When Resurrection Joy Breaks In

Easter morning changes everything, and When Resurrection Joy Breaks In captures the moment Christ’s victory turns fear into praise and fills hearts with lasting joy.

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay’” (Matthew 28:5–6).

While recovering from an illness on May 21, 1738, Charles Wesley had a life-changing experience, a real encounter with God. As he later described, “I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in the hope of loving Christ.” Almost immediately, he began writing hymns that expressed the joy he found in Jesus. He composed a hymn called “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” written for the first service in the Foundery Meeting House in London.

In this hymn, Wesley sought to express the joy he felt because of Jesus’ resurrection: “Christ the Lord is risen today, sons of men and angels say. Raise your joys and triumphs high, sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply.” An editor later added the word “alleluia” to each line, which is how this hymn has been sung for more than 200 years.

Wesley wanted us to share the experience of praising God with our voice and celebrating our risen Savior: “Hymns of praise then let us sing, unto Christ, our heavenly King, who endured the cross and grave, sinners to redeem and save.”

Wesley had experienced peace with God and was so grateful that Jesus had finished His work on the cross: “Love’s redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won.”

Celebrate the victory Jesus won for you when He rose from the dead! He has defeated death, the devil, sin, and every disease. He is risen! Alleluia!

Reflection Question: How does Jesus’ resurrection reshape your hope today?