"Low in the Grave He Lay": A Christus Victor Hymn

Regular readers know that one of the spiritual highlights of my week is leading hymns at the start of the Bible study I lead on Monday evenings out at the prison. I grew up singing a cappella four-part harmony out of gospel hymnals. This is my love language with the Lord. My church, though, has gravitated toward praise band worship music. Which I enjoy, so don't get me wrong. But I do miss gospel hymn singing, and the prison is my weekly chance to scratch this spiritual itch. 

Our tradition out at the unit is for the men to call out the number of a hymn they want to sing. This week a man called out the number of a hymn that I sang a lot growing up, but had not sung in decades: "Low in the Grave He Lay."

Musically, "Low in the Grave He Lay" is a quirky song. The verses are sung in a slow, dirge-like way. These are followed by a chorus sung at a quicker pace and with upbeat energy. The musical contrast highlights a lyrical contrast. The verses describe Jesus in the grave. The chorus turns toward the resurrection. The song swings back and forth, from mourning and grief toward triumphant joy and exuberant praise. 

Personally, I find the dramatic swing in "Low in the Grave He Lay" a bit cheesy. But the hymn has often surprised me. I find myself moved. 

Singing the song again this week, after so many years, I was struck by the Christus Victor themes that run throughout:

1. 

Low in the grave He lay—
Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day—Jesus my Lord!

Chorus:

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2 .

Vainly they watch His bed—
Jesus, my Savior!
Vainly they seal the dead—
Jesus my Lord!

3.

Death cannot keep his prey—
Jesus, my Savior!
He tore the bars away—
Jesus my Lord!

Note the Christus Victor images from the Chorus. He arose, with a might triumph o'er His foes. That line is followed by a Harrowing of Hell image: He arose a Victor from the dark domain. Similar images are found in Verse 3: Death cannot keep his prey. And second Harrowing of Hell allusion: He tore the bars away--Jesus my Lord!

Perhaps most significantly of all, not a single allusion or reference to the cross or penal substitutionary atonement. Good Friday is not mentioned. The focus of the song is wholly upon Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

All that to say, while a Christus Victor vision of the atonement wasn't a dominant theme of my upbringing it was always there. And perhaps nowhere more clearly articulated than in an old hymn I had almost forgotten.