Marks of the Cross
Petra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

These days shallow and feeble resolve abound
And true devotion and passionate fervor are seldom found
But there are those who often feel they're all alone
Those of whose identities are known
By the mark of the crucified Son

Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross, ohh
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
Of the marks of the cross

These days the search for detachment and solitude
Lead to retreating to fortresses no one would dare intrude
Then there are those whose restless burdens start to show
Those who unmistakably must know
There's no crown 'til we sugger the cross

Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross, ohh
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
Of the marks of the cross

All our identity rest in the knowledge
Of who we're created to be
We are His workmanship, made in His image
For all of creation to see
The marks of His pain and His glory

Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross, ohh
Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
To lay down your life on the line
Forgetting what you leave behind
And willing to suffer the loss
And the marks of the cross




Praying, caring, loving, sharing
These are the marks of the cross, ohh

Overall Meaning

The song "Marks of the Cross" by Petra is a call to Christians to remember the true meaning of devotion and passion in their faith. The opening lines speak of the prevalence of shallow and feeble resolve in the world, with true devotion and passionate fervor being rare. However, there are still those whose identities are known by the marks of the crucified Son, those who are willing to pray, care, love, and share. The song emphasizes that these actions are the true marks of the cross and, in order to lay down one's life for Christ, we must be willing to suffer the loss of our own desires and priorities.


The second verse speaks of the dangers of retreating to isolation and detachment, suggesting that we must be willing to bear the burdens of our restless souls and know that there is no crown until we have suffered the cross. The bridge emphasizes that our identity and purpose in life rest in the knowledge that we are God's workmanship, created in His image for all of creation to see. The pain and glory of Christ's crucifixion are reflected in the marks of the cross that we bear.


Overall, "Marks of the Cross" is a reminder to Christians that true devotion and passion for God require sacrifice, selflessness, and a willingness to suffer. The song encourages believers to embrace these qualities as the true marks of a life devoted to Christ.


Line by Line Meaning

These days shallow and feeble resolve abound
In these times, many people lack strong and steadfast determination.


And true devotion and passionate fervor are seldom found
Genuine commitment and intense enthusiasm are rarely seen.


But there are those who often feel they're all alone
However, there are people who frequently experience loneliness.


Those of whose identities are known
These individuals can be recognized by their distinguishing feature.


By the mark of the crucified Son
They are identified by the symbolic emblem of Jesus' sacrifice.


Praying, caring, loving, sharing
Engaging in prayer, compassion, affection, and generosity


These are the marks of the cross, ohh
These actions characterize those who follow Jesus and his example.


Giving, bearing, feeling, daring
Being selfless, enduring hardships, empathizing, and taking risks


To lay down your life on the line
Being willing to make personal sacrifices for what one believes in.


Forgetting what you leave behind
Not being held back by past mistakes or attachments.


And willing to suffer the loss
Being prepared to pay a high price for one's convictions.


Of the marks of the cross
Even if it means facing ridicule, opposition, or persecution.


These days the search for detachment and solitude
In contrast, many people seek isolation and separation from others.


Lead to retreating to fortresses no one would dare intrude
They isolate themselves in secure and impregnable places.


Then there are those whose restless burdens start to show
However, some individuals become visibly overwhelmed by their troubles.


Those who unmistakably must know
They are the ones who seek certainty and assurance.


There's no crown 'til we sugger the cross
They learn that there is no reward without sacrifice or suffering.


All our identity rest in the knowledge
Our sense of self and purpose is based on what we understand.


Of who we're created to be
We were made with a specific design and destiny.


We are His workmanship, made in His image
We are the result of God's craftsmanship, fashioned in his likeness.


For all of creation to see
Our lives display God's creativity and glory to the world.


The marks of His pain and His glory
Our trials and triumphs reflect God's own experiences.


These are the marks of the cross, ohh
The same virtues mentioned earlier - prayer, caring, loving, and sharing - are the distinguishing features of Christ's followers.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@JosephChangJazzyRock

最近我常在車上聽 Petra 以及 TYE TIBBETT 的歌
如果你與我一樣,早先沒有聽聞過這兩個樂團,
剛聽到這首歌時會以為是哪個一般熱門的 ROCK BAND
這個樂團卻是個道道地地的CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND.
其實,在美國 Petra 在基督徒搖滾音樂裡面的確也是個 熱門樂團
只是在台灣沒有多少人聽過
應該說台灣的RADIO 或是 TV 是很少撥出這些樂團音樂的

謝謝上帝給了我們 Internet. 正確的說應該是 YouTube...



All comments from YouTube:

@larryskoreyko

Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always there when you call upon his name.

@formesumer8911

This is one of Petra's greatest songs.

@brendanlepeska4295

No matter what for the past 8 years of listening to this song I will never let it go. In fact this song inspired me to dig deep in the marks of Jesus and what this song really meant.

@beaupierrebondurant5651

Love this song.real Christian music.

@adammooney3158

This has and always be my favorite petra song.

@bluestingerborg

Same here man

@chrishartness2218

Me too best times teenager with Christ thank u petra

@willadkins7328

I had this cd when it came out. So good- really has help bring me back to God. God bless petra-

@germanaparicio3434

This song encourages me to be like Jesus

@DJPantanal2014

I saw them in concert in Tacoma, Washington in 1994... what a wonderful evening ! Great memories.

More Comments