Jesus Christ is Risen Today
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is Risen Today is a hymn text by Anonymous (1695) in 7.7.7.7 with Alleluias meter. Translated by Lyra David. Found in CW21 438, CW93 157, ELH 352, bh08 270. Sung to EASTER HYMN.
The hymn proclaims Christ's resurrection as the fundamental victory over sin and death, central to Lutheran soteriology and eschatology. Its repeated 'Alleluias' express the joy of redemption and the cosmic significance of Easter for Christian hope and renewal.
History & Background
This hymn originated in Germany, appearing in the Lyra Davidica collection of 1695 with both German and English texts. The English translation became one of the most recognizable Easter hymns in Anglo-American Protestantism.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 438
- Christian Worship — 157
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 352
- Baptist Hymnal — 270
- Chalice Hymnal — 222
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 365
- Gather 4th Edition — 556
- Glory to God — 232
- The Hymnal 1982 — 207
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 151
- Lutheran Service Book — 457
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 171
- Lutheran Worship — 127
- New Century Hymnal — 230
- Trinity Hymnal — 277
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 199
- United Methodist Hymnal — 302
- Voices Together — 394
- With One Voice — 680
Translation
Bulletin Note
This anonymous hymn from 1695 combines the medieval Latin 'Surrexit Christus hodie' with the spirited English tune Easter Hymn. Its cascading Alleluias capture the Church's ancient, unquenchable Easter joy.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the proclamation of Christ's resurrection from doctrine into doxology, inviting the congregation to move from hearing the Gospel of Easter to embodying its joy and eternal hope through song.
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
From the Latin carol 'Surrexit Christus hodie', in 14th-c. manuscripts from Engelberg (1372), Munich and Prague; author unknown. The anonymous English 'Jesus Christ is risen today' first appeared in Lyra Davidica (London, 1708) with the first printing of the tune EASTER HYMN. John Arnold's Compleat Psalmodist (1749) replaced sts. 2-3 with new verses, which is the form sung today; a Wesley doxology was often added. Source: Hymnology Archive 'Surrexit Christus hodie'.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Easter Day (5×)
- Easter Vigil (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Easter Day (8×)
- Easter 3 (1×)
- Easter Sunrise (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
The best-known Easter hymn in English, from a 14th-century Latin carol via the 1708 'Lyra Davidica.' It is simple and catechetical: Christ is risen and his cross redeemed us (st. 1), let us praise him who endured cross and grave (st. 2), his pains procured our salvation and he now reigns (st. 3), and a Trinitarian doxology (st. 4). Each line is followed by 'Alleluia,' the word withheld through Lent.
Central theme: The risen Christ, whose sufferings procured our salvation, praised with Easter Alleluias
Structure
Proclamation (1); praise (2); cross as cause, reign as result (3); doxology (4); Alleluia after every line.
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel; 'loss' and 'sinners' are what he redeems.
Confessional Connections
The cross as the cause of salvation, the resurrection as its vindication (Rom 4:25).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Easter Day (often the opening hymn); Easter season.
Historical Notes
Latin carol 'Surrexit Christus hodie' (Bohemian manuscript c. 1372); English version in Lyra Davidica (1708); doxology stanza by Charles Wesley (1740).
About the Tune
EASTER HYMN (Lyra Davidica, 1708) — melismatic Alleluias.
Scripture References
Matt 28:6 Rev 1:18 Heb 12:2 Isa 53:5 Phil 2:8-11 Rev 5:11-13
Stanza by Stanza
Jesus Christ is risen today, our day of triumph; he once suffered on the cross to redeem our loss.
Proclamation (Matt 28:6) and interpretation together: the resurrection is 'our triumphant holy day' because his victory is ours (1 Cor 15:57). 'Suffer to redeem our loss' — the cross redeemed what was lost in Adam (Rom 5:12-19; Luke 19:10). The Alleluias, silent during Lent, return as the church's Easter word.
- Scripture
- Matt 28:6, 1 Cor 15:57, Rom 5:12-19, Luke 19:10
- Imagery & language
- Triumphant holy day; cross.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — resurrection and redemption.
- Connection to previous
- Opening proclamation.
Let us sing praise to Christ our heavenly King, who endured cross and grave to redeem and save sinners.
'Christ, our heavenly King' — the crucified one is King (John 19:19; Phil 2:9-11). 'Endured the cross and grave' (Heb 12:2). 'Sinners to redeem and save' (1 Tim 1:15). Praise flows from the double fact of humiliation and exaltation.
- Scripture
- Heb 12:2, 1 Tim 1:15, Phil 2:8-11, John 19:19
- Imagery & language
- Hymns; king; cross and grave.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel and doxology.
- Connection to previous
- The response of praise.
His sufferings have obtained our salvation; now he reigns as King above the skies where angels sing forever.
'Our salvation have procured' — the cross is the meritorious cause of salvation (Isa 53:5; Heb 9:12, 'securing an eternal redemption'). The resurrection and ascension show that the payment was accepted (Rom 4:25). 'Above the sky He's King' — the ascended Christ reigns (Eph 1:20-21) amid angelic worship (Rev 5:11-12).
- Scripture
- Isa 53:5, Heb 9:12, Rom 4:25, Eph 1:20-21, Rev 5:11-12
- Imagery & language
- Pains; procuring; heavenly throne.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — salvation procured; reign.
- Connection to previous
- Theological explanation of the triumph.
Let us sing to God above with praise as eternal as his love; let all heaven's host praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Charles Wesley's doxology (1740). 'Praise eternal as His love' — God's love is eternal (Jer 31:3; Ps 136), and praise should match it. The heavenly host and the Trinity frame the Easter joy in eternity.
- Scripture
- Jer 31:3, Ps 136:1, Ps 148:2, Matt 28:19
- Imagery & language
- Doxology; heavenly host.
- Law / Gospel
- Doxology.
- Connection to previous
- Concluding doxology.
Themes
Resurrection of Christ Victory over death Joy and triumph Alleluia Hope in Christ