Monday, May 14, 2007

"Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won!"

Jesus lives! The vict'ry's won!
Death no longer can appall me;
Jesus lives! Death's reign is done!
From the grave will Christ recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.


Jesus lives! To Him the throne
High above all things is given.
I shall go where He is gone,
Live and reign with Him in heaven.

God is faithful; doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! For me He died,
Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide,

Praise to Him and glory giving.
All I need God will dispense;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! I know full well
Nothing me from Him shall sever.
Neither death nor pow'rs of hell
Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be my sure defense;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense;
Jesus is my confidence!

Text: Christian Furchtegott Gellert
Tune: Johann Cruger

I appreciate hymns more and more and keep discovering hymns that blow me away. I have heard this hymn in years past, but recently I have really grown to love it. What a joy to sing this hymn in this Easter season! And it also is speaking to me this week as a member from church I have visited for years who had suffered much was called to her eternal home Saturday.

I think many people like to focus on self-confidence. Many times I do not feel confident at all. This hymn speaks beautifully of where our confidence is. It is in Jesus Christ Who conquered sin, death, and the power of the devil. My favorite stanza is the fourth one which conveys the truth in Romans 8:35-39. In this life we can only truly be confident in Jesus.

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