Rest, O Christ, From All Your Labor

1. Rest, O Christ, from all your labor;
Sleep within your borrowed tomb.
Foes have crucified and bound you
Fast within death's narrow room.
Pilate's guards stand watching, waiting
Where they rolled the sealing stone.
All unseen another watches:
God will not forsake his own.

2. Peace at last from all your anguish,
Wounds in hands and feet and side.
Enemies no longer mock you,
Scourged, abandoned, crucified.
Faithful women gather spices,
Weep for you whom sin has slain.
Though they mourn, the God who guards you
Will not let your death be vain.

3. Help us keep this solemn Sabbath
As we wait for Easter dawn.
Earth's dark night of sin is passing;
Death's long reign will soon be gone.
Christ, in whom the new creation
Rises brighter than the sun:
May we, as we watch for morning,
Trust the vict'ry you have won.

4. As though parting Red Sea waters
Israel marched to liberty,
So we pass through baptism's water,
Washed by grace, from sin set free.
Jesus, risen, living, reigning
Now and through eternity:
Grant that, through your life undying,
We may live victoriously.

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This contemporary hymn tells us what happened after Christ's death and the effect it had on the world. It is one of those hymns that take a little extra work to fully digest - reading through it once or twice before singing is definitely worth it and helpful. The first two stanzas are description of the events following Christ's death and gives us a clear picture of the suffering endured. The last two stanzas turn to us and point us towards the gift we receive through his death and Resurrection.

I particularly like the line "So we pass through baptism's water, Washed by grace, from sin set free." This hymn points directly to Christ, the one who has has risen, is living and reigning now and through eternity. The one through whom we receive life - something we can think about even on Good Friday, because of Jesus, who washed us in our baptism.

It is thus worthy of our singing.