5 Hymns to Celebrate Easter

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. 

Because He Lives is another perfect hymn for Easter. Though its lyrics are near-centuries old, this hymn focuses on how Jesus is alive, even though He died. The Lord died for our sins, but He was resurrected and now lives forever. This hymn revels in the truth that because Jesus is the Son of God, He isn't confined to our earthly limits. He can face death and yet live. All glory, power, and love burst from Christ's empty tomb!

The lyrics of this hymn are all-powerful: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!” Because of Christ, we can face the future. We do not have to fear because Jesus has already conquered death and the world! As the hymn says, because Jesus lives, defeating death and all its cruel forces, we can face whatever comes our way. 

In this hymn, our homecoming, our going to be with our Lord, is also highlighted: “And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!” We will go to heaven to be with the Lord because of placing faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. Because Jesus lives, we can live forever with Him. Celebrate this truth on Easter this year.

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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.

4. Crown Him with Many Crowns

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!

A fifth 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.

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Whichever hymn you choose to celebrate Easter with this year, make sure your heart is in the right place. We should not celebrate Easter simply out of tradition or obligation. Instead, we should celebrate Easter because we love the Lord and are rejoicing in His powerful resurrection. It is extremely important that we take time to reflect on, celebrate, and worship the Lord. 

Through His resurrection, we are given the opportunity for a new life, a new life we never deserved yet God so graciously sacrificed to provide for us. This new life is only found in Jesus. Praise the Lord that He came down from Heaven to save us from our sins! Without Jesus, we would be lost and without hope. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). We are not without hope because we know Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day to save us from every wrong thing we have ever done. Our hope is secure in Christ because He is God and He is completely able to save those who place faith in Him and His powerful work on the cross (Hebrews 7:25). 

Perhaps you choose from the list I have provided, or you write one all your own, let's celebrate Easter this year with a hymn of worship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.