Stuart Townend - How Deep the Father's Love for us Lyrics
Lyrics
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
Video
How Deep the Fathers Love for Us - Stuart Townend
Meaning & Inspiration
I’ve been sitting here thinking about that line where the Father turns His face away. It’s hard, honestly. I know the song says it’s how He gave His only Son, making a wretch His treasure, which feels like a direct pull from that idea in Romans where God proves His own love for us while we were still sinners. But the image of the Father turning away—I keep thinking about the cry on the cross, that moment when Jesus quoted the Psalms, asking why He’d been forsaken. It’s one thing to read that in the Gospels and another to sing it like this. Does the Father really turn away? It feels like the song is trying to hold two things at once: the total unity of the Godhead and the absolute agony of what happened at Calvary.
It hits me kind of hard when the lyrics mention my own mocking voice in the crowd. It’s not just some historical event. It places the blame right on me. I’m not just an observer; I’m the reason He’s hanging there. It brings to mind what Isaiah wrote about the suffering servant, that He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. When I sing that my sin held Him there, it makes me feel heavy, but it also makes the boast about the resurrection feel like the only logical place to land. If it really is finished, like He said in John, then why do I still feel like I need to add something to it? The song keeps pushing back against that, saying I shouldn't boast in my own power or wisdom. It’s weird how much I want to feel like I’ve earned a seat at the table, even though the song flat out says I can’t explain why I’d gain from His reward. It makes me wonder if I actually believe that His wounds paid for everything, or if I’m still trying to pay the tab myself. It’s a lot to sit with, especially that part about the ransom—it’s not a soft song. It feels sharp. I’m still not sure if I fully grasp what it means for the Father to lose the Son like that, or if that’s even a thing I’m meant to fully understand.