Immensely popular, this praise chorus has been included in hundreds of songbooks, both in North America and in other continents. Linda L. Stassen-Benjamin originally composed what is now stanza 5 rather instantaneously (while she was in the shower!) in June 1974. The song was published and recorded by Maranatha! Music, a ministry of Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California, of which Stassen-Benjamin is a member.
 
Following both oral tradition and the format in various published hymnals four stanzas precede Stassen-Benjamin's stanza derived from early Christian liturgies and the "Easter Canticle," which quotes from 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 and 15:20-22.
 
The song can be sung in various ways: (a) have the congregation sing the main melody, and have a choir or any small group sing the second part in the manner of an e ho or descant; (b) divide the singing of the two parts between similar-size groups within the congregation, such as left side and right side, or men and women; (c) use other instruments such as guitars, trumpet, recorder, and handbells, and improvise some percussion rhythms. Sing this music at a moving tempo without breaks between stanzas.

Linda L. Stassen-Benjamin (b. Laporte, IN, 1951) was educated at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, and EI Camino College, Torrence, California. During the 1970s she sang and recorded for various ensembles, including David and New Song. In 1981 she became secretary, songwriter, and vocalist with New Song Ministries in Costa Mesa.