Hymns of Hope and Comfort: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

During this time of fear and uncertainty in the COVID-19 wilderness, I’ve decided to do something a little different. I’m going to be daily using my blog to share texts and videos of hymns that pass along hope and comfort until the restrictions are lifted, and we can worship in our buildings once again. I hope you find them to be encouraging and edifying during this time.

Take care, everyone. Wash your hands. And keep the faith.

It’s probably not up for debate that “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today is the most popular Easter Hymn, but I didn’t want to neglect the Wesleyans among us, and the Baptists, since they tend to prefer this Charles Wesley text. It was based upon the older “JCIRT,” and one of that hymn’s stanzas is usually taken from Wesley’s later text. I grew up singing “CTLIRT” to EASTER HYMN, as do the Methodists, and in their hymnals “JCIRT” is usually set to LLANFAIR, which of course doesn’t matter, since they never sing it. If the tradition prefers “JCIRT,” then “CTLIRT” will be set to LLANFAIR, which of course doesn’t matter, since THEY never sing IT.

Okay, this is too confusing. Anyway, here’s a song that is very popular nowadays, and it’s “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and Duke University Chapel is going to do “Thine Be the Glory” too, OKAAAAAY?

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Okay, and here’s my favorite rendition of this hymn, sung by Mr. John Aloyisius Daker.

Photo:
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