It’s the third Wednesday after Easter, which means we are still in the church season of Eastertide (the fifty-day season of Christian celebration from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday).  My friend Trevin Wax recently wrote about this very important church tradition that I honestly had never really thought about.  He wrote:

By Thanksgiving, radio stations will be playing Christmas music non-stop. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, our culture is immersed in the “Christmas season.”

Easter has a season, too. It doesn’t precede Easter but follows it. Traditionally, it’s the time between Easter and Pentecost (50 days).

Though every Sunday is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection, this time of year provides ample opportunity to give laser-like attention to the resurrection that empowers our Christian life.

Why do we spend a month to listening to Christmas music, but only a Sunday singing Easter music?

You might be wondering, What is Easter music? Is there such a thing? Sure! And the good news is, unlike Christmas, you don’t have to wade through all the “secular” tunes about the season. (Unless you just happen to be a fan of “Here Comes Peter Cottontail.”)

In this Eastertide season, today’s song is “Christ Is Risen” by Matt Maher.  Written in 2009 by Maher and Mia Fieldes and published through Thankyou Music, this song celebrates the victory found in Christ rising from the dead.  Verse 1 reminds us that the cross removes the shame of sin for all who will believe on Jesus.  Verse 2 rejoices in the fact that the grave had no power to hold Jesus down.  The Almighty raised Him!  The chorus sings the wonderful irony of Jesus defeating death with death.  The bridge echoes 1 Corinthians 15.  A simple but great song that draws us to worship the Risen Savior!

A great treat is found in the middle of the performance of this song as David Bowden performs a poem he wrote called “Death:  His Sting and Defeat.”  Yeah, you’ll be standing and cheering before this is over!!

What a Wednesday to worship!

VERSE 1
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
But fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You bled, for us

CHORUS
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

VERSE 2
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let your church proclaim

BRIDGE
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!
Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, He’s alive! He’s alive!

____________________

You can download the text to Bowden’s poem here.