Twila Paris was born to Oren and Rachel Paris just after Christmas in 1959 in Texas. From a young age, Twila showed a great love and skill for music. Now an accomplished singer, songwriter, and author, she started her musical journey when she was not quite six years old. In 1965, she released her first album Little Twila Paris, the first of over thirty albums she has released in her lifetime. Her style has ranged from what many would call Christian Contemporary, to more traditional hymns, such as “Lamb of God,” which she released in 1985. Around that same time, she married Jack Wright, and they have one son.
While most of her music fits more in the contemporary genre, some of her songs can be found in hymnals, such as this hymn. She is still participating in the music world and has won a number of awards for her singing, even making it to the Gospel Music hall of fame only a few short years ago. Her music is still loved by many, with some carrying with it a timeless quality. And as she hoped, we can find assurance and peace in the words she wrote years ago that we still sing today.
Your only Son, no sin to hide,
But You have sent Him from Your side
To walk upon this guilty sod
And to become the Lamb of God
This first verse plainly puts the Gospel story. We sing it speaking to God, but we are also reminding ourselves of what Christ has done for us. And what do we find? The only begotten Son of God, the perfect and spotless Lamb, came down to this condemned world in order to redeem us (Jhn. 1:1-5, 14, 29, 3:15, Acts 8:32, 20:28). Jesus Christ became the Word made flesh in order to take on the sin that should have eternally separated us from God. The Lord could not look upon such sin, but through the death of His Son, a perfect Lamb now covered with our sin, His blood has bought us back. Thankfully, we do not end the song here, and we continue this story of salvation and end in praise to God.
Your gift of Love they crucified
They laughed and scorned Him as He died
The humble King they named a fraud
And sacrificed the Lamb of God
Though our Creator sent His Son to die in our place, we did not know Him. “This gift of Love” seems almost too simple. This Love was the incarnate Christ. This Love was an atoning sacrifice. This Love was here to take on our price of sin, a love so deep and wide, unsearchable and beyond our grasp, came down to us for our salvation. This is what they crucified. And not they; it was our sin that put Him upon that tree. Upon this great Love did we heap up ridicule and mockery! Our Lord humbled Himself to our form, and we regarded Him as a liar, a crazy person, only a man (Isa. 53:7, Matt. 27:29-44, Phil. 2:5-11).
And yet, in that, the ultimate sacrifice was finally made. This sacrifice had been waited for since the Rebellion, through Abraham, during the days of Moses, by David, and finally, the Lamb had come (Gen. 3:15, 12:3, Ex. 12, Psa. 22, Jhn. 19:18, 1 Pet. 1:17-21). He didn’t come to reign on earth but to redeem us and rule our hearts that we might belong to the kingdom of God. Though we did not recognize Him, and worse, scorned Him, this gift of Love still went to the cross in our place that we might have fellowship with God again.
I was so lost I should have died
But You have brought me to Your side
To be led by Your staff and rod
And to be called a lamb of GodChorus:
Oh Lamb of God, Sweet lamb of God
I love the Holy Lamb of God
Oh wash me in His precious Blood
My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God
And now, we individually reflect on our part in all of this. Our sin was so great, so blemishing, so overwhelming that we were dead and unclean before God. Yet Jesus came to us, though we were utterly powerless, that we might be reconciled to God (Eph. 2:1-2, Col. 2:13-15). Though we wandered in the world, helpless and in rebellion against God, now we can be guided by Him, even reprimanded, but safely in His care (Psa. 23). Now we are part of God’s flock, His family, His body (Luk. 12:31-32, Jhn. 10:16, 1 Cor. 12:27, Gal. 2:20). And so, we praise and give thanks to God that we have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb (1 Pet. 1:18-19, Rev. 5:12, 7:14).
Blessings to you and yours,
~Madelyn Rose Craig
Works Referenced
“550. Lamb of God.” The Lutheran Service Book. 2006.
“The Christian Classic Tour”. Vancouver, Washington. Christian Newswire. Mar 8 2012.
“Lamb of God.” Hymnary.org.
The Lutheran Column 