I know that it is finished
I am aware that everything has been completed
I will not boast in anything
I will not brag about any achievements or possessions
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
Neither material blessings, nor authority, nor knowledge
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
Instead, I will rejoice and take pride in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Specifically in His sacrificial death and subsequent return to life
Why should I gain from His reward?
What reasons do I have to attain His recompense?
I cannot give an answer
I am unable to provide a response
But this I know with all my heart
Yet, I am certain deep within myself
His wounds have paid my ransom
His injuries have fully covered the price for my liberation
Writer(s): Stuart Townend
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robertjoseph1345
This song has Isaiah 53 written all over it
Isaiah 52 vs 13 through chapter 53 vs 12 with cross reference to Ezekiel 18 vs 32 and 33 vs 11
Isaiah 52
Vs 13
See how my righteous servant will suceed he shall be high lifted up and greatly exalted
Vs 14
And as many where astonished at you oh israel what he looked like was so disfigured we could not tell weather he was man or beast he bloodied beyond recognition
Vs 15 so he shall startle many nations and Kings will shut thier mouths because of him for that which they could not comprehend they now understand and that which they could not see they now see
Isaiah 53
Vs 1
But who has believed what he has heard from us
And to whom has the manifestation of the power of God been revealed
Vs 2
For before him he grew up like a tender shoot out of dry ground
Vs 3
There stately beauty or comliness that we should desire him or look on him
He was despised by men a man of sorrows and aquainted with our grief
Vs 4
and like one from whom men hide there faces there was nothing to attract us to him
Vs 5
He was despised and we did esteem him we thought he was stricken smitten and afflicted by God because of his own sin
Vs 6 but he was wounded for our transgression and sins he suffered for our sicknesses and for our pains
Vs 7
All we like sheep have gone astray every one of us has turned each one to our own way but the Lord laid on him the inniquity of us all
Vs 8
But for this generation who protested that by forcible arrest and oppression he was taken away and he cut off out of the land of the living and he was stricken for the transgressions of my people for whom the stroke was due the chastisement that bought our peace with God fell upon him and with his stripes we are healed
Vs 9
And like a lamb that is beeing led to the slaughter and like sheep that before it's shearers is silent he did not open his mouth yet they made his grave with the wicked and the rich man in his death because he had done no evil neither was there any deciet in his mouth
Vs 10
Yet it pleased Yahweh adonai god to kill him and to crush him with illness ( illness being our sin ) to see if his soul would make it self an offering for sin and if it does ( which we know it did ) he shall see days of duration he shall see his seed and God's perfect will shall prosper in his hand
Ezekiel 18 vs 32 God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked
Ezekiel 33 vs 11
I the Lord testify to you as sure as I am God that I take no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked turn back turn back why did in your sins when you do not have to
We see here that our gracious loving God who is righteous takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked ( us ) would take great pleasure in the destruction of his son for the sake of the wicked
God did not take diabolical pleasure in the pain Jesus suffered
god took pleasure in the purpose of Jesus suffering
The purpose of his death on the cross was you and me
For the joy that is set before him he endured the cross
Isaiah 53 vs 11
After this god saw great satisfaction by knowing that through his righteous servant having jnown pain suffering and death makes many accounted righteous for it is for thier sins that he suffered
Vs 12
Therefore i will divide the booty with the mighty and the spoils with the strong for my righteous servant having poured out his soul unto death and whike beeing falsly accused of beeing a transgressor actually interseeding for the transgressors
Author god through the prophet isaiah written in the
Year 680 before christ
@haloman713
"Ashamed i hear my mocking voice call out upon the scoffers". Gets me every time. It's that powerful
@tammiemacneill792
Keith Lancaster is a legend
@kdandrlnolen
Four wonderful minutes of great worship for me on this Sunday afternoon. Rebecca and I still miss you greatly.
@docwhitfield7512
Beautiful, all glory to God.
@GeraldFranks
This is one of those songs that distills the Good News down to 4 powerful minutes.
@truthbebold4009
Absolutely!
@RioLajasWolF
God bless Keith, the Lancasters and Acappella!!!
I grew up with this music. I'm 31 and still growing with it!
@MrsSissysue
Been loving & listening to Acappella since mid '80's, & @ 57 still loving them, the Lancaster's & Praise & Harmony music. The pure human voice--Awesome!
@DanAllen
Wow this is beautiful, my wife and I both watched this several times today.
@asantenkhoma719
This song brings me peace☺