While Easter doesn’t have as many Easter songs and we’re not inundated with Easter carols, there are still favorite Easter hymns. And one of my favorite traditional Easter hymns is “Up from the Grave He Arose.”
I decided to do a bit of research to find out how this Easter favorite came about. The hymn was written by a pastor, Robert Lowry in 1874. Soon after, the song began to appear in hymnals, and it became an Easter tradition. It’s known by several different titles – Low in the Grave, Christ Arose, and He Arose. Robert Lowry went on to compose several hymns that we sing today; I Need Thee Every Hour, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus, Shall We Gather at the River, and We’re Marching to Zion.
On Easter morning, the minute I hear the low and slow opening notes, I am waiting for that jubilant, triumphant line “Up from the grave He arose!” The short verses are like a funeral dirge – sad and mournful. They highlight the sadness of Jesus’ death. But then comes the chorus!
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!
The chorus is what I remember – it’s a powerful statement that Jesus defeated death and lives forever! Those powerful lyrics remind me of the real reason for Easter; the sacrifice that God made when He sent His only Son down to earth to die for our sins. But it didn’t end with Jesus’ death, He triumphed over death!
Death cannot keep his prey, Jesus, my Savior,
He tore the bars away, Jesus, my Lord!
It is in the last verse that I am reminded of our victory – there is a triumph for us! In the tearing away of death’s bars, Christ tore those bars away for us. With His resurrection, Jesus took the penalty of all our sins and released death’s hold on us. We can be assured that as believers, we also face death, but it isn’t the end. Hallelujah!
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!
Bev Barnes Admin Assistant for the Communications Team
