UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE

Christ Is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! These familiar words will be heard in churches all over the United States on Easter morning, the day we celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To celebrate, many churches will 'pull out all the stops' and sing any number of inspiring, joy-filled hymns about the resurrection. One of my favorite is this week's choice which ws written by Robert Lowry. The text was written and the tune was composed in 1874 after Lowry had moved to preach at the First Baptist Church in Lewisburg, PA. He also served there as a professor at Bucknell University. I personally find this so interesting since I did my master's work at Bucknell and I can't help wonder how such a marvelous hymn like this could have been written by a member of their staff. But things have certainly changed in over a century. Anyway, during the spring of that year, Lowry was having his evening devotions and was impressed with the events associated with Christ's resurrection. Soon he found himself in the parlor of his home and, in a very spontaneous fashion, he penned the words and music for this song. I am always amazed at how quickly some of our favorite hymns were written. It was first published the following year in a Sunday school songbook Brightest and Best of which he was coeditor with William Howard Doane (1832-1915). This song emphasizes both the facts and the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Lowry is credited with the publication of over twenty collections and continued to be interested in church music all of his life. It has often been said that the quality of Lowry's hymns did much to improve the cause of church music in this nation during the latter part of the nineteenth century. And today we can joyfully sing this favorite as we thank God for the death and resurrection of Jesus. He took the punishment for our sins when we deserved to be crucified. Oh what mercy and grace. But today we remember the most important day in history. Rejoice, He is risen, He is risen indeed!

(1) Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(2) Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;

Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

(3) Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Listen to it here. LISTEN

PRAISE HIM, PRAISE HIM!

Palm Sunday is the day we remember the "triumphal entry" of Jesus into Jerusalem, exactly one week before His resurrection (Matthew 21:1-11). Some 450-500 years earlier, the Prophet Zechariah had prophesied, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). Matthew 21:7-9 records the fulfillment of that prophecy: "They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!'" It was day in which He was welcomed as King, one week before they crucified Him like a common criminal. And so today I've chosen a familiar hymn which brings praise to the one who was Prophet, Priest, and King - our Redeemer. It was written by the blind Fanny Crosby, probably the most prolific hymnist in history. Though blinded by an incompetent doctor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns. About her blindness, she said: "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me." But she did write many great hymns of praise to her Redeemer which believers have sung to the praise of God over the years. So join in sharing one of Fanny's hymns of praise as we begin this week in which we celebrate the crucifixion and the most important event in history - the Resurrection.

(1) Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! hail Him! highest archangels in glory;

Strength and honor give to His holy Name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,

In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Tell of His excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Ever in joyful song!

(2) Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.

He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,

Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.

Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,

Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Tell of His excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Ever in joyful song!

(3) Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!

Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever.

Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!

Christ is coming! over the world victorious,

Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Tell of His excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Ever in joyful song!

You can listen to Fanny Crosby's great hymn of praise here. LISTEN

AT CALVARY

As we approach the Easter season, there are many favorite hymns that speak of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross at Calvary. One of my favorites is the hymn that I've chosen for this week. It was a favorite in our church when I was growing up and it is still one that seniors love to sing at our monthly hymn sings which I lead at the Pinebrook Bible Conference. It reminds us of how the crucifixion of Christ can change our lives so dramatically. And this is what stirred the author to pen these words many years ago. The story behind the hymn began when Dr. R.A. Torrey was president of Moody Bible Institute. Here is the story as told by Dr. Torrey. "When I was president of the Moody Bible Institute, I received a letter from a very concerned pastor who told me of a son who was causing himself and his family a great deal of trouble. His life was really mixed up. And the father felt that attendance at Moody would help. I advised the father that even though I sympathized with him, for I was a father; yet, because I was running a Bible school and not a reform school, I had to deny his request. After many letters of pleading his cause, I finally gave in with the stipulation that the rebellious teen must see me each day and make every effort to abide by the rules and requirements of the Institute." Torrey went on to say that the boy faithfully visited his office each day; and with wisdom from God's word, he answered the questions that had been keeping the boy from God. Finally, after many months of counseling, the prayers of the boy's father were answered when young William R. Newell received Christ as his personal Savior. Thirty years later, as a teacher at Moody, Mr. Newell was recounting those turbulent years as a rebellious teen; and as he was rejoicing in his salvation, the words of a poem flooded his mind. His mind was filled with a word picture of what had happened in his life and also in the lives of all those who surrender to Christ. The new man in Christ could now write these words that have spoken to many for over a century. Meditate on these words as you celebrate the Easter season.

(1) Years I spent in vanity and pride,

Caring not my Lord was crucified,

Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(2) By God's Word at last my sin I learned;

Then I trembled at the law I'd spurned,

Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(3) Now I've given to Jesus everything,

Now I gladly own Him as my King,

Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

(4) Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.

Now listen to it sung here. LISTEN

JESUS I COME

Recently, during our morning walk at the local shopping center, my wife and I both heard a familiar melody being played throughout the mall. We were shocked to recognize it as the melody for this week's hymn. We assume that it must have secular words or it wouldn't be played there. If you know what the words might be, please contact us. I remember the hymn mostly as one that was sung during altar calls back in the days when such invitations were part of most church services. I searched and found very little information about the author, William T. Sleeper who wrote the words in 1887. He apparently was a home missionary and served over 30 years at a Congregational Church in Massachusetts. He also wrote the words to "Ye Must Be Born Again". However, there is interesting information available about the writer of the music, George C. Stebbins. At the age of 23, he moved to Chicago where he worked in churches and became acquainted with some of the greats of gospel music, such as Sankey and Bliss. In the late 1870's D. L. Moody got hold of him, sending him into a lifetime of music evangelism. Stebbins first met Moody while he was preaching at a village church in Massachusetts. Moody asked him to lead the singing and Stebbins, a bit nervous, sat at the little organ in front of the pulpit. As he played and led the congregation he was bothered by a terrible wheezing noise. He described it as "a discordant sound". At first he was sure it was the organ and he tried to figure out which keys weren't working properly. Finally he realized that it wasn't the organ, it was the voice of Moody singing. He said "I heard the voice of Mr. Moody singing away as heartily as you please, with no more idea of tune or time than a child." I guess he could preach, but just couldn't sing. Stebbins went on to work alongside Moody for years, composing many favorite hymn tunes and invitational hymns. As I said previously, such hymns are seldom sung today in churches where invitations and altar calls tend to be past history. But the words still serve as an invitation for folks to come to the cross. And for believers, the words should remind us of where we came from - bondage, sorrow, night, and dread of the tomb. Praise the Lord for His sheltering fold which is open to all who come. As we approach the Easter season, meditate on the words of this week's hymn.

(1) Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness, into Thy health,

Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

(2) Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress to jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

(3) Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into Thy blessed will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair into raptures above,

Upward for aye on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

(4) Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;

Into the joy and light of Thy throne,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Listen to the words and music here. LISTEN