In His Name Devotionals
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
In His Name Devotionals
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55 KJV)
No hymn captures the triumph of Christ’s resurrection more than this one. It begins with “Christ the Lord is ris’n today”—a declaration of the glorious truth discovered by the apostles on that resurrection morning. The common greeting in the early church was the victory proclamation: “The Lord is risen indeed.” “Christ is risen!” someone would say. “He is risen indeed!” was the inevitable reply.
Born the 18th child in the family of Susanna and Samuel Wesley, Charles was a prolific hymn-writer putting to verse the ultimate battle fought with death—apparently lost but finally won. This hymn presents the supreme vision for the redeemed on earth. With exultant voices we sing, “sore we now where Christ has led.” The final conquest is victory. “Alleluia!”
The first stanza invokes celebration from both heaven and earth (“sons of men and angels”), calling on the heavens to sing (“Christ is risen!”) and earth to reply (“He is risen indeed!”). “Alleluia” is a Latinized transliteration of the Hebrew hallelujah—“Praise God.” Every line of every stanza is punctuated with the same refrain.
Verse 2 begins with a reference to the extraordinary measures the Romans took to guard the body of Jesus. When Christ’s body was removed from the cross, some Pharisees went to Pilate and said, “Sir…give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead” (Matt. 27:63-64). Pilate said, “Take a guard…make the tomb secure…” (vs. 65-66). But “the stone, the watch, the seal” were all in vain. Christ “burst the gates of hell” (cf. Matt. 16:18); a violent earthquake shook the area; an angel appeared and rolled away the stone; and the Roman guards were so frightened by the appearance of the angel that they “shook and became like dead men” (Matt. 28:4). “Death in vain forbids his rise.” Jesus Christ broke the bonds of death and “was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4). He thus “opened paradise” to all who believe. Alleluia!
The 3rd stanza borrows language from Paul’s great discourse on the resurrection (1 Cor. 15, especially verse 55), signifying victory over sin & death in His resurrection (vv 56-57).
The final stanza celebrates our participation in Christ’s triumph, drawing once again from Paul’s teaching about resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:49. Elsewhere Paul says that believers have spiritual union with Christ in both His death and His resurrection (Rom. 6:5). We thus participate with Him in “the cross, the grave, the skies.” Alleluia!
