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!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778

Listen as you read.  This is a short but beautiful cello version.

He is risen!  It is just as true today as it was on Sunday, and Tuesday for that matter, so we continue our celebration as we think about the last two lines here.  There is an interesting juxtaposition of extremes I had not noticed until a little deeper reflection.

Innermost Alleluia

So here in the context of lifting our Alleluia’s to the risen Christ, we are implored to “Raise (our) joys and triumphs high”.  Though the instruction is to lift these things, consider the fact that they begin as in inner response to external circumstances.  We can not raise from within what we have not perceived.

Consider it from this perspective.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.  1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV

Through His resurrection, Christ has accomplished the salvation of our souls.  When we believe this, we obtain the outcome of our faith.  This brings us to a point of rejoicing, albeit with an ineffable joy.  Even though we may not be able to fully or completely express this “inexpressible” and glory-filled joy, we can not help but try.  

This may be the epitome of the expression, “the heart sings”.  There is effectively a remarkable inner alleluia that we feel and attempt to utter.  This third line encourages that activity, an outward expression of an inward reality which begins at the very core of our being, intimate and personal, quiet and tender, our heart.

Outermost Alleluia

On the heels of this very micro expression of praise comes the instruction to a very macro one.   From the heart to the heavens.

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

This instruction is very scripturally sound.

Isaiah 49:13 ESV

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.

Why are the heavens and the earth commanded to sing and exult (present tense)?  Because the Lord has comforted his people (past tense) and will have compassion on his afflicted (future tense).  

All the tenses make sense, but it is curious that the heavens and earth are to praise because God has had and will have compassion on his people.  The implication here is that his compassion will overflow and have an impact of not only God’s people but the whole of His creation.

Whether the subtle pink cross above or the overt one here, these images give expression to the fact that creation is indeed doing what Scripture has commanded it to do.  So the macro scale of our Alleluia seems to be on track.

What about the micro?  Are you as faithful to lift your “Alleluia” as the other works of His hands?  If you are like me, you want to be, even without the command to raise your joys and triumphs high.  So let’s cultivate such a mind for just a moment.

Think about your joys and triumphs.  What comes to mind?  Now take a few moments and give Jesus praise for them.  Ask the Holy Spirit to make you keenly aware of them throughout your day.  And then do it all over again every time He does.

Alleluia!

Grateful Thinking!

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