Mercy Tree
Lacey Sturm Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴On a hill called Calvary
Stands an endless Mercy Tree
Every broken weary soul
Find your rest and be made whole

Stripes of blood that stain its frame
Shed to wash away our shame
From the scars, pure love released

Salvation by the Mercy Tree

In the sky between two thieves
Hung the blameless Prince of Peace
Bruised and battered
Scarred and scorned
Sacred head pierced by our thorns

"It is finished," was His cry
The perfect lamb was crucified
His sacrifice, our victory
Our Savior chose the Mercy Tree

Hope went dark that violent day
The whole earth quaked at love's display
Three days silent in the ground
This body born for heaven's crown

And on that bright and glorious day
When heaven opened up the grave
He's alive and risen indeed
Praise Him for the Mercy Tree

Death has died, love has won
Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome
He has risen from the dead

One day soon, we'll see His face
And every tear, He'll wipe away
No more pain or suffering
Oh praise Him for the Mercy Tree

Death has died, love has won
Hallelujah!, Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome
He has risen from the dead

On a hill called Calvary
Stands an endless Mercy Tree

Overall Meaning

The song "Mercy Tree" by Lacey Sturm is a powerful gospel song that reflects on the story of Christ's crucifixion, death and resurrection. The opening line, "On a hill called Calvary, stands an endless Mercy Tree," sets the tone for the rest of the song, which tells the story of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Mercy Tree is a symbol of the cross and how through Jesus' death on the cross, humans can find salvation and redemption.

The lyrics go on to describe the physical suffering that Jesus endured, including the stripes of blood that stained the Mercy Tree, and the fact that Jesus was crucified between two thieves. The chorus repeats the phrase "Death has died, love has won, Hallelujah!" which emphasizes the message of hope and redemption that is central to the Christian faith.

Line by Line Meaning

On a hill called Calvary
This is a reference to the place where Jesus was crucified, which is called Calvary. The hill symbolizes suffering and the weight of sin. It suggests a place where something significant happened.

Stands an endless Mercy Tree
The Mercy Tree is a metaphor for the cross, which is the means by which Jesus died. The use of the word 'endless' emphasizes the eternal nature of the mercy and forgiveness that Christ offers through His death.

Every broken weary soul
This line speaks to the universal nature of Christ's mercy. It suggests that no matter how broken or tired someone may feel, they can find rest and healing in Christ.

Find your rest and be made whole
This line is an invitation to trust in Christ, who is able to provide rest and wholeness to those who come to Him. It suggests that true rest and healing can only be found in Jesus.

Stripes of blood that stain its frame
This is a reference to the beatings and whippings that Jesus endured before His crucifixion. The 'stripes of blood' are a vivid image of the brutality that He suffered.

Shed to wash away our shame
The blood that Jesus shed on the cross is a powerful symbol of the forgiveness that He offers to all. The use of the word 'wash' suggests that our sins can be completely cleansed and removed by His sacrifice.

From the scars, pure love released
The 'scars' are a reference to the wounds that Jesus received on the cross. This line suggests that from His wounds, a pure and selfless love was revealed and made available to all who would believe.

Salvation by the Mercy Tree
This line reinforces the idea that salvation is available to all who come to Christ. It suggests that the cross is the means by which that salvation is made possible.

In the sky between two thieves
This is a reference to the way that Jesus was crucified, between two thieves. The image suggests a position of shame and guilt, but also the fact that Jesus identifies with those who are rejected and marginalized.

Hung the blameless Prince of Peace
This line refers to Jesus as the 'Prince of Peace,' a title that emphasizes His role as the one who brings peace to a broken and chaotic world. The use of the word 'blameless' suggests that He was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Bruised and battered
This line is a vivid description of the physical abuse that Jesus endured. It suggests that He suffered greatly in order to accomplish our salvation.

Scarred and scorned
The words 'scarred' and 'scorned' suggest that Jesus suffered not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. The depth of His pain highlights the extent of His love.

Sacred head pierced by our thorns
This is a reference to the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus' head during His crucifixion. The use of the word 'sacred' suggests the holiness of Jesus, even in His suffering.

"It is finished," was His cry
These are the last words that Jesus spoke before He died. They signify the completion of His work on the cross, and the fact that salvation was accomplished through His death.

The perfect lamb was crucified
This line refers to Jesus as the 'perfect lamb,' a reference to the sacrificial system in the Old Testament. It suggests that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, offered up for the sins of the world.

His sacrifice, our victory
This line highlights the fact that Jesus' death was not a defeat, but a victory. It suggests that because of His sacrifice, we are able to overcome sin and death.

Our Savior chose the Mercy Tree
The phrase 'our Savior' refers to Jesus, who is the one who offers salvation to all who come to Him. The 'Mercy Tree' is a metaphor for the cross, which Jesus chose to endure for the sake of our salvation.

Hope went dark that violent day
This is a reference to the day that Jesus was crucified. The use of the word 'violent' emphasizes the brutality of His death. The phrase 'hope went dark' suggests that all seemed lost when Jesus died.

The whole earth quaked at love's display
This line refers to the earthquake that occurred when Jesus died. The phrase 'love's display' suggests that the death of Jesus was not only an act of sacrifice, but also an expression of God's love for the world.

Three days silent in the ground
This line refers to the three days that Jesus was buried in the tomb after His death. The use of the word 'silent' suggests a time of waiting and anticipation.

This body born for heaven's crown
The phrase 'born for heaven's crown' suggests that Jesus was not meant to stay in the grave, but to rise again and claim His place in heaven. It emphasizes the eternal nature of His life and salvation.

And on that bright and glorious day
This line speaks to the hope and joy that come with the resurrection of Jesus. It suggests a time of celebration and triumph.

When heaven opened up the grave
This line suggests that Jesus' resurrection was a supernatural event, one that was orchestrated by God. The phrase 'heaven opened up' emphasizes the divine nature of the resurrection.

He's alive and risen indeed
This line is a statement of fact: Jesus is alive and risen from the dead. The use of the word 'indeed' emphasizes the truth and certainty of this statement.

Praise Him for the Mercy Tree
This line is an invitation to worship Jesus and give thanks for His sacrifice on the cross. The 'Mercy Tree' is a metaphor for the cross, which is the means by which we are saved.

Death has died, love has won
This is a reference to the victory that Jesus won over death through His resurrection. It suggests that because of His triumph, we can have hope and assurance of eternal life.

Jesus Christ has overcome
This line reinforces the idea that Jesus is the conqueror, who has defeated sin and death through His death and resurrection.

One day soon, we'll see His face
This line speaks to the hope of believers that one day they will see Jesus face to face. It emphasizes the eternal nature of life with Christ.

And every tear, He'll wipe away
This line is a reference to a passage in Revelation that speaks to the comfort and healing that believers will receive in heaven. It suggests that Jesus will offer complete healing and restoration to those who trust in Him.

No more pain or suffering
This is a reference to the perfect and sinless state of heaven, where there will be no more sorrow or pain. It emphasizes the hope of believers that they will one day experience complete healing and wholeness in Christ.

Oh praise Him for the Mercy Tree
The song ends with an invitation to praise Jesus for His sacrifice on the cross, which is the means by which we are saved. The 'Mercy Tree' is a metaphor for the cross, which is the centerpiece of our faith.

Writer(s): Michael William Neale, Kristen Lynn Nordhoff

Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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