This Joyful Eastertide

George R. Woodward was a translator and clergyman who lived from 1848-1934 and who compiled several collections of hymnody. It is an inspired Easter text that Woodward meant to be sung to “Vruechten,” a popular Dutch folk tune of the 17^th century. As an aside, this highlights the catholic (universal) nature of Christian hymnody and Lutheran worship. At Easter, we sing an 18^th century British hymn, set to a 17^th century Dutch secular tune, by 21^st century Christians living in Wisconsin in churches built in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

We will also listen to this hymn sung in a majestic, traditional style with pipe organ and brass by the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Choir and then by the WELS band, Koine.

The hymn is based on 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul lays out for us in clear terms the Christian teaching on the resurrection.

1. Stanza 1 starts where 1 Corinthians 15 starts – with the Gospel.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

2. Why would we sing “away with sin and sorrow?”

God laid our sins on Jesus and they died and were buried with Him. When Jesus rose from the dead, He left all our sins in the grave. This is why the first stanza of the hymn says, “Away with sin and sorrow!” Our sins are gone, conquered, and forgiven, and we now live with the sure hope and joy that comes with the assurance that Christ has risen from the dead.

3. Each stanza includes the refrain: “Had Christ, who once was slain, Not burst His three-day prison, Our faith had been in vain: But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen; But now has Christ arisen!” What imagery do you receive from this refrain?

This is my favorite refrain of all the Easter hymns! I picture Jesus rising – more than that – bursting forth from the grave! Jesus may have calmly walked through the stone door, but this refrain explains the explosion of events that changed because Christ is arisen.

4. Explain what the hymnwriter means that “our faith had been in vain” if Christ had not arisen.

This is a summary of 1 Corinthians 15:12-22: But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. ²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

The refrain reminds us that this is the central part of the Christian faith. If Christ is not raised, then all preaching is in vain, and our faith is worthless, useless, harmful, and irresponsible. If Christ is not raised then those who proclaim the Gospel are liars. After this comes the most important conjunction in all of Scripture; BUT! But, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep! We will be made alive in Christ even after we have fallen asleep. What joyous news! What an amazing Gospel! He is risen!

5. Stanza 2 mentions Jesus crossing the river. What does this mean?

The idea of crossing over the water of death into life runs through all of Scripture. Noah and his family survived the flood in the ark, Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and all who chased them drowned, and we who are baptized have also crossed over from death into life, as it says in 1 Peter 3:18-22: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹ through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison ²⁰ who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

6. What does it mean that “death has lost its chill?”

This comes from 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, which includes a quote of Hosea 13:14. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

7. What does it mean in stanza 3 that our flesh shall for a “season slumber?” What is the “trump from east to west,” that will wake the dead in number?

The Christian term for the faithful dead is “sleep”. This is used throughout the New Testament by Jesus and the apostles. Death is the separation of body and soul as St. Paul teaches: “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). When the believer dies, the soul goes to be “at home with the Lord”, but the flesh rests in the ground until our Lord returns. At that time the dead will be raised imperishable and reunited with the soul. The trumpet that will wake the dead bodies so they may join the souls in heaven are mentioned by St. Paul: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!