Since Easter–Resurrection Day–didn’t occur on a Wednesday, I decided to share this song today, the Wednesday closest to Easter. Incidentally, the crucifixion likely took place on a Thursday and not on Good Friday, as most people believe. That’s the only way to make sense of the fact that Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights. The concern about removing Jesus’ body from the cross before the Sabbath referenced a special Sabbath that preceded the regular one. That was because of the celebration of the Passover.
I wrote this song at least as far back as 1970 and have made numerous small changes to the lyrics in the interim since then. It’s important to note that the Gospels give different accounts of what happened that Sunday morning based on the viewpoints of the Gospel writers. I took the liberty of combining various details into what I like to believe is a worshipful and moving song.
I invite you to listen to it here and to get a free download of the lead sheet here. Please note that the lead sheet has not been updated with these lyrics.
Then dawned Sunday,
The first day of the week,
When into the garden silently came
Troubled women to anoint the body of the Lord,
Who-Friday on a cross-had been slain.
These women had endured his trial;
These women watched him die.
They wept as they saw his body torn by pain.
But they never stopped to think-they never realized-
That what he had told them was true:
That they’d see him in the flesh, alive again.
The women approached the tomb
In the stillness of the dawn,
When they saw that the rock was gone from the door.
“Fear not,” an angel said.
“The one you seek is not dead,
He has risen and lives today,
Go to Galilee. There you’ll see the resurrected Lord.”
Then dawned Sunday, the first day of the week,
When out from the garden joyously ran
Shouting women to proclaim
That one who had been slain
Had lived, died, and arisen as God and man.
I’m still writing Christian novels. As you can see from the postcard graphic containing all of the covers, I’ve written and published twenty-four. I’m moving along on #25. You may access my Amazon Author page from the QR code. Matchmaker Payback is a fun read.
Links you might be interested in:
As I Come Singing. . . 