This morning, I was going to lead in several classic hymns, including Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Christ is Alive, Lead Me to Calvary, and Because He Lives. We will also be singing Victor's Crown, by Darlene Zschech, for the first time as a congregation. It is based on the following scripture, from the International Standard Version (ISV):
1Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. 2The soldiers twisted some thorns into a victor’s crown, put it on his head, and threw a purple robe on him. 3They kept coming up to him and saying, “Long live the king of the Jews!” Then they began to slap him on the face.
4Pilate went outside again and told the Jews,a “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5Then Jesus came outside, wearing the victor’s crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate told them, “Here is the man!”
John 19:1-5
and, taken from the NIV:
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
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.
I Corinthians 15:55-57
Jesus is indeed the Victor over death. And because of this, we can sing Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.He's my Savior, He's my Savior, He's my Savior, He's my Savior,
He's my Savior, He's my Savior, He's my Savior, He's my Savior.
He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy,
He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy.
I will praise Him, I will praise Him, I will praise Him, I will praise Him,
I will praise Him, I will praise Him, I will praise Him, I will praise Him
Words by Jerry Sinclair, copyright 1972 Manna Music
Now, I love the tune to Alleluia. I really like the opportunity to focus on such simple words to praise our Lord. But, the repetition is a bit much sometimes. Therefore, take a look at the following, a post by Wayne S. Walker, putting new words to the tune, and renaming it Jesus Is Lord, My Redeemer:
This song offers praise to Jesus Christ as Lord, Redeemer, Savior,
Master, and King.
I. Stanza 1 identifies Jesus as Lord
"Jesus is Lord, my Redeemer; How He loves me, how I love Him;
He is risen, He is coming, O come quickly, Alleluia!"
A. Jesus is the Lord who came to be our Redeemer: Acts 2.36, Eph. 1.7
B. Because He died for us, we know that He loves us, and we should love
Him: 1 Jn. 3.16, 4.19
C. Also, as the one who has risen, we look for His coming: Mk. 16.9,
Acts 1.9-11
II. Stanza 2 identifies Jesus as Redeemer
"He was born to die on Calvary, To redeem the lost and sinful:
Conquering death He rose triumphant, And is reigning, Alleluia!"
A. He came to die on Calvary to save sinners: Rom. 5.8, 1 Tim. 1.15
B. But He conquered death by rising triumphantly from the grave: Rom.
1.3-4, 1 Cor. 15.4
C. And now He is reigning at the right hand of God: Acts 2.32-33, Heb.
8.1
III. Stanza 3 identifies Jesus as Savior
"He is worthy, He is precious, He is loving, He is saving,
He is glorious, He is coming, Lord, come quickly, Alleluia!"
A. Jesus is both worthy or deserving of honor, and precious or valuable:
Rev. 5.9, 1 Pet. 2.6
B. Furthermore, He is both loving and saving: Eph. 5.2, Matt. 1.21
C.In addition, He is both glorious, or full of glory, and coming: Jn.
17.5, 1 Cor. 1.7
IV. Stanza 4 identifies Jesus as Master
"He's my Savior, I will praise Him; He's my Master, I will serve Him;
He's my Shepherd, I will love Him; He's my Jesus, Alleluia!"
A. He is our Savior, and we should praise Him: Lk. 2.11, Heb. 13.15
B. He is our Master, and we should serve Him: Jn. 13.13, Heb. 12.28
C. He is our Shepherd, and we should love Him: Jn. 10.11, 15.14
V. Stanza 5 identifies Jesus as the King who should dwell in our hearts
"Every day, Lord, how I need You, In my heart, Lord, in my spirit;
Every day, Lord, yes I need You; I am Yours, Lord, Alleluia!"
A. Certainly, we need the Lord to direct our lives: Gal. 2.20, Col.
3.3-4
B. And He has promised that He will dwell in our hearts by faith: Eph.
3.17, Col. 1.23
C. But for Him to do so, we must always remember that we are to belong
to Him: 2 Cor. 6.16, 1 Pet. 2.9-10
CONC.: This is one of those "praise songs" which seemed to have
arisen out of nowhere and caught on like wildfire. The tune is simple,
eminently singable, and easy to memorize. The words can be quite
repetitive, but this arrangement seeks to use lyrics that would say
something beyond mere repetition. The term "alleluia" means "Praise the
Lord." It is the Latin form of the Hebrew "Hallelujah" which was made by
joining "Hallelu" meaning "praise" and "Jah" which is the first syllable
in the Hebrew name for God. Since it is found in the sacred scriptures,
there is certainly nothing wrong with my saying, "Alleluia," to the
divine Son of God because "Jesus Is Lord, My Redeemer."
Taken from https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hymnoftheday/conversations/topics/488
Either way, whether by a simple Alleluia or whether by more meaningful words, please accept and worship our Savior today! No one other than Jesus can save us by conquering death and presenting himself to the Father as our substitute Shepherd!
