(Mat 28:1-7) In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. {2} And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. {3} His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: {4} And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. {5} And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. {6} He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. {7} And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
In the Easter season of 1874 a Baptist minister by the name of Robert Lowry was so impressed by the passage in Luke 24:6-7 that he found himself sitting at an organ composing the words to Christ Arose. And he captured the resurrection truth in his song which was doctrinally sound and inspiring.
He begins the song by setting the tone in somber musical tones and then escalating to the joyful and triumphant end. The first stanza says Lo in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior; waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord. Jesus is our Savor, but He is also Lord because He owns death and the power it holds over us. He was not just lying there waiting for the third day, but as Peter tells us, He went into the heart of the earth preaching to those other saints the meaning of His death and the resultant resurrection for all who seek Him in forgiveness of sins.
The second stanza says, Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior, vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord. Jesus did not just “swoon” as some try to say – He actually died and His Spirit left His body and it is vain to watch a dead person. It is even vainer to seal His tomb, but then they were sealing it against outsiders stealing the body, not from an angel opening the tomb and breaking the seal.
The third stanza says, Death could not keep his prey Jesus my Savior, He tore the bars away Jesus my Lord. Death is a formidable foe and causes people to do strange things at times. It is very intimidating and many refuse to talk about it. Unfortunately, far too many do not prepare for death and thus are taken to hell after death and suffer eternal punishment. Paul tells us that death will be the last enemy to be destroyed 1 Cor 15:26. The song goes on to say that Jesus tore the bars away – bars insinuate a prison and place to keep people in confinement. The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus took on a body of flesh and tasted death for us so that we might not be held by its power – “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Then the chorus shouts the victory – Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er his foes, He arose the Victor of the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign. Hallelujah! We are more than conquerors through Christ. Enjoy this Easter with the freshness of His resurrection in your life. If you are not yet a Christian, then confess you sin and ask for forgiveness.