Song Description

The story of the Repentant Thief on the cross.

Lyrics

The face is familiar - I've seen Him before though I can't quite remember just where
He may have been walking alone by the shore or teaching the crowd about prayer
Where ever it was and whatever the time I know that He shouldn't be here
He's done nothing wrong - He's committed no crime - His attitude makes that quite clear

Still the murderous crowd is demanding His life - they say He's a threat to us all
That if everyone follows His radical words - then surely the nation will fall
Even the governor can't find a cause that He should be sentenced to die
The charges against Him have never been proved - they just chose to believe in a lie


But me - I'm aware of the crimes that I've done - my sentence is totally just
And even the ones that I thought were my friends all view me in hopeless disgust
The sun starts to darken - there's fear in each eye - the friends that stand by him are few
"Father forgive them" - He cries through His pain - "they don't understand what they do"

Now my partner-in-crime joins the blood-thirsty mob insisting that He is a fraud
"Why can't you deliver both us and yourself - if you are the true Son of God"
I can't keep my silence I must speak my mind - with folly I can't go along
"What right do you have - we are here for our sins but this man has done nothing wrong"


I'm stunned by my boldness I'm just not the type to differ from all of the crowd
But in this dark hour there's no turning back - so I just have to say it out loud
"Lord I'm not worthy to ask for a thing but I now see my life in God's sight
Forgive all my sins and remember my name in Your glorious kingdom of light"

He looks at me kindly with eyes full of love as I hang at eternity's brink
And just for a moment as fear fills my heart - I'm guilty - is all I can think
But He says I'm forgiven and that there's a place He'll take me to this very day
It's called Paradise - its the Garden of Rest and with Him forever I'll stay