We all spend so much of our lives trying to measure up, hoping that if we just do enough "right" things, we can satisfy the demands of a holy God. But the truth is, we keep falling short, and often, our attempts to fix our own messes just make them worse. We cannot pay the penalty for our own sin—it’s a debt far too high. This song is about the staggering realization that Jesus didn’t just pay that penalty; He paid it knowing full well that we would still fail Him even after we knew the truth. That is what makes His sacrifice so amazing. It gives us a chance to finally stop running, to accept the gift of His grace, and to live in a resolve to change our ways, anchored in the wonder of a God who loved us enough to pay the cost anyway.
Associated Scripture
Isaiah 53:5: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his stripes we are healed."
1 Peter 2:24: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
Hebrews 4:15: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."
[Verse 1]
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried every sorrow
He took the weight of all our sin
To give us a tomorrow
We thought that He was struck by God
Abandoned and alone
But He was taking on the debt
That we could never own.
[Chorus]
But He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for every sin!
The punishment that brought us peace
Was laid upon His skin!
By His stripes we are healed!
Oh, the victory is won
By the stripes of the Everlasting Son!
[Verse 2]
All we like sheep have gone astray
Each turning to our own
But the Lord has laid on Him the cost
Of the mercy we are shown
From the wounding comes the washing
From the suffering comes the grace
Now the light of heaven's glory
Is shining on our face.
[Chorus]
But He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for every sin!
The punishment that brought us peace
Was laid upon His skin!
By His stripes we are healed!
Oh, the victory is won
By the stripes of the Everlasting Son!
[Bridge]
He took the nails!
He took the shame!
He took the cross!
To break our chains!
BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED!
[Chorus]
But He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for every sin!
The punishment that brought us peace
Was laid upon His skin!
By His stripes we are healed!
Oh, the victory is won
By the stripes of the Everlasting Son!
[Outro]
He was crushed for us...
By His stripes...
We are healed.
