Story Behind the Hymn: Christ Arose (Low in the Grave He Lay)

2 webpages were used in this blog message this week to provide a more detailed history of this hymn that was written by Robert Lowry who also wrote other famous hymns. References for the information below can be found on the following 2 links:
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVarticles/SongsAndHymnsOfRobertLowery.html
http ://www.celebratingholidays.com/?page_id=11725.

 

History of “Christ Arose (Low in the Grave He Lay)”:

Words and Music by Robert Lowry (1826-1899), Published in 1874

Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia in 1826. As a teen, he was active in teaching Sunday school, as well as serving in the choir of his church. For college, Robert attended the University at Lewisburg, PA (now Bucknell University), and he graduated with the highest honors. He began working as a pastor, as well as a professor of literature.
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According to the Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers:

“Dr. Lowry was a man of rare administrative ability, a most excellent preacher, a thorough Bible student, and whether in the pulpit or upon the platform, always a brilliant and interesting speaker. He was of a genial and pleasing disposition, and a high sense of humor was one of his most striking characteristics. Very few men had greater ability in painting pictures from the imagination. He could thrill an audience with his vivid descriptions, inspiring others with the same thoughts that inspired him.”

While preaching was Robert’s main work for many years, he always had a deep love of music. In time, he began dedicating more effort to music and by the end of his life, he had written dozens of popular hymns and tunes such as: “Here Is Love,” “I Need Thee Every Hour,” “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” “Shall We Gather at the River?”, and “We’re Marching to Zion.”

This song which reminds us of the fact that Jesus, who was crucified, was also raised form the grave, is "Christ Arose."  The text often identified by its first line, "Low in the Grave He Lay," was written and the tune (He Arose) was composed both  in 1874 after Lowry had moved to preach in Lewisburg, PA, where he also served as Professor at Bucknell. During the spring of that year, he was having his evening devotions and was impressed with the events associated with Christ's resurrection. Soon he found himself in the parlor of his home and, in a very spontaneous fashion, there came forth from his thoughts the words and music for this song. It was first published the following year in a Sunday school songbook Brightest and Best of which he was co-editor with William Howard Doane (1832-1915).  This song emphasizes both the facts and the importance of the resurrection of Christ.
Stanza #1 talks about how Christ lay in the tomb waiting the resurrection day.

"Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!"

The Bible records the burial of Jesus in Joseph's new tomb (Matthew 27:57-61).  However, this was only a waiting period, because even the Old Testament had prophesied that the Messiah would be raisd from the dead (Psalms 16:9-11; cf. Acts 2:29-31). And even Jesus Himself had often predicted His own resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19).
Stanza #2 tells about how preparations were made to keep Christ's body in the tomb.

"Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!"

The Jewish leaders were afraid that the disciples would steal the body, so they asked Pilate to set a guard and seal the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).  They remembered His predictions of a resurrection and wanted to have all their bases covered (Matthew 12:38-40). But, of course, all their preparations were in vain, and the very thing which they sought to prevent is what they eventually claimed happened (Matthew 28:11-15).
Stanza 3 speaks of how Christ came forth from the grave.

"Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!"

The simple fact is that after three days in the tomb, Jesus arose just as He said that He would (Matthew 28:1-2). Following His resurrection, He appeared to a number of people to show by many infallible proofs that He was indeed alive again (Acts 1:1-3; I Corinthians 15:3-8). And the rest of the New Testament teaches us to remember Christ's resurrection because it declared Him to be the divine Son of God (Romans 1:3-4; II Timothy 2:8).
Sometimes, song leaders may choose to have the congregation sing all three stanzas one right after another and then the chorus which triumphantly declares,

"Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes!
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!"

The resurrection of Christ from the dead is recorded in the scriptures not as some kind of allegory but as an actual event: Luke 24:6-8). And it is presented in the scripture as the basis for our hope (I Peter 1:3-4). Therefore, we can rejoice and have hope because of the fact that "Christ Arose.