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