Derek Williams
The gospel story—the life, death, and resurrection—centers around Jesus. It’s His story! Because of His grace, we have been brought into this extraordinary narrative, but He is the primary character.
During the Easter season of 2021, I felt that there was a shortage of congregational Easter songs that did just that—positioned Jesus at the center. My response to this dilemma was to write a compelling gospel-centric song that focused on Jesus.
The uncreated One, the Son of God / Eternal Word in flesh and blood
For the beginning of the song, I began to think about Jesus’s description as the “Word” in John 1:1. I then wrote lyrics contrasting His eternal, uncreated nature with His finite humanity. The uncreated God was made flesh and died as a common thief.
The God who spoke the words that made the earth was laid to rest in stone and dirt
Jesus created the stone and dirt that would hold His lifeless body. The eternal Son, the One with no beginning or end, was dead. However, as I pondered this dark scene in my mind, I remembered what was to come—resurrection.
The earth could not contain the One that died to save / Jesus is alive / He’s risen from the grave
The pre-chorus desperately needed to move out of the dark and depressing feel of the verses. So, I wrote the pre-chorus with an ascending melody that would, in my mind, coincide with Jesus’s ascension from the grave. As I sing the pre-chorus, I can imagine the earth grasping to hold the body of Christ as He victoriously emerges from the grave.
Praise the risen King / Crowned with victory / Sin and death are crucified by the resurrected Christ
The chorus needed to “lift,” so I used the theme of “praise” to direct the focus upward. I LOVE the lyric that says, “Sin and death are crucified by the resurrected Christ.” In a sense, the same method of execution used to kill Jesus was turned around and used on death itself at the resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the grave, not only was sin defeated but death—the penalty of sin—was defeated as well.
We are raised from death to life by the resurrected Christ
His resurrection also means that we, too, have life! Ephesians 2 says that we were dead in our sins, but because of His great love for us, we have been raised up and made alive in Christ. The orphans have been made heirs. Thank God for what He has done!
Once I arrived at the bridge, I had two thoughts: 1) The bridge needs to be singable/repeatable, and 2) Jesus needs to remain at the center. Philippians 2:8-10 states that Jesus set aside His royalty and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross. Because of this, God has given Him the name above all names, so at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Once I remembered the Apostle Paul’s words, I knew this was precisely where the bridge needed to land. It’s the perfect response to that which Jesus has done. He lived, He died, He rose, and now we bow and proclaim His victory and eternal reign.
“‘The Resurrected Christ’ is an anthem that celebrates Jesus’s victory over sin and death and the life we have in Him. I pray it helps you and your congregation remember and celebrate the gospel story—His story—not only on Easter but throughout the entire year!”
Derek Williams is a worship pastor at Willowbrook Church in Huntsville, AL, and has served in worship ministry for over fifteen years. As a worship pastor—and seminary graduate—Derek understands that the songs we sing form or deform our understanding of God. Therefore, Derek passionately strives to write theologically rich songs that are also melodically compelling and congregationally accessible.
Derek Williams | “The Resurrected Christ”
Lead “The Resurrected Christ” with your congregation.