the reach of love - good friday song

For your Good Friday ponderings...

I wrote this song with my friend, Gerrit Dawson, a number of years ago for Good Friday.

The Reach of Love

Dawson/Austell - Holy Week, 1998

Savior slain, why were you rent by a spear?

"These wounds I got at the house of my friends."

As prophet told, look on him whom we pierced,

See the blood and water spilled at the end.

Water through the cruel channel of skin

Covers the earth, not with rage but with grace.

Your side the fountainhead, flowing again

The River of Life that cleanses our race.

Out of your wounds there flow dear gifts from above.

The blood and water show the full reach of Love.

The blood poured out in waste after you died

Fills the festive cup with love's gentle flood.

Babes at mother's breast, we drink from your side

The sweet forgiveness in water and blood.

Out of your wounds there flow dear gifts from above.

The blood and water show the full reach of Love.

Out of your wounds there flows the full reach of Love.

See also the sermon I preached with this song in 2002.

In case you are wondering, there is clapping at the end because this recording came from a "farewell concert" when I left my last call (as opposed to in the middle of a Good Friday service).