15 Easter Hymns to Fill You with Hope and Joy

It’s easy in daily living to lose focus of what the cross means to us. Matt Redman’s song leads us to consider once again with gratitude, God’s priceless gift of life to us. As 1 John 4:9 describes, “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”

“Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice

You became nothing, poured out to death

Many times, I’ve wondered at your gift of life

And I’m in that place once again

And once again I look upon the cross where you died

I’m humbled by your mercy and I’m broken inside

Once again I thank you”

-Written/Sung by Matt Redman

As Ephesians 2:8 explains, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

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Fernando Ortega’s sensitive singing of this beautiful song leads us to consider God’s wondrous love for us, demonstrated through His suffering on the cross. Romans 5:8 explains, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’”

“I will sing of my Redeemer,

And His wondrous love to me;

On the cruel cross he suffered,

From the curse to set me free. Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me,

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt, and made me free”

-Written by Philip Paul Bliss/Sung by Fernando Ortega

Jesus took upon Himself our sins to set us free from the penalty of sin and death. As Philippians 2:8 describes, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.”

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The Baloche’s beautiful song emphasizes how Jesus laid down His life for us. It was not taken from Him, but rather He freely gave it. As He says in John 10:18, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

“From another world

Out of the heavens into the earth

Came another love

A love that we’ve never seen or heard

You came and displayed Your love

By giving Your all for us

You are the high and Holy One

You left the glory of Your throne

And You gave it all away

You are the Lord of everything

The reason for the song I sing

You're worthy to be praised

You lived and died

With arms open wide”

-Written/Sung by Paul and Rita Baloche

1 John 3:16 explains how we know what love is because Jesus laid down His life for us: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). 

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In Christ Alone is my favorite hymn to celebrate Easter. Maybe it is your favorite too. If you have not heard this hymn, I could not recommend it more! The opening lyrics, “In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song” always bring tears to my eyes. Our hope is found in Christ alone and He is our light, strength, and song. In Christ Alone, the message of the Gospel is preached and it praises the Lord’s resurrection. His death and resurrection are shared in these lyrics, “There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day/Up from the grave He rose again!” Hallelujah! The Lord died for our sins and was raised in glory!

This is what Easter is all about—the resurrection of our Lord. Through Christ, we have a sure foundation for the future. Regardless of hard seasons and life's troubles, we are forever rooted in the assurance of Christ's goodness, grace, and mercy. In Christ Alone's powerful lyrics remind us of Christ’s omnipotence: “No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.” There is nothing as great as the love of our Lord! Nor is there anything as powerful as His love for us. This Easter, consider celebrating Christ’s resurrection by gathering with fellow believers and singing In Christ Alone. 

(excerpt from Vivian Brickner)

Written and sung by worship leader John Barnett, this gentle hymn tenderly touches hearts with the love and mercy of God, drawing us to the cross and the precious blood Jesus shed to cover our sins. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

“I’ve been forgiven

Mercy broke through to rescue me

The blood of Jesus

Shed on the cross at Calvary

Poured out for me

Holy, holy, God almighty

Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory

God of mercy, broken for me”

-Written/Sung by John Barnett

“God of Mercy” celebrates how, “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” (Psalm 86:5).

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Jeremy Riddle reminds us in “Sweetly Broken,” that to be broken by and surrendered to the suffering and brokenness Jesus endured on the cross is a natural response when encountering such sacrificial love. “And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)

“To the cross, I look, and to the cross, I cling

Of it’s suffering, I do drink, of its work, I do sing

On it, my Savior, both bruised and crushed

Showed that God is love and God is just

At the cross you beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees

And I am lost for words, so lost in love

I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered”

-Written/Sung by Jeremy Riddle

As Scripture affirms, the sweetness of a life fully surrendered to God is priceless. “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

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Kristian Stanfill sings this beloved hymn that helps us to recognize and appreciate our sins being paid in full through Jesus’ death on the cross. As Isaiah 1:18 explains, “'Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’”

“Jesus paid it all

All to Him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow

It’s washed away, all my sin

And all my shame”

-Written by Elvina Hall/Sung by Kristian Stanfill

Hope and joy come through knowing that Jesus paid it all on the cross and has washed us white as snow. Ephesians 1:7 assures us that “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” 

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Michael W. Smith’s rendition of this rich hymn encourages us to gaze at the cross and be crucified with Christ so we may truly live. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

Oh the wonderful cross

Oh the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find

That I may truly live”

-Written by Isaac Watts/Sung by Michael W. Smith

Like Romans 6:4 explains, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

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Christ The Lord Is Risen Today was written by Charles Wesley in 1739. This is an inspiring hymn praising the Lord: “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!” We can all say hallelujah because through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we no longer need to fear. Through Christ, we are given forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life (John 3:16-17). Our future is bright with Christ. Jesus fought the battle and reigns victorious over death and the devil, “Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!” 

