Easter

The End of All Things – a new song for Easter

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I am so excited to share this new Easter song with you all. It’s based on a poem that originally appeared at A Life Overseas about five years ago. It is my hope that it might be a deep encouragement to you, wherever you are, on this Holy Saturday.

— Jonathan Trotter

Listen to the full song on YouTube.

The End of All Things

By Caleb Paxton and Jonathan Trotter

Darkness and grief

Shadow and death

The hope that had been

Hangs low without breath

–

Weak and alone, absorbing our pain

The one who was Love endures for my gain

–

“Forgive them,” he prays,

“Jews, Romans, all”

Redeeming us there from our sin and the fall

–

“It’s finished!” he cries

“For my daughters and sons”

Death lay before him but the work it is done

–

Hallelujah! The kingdom has come

Death could not hold all the life of the Son

Hallelujah here and now at the end we’ve begun

–

Three quiet days come and go without Word

The King is nowhere and faith seems absurd

–

Behind the scenes now the love of God stirs

And the plan before time finds its time and occurs

–

The broken world groans

The stone starts to move

The Lamb that was slain

Roars out of the tomb!

–

Hallelujah! The kingdom has come

Death could not hold all the life of the Son

Hallelujah here and now at the end we’ve begun

–

Hallelujah! The kingdom has come

Life is before us, the victory is won

Hallelujah here and now at the end we’ve begun

My Favorite Resurrection Hymn

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by Elizabeth

I wanted to pass this song on to you during Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday). Perhaps you need it as much as I do.

The Paschal Troparion is an Orthodox hymn dating back to the 5th century. Originally written in Greek, one of its English translations proclaims: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.”

It is a sort of bridge between a mournful Holy Saturday and a joyous Resurrection Sunday (though Orthodox believers usually celebrate Easter on a different date than Protestants and Roman Catholics).

The music and lyrics of the Paschal Troparion were reimagined by the husband/wife musical duo eine blume, and I first heard it during a Velvet Ashes retreat several years ago. Its simplicity lends it an easy memorability, and it joins the best of ancient words with a beautiful modern melody.

I love the comfort and solidarity of singing something that believers have prayed in faith for hundreds of years. This hymn has become one of the songs that our family sings to end our morning devotions. Originally we closed only with the Doxology, but now we close with either the Doxology or the Paschal Troparion (or occasionally both).

In case you haven’t heard this song, or in case you had and just needed reminding, I wanted you to have it before the dawn of Easter morn. Confluence Worship covered it here (or you can purchase it on iTunes like we did). I’ve also pasted the song below.

Christ is risen from the dead,

Trampling down death by death.

And to those in the grave

He’s given life, He’s given life.

The End of All Things {an Easter poem from A Life Overseas}

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by Jonathan

Darkness and grief, shadow and death
The Hope that had been
Sags low without breath

Weak and alone, absorbing the pain
The one who was Love
Endures for my gain

“Forgive them,” he prays,
“Jews, Romans, all!”
Redeeming us from our sins and the fall

“It’s finished!” he yells
For his sons and his daughters
His life and his mission now lead to his slaughter

Giving it all, keeping naught in reserve
The Lamb takes my place
Taking all I deserve

The darkened sun hiding, the women are weeping
The earth loudly cracking, the curtain now ripping
Blood and water are dripping

The death of the Lamb is obscene, but predicted
The fog of great evil begins to be lifted
But first, the end of all things

The son of God dies.

“He left us!” they cry, confused and alone
“Our friend and our brother, terminated by Rome!”
“Our hopes have been broken, our dreams have been pierced.”
Disciples sit trembling, ashamed of their fears

Three quiet days come and go without Word
The King is nowhere and faith seems absurd
But behind the scenes now, the deep magic stirs
The plan before time finds its time and occurs

The broken world groans, the stone starts to move
Rome’s power now fractures, the Light’s breaking through
The splinters that pierced, pierced more than just flesh
They tore holes in despair, pushed back the darkness

Ascended!
Enthroned!
The King wore his crown
Taking authority, striking Death down

Conquering sin, the grave, and all hist’ry
He gave up his life so all souls could see
The dawn of new life and eternity

The Kingdom has come!
The Lamb has been slain
Our sins have been wiped
Along with the stains

The Kingdom has come!
Christ is risen indeed!
Right here and right now, the
Beginning of all things

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can listen to the poem here.

 

end4

Anyway

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by Jonathan

photo-1439792675105-701e6a4ab6f0a

They were unclean and unwell, with oozing sores and wounded hearts.
He touched them anyway.

They were dirty and uncouth, sinners all.
He ate with them anyway.

They disbelieved, decried, and occasionally denied.
He loved them anyway.

He knew that nine out of ten wouldn’t say thanks for his regenerative gift.
He healed them anyway.

The tax man and fisherman weren’t looking for a revolution, or a teacher.
He called them anyway.

The rebel man was looking for revolution and a leader, but the wrong kind.
He called him anyway.

They were religious and in charge, with Abraham their father and Law their protector.
He challenged them anyway.

They were cruel and foreign, warrior oppressors gambling for his last shred of dignity.
He forgave them anyway.

They locked his corpse behind stone and guard and seal, ensuring that death and darkness held their catch.

He rose anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christ is Risen.
He is Risen Indeed!