I know that my Redeemer lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives.
We can thank Samuel Medley for these words and more from his composition in 1775.
He lives He lives who once was dead
He lives my ever-living head
He lives triumphant from the grave
He lives eternally to save
He lives all glorious in the sky
He lives exalted there on high
Holy Scripture teaches us that after Christ was crucified and laid in the tomb, he rose from the dead on the third day:
Luke 24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.
We are told that Jesus revealed himself to over 500 people before he ascended into heaven. After greeting Mary Magdalene at the tomb, he found two of his disciples walking along the road and he travelled with them for a long while, telling them of the great things God had done. At first, they did not recognize him, but by his speech, they soon realized who he was.
He also met with his disciples multiple times. Many could not believe until they saw with their own eyes. Thomas was one who professed he could never believe until he saw the Savior and touched the wounds in his hands and side. Jesus gave him that opportunity shortly after that and said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We are alive today and have not seen the risen Christ in his glorified flesh, but we can by faith still believe. We have his holy word and we are reminded by this song:
“I know that my Redeemer lives”