Hymns
"He Lives"
words: Alfred H. Ackley
music: Alfred H. Ackley
Background music: Joyful Noise Music
"'Why should I worship a dead Jew?' This challenge was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by the author and composer of this hymn, Alfred H. Ackley. In his book, Forty Gospel Hymn Stories, George W. Sanville records Mr. Ackley's answer to this searching question, which ultimatey prompted the writing of this popular hymn:
He lives! I tell you, He is NOT dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.
Mr. Sanville continues:
Mr. Ackley's forthright, emphatic answer, together with his subsequent triumphant effort to win the man for Christ, flowered forth into song and crystallized into a convincing sermon on "He Lives!" In his re-reading of the resurrection stories of the Gospels, the words 'He is risen' struck him with new meaning. From the thrill within his own soul came the convincing song--'He Lives!' The scriptural evidence, his own heart, and the testimony of history matched the glorious experience of an innumerable cloud of witnesses that 'He Lives', so he sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song. He says,'The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily.'
The hymn first appeared in Triumphant Service Songs, a hymnal published by the Rodeheaver Company in 1933. It has been a favorite with evangelical congregations since that time."
Taken from Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions © 2002 by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI.
Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
