Hallelujah. He’s risen. Hallelujah!
by Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon
Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-18
After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb… there they encountered an angel that said to the women:
Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead…” (Matthew 28:1-7)
My favorite song celebrating the resurrection is Keith Green’s recording of “The Easter Song.” After becoming a Christian when he was around 20 years old, Green lived his last eight years welcoming people from every walk of life to experience assurance, forgiveness, and purpose in their relationship with God. He and his wife began a community in the San Fernando Valley known as the “Greenhouse” – a place where “people grow.” They rented (and owned) numerous houses open to those in need – people experiencing depression, poverty, drug addiction, former prostitutes, and many other needs. Keith Green’s life unexpectedly ended in a plane crash when he was only 28 years old. But his music and faith continue to inspire.
As we celebrate this Easter morning and reflect upon the words of Keith Green’s The Easter Song, let us remember the thousands of Christians in the Middle East who are also committed to responding to the needs of the poor and to loving their communities. Keep in your thoughts and prayers Palestinian Christians living alongside their Muslim neighbors under occupation. May God give them strength, hope, and resilience as they continue to live and remain in the land. And may those of us who stand in solidarity with them be ever steadfast as we advocate for justice and an end to oppression. The celebration of the resurrection of Christ reminds us not to give up and to have hope.
The lyrics begin, “Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing… That you can be born again… Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing, Christ is risen from the dead.”
“The angel up on the tombstone said, ‘He has risen, just as He said… Quickly now, go tell His disciples, that Jesus Christ is no longer dead.’”
The entire song focuses on the joy brought to the world through the coming of Christ and his resurrection. Hallelujah. He’s risen. Hallelujah!
Herring, A. (1978). Easter Song. On For Him Who Has Ears to Hear [Online sound recording]. K. Green (Performer). Capitol CMG Publishing.