Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, ELW 369
Devotion
Christ the Lord is ris'n today; Alleluia!
Christians, hasten on your way; Alleluia!
offer praise with love replete, Alleluia!
at the paschal victim's feet. Alleluia!
For the sheep the Lamb has bled, Alleluia!
sinless in the sinner's stead. Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
Christ, the victim undefiled, Alleluia!
God and sinners reconciled, Alleluia!
when contending death and life, Alleluia!
met in strange and awesome strife. Alleluia!
Christians, on this holy day, Alleluia!
all your grateful homage pay; Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
I am not normally an early riser, but the Easter sunrise service is one of my favorites. In the church I served, we started when it was still dark, much earlier than most churches. In the darkness, a voice read the verses from Isaiah 53:3-6 about the suffering and dying servant of God. Then suddenly we turned all the lights on and the glorious strains of the full organ thundered out this great hymn of the Easter confession: "Christ the Lord is risen today. Alleluia!" We went from pitch darkness to blazing light and sound in a second.
On that first Easter morning, the disciples also went from darkness to light in a second—the moment they heard that unbelievable good news, "He has been raised!" Those four little words changed everything. Since Friday their lives had crumbled into depression, but now hope blazed more brightly than ever. We imitate that move when we sing, "God and sinners reconciled, when contending death and life."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank you that the same good news which gave new life to the disciples also enlightens our lives! Amen.