When Sabbath’s holy rest had passed away,
The women rose before the dawn’s first ray;
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary too,
The mother of James, and others with them drew
Sweet spices they had prepared with loving care,
To anoint the body of their Lord laid bare.

Very early on the first day of the week,
They came unto the tomb with hearts that seek,
And found the stone already rolled away;
They entered in, but where the body lay
Was empty now — no sign of Him they mourned.
Perplexed they stood, with wonder newly born,
When lo! two men in garments dazzling bright
Stood by them, filling all the tomb with light.

The women, terrified, bowed faces low;
The heavenly ones spoke gently, soft and slow:
“Why seek ye here the living with the dead?
He is not here; remember what He said
While still in Galilee, in days gone by:
The Son of Man must be delivered nigh
To sinful men, be crucified and slain,
And on the third day rise alive again.”

They recalled His words, and hastened back with speed,
To tell the eleven and the rest in need.
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and the rest
Proclaimed the news, yet seemed an idle jest
To those who heard; they trusted not the tale.
But Peter rose and ran without avail,
Stooped down and saw the linen cloths alone,
And went away, marveling at what was shown.

That very day two disciples walked the road
To Emmaus, seven miles their heavy load;
They talked of all these things that came to pass,
With faces sad and hearts like shattered glass.
A stranger joined them, asking of their grief;
They told of Jesus, mighty Prophet brief,
Whom priests and rulers crucified that day,
Yet hoped He was the one to Israel’s sway.

Then He, beginning with Moses and the Prophets all,
Expounded how the Scriptures did foretell
That Christ must suffer, then in glory rise —
The Lamb once slain now claims the eternal prize.
Their hearts burned warm as He the pages turned,
Yet still their eyes were held till bread He earned
And broke it, blessing — then they knew His face:
The risen Lord, revealed in that holy place.

He vanished from their sight; they rose with haste,
Returned to Jerusalem, no time to waste,
And found the eleven gathered with the rest,
Who cried, “The Lord is risen indeed — blest!”
And as they spoke, the Lord Himself stood near,
“Peace be unto you,” He said without fear.
They trembled, thinking spirit they did see;
But He showed hands and feet, and said, “Touch Me.

“A spirit has not flesh and bones as you
Behold in Me — come, see that it is true.”
Then, while they joyed yet wondered still, He took
A piece of broiled fish and ate — the proof He shook
All doubt away. He opened then their mind
To understand the Scriptures, pure and kind:
Thus it is written, Christ must suffer sore,
Rise on the third day, and forevermore

Proclaim repentance and remission of sin
To all the nations, beginning from within
Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses true;
Behold, I send the promise of the Father to you —
But tarry in the city till ye be
Endued with power from on high, set free.
Then He led them out to Bethany’s height,
Lifted hands and blessed them in the fading light.

While blessing, He was parted from their sight,
Carried up to heaven in glory bright.
They worshipped Him with joy that overflowed,
Returned to Jerusalem with hearts bestowed
In praise and blessing in the temple courts,
Continually — the King of kings reports
His victory won, the tomb forever spoiled,
New creation dawning, sin and death recoiled.

Proclaim abroad the resurrection story,
From shore to shore, from age to age the same;
The risen Christ, the King of endless glory,
Abides with us—Emmanuel His name.
Hallelujah! Death has lost its sting;
The Lord is risen—let the heavens ring!