HE IS RISEN

courtesy Deseret books

So today I am presenting for your listening pleasure a new work  by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: entitled “He Is Risen”. I have been given a complimentary CD by Deseret Books to review. 

The CD has six songs,

•  Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
•  In the Garden
•  When I survey the Wondrous Cross
•   Jesus Has Risen
•   He is Risen
•  Worthy is the Lamb that Was Slain (from Messiah)

I have been listening to this CD all week so I had an opportunity to ponder the true meaning of what “Easter represents” which is that we serve a risen Lord, in Jesus the Christ. I love listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,each song is sung in our church services or as in the case of "Worthy is the Lamb that Was Slain (from Messiah) is sung during special occasions. As I listened to each song, I realized that the phrase "He is Risen" is a proclamation to the world of the truth, that Jesus Christ over came the power of death, He is Risen. I was inspired to go back to my scriptures,

What did Jesus teach us about death?  In three separate occasions in the gospels, Jesus demonstrated to his followers that he had the power to overcome death. I wonder if they understood that conversation? The gospels demonstrate three separate instances where Jesus was able to “raise” a person from the dead. There is a fourth instance where Jesus himself is “raised from the dead”. Have you ever wondered how it was done?  Jesus would refer to this death as sleeping. Who woke up the Savior? Who came into the burial chamber and lightly touched his arm or stroked his head and said “Jesus wake up; come forth”?  Luckily for us, for those with ears to hear and a heart to comprehend.

Jesus told us how in these 3 separate events; one is about a young man, a son of a widow, another is a young daughter and another is concerning a very close friend, even a brother named Lazarus.  

In Luke 7; Jesus and his disciples and a large group of followers had come from Capernaum to a city called Nain. He and his group encountered another large group of people who were in mourning.

Luke 7:12-15

 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion and said unto her, Weep not

 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

A second instance of Jesus raising a person from the dead was the daughter of Jarius.

Mark 5:22-23; 38-42

22 And, behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

 23 And besought him greatly, saying, my little daughter lies at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

39 And when he was come in, he said unto them, why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleeps.

  41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

And a third instance that was close to his heart, a very good friend named Lazarus, had died.

John 11

11 These things said he: and after that he said unto them, our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still  in the house.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believe in me, though he was dead, yet shall he live:

 26 And whosoever lives and believe in me shall never die. Believe thou this?

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

How awesome in that simple command of calling out his friends name," Lazarus" Jesus claimed ownership of this circumstance of death,  And when he  bid him to “Come forth" the symbolism of the man coming out of the tomb, probably struggling to unwrap himself of his grave clothes, Jesus rebuked death, and even Satan by saying “Loose him and let him go”.

Ps. 102:20

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death.

I have really enjoyed listening to " He is Risen". It will make a great addition to your Easter baskets. You will probably be inspired to study the record of this wonderful truth. I would say that this is an interactive CD.

Courtesy of Mormon.org