Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

At our Maundy Thursday service at church, we sang “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted.” I’d heard of this song growing up, or at least I noticed it in a hymnal at some point; but I’d never sang it or paid much attention to the words until we first sang it awhile back at my current church.

This is a very moving song about the sacrifice that Christ made for us. The third verse is what really sticks out to me:

Ye who think of sin but lightly, Nor suppose the evil great Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate Mark the sacrifice appointed, See who bears the awful load ‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s annointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

It’s as if the author of the song was looking right at me, saying, “You take sin lightly, but look at what was necessary to pay the price for your sin.”