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The Paradoxical, Scandalous Sacrifice of Jesus—As Captured by Hillsong UNITED

April 14, 2017

What is conjured up in your mind when you think of the word “scandal”? It is probably safe to assume that whatever comes is not positive. Perhaps you think of underhanded politics, an unwanted pregnancy, the public airing of corporate financial embezzlement, or a sexual affair that occurs within your church. Scandals can hurt and even kill many people. Paradoxically, though, the only hope in redeeming the pollution of a scandal is to receive the power of another scandal. The scandal of the cross!

In 1 Corinthians 1:23, Paul exclaims to the Corinthian Christ followers that his passion was to “preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block (scandal) to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles..” The reason that the cross is a scandal is because the most UN-scandalous person offered Himself as a sacrificial substitute for people who realize that their lives are nothing short of scandalous compared to a holy God. It is truly a scandal of grace “that while we were still sinners that Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)”. On the cross, Christ took our sin upon Himself while He imputed His righteousness into His children. That my friends is not copy for fake news, but is the beautiful scandalous truth.

Hillsong United, a worship ministry based in Australia, recently made a video of them performing Scandal of Grace by an empty tomb that is near the ancient site of Golgotha. The lyrics are below so you can follow along:

Grace, what have you done?
Murdered for me on that cross
Accused in absence of wrong
My sin washed away in your blood

Too much to make sense of it all

I know that your love breaks my fall
The scandal of grace, you died in my place
So my soul will live

Oh to be like you
Give all I have just to know you
Jesus, there’s no one besides you
Forever the hope in my heart

Death, where is your sting?
Your power is as dead as my sin
The cross has taught me to live
In mercy, my heart now to sing

The day and its trouble shall come
I know that your strength is enough
The scandal of grace, you died in my place
So my soul will live

Oh to be like you
Give all I have just to know you
Jesus, there’s no one besides you
Forever the hope in my heart

And it’s all because of you, Jesus
It’s all because of you, Jesus
It’s all because of your love
And my soul will live

Oh to be like you
Give all I have just to know you
Jesus, there’s no one besides you
Forever the hope in my heart