Hymn of the Week: May 3, 2024
Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!
Glory to God: 248
Text: Brian Wren, 1984
Music: HYMN TO JOY, Beethoven
Christ is risen! Shout hosanna!
Celebrate this day of days.
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder,
all creation stand amazed.
In the desert all surrounding,
see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding
bring a taste of love unknown.
Christ is risen! Raise your spirits
from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning.
See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection,
not a servant, but a friend;
Jesus is our strong companion—
joy and peace shall never end.
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven
nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation
where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus,
“Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us.
Sing hosanna, ev’ry one!
Dr. Brian Wren’s biography:
Brian Wren (b. Romford, Essex, England, 1936) is a major British figure in the revival of contemporary hymn writing. He studied French literature at New College and theology at Mansfield College in Oxford, England.
Ordained in 1965, he was pastor of the Congregational Church (now United Reformed) in Hockley and Hawkwell, Essex, from 1965 to 1970. He worked for the British Council of Churches and several other organizations involved in fighting poverty and promoting peace and justice. This work resulted in his writing of Education for Justice (1977) and Patriotism and Peace (1983). With a ministry throughout the English-speaking world, Wren now resides in the United States where he is active as a freelance lecturer, preacher, and full-time hymn writer. His hymn texts are published in Faith Looking Forward (1983), Praising a Mystery (1986), Bring Many Names (1989), New Beginnings (1993), and Faith Renewed: 33 Hymns Reissued and Revised (1995), as well as in many modern hymnals. He has also produced What Language Shall I Borrow? (1989), a discussion guide to inclusive language in Christian worship.
Bert Polman
Dr. Wren, who is ordained in Britain’s United Reform Church, categorizes his hymns by their topic. He puts this hymn in his category of God’s covenant in history and also the revelation of Jesus Christ. When he writes hymns, Dr. Wren tries to use inclusive language and metaphors, and this hymn succeeds in doing so because its message applies to everyone. Though the hymn reflects on the past, it also applies to the present and looks to the future.
“Christ is Risen” is an ideal hymn for Easter Sunday because it discusses the resurrection of Christ and the promise and changes that this powerful act will bring. Dr. Wren says that “Easter joy” is an “action for justice.” We, as Christians, can find peace in Christ’s resurrection and can overcome evil.
Dr. Wren also writes theologically; this hymn addresses all the aspects of God and God’s powers.
The first stanza is about Christ coming into our sinner’s world to save us through his death and resurrection. The primary theological reference is Revelation 22:2.
The second stanza discusses the fact that even though Jesus is divine, he is our friend who has saved us from the “caverns of despair.” This stanza is based on John 15:15.
Rhythms and melody
Revelation 22:13 provides the scriptural basis for the final stanza. Dr. Wren states that through Christ’s resurrection, we have the strength to resist evil since he is always with us.
More simply put, the first stanza is about Christ giving us new life, the next discusses Christ as our friend who gives us strength and the last is about Christ coming to change the world.
This hymn is most appropriate for Easter Sunday. He came to save the world even though we were still sinners. The earth will not be the same now that Christ came, died, and rose again. The text is direct and powerful. “Christ is Risen” describes how the world will now be different and how Jesus is our friend now, and always.
While our hymnal and the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal set Dr. Wren’s text to the music of the famous Beethoven: Ode to Joy, Dr. Wren did not want it associated with that tune. His thought was to tie it to the Polish hymn, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, tying it back to the miracle of Christ’s birth.
Today’s devotion comes to us from two different sources. Biographical information about the author can be found at the website www.hymnary.org and the discussion about the hymn is found in Discipleship Ministries under the direction of Dr. Michael Hawn.
