I love this hymn because it is a reminder of the glory and the victory of that morning, when the tomb was empty. I also love the way that this hymn is performed musically. If you are ever sitting in First Baptist Church of Indianapolis on an Easter morning, you will hear the organ lead into the first verse Low in the Grave He Lay. It comes in softly, and then is gently joined by the voices of the congregation. At the end of the verse, all is silent for a moment until the timpani begins to roll and leads in to the chorus:
Up from the grave He arose (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
I love that timpani roll. It is exciting. I can imagine that when Jesus' friends and followers found that He had been raised from the dead, they were excited. I often forget that Jesus had parents, family and friends. He went up on the cross as God's Son, as the Messiah - He also went up there as the son of Mary and Joseph. The friend of the twelve disciples. The friend of Mary and Martha. On that morning that they realized that their friend was with them once again, I can imagine their heart's beat just like that timpani.
I have been in some churches that display a cross with Jesus still on it. It is a beautiful depiction, and I can't come close to imagining what it was really like to be in the presence of Jesus on the cross. Although one is not right or wrong, and I don't necessarily prefer one over the other - I like to see just a cross hanging in church. It reminds me that Jesus is no longer there. He was nailed to the cross by our sins, and He overcame them. He was truly greater. He was truly the fulfillment of God's plan. Because He is no longer on that cross, we no longer have to be held to our crosses. He made that sacrifice for us. And He Arose.
~SP
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