The Longest Pause

This morning in church we sang "In Christ Alone".  It is such a beautiful song.  It should really be called the Easter Song.  It is perfectly fitting of the Easter story.
So we started off singing.  A little drums, piano, bass, guitar, saxaphone...

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

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the World by darkness slain.......

And then came the longest pause. The music quieted, the drums fell silent, no words were sung.  It was the longest pause in the history of all long pauses in a song.  I felt myself holding my breath.  I was on the edge of my seat.

If I didn't know the story I might have yelled "oh no!  What happens next?  Where will your hope come from now that he is in the tomb?  Where will you get your strength?  Is that all?  Did he just take away all my sin and then die?"

Andy, our music pastor, started to play the guitar again and he said those words we were all waiting to hear "oh but he didn't stay in the tomb".

The music grew a little louder and then comes the rest of the story!

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

Then there was another pause, not so long, and most definitely not uncomfortable.  This pause was to give everyone a moment to feel the words they just sang.  He rose.  Just as he said he would.

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

'Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

The longest pause made me think about those three days he was in the tomb.  I was getting anxious during the song.  Come on Jesus get out of the tomb!  I can't imagine what the disciples were thinking during those long three days.  Maybe they were like me saying "no, wait, the song can't end here, we haven't got to the best part yet".  The song didn't end there.  It came back with a vengeance.  Drums, guitars, piano, voices...shouting the gospel that Jesus burst forth on that glorious day and rose!

Like I said.  Really great song.  Absolutely perfect for Easter.