A beautiful, sacred hymn with music by Kevin G. Pace and text by Mary Ann W. Snowball. This hymn is a profound meditation on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, exploring both the spiritual cost and the redemptive power of His suffering. Through a series of reflective questions and vivid imagery, it portrays the Savior’s agony and love as the price paid to redeem the soul from sin and despair. The text emphasizes His preordained mission—bleeding from “each demanding pore” and offering Himself at the “altar of atonement.” It tenderly invites the listener to kneel beside Christ, to reach for His hand, and to respond to His gift with faith, belief, and love. Ultimately, the hymn celebrates the mercy, grace, and salvation made possible through Christ’s supreme sacrifice.

YouTube video: Altar of Atonement, hymn

Text:
What was the cost? What price did Jesus pay
To redeem my soul from Satan’s blatant blaze?
What did He give? How did His suffering
Save me from despair and evil’s stringent sting?

Because of love, my Savior’s endless love,
He did pay the price agreed to from above.
He bled for me, from each demanding pore,
From his altar of atonement He implores.

This was His call, anointed long ago,
To cast out my sins, to make them white as snow.
He’d hide them far, as east is from the west,
Clothed in mercy, grace, so I‘m the one who’s blessed.

He gave His life, His innocence and trust
That we each would kneel beside Him in the dust.
This was the cost, the price my Savior paid
So the sword of justice could not lodge its blade.

Come kneel by Him; reach out and take His hand
By His altar of atonement as He planned.
Have faith; believe. Believe and sacrifice,
Giving Him your love, for His love paid the price.

Chorus:
What was the cost? What price did Jesus pay?
He gave His all for me.