The hymn “Victory in Jesus” is an account of substitutionary atonement.

It details how Jesus came, sought us, and bought us with his redeeming blood. The lyrics tell of his work on the cross, God’s love for us, and the victory secured through Jesus’ death. 

The song is an old favorite of mine, but recently, as we sang it together as a Church in worship, a line from the second verse jumped out at me. It says, “And then I cried, ‘Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit.’ And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory.”

I had never noticed the word “somehow.” Despite this being a song that is strong in the theology of the atonement we receive through faith in Jesus, there is still this mystery. The words declare Jesus’ mighty work is our salvation, but still, I am not a hundred percent sure how it all works. 

Many spiritual giants with an enormous theology have attempted to explain the work of Jesus, and it all makes sense. Still, it is rooted in the love of God and a grace that I cannot wholly explain. 

Faith is not having every answer; faith is trusting in Jesus and knowing that, somehow, all this works to pay my debt of sin. Faith is trusting despite having a “somehow” explanation.