Tree63 - Sacrifice Lyrics
Lyrics
Before your people worshiped you
You said that something had to die
And as they brought their sacrifice you heard their cries
Before your children could come home
You said that something had to die
And as you brought your sacrifice we heard you cry
You know what it's like to give it up
You know how how it feels to let it go
You know what it's like to take it forget it forsake it
To raise your head and cry
It's all for you (Father) It's all for you
I live for you (Father) I die for you
I know that you can hear my voice
Because your servant paid the price
But there is silence in my mouth and I can't cry
So as I come to worship you
I know that something has to die
And as I bring my sacrifice just let it die
You know what it's like against your skin
You know how it feels beneath your hands
You know how it is to carry so rough and heavy
And underneath to cry...
Video
Sacrifice
Meaning & Inspiration
Tree63’s "Sacrifice," released on March 4, 2015, delves into the profound theological concept of sacrifice, tracing its lineage from ancient worship to the ultimate redemptive act and its ongoing implications for a life of faith. The song offers a meditative yet powerful exploration of God's nature, His love, and humanity’s response, inviting a deep reflection on what it truly means to surrender and worship. It masterfully navigates the narrative of divine provision and human obligation, painting a vivid picture of grace through the lens of costly devotion.
The song begins by acknowledging the historical reality of sacrifice within the context of humanity’s relationship with God. It echoes the Old Covenant, where the shedding of blood was a prerequisite for atonement and access to the divine, as detailed extensively in the books of Leviticus and Exodus. "Before your people worshiped you, you said that something had to die," the song recounts, immediately bringing to mind the myriad animal sacrifices offered by the Israelites for their sins and in fellowship with God. These acts, though prescribed by God, were burdensome and temporary, a shadow pointing toward a more complete and perfect offering to come, as described in Hebrews 9:9-10. The cries of the people bringing their offerings were not just sounds of ritual but often expressions of genuine remorse and a longing for reconciliation.
However, the narrative pivots dramatically, moving from the human act of sacrifice to God’s own incomprehensible offering. The lyrics poignantly state, "Before your children could come home, you said that something had to die, and as you brought your sacrifice we heard you cry." This shift unequivocally points to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. God Himself, in His infinite love and desire to bring His estranged children home, provided the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. This is the heart of the Gospel, where "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). The imagery of God Himself crying underscores the immense cost and profound pain involved in giving up His Son, an echo of the Father turning His face away as sin was laid upon Christ. It reveals a God who doesn't merely demand sacrifice but intimately knows its agony, enduring it for the sake of humanity's redemption.
The central bridge of the song further magnifies God's empathy and profound understanding. "You know what it's like to give it up, you know how it feels to let it go," the lyrics affirm, speaking directly to God's personal experience of immense loss and suffering through Christ. This isn't a distant, impassive deity but one who has fully entered into the human condition, experiencing abandonment and anguish, as highlighted in Philippians 2:6-8, where Christ "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant." This empathetic understanding transforms the nature of faith, inviting a deeper, more personal connection with a God who truly knows our pain because He bore it Himself. He knows the weight, the burden, and the tears, becoming "a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15).
In response to this unparalleled divine sacrifice, the song shifts to the believer's heartfelt declaration: "It's all for you (Father) It's all for you, I live for you (Father) I die for you." This is not a transactional exchange but a grateful surrender, a complete dedication of life to the One who gave everything. It reflects the apostle Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1 to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God," which is our true and proper worship. To "die for you" speaks to the daily crucifixion of self, the letting go of personal desires and ambitions to wholeheartedly follow Christ, echoing Jesus' call to "deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). It is a life lived not by our own will, but by His.
The lyrics then touch upon a common human struggle in faith: "I know that you can hear my voice because your servant paid the price, but there is silence in my mouth and I can't cry." This beautifully encapsulates the New Covenant reality. Our access to God is not based on the intensity of our emotional expression or our ability to conjure repentance, but solely on the finished work of Christ. When words fail or emotions run dry, our prayers are still heard because Jesus, the "servant" who "paid the price" on the cross (Isaiah 53:5), stands as our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25). The silence in our mouths doesn't hinder communication with God because Christ has bridged the gap, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans too deep for words (Romans 8:26).
Finally, the song brings the concept of sacrifice back to the individual believer's worship: "So as I come to worship you, I know that something has to die, and as I bring my sacrifice just let it die." This is not a call to literal animal sacrifice but a profound invitation to spiritual sacrifice. For true worship to occur, something within us—our pride, our selfishness, our idols, our sin nature—must be surrendered and die. It's the daily laying down of our self-will at the foot of the cross, a continuous process of sanctification where the old self is put to death so that the new life in Christ can flourish (Galatians 2:20). It’s a willing, personal act of faith, acknowledging that the path of discipleship requires us to "carry so rough and heavy" burdens, just as Christ did, and sometimes "underneath to cry" in the process of transformation. Tree63's "Sacrifice" is a compelling and deeply spiritual anthem that calls believers to remember the monumental cost of their redemption and to respond with a life of committed, selfless worship, rooted in the understanding that our God knows, understands, and perfectly provided the ultimate sacrifice. It inspires not just to listen, but to live the message.