Hymns:Christ the Lord is risen today

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Christ the Lord is risen today
Title Christ the Lord is risen today
Author Charles Wesley
Composer Robert Williams, c. 1781-1821
Published
Orig. Key C Major
Orig. Language
Meter 7.7.7.7.with Alleluias
Melody
1st Line Christ the Lord is risen today
or Christ the Lord is ris'n to day
Scriptures Matthew 28:7
Christ the Lord is risen today (mid)
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Christ the Lord is risen today

Contents

Summary

Scripture References

Notes

Charles Wesley composed this "Hymn for Easter Day" in eleven stanzas. First sung at the famous Foundry Meeting House, the text was published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739). The "alleluia" responses, reflecting ancient Jewish and Christian practice, were added by later editors to fit the tune. Wesley's stanzas 1-2a and 3b-6 are included.

The text contains some of the most familiar Easter themes: all creatures rejoice in Christ's resurrection (st. 1); the work of redemption is complete (st. 2); death is vanquished (st. 3); we have new life in Christ now (st. 4); we praise the victorious Christ (st. 5). The "alleluias," which remind us of the ancient Easter greeting, do more than interrupt the textual flow: they provide the framework for praising God with each line of text.


Liturgical Use

Easter Sunday morning; a great processional hymn.

[1]

forms

Christ [our] the Lord, is risen today, Sons of men, &c. C. Wesley. [Easter.] This is one of the most popular and widely used of C. Wesley's hymns. It appeared in the Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739, in 11 stanzas of 4 lines, with the heading "Hymn for Easter." In his Psalms and Hymns, 1760, No. 32, M. Madan introduced some alterations, and omitted stanzas vii.-ix., thereby forming a hymn of 8 stanzas. It is from this form of the hymn that all subsequent arrangements of the text have been made. It is curious that although it was in several collections of the Church of England in 1780, yet J. Wesley omitted it from the Wesleyan Hymn Book, which he compiled and published during that year, and it was not until the issue of the Supplementto that collection in 1830, that it appeared therein in any form, and then the alteration of stanza iv., 1. 3, "Dying once, He all doth save," to "Once He died our souls to save," was adopted from Madan. Its use is extensive in all English-speaking countries. The reading, "Christ, our Lord," &c, dates from Cotterill's Selection, 1810 (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. i. p. 185).

[2] [3]

Lyrics

  1. 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!
  2. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
    Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
    Dying once he all doth save, Alleluia!
    Where thy victory, O Grave? Alleluia!
  3. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
    Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
    Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
    Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
  4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
    Foll'wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
    Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
    Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hymnal Instances

[4]


References

  1. ↑ Emily, Brink (April 1, 1998). Psalter Hymnal Handbook. Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications. 
  2. ↑ Julian, John (1907). Dictionary of Hymnology . Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. 
  3. ↑ Hymnary.org (2009). "Text: Christ the Lord is risen today". 
  4. ↑ Hymnary.org (2009). "Instances: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". 
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