Easter is a time of joy and celebration, and one of the most popular ways to celebrate is by singing Easter hymns. Hymns are religious songs that focus on praising God and celebrating His love. Familiar Easter hymns include "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." These hymns evoke feelings of joy and hope, and they are often sung in churches or even at home. Some hymns are quite old, while others have been composed more recently. Regardless of their age, these songs help to bring people together and remind us of the importance of the Easter season.
Whether you prefer classic Easter hymns or modern worship Easter songs, this collection of popular Easter videos from your favorite performers is sure to move you! Jesus willingly paid all our debts, and these Easter songs and hymns are the perfect way to remember and worship Him!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3)
Easter Hymn Playlist
Easter Hymns and Songs
Here are some of the most popular Easter hymns and Easter songs that churches are singing today. Is your favorite one on the list? Below, find snippets of lyrics for each song, stories behind the songs, AND 20+ videos of some of the most popular performances of each song listed. We hope you'll be blessed with this grouping of so many wonderful Easter hymns and songs all in one handy resource!
Because He Lives
This song, written by Gloria Gaither in one of her darkest moments, is such a reminder to all of us just what we are capable of doing and being, all because He lives!
In his Our Journey devotional, "Because He Lives," Pastor James McDonald asks the question, "Why is Jesus alive?"
He goes on to say, "He’s alive because He rose from the dead—but why? Yes, He’s alive because He is God—but why? Yes, He’s alive “because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24, NIV) "
Read more of this devotional at Christianity.com and learn more about Gloria Gaither's story behind "Because He Lives" in this article by Rev. McDowell.
“God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon;
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. …
″... because I live, ye shall live also.” - John 14:19
Anthem Lights Performs 'Because He Lives' And 'Arise My Love'
Easter 'Hallelujah'
Three days went by again they came
To move the stone to bless the slain
With oil and spice anointing hallelujah
But as they went to move the stone
They saw that they were not alone
But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah
One day in 2006, a pastor asked Kelley Mooney to sing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at their upcoming Easter Sunday. She went searching for the music score but ran into a problem.
Once she started looking into the music, she felt very conflicted. “The lyrics weren’t quite suitable for church,” thought Kelly, who then became inspired by a Holy Week Scriptures booklet about Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
As she read the text in the booklet, she reimagined the message into lyrics.
“After completing the first couple of verses, I called Mom and Dad and ran it past them. They thought it was very accurate. So I wrote two more verses and called them again. Then I wrote the last verse,” says Kelley.
After performing the new version, more and more people began requesting it. Ultimately, a video of her new Christian version, dubbed 'Easter Hallelujah' went very viral online.
Forever
The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him
God So Loved the World
I try so hard to find the words to say
To let you know how great is this god to whom i pray
Nothing can nor ever will compare
To the peace that flows in your soul when he is living there
He Arose
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
How Deep the Father's Love for Us
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
In Christ Alone
In Christ Alone was written by Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty. Townsend explains, “The song came about in an unusual way. Keith and I met in the autumn of 2000 at a worship event, and we resolved to try to work together on some songs. A few weeks later Keith sent some melody ideas, and the first one on the CD was a magnificent, haunting melody that I loved, and immediately started writing down some lyrical ideas on what I felt should be a timeless theme commensurate with the melody. So the theme of the life, death, resurrection of Christ, and the implications of that for us just began to tumble out, and when we got together later on to fine-tune it, we felt we had encapsulated what we wanted to say.”
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm…
Read more about the story behind 'In Christ Alone' on Crosswalk.com
In the Garden
According to this article on History Behind The Hymn, Austin Miles, an amateur photographer (and pharmacist-turned-church music director), was waiting on film to develop in the darkroom when he saw a deeply moving spiritual vision. He saw Mary Magdalene visiting the empty tomb, leaving, and walking into the garden where she met our Lord!
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
Click here to read the rest of the story, as written by Mike Jeshurun.
Jesus Loves Me
Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.
To learn more about the lyrics and meaning behind Jesus Loves Me click here.
Jesus Paid it All
Lord, now indeed I find thy power and thine alone
Can change the leper's spots and melt the heart of stone
Jesus Saves
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Oh Happy Day
He taught me how to watch, fight and pray, fight and pray
And live rejoicing every, everyday
Oh happy day
Power In The Blood
Would you be free from your passion and pride
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide
There's wonderful power in the blood
Resurrection Power
Now I have resurrection power
Living on the inside
Jesus, You have given us freedom
The Old Rugged Cross
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine, shine, shine
Let it shine!
Washed by the Blood of the Lamb
Are you washed in the blood
In the soul-cleansing blood of the lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?
What a Beautiful Name
Hillsong Worship's Ben Fielding writes, "I am an ardent believer in the necessity for the songs we sing in our churches to be firmly founded in the scriptures." He continues, breaking down the inspiration for each of the lyrics in the song, verse by verse.
On his blog, he shares, "Verse 1 begins with Jesus (the Word) at the beginning of all creation (John 1); He was with God and was (and is!) God (John 1:1). The mysteries of our infinitely beautiful and glorious God, once hidden for generations, have now been revealed through Jesus (Col 1:26). When Jesus took on flesh we (humanity) got to see the glory of God (John 1:14); the Name of Jesus reveals the beauty and glory of God."
Read the rest of Ben's scriptural inspiration behind the lyrics for What a Beautiful Name on his blog.
Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast, of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
'What A Beautiful Name' - A Cappella Worship From Voices Of Lee
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Isaac Watts wrote this hymn—a meditation on the cross of Christ—as a means of preparation for the Lord’s Supper. Having reflected on the cross, he can only marvel at God’s wondrous grace and pledge his life to God’s service. “Were the whole realm of nature mine, / That were a present far too small; / Love so amazing, so divine, / Demands my soul, my life, my all.” source: Christianity.com
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
