Author: Martin Luther, 1483-1546 Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 Appears in 21 hymnals Topics: Easter Lyrics: 1 In Death's strong grasp the Saviour lay,
For our offenses given:
But now the Lord is risen to-day,
And brings us life from heaven:
And therefore let us all rejoice
And praise our God with cheerful voice,
And sing loud Hallelujahs.
2 No son of man could conquer death,
Such evil sin had wrought us;
For innocence dwelt not on earth,
And therefore Death had brought us
Into this thraldom from of old,
And ever grew more strong and bold,
His shadow lay athwart us.
3 But Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
Has come for our salvation.
The cause of death he has undone,
And stopped his devastation;
Christ ruined all his right and claim,
And left him nothing but the name;
His sting is lost forever.
4 It was a strange and dreadful strife,
When life and death contended:
The victory remained with life,
The reign of death was ended;
For Holy Scripture plainly saith,
That death is swallowed up by death,
And put to shame forever.
5 Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accurséd tree,
So strong His love! to save us:
The atoning blood now marks our door,
Faith points to it, death passes o'er,
He never more can harm us.
6 So let us keep the festival,
Whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the Joy of all,
The Sun which warms and lights us:
And by His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended.
7 Then let us feast this Easter-day
On the true Bread of heaven;
The Word of grace hath purged away
The old and wicked leaven:
For Christ alone our souls will feed,
He is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other. Used With Tune: ES IST GEWISSLICH AN DER ZEIT
In Death's Strong Grasp the Saviour Lay
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