A Hymn of Easter

Believe it or not, I can't say it any better than our esteemed brother, Martin Luther, so I will let his hymn communicate the power and joy of the resurrection.

Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands

For our offenses given;

But now at God's right hand he stands

And brings us life from heaven;

Therefore let us joyful be

And sing to God right thankfully

Glad songs of alleluia!

Alleluia!

No son of man could conquer death,

Such mischief sin had wrought us,

For innocence dwelt not on earth

And therefore death had brought us

Into thralldom from of old

And ever grew more strong and bold

And kept us in his bondage.

Alleluia!

But Jesus Christ, God's only Son

To our low state descended;

The cause of death he has undone,

His power forever ended.

Ruined all his right and claim;

And left him nothing but the name,

His sting is lost forever.

Alleluia!

It was a strange and dreadful strife

When life adn death contended;

The victory remained with life,

The reign of death was ended;

Holy Scripture plainly saith

That death is swallowed up by death

His sting is lost forever.

Alleluia!

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,

Whom God so freely gave us;

He died on the accursed tree -

So strong his love! - to save us.

See, his blood doth mark our door;

Faith points to it, death passes o'er,

And Satan cannot harm us.

Alleluia!

So let us keep the festival

Whereto the Lord invites us;

Christ is himself the joy of all,

The Sun that warms and lights us.

By his grace he doth impart

Eternal sunshine to the heart;

The night of death is ended.

Alleluia!

Then let us feast this Easter day

On Christ, the Bread of Heaven;

The Word of grace hath purged away

The old and evil leaven.

Christ alone our souls will feed,

He is our meat and drink indeed;

Faith lives upon no other.

Alleluia!