"Love's redeeming work is done. Fought the fight, the battle won."

"Love's redeeming work is done. Fought the fight, the battle won."
Hymn: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” – Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Common Tune: EASTER HYMN

NOTE: I don't post a HYMNLINE on Sundays - so pretend you read this one yesterday morning before you headed off to worship at your place. Hopefully the excitement of resurrection has not yet worn off.

On this Easter morning, let’s turn to a great Wesley text, one that is probably being sung across denominational lines in more churches today than any other. This one has too many great hymnlines to choose just one, but I had to choose one to start us off at least.

To get the full impact of Wesley’s poem, take out the alleluias:
    “Christ the Lord is risen today,”
    Heav’n and earth together say!
    Raise your joys and triumphs high.
    Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply.

    Lives again our glorious King.
    Where, O death, is now thy sting?
    Dying once, he all doth save.
    Where (is) thy victory, O grave?

    Love’s redeeming work is done.
     (Love) fought the fight, the battle won.
    Death in vain forbids him rise.
    Christ has opened Paradise.   

    Soar we now where Christ has led,
    Following our exalted Head.
    Made like him, like him we rise.
    Ours (is) the cross, the grave, the skies.

How much theology can one person put into one hymn? Not much more than this! Thank you, John Wesley!

Love’s redeeming work is done. Fought the fight, the battle won. The redemptive plan of God set into motion long ago, culminating in the cross, is now completed by the resurrection power of love. Love has fought this and many battles.  The war against death has been won. The song of victory can NOW be sung! Alleluia!

Put on your Sunday best and head down to the church house. The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. You have reason upon reason to rejoice. May the contemplative moments of the past six days be replaced by all the loudness you can muster.

Christ the Lord is risen today. Heav’n and earth together say, “He is risen indeed!”

Processional Hymn from Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church