Are Ye Able

Hymn lyrics and .mp3 Download

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1. "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?" "Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee."

Refrain: Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.

2. Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise? (Refrain)

3. Are ye able when the shadows close around you with the sod, to believe that spirit triumphs, to commend your soul to God? (Refrain)

4. Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee. (Refrain)

Words by: Earl Marlatt
Music by: Harry S. Mason

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Story of the hymn Are Ye Able

Background and Inspiration

The hymn is based on Matthew 20:20–28 and Mark 10:35–45, where James and John ask Jesus for positions of honor in His kingdom. Jesus responds with the searching question: "Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of?", a reference to suffering, sacrifice, and obedient service.
Marlatt, who was a professor of theology at Boston University School of Theology, wrote the hymn while reflecting on Christian discipleship in the years following World War I. The period was marked by social upheaval and moral questioning, and Marlatt sought to emphasize that following Christ is not a path to privilege, but a call to costly obedience and servant leadership.

Purpose and Message

Each stanza contrasts Christ’s call with a human response: Christ asks if we are willing to follow Him into hardship, rejection, and even death.
The disciples (and by extension, the singers) respond with confidence: "We are able", yet the hymn gently reminds worshipers that true ability comes only through Christ’s strength, not human resolve.
The refrain, "Lord, we are able," is intentionally aspirational rather than boastful. It acknowledges that answering Christ's call requires divine grace, humility, and perseverance.

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