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.
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Having just celebrated the resurrection, we are going to spend the next four weeks considering this great Easter hymn. So that we can be ready to continue to offer our “Alleluia’s” through this season, let’s consider several implications of the Resurrection. Let’s tune our hearts.
Alleluia or Hallelujah!
Some of our traditions sweeten the “Alleluia” of Easter morning by not saying or singing that word for several weeks preceding Easter. The intent is two-fold I would say. First, it causes a sense of anticipation in the worshipper and second, it symbolizes a degree of the longing that the Hebrew people had as they awaited the coming of the Messiah, or Anointed One. If you are from one of those traditions, you might not have even been aware of this intentional choice, but all the same have experienced the heightened joy when that first Alleluia is uttered Easter morning.
It is also heightened by the sheer fact that if there ever was a morning that the redeemed people of God want to say “Alleluia” it is this morning. After all, Alleluia simply means “We praise You, God” and on this morning of mornings our praise rises rightly to our Redeemer King, for even though we celebrate His resurrection every time we gather, we absolutely do on Easter.
While “Alleluia” is an appropriate response to every line of this of hymn, and every other stanza for that matter, there is something unique about the way it is used in this stanza. This is particularly true of lines two and four, where, rather than simply being an exclamation at the end of the line, it is actually an integral part of those lines. What are the sons of men and angels instructed to say? Alleluia. Even the very heavens and the earth are instructed to sing and reply this simple declaration of praise. We will look at the first of those here, and the other Thursday, but we first will begin with our title line.
Risen
What we celebrate on Easter is nothing less than the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after He had been crucified for our sins and buried. Our faith hinges on this truth. As Paul said in I Corinthians 15:3-4.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
We have become so accustomed to this eternity-altering reality, that, dare I say, we take it for granted. And that is unfortunate not only because we loose the wonder of it, but we can actually begin to loose sight of the impact and implications.
In the resurrection, Jesus is demonstrating victory over not only the grave, but sin and death as well. Not only that, but as you read further in 1 Corinthians 15, you realize that Jesus was the firstborn from among the dead, and that we too will rise for “death has been swallowed up in victory.” I encourage you to read that passage at the link and allow it to refresh your perspective like this image refreshed mine.
Here, Jesus appears to be running out of the tomb, with grave clothes flying in every direction. I love the energy of this. I am not arguing that this is what it must have looked like, as much as I am challenging a fresh look at an ancient truth. Did you nice the holes in His hand and foot?
As you walk along on this side of Easter, are you willing to see the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a new light? If you are, I am confident it will do nothing but strengthen the “Alleluia” you offer with the angels, son (or daughter) of men.
Singing with the Angels
They have been offering Him praise since the dawn of creation. We came along much later in the timeline.
They are ever-circling His throne to offer that same praise. We often fail to do so even though we have the same access.
They really do not need to be told to praise Him since they are His servants. We do, even though we are His sons and daughters.
Still, in response to His resurrection, we are instructed to offer the same simple word of worship, Alleluia! So will you?
Happy Tuning!
Jesus, I know You are worthy of all the “Alleluias” I could bring. Help me to sing them, say them, and live them, always in response to Your resurrection power. I will praise You! In Jesus name. Amen.
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Video 40.1 Transcript, 5.1 Reframed
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
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!
Never has there been a line which should evoke the praises of God’s people more than that which declares our Savior and Lord is risen from the dead. Give praise to God today for the Good News that death has been defeated!
Jesus, I praise You for defeating death.
When you offer your “Alleluia”, it becomes a part of the great cacophony of praise begun in ages past by other mere mortals like yourself, and even further back by those who have circled the throne since before the dawn of time. Thank Him that you get to join that song.
Father, thank You for letting me join the “Alleluia”.
If you have any joys or triumphs, they are, each and every one, demonstrations of God’s victory best displayed in Christ’s resurrection. Recount a few right now, and lift them all to Him in praise for what He has done. Then spend the rest of your days adding to them.
God, remind me of joys and triumphs and help me raise them.
Now that is a call to worship if there ever was one. “Start us off heaven, and earth, let’s hear your response.” How will you echo the praises of heaven today?
Spirit, help me echo the praises of heaven.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, be Resonant.
