His heart beats, His blood begins to flow
Waking up what was dead a moment ago
And His heart beats, now everything is changed
‘Cause the blood that brought us peace with God
Is racing through His veins And His heart beats
So begins His Heart Beats, the opening song of Andrew Peterson’s new album, Resurrection Letters, Vol 1. The album is a joyful, Scripture-saturated musical celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
All weekend long, Linda and I have thoroughly enjoyed listening (and re-listening) to the nine songs that comprise the album. We heard Andrew Peterson sing several of these songs at the ABHE conference we attended in February. During the concert, he mentioned the Easter album would be released on Good Friday. So on Friday night we turned down the lights, turned up the music, and let the songs about Jesus’ death and resurrection fill the room—and our souls.
The cross is central to our faith as Christians. Without Christ’s death for sins on Good Friday, we would all be dead in our “trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), without “hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:3). But because of Christ’s sacrificial death, we can be forgiven: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
While the cross is central to our faith, the resurrection is essential to our hope. As 1 Corinthians 15:17 explains: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The darkness of Good Friday gave way to dawning of Easter Sunday. We serve a risen Saviour.
My favourite song on Resurrection Letters, Vol. 1, is the choral anthem of worship entitled, “Is He Worthy?” The chorus of the song affirms that only Jesus—the slain Lamb of God and victorious Lion of Judah—is worthy to receive all blessing and honour and glory (Revelation 5).
As I write this, Easter Sunday is coming to a close. However, the sun should never set on our adoration and adulation of Jesus. He is risen. He is risen indeed.
Rick and Linda Reed 