Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is a hymn text by Charles Wesley (1739) in 7.7.7.7 with alleluias meter. Found in CW21 465, CW93 149, elw 369, gather4 562. Sung to EASTER HYMN.
The great Easter proclamation hymn, celebrating the resurrection with accumulated Alleluias. The stanzas move through the resurrection event, its cosmic significance (death defeated, hell vanquished), Christ's ascension and intercession, and the final doxology. The Alleluia refrain transforms each stanza into a shout of Easter joy.
History & Background
Written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739). One of Wesley's greatest Easter hymns, originally titled Hymn for Easter Day. The familiar tune EASTER HYMN appears with it in Lyrica Davidica (1708).
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 465
- Christian Worship — 149
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 369
- Gather 4th Edition — 562
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 130
- Lutheran Service Book — 460
- Lutheran Worship — 142
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 188
Bulletin Note
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today — Charles Wesley, 1739
Preaching Connection
The resurrection — death defeated and the gates of heaven opened.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (death's consequence) → Gospel (Christ's resurrection victory) → Application (our risen life in Christ) → Doxological response (rejoicing in the Risen Lord)
Background Research
Charles Wesley's 'Hymn for Easter Day' (Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739): eleven four-line stanzas and no Alleluias. An unknown editor added an 'Alleluia' after every line early in the 19th c., probably to fit the EASTER HYMN tune (Lyra Davidica, 1708). Reported (Ace Collins): first sung at the opening service of the Foundery, the old cannon foundry in London that became the first Methodist chapel. LLANFAIR, the Welsh alternative, is by Robert Williams. Source: Wikipedia 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today'.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter 2 (2×)
- Easter 6 (1×)
- Easter Day (1×)
- Easter Sunrise (1×)
- Easter Vigil (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Easter 6 (1×)
- Easter 7 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Wesley's Easter hymn (originally without 'Alleluias,' which were added later in many books; TLH sets it without). It summons heaven and earth (st. 1), declares the work of redemption complete (st. 2), mocks the futile guards (st. 3), taunts death with 1 Cor 15:55 (st. 4), unites believers with their exalted Head (st. 5), and hails Christ as 'the Resurrection' (st. 6). Its theology moves from Christ's victory to the believer's participation in it.
Central theme: Christ's completed redemption and victory, in which believers share as members of their risen Head
Structure
Call (1); finished work (2); futile opposition (3); taunt of death (4); union with the Head (5); acclamation (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout.
Confessional Connections
Christ's work completed (AC III); union with Christ; resurrection of the body.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Easter Day and season.
Historical Notes
Published in 'Hymns and Sacred Poems' (1739), the same collection as 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.'
About the Tune
ORIENTIS PARTIBUS — medieval French melody (Beauvais, 13th century), associated with the 'Feast of the Ass.'
Scripture References
John 19:30 Matt 27:62-66 Matt 16:18 1 Cor 15:55 Col 1:18 Eph 2:6 1 John 3:2 John 11:25
Stanza by Stanza
Christ is risen today, as humans and angels say; raise joy and triumph high; let heaven sing and earth answer.
The angels said it first (Matt 28:6, 'He is not here, for he has risen'), and humans repeat it. The call to heaven and earth to answer each other (Ps 96:11; Isa 44:23) makes the resurrection a cosmic event — new creation has begun (2 Cor 5:17).
- Scripture
- Matt 28:5-6, Luke 24:34, Ps 96:11, Isa 44:23
- Imagery & language
- Heaven and earth singing antiphonally.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology — Easter proclamation.
- Connection to previous
- Opening proclamation.
Love's work of redemption is finished, the fight won; the eclipse of our Sun is over, and he sets in blood no more.
'Love's redeeming work is done' echoes 'It is finished' (John 19:30). 'Fought the fight, the battle won' — 2 Tim 4:7 applied to Christ. The image of the Sun eclipsed recalls the darkness at noon (Luke 23:44-45); Christ the Sun 'set in blood' on Good Friday, but rises never to set again (Rom 6:9). Wesley holds together love, redemption, and victory.
- Scripture
- John 19:30, 2 Tim 4:7, Luke 23:44-45, Mal 4:2, Rom 6:9
- Imagery & language
- Eclipse; setting sun in blood; battle.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — completed redemption.
- Connection to previous
- Why the praise is due.
The stone, the guards, and the seal were useless; Christ has broken hell's gates; death could not prevent his rising; he has opened paradise.
Matt 27:62-66: the stone sealed and guarded — futile against God. 'Burst the gates of hell' (Matt 16:18) — Christ's descent and victory (FC IX). 'Christ has opened Paradise' (Luke 23:43) — the gate closed in Gen 3:24 is reopened, a theme shared with Herman's 'Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men.'
- Scripture
- Matt 27:62-66, Matt 28:2-4, Matt 16:18, Acts 2:24, Luke 23:43, Gen 3:24
- Imagery & language
- Stone, watch, seal; gates of hell; paradise.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — victory over hell; paradise opened.
- Connection to previous
- Mocks the opposition.
Our glorious King lives again; O Death, where is your sting? He died once to save our souls; O Grave, where is your victory?
A direct taunt of death from 1 Cor 15:55 (quoting Hos 13:14). The sting of death is sin (1 Cor 15:56); since Christ has removed sin, death's sting is gone. 'Once He died our souls to save' — the once-for-all sacrifice (Rom 6:10; Heb 9:28).
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 15:54-57, Hos 13:14, Rom 6:10, Heb 9:28
- Imagery & language
- Taunt of death; sting; grave.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — death defeated.
- Connection to previous
- Climax of defiance.
We now rise where Christ has led, following our exalted Head; made like him, we rise like him; ours are the cross, the grave, and the skies.
Union with Christ: he is the Head, we are members (Col 1:18; Eph 1:22-23). Where the Head goes, the body follows (Eph 2:6). 'Made like Him, like Him we rise' (1 John 3:2; Phil 3:21; Rom 6:5). The last line is a superb summary: 'Ours the cross, the grave, the skies' — we share his whole path, through suffering and death to glory (Rom 8:17). This is baptismal theology.
- Scripture
- Col 1:18, Eph 1:22-23, Eph 2:6, 1 John 3:2, Phil 3:21, Rom 6:4-5, Rom 8:17
- Imagery & language
- Soaring; exalted Head; cross, grave, skies.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — participation in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Applies Christ's victory to believers.
Hail the Lord of heaven and earth; let both praise him; we greet him triumphant now: hail, the Resurrection itself!
Christ is Lord of heaven and earth (Matt 28:18). The final acclamation 'Hail, the Resurrection Thou!' quotes John 11:25 ('I am the resurrection and the life'). Christ does not merely experience resurrection; he is resurrection — its source for all who believe.
- Scripture
- Matt 28:18, John 11:25-26, Phil 2:9-11
- Imagery & language
- Acclamation.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Concluding acclamation.
Themes
Easter Resurrection Alleluia Victory