Who can count the songs that have been written about — or because of — the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Our song “He Arose” is one of them. This is a bright, attractive song. It carries many teaching topic ideas in its lyrics and it makes good use of repetition. I suspect it is not very well known. The song notes say it appeared in 18 hymnals, most published before 1930. It was a new song to me — maybe this will be a new song to you, too. If it is, I’m happy to share it with you and let it run about and get a little fresh air. Please give it a sing-along listen and then visit the song notes for a chat on the best good news.

Most important event in history?

I looked up “most important event in history” and got a bunch of different answers. I looked up “is the resurrection the most important event in history” and got a lot of search results saying, in short, “yes”. No surprise here — answers to this question depend on what’s important to a person.

I get the sense the Corinthians, as we do now, had a lot of “shiny objects in the room” competing for the role of “most important thing deserving their attention”. Paul entered the competition to rescue them from squandering their focus on glitter, beseeching them to go for the gold. We find Paul’s appeal to those worldly-wise-and-up-with-their times learners wrapped in a compact package in 1 Corinthians 15. When you read the chapter for yourself you see Paul urge them — through a variety of points — to see the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believe resurrection is real and live in the light of its promises. He wanted them to get this. Points from Paul’s appeal to the Corinthian church include —

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is front and center in Paul’s teaching of the gospel.
2. Paul points out the resurrection is declared plainly elsewhere in scripture.
3. The resurrected Jesus Christ was seen personally by hundreds of people, many still alive at the time he wrote this.
4. “Reason with me …” Paul walks them through the logic of the subject.
5. What about your happiness? Reject the resurrection and be “of all men most miserable.”
6. Once again Paul teaches them details of Christ’s resurrection and what they can look forward to because of it.
7. Paul encourages and exhorts them — “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
   “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

What a help, what a blessing these words must have been to the Corinthian church. Wouldn’t you love to receive a letter like that yourself?

Is death real?

If the Corinthian church needed that level of coaching to get where they needed to be on resurrection, we shouldn’t be too surprised if “unbelievers” we meet don’t think to include the resurrection of Jesus Christ on their own list of “most important events in history”. At every turn there are still rooms full of shiny objects vying for everyone’s attention and any of them might tease that it is the most rewarding entertainment. Paul’s work was cut out for him. Ours, too.

The gospel is still good news, and we love to help all the people we can to get its life and light for themselves. To that end, I’ll pass along to you a fascinating conversation starter.

When we meet cynical souls burned out by hype and spin, and they doubt anything is real, you might ask them, “is death real?” You might point out even if it isn’t, when we see it, it looks close enough to real to count as a real thing for all practical purposes.

A remarkable verse in Hebrews says,
“And deliver them who through … [***fill in the blank***]
…were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Being “subject to bondage” sounds bad. Being subject “all their lifetime” sounds tragic.

What causes such tragedy? What goes in that [***blank***] space above? “Fear of death.”

If the reality of death resonates in your conversation, it is only a short jump to get from there to the good news of the resurrection. You could mention that Jesus did not come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. Sometime soon when you are again out there speaking the truth in love, this might be a door opener.

♫♪ He Arose ♫♪

I love songs that use repetition to teach good things. This bright song does a lot of teaching and gets us saying in song “He arose” 32 times using four short verses and a chorus. That’s some good repetition.

A look at the lyrics reveals a smorgasbord of topics for teaching or study — or just to rehearse in our minds and ponder. It’s all good.

One point I’d like to highlight is from the chorus — “He will save his people from the last of foes.” Did you notice that “last foe” is identified elsewhere in the song? Just to confirm that, you will be able to learn what it is when you read 1 Corinthians 15. (This is one of those chapters in the Bible you’ll come back to over and over and over. Good one.)

Thank the Lord for the resurrection — and for telling us about it — and for including us in its miraculous benefits. Oh, what an astounding and awesomely wonderful difference Jesus Christ made for all mankind — and all history — when he arose!

God bless you lots
-Dale R.

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Download this song sheet

LYRICS – He Arose
Text: William C. Martin (1864-1914)
Tune: J. M. Copeland (1914)

1. When the king awakened in his lowly grave,
He arose, he arose;
He arose a victor, he arose to save;
He arose, he arose.

Chorus:
He arose from the grave;
With great power, he will save;
He will save his people from the last of foes,
He arose, he arose.

2. There were angels watching by his humble bed,
He arose, he arose;
When he laid aside the vestments of the dead;
He arose, he arose.

3. Jesus took away from death its awful sting;
He arose, he arose;
In the dark, dark valley now with thanks we sing:
He arose, he arose.

4. He arose and now he reigns, a king on high,
He arose, he arose;
He arose a victor, so by grace, shall I;
He arose, he arose.

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