It is interesting to know that when you ask people if they can name the time of year that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ, they will answer that it is during Easter. This is, of course, correct. However, there is a much larger answer than just Easter. The fact is, that if we think about the question, we must answer that Christians celebrate Christ’s resurrection 52 times a year.
Sunday is the day of the week we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord. But do any of us, going to church on Sunday, consider the fact that Sunday is resurrection day?
Our Christian faith is built on the truth of Christ’s resurrection. If He did not rise, then our faith is useless and we should look elsewhere for comfort and strength, and try to learn if life has any meaning or not.
If I had the power, and I do not, I would delete the word “Sunday” from our vocabulary and insert the expression “Resurrection Day”! I do not know any other way to impress upon Christians the importance of being constantly reminded of the great truth that Jesus rose from the dead.
When I was a pastor, I usually chose the Sunday hymns and would include “Easter anthems” to sing in all the seasons of the year. Happily, my congregation soon came to expect this deviation from the way other churches chose hymns.
Not only should we celebrate our risen Lord weekly, we need to consider another glorious truth concerning His resurrection, and another day we shall look at that very significant truth.
Meanwhile, sing and make melody in your heart today using some of your favourite hymns that celebrate our Lord’s victory over the grave. You will be encouraged to face whatever troubles you have and be enabled to live today in the strength of the resurrected Lord.
Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
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!
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!
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy pow’r to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
-Charles Wesley
