Hope from Easter

In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote the hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today. We sang this in my church on Sunday. There is so much here for one who is grieving!  

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Neither Death nor the Grave has victory over the Life Christ came to give us who trust Him. The enemy of our souls used death to try to forbid Jesus to rise to life. But he didn’t succeed. Christ has, for sure, opened Paradise. The way is open. Alleluia!

Think about the first line in the second verse I’ve quoted: “Love’s redeeming work.”

Love – God loves us. Really, really loves His people, the ones He made by His own design.

Redeeming – motivated by that Love, God did want is necessary to redeem, to bring us into personal fellowship with Him. After all, He made us for that exact purpose. Since we have been made for fellowship with Him, then anytime we don’t have that open channel of fellowship, we feel that something is wrong. God entered in to redeem the situation.

Work – it did take WORK, blood, sweat and tears hard work, to do that redeeming action. Christ did that work by standing trial before lying, controlling, power hungry men and by going all the way to the cross and death. He did it because He loves us.

Love’s redeeming work IS DONE - complete, now and forever. Including for you and for your child.

Alleluia!!!