Posted: 04/06/07

Newsflash: Death Destroyed!

Long before Elvis impersonators were a fait accompli in American evangelical churches, (see earlier column), Christ and His glory were the focus of believers gathered to worship the Lord. A trip back through the annals of the early church is instructive. The prayers and earliest recorded hymns reveal a people consumed with love for Jesus Christ and who had given up all earthly ambition to suffer with Him and His cause. This is nowhere more apparent than in the ancient hymns of Easter. These hymns were written in the teeth of incredible persecution and opposition to the Gospel, yet the songs they sang in praise contain a fierce joy that only the living Christ could have produced. These hymns are radiant in their expression of love for the Lord who just a short time before, had walked the earth.

In the early centuries, after Christ arose from the grave and ascended into Heaven, Christians began to gather late on Saturday night, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday worship. Hymns were sung, prayer was held and the Messianic prophecies were read out. These vigils were intended to help believers remember that incredible moment in human history when God miraculously intervened to save a race destined for an eternity in hell. This hymn, attributed to Augustine, has been sung for centuries by Christians during the long night watch before dawn on Easter.

This is the Night,

Which throughout the world

Frees all who believe in Christ

From the vices of their time-shackled existence,

From the lightless dungeon of sin,

And restores them to grace: unites them to holiness.

This is the Night

In which Christ broke the chains of death

And rose in radiant victory

From the pit of Hades.

Then with the sun rising in the darkness, dispelling all the gloom of that night, the cry rings out in the heart of every believer: "He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!" What Satan had believed was his ultimate victory--the Son of God himself crushed and murdered on a cross--was turned into the ultimate triumph. Satan was defeated for all eternity. This is why the bells should ring, and the choirs should sing in jubilation and the organs should thunder out the triumph in our churches on Easter morning. Our Savior is alive! Sin and death have been destroyed! Hallelujah!

A second century pastor named Melito of Sardes in Asia Minor wrote these powerful words:

Trembling for joy cries all creation;

What is this mystery, so great and new?

The Lord has risen from among the dead.

And Death itself He crushed with valiant foot.

Behold the cruel tyrant bound and chained,

And man made free by Him who rose!

A fourth century pastor wrote this hymn that points out the paradox of faith as seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

O Mystery great and glorious

That mortal flesh should conquer death,

And all our human pains and wounds

The Lord should heal by bearing them.

Behold how man, though crushed by death,

Now does arise and live with Christ,

While death, repelled and robbed of might,

Dies from its own malignant sting!

As true, blood-bought Christians gather around the world this weekend to commemorate in a special way, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, may we also sing out with fierce joy as our Christian brothers and sisters have done for two thousand years. We are part of that great river that runs through time, the redeemed of the Lord. Some glorious day we will all be united at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. These words are from a sixth century hymn, "The Lamb's High Banquet We Await!"  What a day that will be.

The Lamb's high banquet we await
in snow-white robes of royal state;
and now, the Red Sea's channel passed,
to Christ, our Prince, we sing at last.

Upon the altar of the cross
his Body hath redeemed our loss;
and tasting of his roseate Blood,
our life is hid with him in God.

That paschal eve God's arm was bared;
the devastating angel spared:
by strength of hand our hosts went free
from Pharaoh's ruthless tyranny.

Now Christ our Passover is slain,
the Lamb of God that knows no stain;
the true oblation offered here,
our own unleavened Bread sincere.

O thou from whom hell's monarch flies,
O great, O very Sacrifice,
thy captive people are set free,
and endless life restored in thee.

For Christ, arising from the dead,
from conquered hell victorious sped;
he thrusts the tyrant down to chains,
and paradise for man regains.

Maker of all, to thee we pray,
fulfill in us thy joy today;
when death assails, grant, Lord, that we
may share thy paschal victory.

To thee who, dead, again dost live,
all glory, Lord, thy people give;
all glory, as is every meet,
to Father and to Paraclete.

Amen

+ Soli Deo Gloria+

By Ingrid Schlueter Email: vcyproducer@aol.com Click here for bio and archived articles