Sunday Meditation, April 12: Easter

Jesus in His Own Words: An Easter Celebration

The most important thing in the world is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If Jesus is alive, then there is hope for the world. If He is still in the grave, then there isn't the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon. Outside of the resurrection of Jesus, I do not know of any other hope for this world.

— German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer

Scripture for Meditation: John 11:25, 26

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?*

Hymn of Praise: See, What a Morning

See, what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem,
Folded the grave clothes, tomb filled with light
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God's salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?" 
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb; 
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name; 
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again! 
The voice that spans the years, 
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us, 
Will sound till He appears, 
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! 

One with the Father, Ancient of Days, 
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise 
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority! 
And we are raised with Him, 
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered; 
And we shall reign with Him, 
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

— Words and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. Copyright © 2003 Kingsway Thankyou Music. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Celebration: 10,000 Reasons

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

You're rich in love
And You're slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name
Bless You Lord

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore
Forevermore

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name

I'll worship Your Holy name
I'll worship Your Holy name

— Jonas Myrin / Matt Redman. © 2011 Shout! Publishing (ASCAP), sixstep Music (ASCAP), Said and Done Music, and Thankyou Music (PRS) CCLI #2783020

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading:  John 20:1-9

 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 

So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. 

He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.  

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 

for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Hymn of Confession: Christ, the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord, is ris'n today; Alleluia!*
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high; Alleluia
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! 
Dying once he all doth 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 him rise, Alleluia! 
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Foll'wing our exalted Head; Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise; Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Amen.

— Charles Wesley, 1707-1788.

Cambridge Singers Sing, Ye Heavens - Hymns for All Time ℗ 2000 Collegium. Artist: John Scott. Choir: Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter. Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia Composer: John Rutter.

* “Alleluia mean “Praise Jehovah.”

Confession of Faith: The Heidelberg Catechism

Question 45:

What does the resurrection of Christ profit us?

Answer:

First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, that he might make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death; secondly, we are also by his power raised up to a new life; and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection. 

Hymn of Praise: Crown Him with Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heav'nly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of love! Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright!

Crown him the Lord of years! The Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime!
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me! 
Thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.

—Theodulph of Orleans, circa 820. Translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale, 1851

Hymn of Triumph: Christ Is Risen

Verse 1
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross and
Run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us, freely You've bled for us

Chorus
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with Him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Verse 2
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but heaven's will
No scheme of hell no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign, forever let your church proclaim

Bridge 1
O death, where is your sting
O hell, where is your victory
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night (singing)

Bridge 2
O death, where is your sting
O hell, where is your victory
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive

Chorus
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with Him again
Come awake come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

—Matt Maher, Mia Fieldes. 2009 spiritandsong.com, Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Be Essential Songs, Upside Down Under (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC). CCLI # 2783020

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Ministry of the Word 

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*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.