Hymn 201 - Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won!

This weekend we continue in our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus in the Season of Easter. One of the hymns we will be singing this weekend is a German hymn from the 1700's written by Christian Gellert. 

This hymn weaves in many New Testament Bible passages and does a beautiful job of showing us what the resurrection of Jesus actually means for us. Each verse begins with the emphatic declaration: "Jesus Lives!" and ends with the statement: "This shall be my confidence!"

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean?

"Death no longer can appal [horrify] me" (verse 1). Because Jesus lives, we will live also.

It means "I shall go where He is gone" (v.2). Jesus has finished His work and ascended into heaven. And He will return and bring us there as well.

It also means "For me He died" (verse 3) so I will live for Jesus, just as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:15: “and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

It means "God will be a sure Defense" (verse 4), and "neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:39).

Finally, it means "Now is death but the gate of life immortal" (verse 5). Jesus has defeated death and now it is simply the door which leads us to the presence of our Savior in eternity.

Yes, "Jesus lives! This shall be my confidence!" The resurrection of Jesus is not myth. It is not just some historical event. It has significant meaning for us today, and for eternity.   

Join us as celebrate the rich meaning of Christ's resurrection from the dead and as join our hearts and lips to give Him praise and glory for that victory over death!