Christ the Lord has risen and Easter is the annual celebration of His resurrection. We can, indeed, celebrate the Lord because He has defeated death and by placing faith in Him, we can conquer the grave too by Jesus’ mighty power.

excerpt provided by Vivian Bruckner

As Casting Crowns sings “Glorious Day,” we journey through the suffering Jesus experienced on the cross to the hope of His resurrection. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

“One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain

One day they nailed Him to die on a tree

Suffering anguish, despised and rejected

Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He

Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree

And took the nails for me

Living, He loved me

Dying, He saved me

Buried, He carried my sins far away

Rising, He justified freely forever

One day He’s coming

Oh Glorious Day!”

-Written by John William Chapman/Sung by Casting Crowns

We rejoice and look forward with hope to the glorious return of Jesus. “For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

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Crown Him With Many Crowns is another hymn to celebrate Easter. Moving lyrics from this hymn include, “His glories now we sing/Who died and rose on high/Who died eternal life to bring/And lives that death may die/Crown Him with many crowns.” This hymn points us back to the amazing truth of Jesus’ resurrection and the glory due to His Name. The Lord deserves all of the crowns and all of our praise and worship. Jesus alone is our Savior and He is mighty to save. “To Thee be endless praise/For thou has died for me/Be Thou, O Lord, thru endless days/Adored and magnified” lifts Jesus up in worship and praise. 

Crown Him With Many Crowns puts a spirit of adoration into us. It causes us to look to Jesus and glorify Him. May we always praise Jesus, not only on Easter but on every day of the year. In fact, Crown Him With Many Crowns is a song that we can sing any day of the year to give glory to our Savior and Lord!

(excerpt provided by Vivian Bruckner)

A hymn ringing with joy over Jesus’ death on the cross and His empty grave is the “Easter Song,” sung passionately by Keith Green. It calls us to celebrate Christ’s rising from the dead. As Matthew 28:6 proclaims, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.”

“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

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He’s risen, hallelujah

He’s risen, hallelujah

Hallelujah”

-Written by Annie Herring/Sung by Keith Green

In rejoicing, we remember how, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die'” (John 11:25).

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Another hymn to celebrate Easter is There is Power in the Blood. This hymn was written by Lewis E. Jones in 1865 and focuses on glorifying Jesus as the perfect, sinless Lamb of God. The lyrics, “There is power, power, wonder-working power/In the blood of the Lamb” cause us to reflect on the great power of Jesus and how He was raised from the dead. No mere man could do this as Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1). Only God Himself could save us from our sins. There is Power in the Blood causes us to praise and worship Jesus’ mighty power. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and by His wounds, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). 

Our sins are forgiven on the account of Jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross (Hebrews 9:15-22). The power in Jesus’ blood brings us to experience redemption and forgiveness not because of our works, or any sacrifice we could provide, but because of His spotless, flawless blood shed for us. There is true power in the blood of Christ and such a sacrifice is something we need to remember and reflect upon during this Easter season (and all year). It can be easy to forget the true meaning of the resurrection when we are distracted by the things of the world, yet we need to turn our focus back to Christ and His resurrection. There is power in Jesus—not in the cultural customs of Easter.

(excerpt provided by Vivian Brickner)

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As Twila Paris beautifully sings “Lamb of God,” the words turn our hearts to recognize Jesus as being God’s holy, perfect sacrifice crucified on the cross. John 1:29 records, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”

“Your only Son no sin to hide

But You have sent Him from Your side

To walk upon this guilty sod

And to become the Lamb of God

Your gift of love they crucified

They laughed and scorned Him as He died

The humble King they named a fraud

And sacrificed the Lamb of God

Oh Lamb of God, Sweet Lamb of God

I love the Holy Lamb of God

Oh wash me in His precious Blood

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God”

-Written/Sung by Twila Paris

1 Peter 1:18,19 describes the incredible cost paid: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”

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As we look to the cross this Easter with hope and joy, let us, “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Because Jesus died on the cross, “Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:21).

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has an M.A. in Communications from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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