Forever and a Day
Tetelestai
Copyright 2006 by Christopher M Solaas.
Jesus cried out with a loud voice just before He died on the cross - Not something you would expect from someone
dying of asphyxiation, right?
The word He spoke in a loud voice was the word 'Tetelestai'.
This word was spoken or written quite often in those days - it is a Greek Word meaning 'done', 'finished', 'complete'.
This word indicated an item was 'sold!' in the marketplace.
This word was written on legal documents when a contract was completed.
This word was written on an accused's warrant, when he had paid for his crime. they even wrote it on the warrant
once a criminal had died to pay for his crime. In general, if a criminal was not to be killed but simply to serve time
or receive lashes for his crime, this document was given to him to prove he had already been punished for his crime,
to prevent him being punished twice.
This song is written from the perspective of Barabbas, as he learns the true meaning of the word 'Tetelestai'.
Click here to listen
Click here to download a TAB song sheet
Lyrics
Verse 1:
It was cold and damp and agonizing
Chained up in that cell.
I could hear the soldiers coming now
To lead us up that hill.
As I heard the key turn in the lock
My head was hung in shame
We were all 3 going to die now,
And I was to blame.
Verse2:
My men and I were robbers,
But I led them in a fight
We killed a squad of Roman soldiers
Deep within the night
Pilate sentenced us to all be
Scourged and crucified
And our debts would not be Paid in Full
Till all, All of us had died.
Chorus1:
Tetelestai! Tetelestai!
Written on our sentences when all of us had died!
Paid in full! The job is done! The debt is satisfied!
At the time, the word did not mean much to me,
That word Tetelestai!
Verse3:
Blinking in the morning light,
Confusion in the air.
But within the fog of fear I saw
The Centurion there.
He handed me the paper
That had sentenced me to die.
But written right across it
Was that word,
That word Tetelestai!
Chorus2:
Tetelestai! Tetelestai!
Written on my sentence, though another was to die!
It is Finished! Paid in full! The debt is satisfied!
Yes, my sins were all forgiven in that word,
That word Tetelestai!
Verse4:
Carried by the mocking crowd,
I followed up the street,
And I winced as they drove nails
Into their hands and their feet.
And on my cross hung Jesus
With His arms nailed open wide
And He cried that word, Tetelestai
And hung His head and died.
Chorus2:
Verse5:
Now the years have passed, and I've grown old
Yet I ponder on that word.
I've been given a free pardon
By the Maker of the World
And in the book of all my sins
The Lord has had inscribed
Across them all, that wondrous word,
That word, Tetelestai!
Chorus2: