Easter Countdown: 4) Christ The Lord Is Risen Today! (Charles Wesley)

Arrangement by John Rutter, Processional by Burnett and Metzger (music leaders at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Florida.

At number 4, this glorious hymn, written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, is the second oldest in our countdown! (Can you guess the oldest? Comment below with suggestions!) Based on an older hymn, 'Jesus Christ is risen today' (14th century) and usually sung to the same tune, this hymn is pretty much a fixture in many church's Easter Sunday services, with good reason.

This stunning arrangement, firstly by the legendary John Rutter and then by the church's own musicians, gives me goosebumps every time I watch. I love the sheer joy in the faces of those performing, especially the young handbell ringers. The resurrection of Jesus Christ the Lord from among the dead should evoke the same joy in our own hearts!

"The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20) - Jesus didn't ascend straight to heaven from the cross or from the grave but rose as a man in order to show that God had raised Him, a sinless man, from among the dead. Jesus' disciples got to see their resurrected Lord, but Jesus says "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). That's us! We have chosen to believe the witness of the disciples and share their joy when we think of Jesus whom death could not forbid from rising!

Alleluia (or Hallelujah) means 'Praise the Lord' and is found particularly in the Psalms, depending on the translation. The King James Version, NIV and Good News Bible, for example, use 'Praise the Lord', whereas The Message and The Passion Translation use 'Hallelujah!' - for once I prefer the modern versions!

When Jesus was arrested He said that He could have called upon His Father to send "more than twelve legions of angels" (Matthew 26:53) but that He wouldn't because the Scripture (presumably Isaiah 53) needed to be fulfilled. Instead those angels would join mankind in the eternal song of triumph that Christ is risen!

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55 quoting Hosea 13:14). Jesus "sacrificed for [our] sins once for all when He offered Himself" (Hebrews 7:27) - He died once and, in so doing, took away any need for further sacrifice. Death has no claim against those He has redeemed. Jesus said "whoever obeys my word will never see death" (John 8:51).That doesn't mean that we don't physically die, but that we among those that are described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15. "For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:52) "and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonian 4:17 - both quotes from KJV).

So just as Christ ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection, He wants us to be there too. Not just in the future, although that is a wonderful thing for the believer to look forward to, but now. The Father has "blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3) and our hearts are to be set "on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1). He has given us the Holy Spirit and has brought us as close to heaven as we could possibly be while still on Earth.

This hymn is a great one to sing on Easter Sunday, but Christ is risen every day of our lives. Every day can be like Easter Sunday for us because Jesus' victory over death is complete and we can share that victory.

"Lord, you will reign forever! Zion’s God will rule throughout time and eternity! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 146:10 TPT)

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Christ the Lord is ris'n today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once he all doth save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!