by Linda Cox


As I worked around the house one morning, I realized I was humming a hymn I hadn’t heard in years. It was one of my childhood favorites, Wonderful Words of Life. Written by Philip Bliss in 1874, it is a good example of how Bliss used his hymns to preach the Gospel message. While many may consider it “old,” its message is one that will never  grow old. Just like the Easter story in the Bible.


What better way to celebrate Easter this year than to read again the old, yet ever new, “wonderful words of life” from the Gospel of Matthew. And as we do, may the joy of our Lord’s Resurrection flood our hearts with praise and thanksgiving for the salvation He won for us.



After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.


There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.


The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”


So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me. . . . (Matthew 28:1-10 NIV)



And we too will see Him one day, for Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!


Have a blessed Easter! (And for those of you who are not familiar with Wonderful Words of Life, why not check it out at www.cyberhymnal.org.)



Linda Cox is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but Linda occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity) and the Love Is a Verb devotional (Bethany House). She and her husband live on a farm with their two indoor/outdoor farm mutts.