By the Way of the Cross

Condemned to die on a cross
for crimes he had done.
The thief was guilty, everyone could see,
But his destiny was changed,
as he looked at Christ and said,
"When your kingdom comes, remember me."

In paradise that Day he stood
just like the Lord had said he would,
surrounded by those who had gone before.
One said, "friend how did you come?
What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear the thief reply:

There are no merits to my name.
No works that I can claim.
He who brought me here told me to say:

I have come by the way of the cross,
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done,
It's the suffering of God's Son,
I have come by the way of the cross.

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shown down on me.
His mercy washed all my sin away.

And what He did for me that day
was a price I know he paid
by His grace I too can say, forever say:

I have come by the way of the cross,
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done,
It's the suffering of God's Son,
I have come by the way of the cross.

I see millions gathered round the throne
from every kindred and tongue,
those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
As they cast their crowns
down at His feet,
this will be their story, this will be their song:

We have come by the way of the cross,
we have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing we have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
We have come by the way, come by the way,
there is no other way, but the cross.

Words and Music: Dennis Wilson/Gaither
Photos: by myself, at Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.