Prayer for Easter

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. O risen Jesus, mighty conquering Prince, Victor over death, powerful Samson! Permitted, as I am by Thy grace, to celebrate this holy festival, my heart is filled with purest joy. With bended knees and folded hands, I say: Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. “Jesus is risen from the dead” is the joyful news. The surety is released from the prison of the grave; consequently, sin must be forgiven, God be reconciled, and guilt be wiped out. It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Jesus hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light, O Jesus, dearest Friend! Thy resurrection brings me a threefold consolation. I say on this festival: The resurrection of Jesus is my victory. Now my sins can no more condemn me; for through the blood and wounds of Christ, and through His resurrection, I have the forgiveness of my sins, no matter how great or how numerous they mar be. Here is a full ransom, a complete redemption. In Christ we have the redemption through His blood, namely, the forgiveness of sins. Death cannot harm me; for Christ has overcome death, and has made my death a sweet slumber, yea, a going to the Father. Satan is a vanquished foe; though he roar, he cannot devour me; though he accuse me, Jesus intercedes for me, bestows upon me His righteousness, and enables me to stand before God justified and saved. Hell alarms me not; for Christ has delivered me from hell. He that believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. O happy Day, O Day of joy, on which my salvation is confirmed and sealed! Jesus lives, and I also shall live: here, united with Him by faith; and yonder, in everlasting glory.

Filled with joy by Thy resurrection, my soul further says: The resurrection of Jesus is my resurrection. Since the Head is risen, the members also shall rise. I shall not only rise on the last day like all men, but, because of Christ’s merit and satisfaction, I shall rise as a child of God and a joint-heir with Christ. Therefore I fear not the grave; I regard it as a chamber of rest, as a mother’s lap, as the place where I shall repose till my Saviour says: Arise, ye dead, and appear before the judgment throne. O what glory the Saviour has secured for me! How can I, O risen Jesus, sufficiently declare and laud and magnify Thy grace and mercy? the Love, which bestows life and salvation upon me! What was lost through Adam’s fall is now regained.

O my Saviour, Thy resurrection is meant to give me comfort in times of suffering. Thou layest locked in the tomb, but Thou earnest forth in glory; even so the night of my sufferings shall pass away, and Thy sun of joy and grace and help and refreshing shall shine for me again. Thou remainedst, O Jesus, but three days in the grave; so also shall my tribulations have an end; the weary years of suffering shall be followed by the year of jubilee. Thou rosest with a glorified body; the wounds and nail prints were no longer bloody or painful, but lustrous like the sun; so shall my body be glorified and transformed when Thou wakest me from the dust. I shall receive again my former body, and in my flesh I shall see God. The body whose members have served Thee here shall be made partaker of the heavenly splendor, and be glorified. Yea, because Thou livest, O Jesus, I have in Thee a faithful, constant Friend, who will provide for me in life, preserve me in sufferings, defend me against my foes, gladden me in sorrow, refresh me in death, guard me in the grave, receive me into glory, and adorn me with the promised crown of life. Amen.