Mac Powell - Who The Cross Is For Lyrics
Lyrics
You've got a name but nobody knows it
You need some love but nobody shows it
Out of hope under water and hung out to dry
Been overlooked and nobody sees you
You've given up cause no one believes you
And you think that the king might've told you a lie
Stuck in the dark just struggling for air
And it feels like you ain't got a prayer
You're who the cross is for
The reason why He came
Heaven went to war
So you could speak His name
The proof is in His son
You matter to the Lord
Believe in what He's done
You're who the cross is for
Who the cross is for
He took the shame and you don't need to share it
Carried the cross so you don't have to bear it
Worn the thorns for us all and he paid the price
You tried to fix it yourself but you're just not able
You've still got a place at the table
You're who the cross is for
The reason why He came
Heaven went to war
So you could speak His name
The proof is in His son
You matter to the Lord
Believe in what He's done
You're who the cross is for
Why He gave his life
If you need someone to love you
His arms are open wide
You're who the cross is for
Go and redeem the blood He poured
You're who the cross is for
The reason why He came
Heaven went to war
So you could speak His name
The proof is in His son
You matter to the Lord
Believe in what He's done
You're who the cross is for
You're who the cross is for
You're who the cross is for
Video
Mac Powell - Who The Cross Is For (Official Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on October 25, 2024, as part of the album *I LOVE JESUS*, Mac Powell's "Who The Cross Is For" immediately establishes itself as a beacon of comfort for the disenfranchised spirit. The song speaks directly to individuals who feel lost in the crowd, unseen, unheard, and unloved—those navigating life’s depths with a profound sense of isolation and spiritual exhaustion. It acknowledges the raw, human experience of believing one is beyond hope, perhaps even questioning the very truth of God’s promises when life feels like an unending struggle for air in the dark.
The initial verses paint a poignant picture of spiritual and emotional desolation: "You've got a name but nobody knows it / You need some love but nobody shows it / Out of hope under water and hung out to dry / Been overlooked and nobody sees you / You've given up cause no one believes you / And you think that the king might've told you a lie." This vivid portrayal resonates deeply with anyone who has felt abandoned or forgotten, much like the psalmist in Psalm 139 affirming God's intimate knowledge of every individual, or Isaiah 49:15-16, where God promises He could never forget His people, even if a mother could forget her child. The feeling of being "stuck in the dark just struggling for air" and thinking "you ain't got a prayer" captures the desperation that often precedes a true encounter with grace, echoing the sentiment of Romans 8:26, where the Spirit intercedes for us even when we don't know how to pray.
However, the song's central message swiftly shatters this despondency with a profound declaration: "You're who the cross is for / The reason why He came." This is the song's spiritual anchor, reminding us of John 3:16, that God’s love for the world, specifically for each struggling soul, compelled the ultimate sacrifice. Heaven indeed "went to war" against sin and death, not for a select few, but "so you could speak His name," affirming the accessibility of salvation through faith as described in Romans 10:9-10. The lyric "You matter to the Lord" serves as a direct, personal affirmation, supported by the extensive biblical narrative of God's meticulous care for His creation, down to the very hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30-31), making Christ's sacrifice the irrefutable "proof" of His immeasurable love and our inherent worth.
Mac Powell continues to unpack the depth of Christ's redemptive work, stating, "He took the shame and you don't need to share it / Carried the cross so you don't have to bear it / Worn the thorns for us all and he paid the price." This directly refers to the substitutionary atonement found in passages like Isaiah 53:4-5, where Christ bore our infirmities and sorrows, and 1 Peter 1:18-19, which reminds us we are redeemed not with perishable things but with the precious blood of Christ. The imagery of Christ wearing the crown of thorns and carrying His cross highlights His complete identification with human suffering, relieving us of the crushing weight of our own sin and its consequences. The song then addresses the futility of self-salvation: "You tried to fix it yourself but you're just not able," drawing a clear line from human inadequacy to divine provision, a truth echoed in Galatians 2:16, where justification comes not by works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus. Despite past failures, the assurance "You've still got a place at the table" symbolizes ultimate acceptance, communion, and belonging in God's family, reflecting the welcoming embrace described in Luke 14:15-24 and Revelation 3:20.
The song culminates in a powerful invitation, reiterating that Christ "gave his life" and that "His arms are open wide" for anyone needing love. This imagery evokes Isaiah 65:2, where God stretches out His hands to a rebellious people, and Matthew 23:37, where Jesus longs to gather His children. The phrase "Go and redeem the blood He poured" acts as a call to action, not to earn salvation, but to actively embrace and live out the new life that Christ’s shed blood purchased for us. It’s an encouragement to claim the redemption offered, to walk in the freedom and purpose that Christ’s sacrifice provides, as articulated in Galatians 3:13, where Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Ultimately, "Who The Cross Is For" stands as a profound spiritual anthem, reaffirming to every person feeling forgotten, overlooked, or broken, that their worth is immeasurable in the eyes of God, and that the sacrifice of the cross was made with them, personally and intimately, in mind. The song serves as a powerful reminder of hope, belonging, and the unconditional love found solely in Christ.