Rejoice now, O sorrowing bride, for he sleeps no longer. Let thy glad
songs of praise and adoration reach the skies, for the Lord is not
among the dead--he is risen. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!" for thy Savior has burst the iron
bands of death and come forth a mighty conqueror. For thy sins he laid
himself down in the icy tomb; he rises again for thy justification.
For thy iniquities he suffered, died and was buried: he comes forth
again that thou mayest be a sharer of his glory. He has hallowed the
dreary tomb by his own dear presence, and now he has ascended to his
Father and your Father, to his God and your God. He has taken his seat
at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and there, despairing soul,
trembling under the burden of sin, he pleads for thee (Heb. 7: 25). He
points to the cross on Calvary, dripping with his own precious blood,
and in a voice of tender compassion exclaims: "Father, I died for that
wretched sinner; spare, oh spare him for my sake!" He has entered into
the holy place by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption
for thee, O daughter of Zion.