“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living” (Romans 14:9).

Undoubtedly the song sung more than any other at Easter time is Charles Wesley’s triumphant hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Each of its four verses is laced with Scriptural content. Containing thrilling and timeless truths, they will lead us to join in similar praise.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Allelujah. Sons of men and angels say, Allelujah. Raise your joys and triumphs high, Allelujah. Sing ye heavens and earth reply. Allelujah.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3). Acknowledging and understanding the benefits that Christ’s resurrection brings us and the great standing we have before God the Father because of His work should elicit a response of great praise from all men. Even the angels “Praise . . . Him” (Psalm 148:2).

Furthermore, “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 96:11), for by His return from the dead, He “spoiled principalities and powers, (and thus) He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).

The term “alleluia” (or “Hallelujah”) follows each line of the song. This interesting word is a combination of the Hebrew word “Hallel,” meaning praise and the shortened word for God or Lord, “Jah.” Thus “Alleluia” means, “Praise the Lord!” “Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are His judgments. . . . I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude . . . saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:1,2,6). JDM