…experience teaches me that this is the most unfamiliar to Lutheran congregations. This is most unfortunate because it is Luther’s Easter hymn. On the greatest of all Christian celebrations, unsurprisingly Luther made one of his most outstanding contributions.  It may be this hymn has fallen out of use because the melody may not strike us as joyful at first.  However, once one has taken the time to learn it, one could describe it as majestic and conquering.  Luther pulls no punches when describing the utter enemies of mankind which are sin and death, whose grip touches all.  And yet, Jesus did the impossible in rising from the dead.  He actually lay in the bands of death, but broke their power forever.  His resurrection is so sure and so comforting, that these bitter enemies have lost their sting forever.  Therefore we rejoice, basking in the “eternal sunshine” which lights our hearts.  

What’s your favorite Lutheran hymn? Let us know with a comment below.

Lutheran Service Book, Hymn 458
The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 123
Author: Johann Walter
Tune: Christ Lag In Todesbanden
First Published in: 1854

Lyrics

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
    For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands
    And brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us joyful be
And sing to God right thankfully
    Loud songs of alleluia!
        Alleluia!

No son of man could conquer death,
    Such ruin sin had wrought us.
No innocence was found on earth,
    And therefore death had brought us
Into bondage from of old
And ever grew more strong and bold
    And held us as its captive.
        Alleluia!

Christ Jesus, God’s own Son, came down,
    His people to deliver;
Destroying sin, He took the crown
    From death’s pale brow forever:
Stripped of pow’r, no more it reigns;
An empty form alone remains;
    Its sting is lost forever.
        Alleluia!

It was a strange and dreadful strife
    When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life,
    The reign of death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly saith
That death is swallowed up by death,
    Its sting is lost forever.
        Alleluia!

Here our true Paschal Lamb we see,
    Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursèd tree—
    So strong His love—to save us.
See, His blood now marks our door;
Faith points to it; death passes o’er,
    And Satan cannot harm us.
        Alleluia!

So let us keep the festival
    To which the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
    The sun that warms and lights us.
Now His grace to us imparts
Eternal sunshine to our hearts;
    The night of sin is ended.
        Alleluia!

Then let us feast this Easter Day
    On Christ, the bread of heaven;
The Word of grace has purged away
    The old and evil leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed;
He is our meat and drink indeed;
    Faith lives upon no other!
        Alleluia!

Text: Public domain