He Arose by Robert Lowry, 1874.

Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus, my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Observe: There are ten accounts in Scripture of dead people being raised to life. But only one was raised and remained alive. All the others eventually died. Jesus lay dead in that cold dark tomb, but with the absolute trust in the Father’s redeeming promise, he lay patiently, waiting the coming day when, “up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph over his foes.”

Paul explains, Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3b–4, ESV).

The crucifixion fulfilled every prophecy in Scripture. Lowery writes in verse 2.

Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus, my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord!

In vain, they watch. In vain, they sealed the tomb. In vain, they posted Roman guards. In vain. Because his perfect life and obedience won the victory over sin and death, and he would arise. King David, the great composer, writes. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psalm 16:9–10).

In vain, because “Up from the grave he arose.” Death cannot keep the Son, who rises in victory over the most dreaded consequence of slavery to sin, which is death. In verse three, Lowery rightly states, “He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!”

Jesus said he would do just that when he was asked to read in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. He asked for the scroll of Isaiah, opened it, and read.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18–19).

The bars are torn away, and we, the captives, have been set free. This truth refreshes us in the weeks ahead, as we rest in the remaining glow of our celebrations of Resurrection Sunday.

His victory over death is complete. With his resurrection, the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26. Now, as he lives forever and so do we, his saints. Now we are moved to join with Lowery is singing, He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Blessings, Pastor Don