The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.@1 John 2:8

Shir­ley E. Mur­ray, 1987.

Vruech­ten, 17th Cen­tu­ry Dutch tune, har­mo­nized by Al­ice Park­er, 1969 (MIDI, NWC, PDF).

BECAUSE YOU LIVE, O CHRIST. Text © 1987 Hope Pub­lish­ing Com­pa­ny, 380 South Main Place, Car­ol Stream, IL 60188 (800-323-1049).
Harm­o­niz­a­tion © 1969 Alice Park­er, as­signed 1987 to Hope Pub­lish­ing Com­pa­ny. All rights re­served.
Used by per­miss­ion.

Shirley E. Murray (1931-)

Because You live, O Christ,
The garden of the world has come to flower;
The darkness of the tomb
Is flooded with Your resurrection power.

Refrain

The stone has rolled away
And death cannot imprison!
O sing this Easter Day,
For Jesus Christ has risen,
Has risen, has risen, has risen!

Because You live, O Christ,
The spirit bird of hope is freed for flying;
Our cages of despair
No longer keep us closed and life-denying.

Refrain

Because You live, O Christ,
The rainbow of Your peace will span creation,
The colors of Your love
Will draw all humankind to adoration.

Refrain

The words and mu­sic to this hymn are un­der co­py­right.
If you wish to print, copy, cut/paste or dup­li­cate them, you must
ob­tain per­miss­ion from Hope Pub­lish­ing Com­pa­ny (800-323-1049).