Charles Wesley - Father Of Our Dying Lord Lyrics

Meaning & Inspiration

The recent presentation of Charles Wesley’s profound hymn, "Father Of Our Dying Lord," on September 13, 2024, offers a fresh opportunity to engage with a timeless masterpiece that calls for divine encounter and spiritual renewal. Though penned centuries ago, this hymn's release into contemporary focus reminds us of its enduring power and relevance, inviting a new generation to experience its rich theological depth and fervent prayer for God's presence. It emerges from the heart of the Methodist revival, a movement characterized by an intense desire for personal holiness and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, reflecting Wesley's profound grasp of Christian doctrine and his passion for an active, experiential faith. The very essence of this piece is a direct, urgent appeal to the Triune God, a bold yet humble request for the fullness of His promised Spirit.

The opening stanza, "Father of our dying Lord, / Remember us for good; / O fulfil his faithful word, / And hear his speaking blood!", immediately plunges into a solemn invocation of God the Father, centering on Christ's atoning sacrifice. It’s a powerful appeal to the Father based on the merits of Jesus, reminding us that Christ Himself, even now, intercedes for us at the right hand of God, as Romans 8:34 beautifully articulates. The "speaking blood" references the superior efficacy of Christ's blood over Abel's, bringing forgiveness and new covenant grace, a concept echoed in Hebrews 12:24, where Jesus' blood "speaks a better word." The hymn continues with a plea for the Father to "glorify thy Son!" by granting that for which Jesus prays, a direct echo of Christ's own prayer in John 14:13, where He assures us that whatever we ask in His name, He will do to glorify the Father. The culminating request, "And send the Promise down," is a direct petition for the Holy Spirit, the "Promise of the Father" that Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for in Acts 1:4, the very power from on high needed for witness and transformation. This stanza is a foundation of hopeful expectation, rooted in Christ's finished work and ongoing intercession.

Moving to the second stanza, the focus shifts to Christ Himself: "True and faithful witness, thou, / O Christ, thy Spirit give!" Here, Wesley adores Jesus as the "faithful witness," a title found in Revelation 1:5, affirming His divine veracity and His perfect revelation of God. The central petition is for Christ to "give" His Spirit, acknowledging that it is through Him that the Spirit is poured out. John 16:7 makes this clear, where Jesus states, "it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." This stanza delves into the intimate connection between Christ and believers, asking, "Art thou not our living Head? / Life to all thy limbs impart." This draws from the rich New Testament imagery of Christ as the Head of the Church, His body, as described in Ephesians 4:15-16. Just as the head directs and nourishes the body, Christ, our living Head, is petitioned to "shed thy love, thy Spirit shed / In every waiting heart," providing spiritual vitality and overflowing affection to all who belong to Him. It's a vivid picture of divine circulation, where the very life and love of Christ flow into every part of His spiritual body, enriching and empowering believers.

The final stanza makes a direct, passionate appeal to the third person of the Trinity: "Holy Ghost, the Comforter, / The gift of Jesus, come." This acknowledges the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter" or "Helper," a term Jesus used in John 14:26, promising His presence to guide and teach. He is presented as "the gift of Jesus," underscoring that the Spirit's coming is a direct fulfillment of Christ’s promise and sacrifice. The language becomes deeply personal and experiential: "Glows our heart to find thee near, / And swells to make thee room." This imagery speaks to an intense inner yearning, a spiritual anticipation that causes the heart to expand in readiness, echoing the sentiment of Romans 5:5, where God's love is "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." The hymn culminates in an earnest, repeated invitation for the Spirit's intimate indwelling: "Present with us thee we feel, / Come, O come, and in us be! / With us, in us, live and dwell, / To all eternity." This is a prayer not just for an occasional visitation, but for a permanent, transformative presence, fulfilling Christ's promise in John 14:17 that the Spirit "dwells with you and will be in you." It is a profound request for the Spirit to make His home within us, transforming us into His temple, as 1 Corinthians 6:19 teaches.

"Father Of Our Dying Lord" is far more than a simple hymn; it is a profound theological declaration and a fervent prayer for spiritual empowerment. It stands as a testament to the Trinitarian nature of God and the Christian's need for the active, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, made possible through Christ's sacrifice and intercession. Its structure, moving systematically through each person of the Godhead, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding divine interaction with humanity. This hymn inspires a deep hunger for God, encouraging a surrender to the Spirit's work and a confidence in the Father's willingness to grant His children good gifts. Its continued resonance today speaks to the unchanging human need for divine connection and the timeless truth of God's promise to those who seek Him. This powerful spiritual anthem truly compels us to open our hearts wide and invite the divine presence to live, dwell, and work within us, not just for a moment, but "to all eternity."