Christ Arose!

Born on March 12, 1826, in Philadelphia, Robert Lowry pastored churches in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey before becoming a teacher and then chancellor at the University of Lewisburg. But he probably is best remembered as a musician and composer.

One day in 1862, he was sitting at his organ, with his brain working as a “sort of a spinning machine.” For, as he confessed, “there is music running through it all the time.” He had been reading Luke’s account of the moment when the disciples discovered that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. Suddenly, powerful images formed in his mind, and he quickly wrote a hymn, “Christ Arose!” It has become a classic.

While most hymns have one mood and tone, Lowry’s Easter hymn had two contrasting parts. The first sounded dark, with a mood of gloom and uncertainty. He described how Jesus lay “low in the grave” as He awaited “the coming day.” Although the tomb was sealed, this was in vain, for death could not “keep his prey” as “He tore the bars away.”

In the triumphant chorus that followed each verse, Lowry declared, “Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” Jesus was not defeated but “arose a Victor from the dark domain,” and He lives forever with His saints to reign.” He could only end by repeating the victorious refrain: “He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”

Today, ask God to give you a fresh revelation of the glory of the Resurrection and all that it means—for you, for your loved ones, and for the whole world. Celebrate, for He is risen! He is risen, indeed!