Lyrics
I have seen what love looks like
Brighter than the morning light
Tender as the sweetest sound
Yet can turn the tables upside down
Oh Lord, because of what I’ve done
My list of sin and shame
I don’t deserve Your heart
But still…
You love me completely
So much You gave Your life
You offered it freely
A relentless sacrifice
And I see scars in Your hands and feet
Thorn crown You wore for me
Forgiveness in Your eyes
This is what love
This is what love looks like
Always patient, always kind
You never leave the lost behind
And even though I wander still
Oh, You chase me down, You always will
You love me completely
So much You gave Your life
You offered it freely
A relentless sacrifice
And I see scars in Your hands and feet
Thorn crown You wore for me
Forgiveness in Your eyes
This is what love
This is what love looks like
Oh Lord, because of what I’ve done
My list of sin and shame
I don’t deserve Your heart
But still…
You love me completely
So much You gave Your life
You offered it freely
A relentless sacrifice
And I see scars in Your hands and feet
Thorn crown You wore for me
Forgiveness in Your eyes
This is what love
This is what love looks like
It looks like You, Jesus
It looks like You, Jesus
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
“What Love Looks Like” defines divine love through the person and sacrifice of Jesus. It begins with contrasting images of brightness and tenderness, then turns toward sin, shame, and undeserved mercy. The chorus answers that tension with the cross: Christ gives His life freely, bears the crown of thorns, and carries visible scars in His hands and feet. Forgiveness is therefore presented not as an abstract idea but as something revealed through costly self-giving.
The description of love as patient and kind directly recalls Paul’s words about love, while the crucifixion imagery points to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ suffering. The lyric also emphasizes pursuit, declaring that the lost are not abandoned even when wandering continues. Its repeated confession that Jesus loves completely holds grace and repentance together: human failure is named honestly, yet it is not stronger than His mercy. By closing with the declaration that love looks like Jesus, the song gathers every image into a clear Christ-centered affirmation.
Related Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 13:4 Paul describes love as patient and kind, wording echoed directly in the song.
- John 15:13 Jesus identifies laying down one’s life as the greatest expression of love.
- John 20:27 The risen Jesus points Thomas to the wounds in His hands and side.