For You To Live

words & music by Mark Minor and Doug Howell (22 Oct 1975)

life holds no fear
when in death there is victory
there’s no need to shed a fear
when I think what Jesus did for me
before Pilate’s mockery
He could see what the end would be
and now I know what He must have said
as He gave His life on Calvary

“for you to live, I must die
for you to win, I must try
for you to hope, I must give myself
to die upon a tree
for you to see, I must go blind
for you to have, I must find
for you to know, I must pass the test
and claim the victory
I’ll claim the victory”

all across the earth
the nations all have heard
of this one, simple man
and how He lived by just one simple word
love can break the binding chains
and love can loose the pouring rains
love can tell this world of life
as Jesus did on Calvary

(repeat chorus)

1977 Notes

I wonder if we’ll ever really understand how much He gave up for us. I pray that we will never lose the wonder of why.

Philippians 2:5-11

2006 Notes

I’m thinking of my buddy, Mark, as I read these lyrics, because he wrote them. Back in Good News Circle days, Mark was one of the most sincere guys I knew, and a good friend. I wonder where he is today and what he’s doing. Maybe I’ll Google him one of these days…

The arrangement sounds dated (in fact, it sounded dated when I recorded it, but that’s another story). But the message sure isn’t. Thinking about what Jesus gave up to give us everything is, I think, one of the most amazing and profound thoughts a human being can have.