161 Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands

1 Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands For our offenses given; But now at God's right hand he stands And brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be And sing to God right thankfully Loud songs of hallelujah. Hallelujah! 2 It was a strange and dreadful strife When life and death contended. The victory remained with life; The reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly says That death is swallowed up by death; Its sting is lost forever. Hallelujah! 3 Here the true Paschal Lamb we see, Whom God so freely gave us; He died on the accursed tree — So strong his love — to save us. See, his blood now marks our door; Faith points to it; death passes o'er, And Satan cannot harm us. Hallelujah! 4 So let us keep the festival To which the Lord invites us; Christ is himself the joy of all, The sun that warms and lights us. Now his grace to us imparts Eternal sunshine to our hearts; The night of sin is ended. Hallelujah!