Death In His Grave

We’ve had the privilege of enjoying Carbon Ribs and Skeleton Bones on Square Piece, but with today being Good Friday, I’ve got another favorite to share.

John Mark McMillan wrote Death In His Grave with a true poet’s inspiration.  (It touches my heart every time.)  The part that moves me the most comes at the end with the words: He has cheated hell and seated us above the fall; In desperate places He paid our wages, one time once and for all.

What a glorious truth!  In my home, Easter isn’t about baskets of candy and pastel eggs; it’s about celebrating the fact that I owed a terrible wage for my rebellion against God; but Christ willingly paid that wage on my behalf!

Enjoy the lyrics below, but make sure you check out his line by line commentary here.  (It’s enlightening!)

(By the way, I decided to go with a live video.  It’s a bit shaky at first, but it’s worth it to get the impact from the rest of his band.)

Death in His Grave

Though the earth cried out for blood

Satisfied her hunger was

Her billows calmed on raging seas, for the souls of men she craved

Sun and moon from balcony turned their head in disbelief

Their precious Love would taste the sting, disfigured and disdained

–

On Friday a thief, on Sunday a king

Laid down in grief

But awoke with keys to hell on that day

First born of the slain

The man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave

–

So three days in darkness slept the Morning Sun of Righteousness

But rose to shame the throes of death

And overturn his rule

Now daughters and the sons of men would pay not their dues again

The debt of blood they owed was rent when the day rolled anew

–

On Friday a thief, on Sunday a king

Laid down in grief

But awoke with keys to hell on that day

First born of the slain

The man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave

(x2)

–

He has cheated hell

and seated us above the fall

In desperate places

He paid our wages

One time once and for all