Father The Hour Is Come
John 17
Following the Last Supper, Christ leads his apostles to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he will take upon himself the sins, pain and suffering of all mankind. He pauses and offers what has become known as the Intercessory Prayer. In His prayer, he reviews his obedience to the Father’s will and the power He was given over all flesh (represented by the raising of Lazarus). He then prays for unity among his apostles, similar to the perfect unity He and his Father enjoy.
Because of the length of this piece, the video portion has been expanded with additional scenes of the ordination and instruction of the apostles by the Savior, as well as their later ministry, including that of the Apostle Paul.
The music boldly opens with pounding groups of alternating minor and major chords intended to capture both Christ’s suffering and the contrasting triumph of his Atonement. The minor chords recall the extreme suffering of Christ, along with the deep sorrow and empathy we feel for his pain. The major chords invoke the triumph, glory and grandeur of his mission and our future hope in Him.
Text:
Father the hour is come; glorify Thy son that Thy son may also glorify Thee.
As Thou has given him power over all flesh,
That he should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given him.
And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God,
And Jesus Christ whom Thou sent.
I have glorified Thee on earth; I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do.
And now, oh Father, glorify Thou me with Thine own self.
With the glory which I had with Thee before the world was…before the world.
Holy Father, keep through Thine own name, those whom Thou hast given me.