HE IS RISEN
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!
This was the chorus of an Easter hymn written in 1874 by Robert Lowry, a Baptist minister from Philadelphia, PA in the USA. The hymn had three verses as well as this chorus.
I remember well the times in years gone by when I attended water baptismal services in several churches here in Australia, and also in New Zealand, where this rousing chorus was sung, each time the candidates for baptism rose up from the water.
One instance in particular stands out in my memory - that of a special time of water baptisms of a number of Christians who were part of a church where I was in fellowship in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church was in a suburb called New Brighton, a beachside suburb in that city. From memory, this particular service was held at the swimming pool complex which was a part of the QE2 stadium built for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
I remember singing this triumphant chorus a number of times as each person being baptized rose up from the water. How wonderful to be with like-minded Christians publicly declaring our faith in the Risen Christ in that arena, and to be able to join with those being baptized in their celebration of declaration that they had died to their old sinful lives and were, by faith looking forward to lives spent energized by the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, the QE2 stadium in Christchurch was a casualty of the devastating earthquake of 2011.
Other times of water baptisms carried out in a public setting vividly etched in my memory were those when I was in fellowship at the Southport AOG church on the Gold Coast in the 1970's, where because the church met in a rented hall, there was no purpose-built "pool" for water baptisms, the church went to a nearby river public swimming area. Under the leadership of the Senior Pastor, Tom Whiting, those being baptized made a public stand for Jesus Christ, while Pastor Whiting boldly announced in his deep rich English/ Welsh accent for all to hear, the reason why we were there and doing what was taking place, according to the Word of God.
Easter has come and gone for this year of 2014, and Christians around the world have remembered the agonizing death of their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ on the cruel Roman cross on a hill called Calvary outside of the city of Jerusalem in Israel. Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament many hundreds of years before the event.
Jesus spoke of His crucifixion on a number of occasions. One example is recorded in John 12:31-33 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Jesus also prophesied His own resurrection from the dead. He knew without a doubt that, although He had to die a horrible death on the cross, He would be raised back to life the third day following.
Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."
Another instance where Jesus confidently prophesies His death and resurrection is in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12:38-40. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
But He answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.,
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Just as the prophets of old, and Jesus Himself prophesied, on the morning of that first "Easter Sunday", as the day began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The exciting reality of this time continues to be related by Matthew in the last chapter of his Gospel account: And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him; and became like dead men.
But the angel answered, and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Verses 1 to 6)
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead on that first Easter Sunday are historical facts which happened at well documented points in time.
Because He took our place on the cross, and overcame Hell and death being raised to life again - to live evermore, those who have put their trust in Him since that time have been released from the power and penalty of sin, and have experienced newness of life, and renewed hope from the God of Hope. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
This was the chorus of an Easter hymn written in 1874 by Robert Lowry, a Baptist minister from Philadelphia, PA in the USA. The hymn had three verses as well as this chorus.
I remember well the times in years gone by when I attended water baptismal services in several churches here in Australia, and also in New Zealand, where this rousing chorus was sung, each time the candidates for baptism rose up from the water.
One instance in particular stands out in my memory - that of a special time of water baptisms of a number of Christians who were part of a church where I was in fellowship in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church was in a suburb called New Brighton, a beachside suburb in that city. From memory, this particular service was held at the swimming pool complex which was a part of the QE2 stadium built for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games.
I remember singing this triumphant chorus a number of times as each person being baptized rose up from the water. How wonderful to be with like-minded Christians publicly declaring our faith in the Risen Christ in that arena, and to be able to join with those being baptized in their celebration of declaration that they had died to their old sinful lives and were, by faith looking forward to lives spent energized by the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, the QE2 stadium in Christchurch was a casualty of the devastating earthquake of 2011.
Other times of water baptisms carried out in a public setting vividly etched in my memory were those when I was in fellowship at the Southport AOG church on the Gold Coast in the 1970's, where because the church met in a rented hall, there was no purpose-built "pool" for water baptisms, the church went to a nearby river public swimming area. Under the leadership of the Senior Pastor, Tom Whiting, those being baptized made a public stand for Jesus Christ, while Pastor Whiting boldly announced in his deep rich English/ Welsh accent for all to hear, the reason why we were there and doing what was taking place, according to the Word of God.
Easter has come and gone for this year of 2014, and Christians around the world have remembered the agonizing death of their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ on the cruel Roman cross on a hill called Calvary outside of the city of Jerusalem in Israel. Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament many hundreds of years before the event.
Jesus spoke of His crucifixion on a number of occasions. One example is recorded in John 12:31-33 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Jesus also prophesied His own resurrection from the dead. He knew without a doubt that, although He had to die a horrible death on the cross, He would be raised back to life the third day following.
Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."
Another instance where Jesus confidently prophesies His death and resurrection is in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12:38-40. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
But He answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.,
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Just as the prophets of old, and Jesus Himself prophesied, on the morning of that first "Easter Sunday", as the day began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
The exciting reality of this time continues to be related by Matthew in the last chapter of his Gospel account: And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him; and became like dead men.
But the angel answered, and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Verses 1 to 6)
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead on that first Easter Sunday are historical facts which happened at well documented points in time.
Because He took our place on the cross, and overcame Hell and death being raised to life again - to live evermore, those who have put their trust in Him since that time have been released from the power and penalty of sin, and have experienced newness of life, and renewed hope from the God of Hope. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
