As Light from Darkness Once Was Spoke

An Easter hymn

“The Empty Tomb”, Mikhail Nesterov, 1889

Hallelujah! Christ is risen!

Much is said on Good Friday of how the cross of Christ fulfils what is written in the Old Testament. Yet his resurrection—the fact that he was “buried” and “raised on the third day”—is as much “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:4) as his death.

And so today, in celebration of our risen Lord, I share with you a poem—a hymn, really—on the theme of Christ’s resurrection as a fulfilment of the Old Testament law and prophets.

Happy Easter.

As Light from Darkness Once Was Spoke

As light from darkness once was spoke,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen;
as Adam to his bride awoke,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.
As branch from judgement's flood was claimed,
as Isaac from the barren came,
as Joseph, though betrayed, did reign,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.

As Moses was from Pharaoh kept,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen;
as hope survived though mothers wept,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.
As Israel from Death's Plague were saved,
as sons were freed from years as slaves,
as nation from the waters raised,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.

As Aaron from the ark returned,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen;
as smoke up from the off’rings burned,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.
As Great High Priests by blood claimed grace,
as they bore us to holy space,
as they declared God's shining face,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.

As Joshua through Jordan passed,
so Christ, our Christ is risen;
as he walked Canaan's land at last,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.
As he led all God's people in,
as he delivered them from sin,
as he brought rest from wandering,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.

As David from the valley rose,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen;
as by God's hand he crushed his foes,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen.
As through his suff'ring glory came,
as he sat down, God's king, to reign,
as all the nations feared his name,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen!

As Daniel from the lions' jaws,
so Christ, our Christ, is risen;
as Esther from the scheming law,
so Christ, our Christ is risen.
As good news coming through the hills,
as Judah brought from exile's guilt,
as broken temple was rebuilt,
so Christ, our Christ is risen.

As Jesus, our Lord, rose in pow'r,
so we, yes we, are risen;
as we are his and he is ours,
so we, yes we, are risen.
As after firstfruits harvest comes,
as after firstborn siblings run,
as head and body move as one,
so we, will we, be risen.