Come Forth

This is the 6th song in the God Bent Down Series Verse 1 The darkest hour before the dawn Had settled on the tomb; The stone was sealed, the guard in place — The Savior lay in gloom. Matthew 27:62–66; Luke 23:53–54; John 19:41–42 Verse 2 Then Heaven's mightiest one came down, He blazed with heaven's light; He rolled the stone and cried aloud, "Come forth from death's dark night!" Matthew 28:2–4; Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 779 Verse 3 By life within Himself He rose — No grave could hold Him fast; He came forth clothed in majesty, The victory won at last! John 5:26; John 10:17–18; Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 785 Refrain "I am the resurrection and the life! I laid My life down — and took it again! All who believe in Me shall never die — I am the resurrection and the life!" John 11:25–26; John 10:17–18; 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 Verse 4 She stood beside the empty tomb, Still lost in grief and pain; Then one voice pierced her grief: "Mary!" — Her Lord lives again! John 20:11–16; Luke 8:2; John 20:18 Verse 5 The firstfruits of the harvest field Now rose from death's dark night; And all who sleep in Christ below Shall rise to morning light! 1 Corinthians 15:20–23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17; Matthew 27:52–53 Refrain "I am the resurrection and the life! I laid My life down — and took it again! All who believe in Me shall never die — I am the resurrection and the life!" THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS Scripture • Matthew 27:62–66 — The stone sealed, the guard set — the full weight of human effort to keep the tomb closed • Matthew 27:52–53 — The saints who arose after the resurrection — a foretaste of the final harvest • Matthew 28:2–4 — The angel's descent, blazing with heaven's light; the guards falling as dead men • Luke 23:53–54 — The tomb sealed; the Sabbath drawing near • John 5:26 — 'As the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself' — the theological ground of by life within Himself He rose • John 10:17–18 — 'I lay down My life that I may take it up again... I lay it down of My own accord; I have authority to take it up again' — the voluntary resurrection • John 11:25–26 — 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live' — the refrain drawn directly from Christ's own words • John 19:41–42 — The garden tomb; the burial • John 20:11–16 — Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb; weeping; the one word — Mary — that pierced her grief • John 20:18 — Mary going to tell the disciples: I have seen the Lord • 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 — Christ the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep; in Christ all shall be made alive • 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 — Those who sleep in Christ shall rise; the great gathering Ellen G. White • The Desire of Ages, p. 779 — The angel's descent; blazing with heaven's light; the earth trembling; the guards falling as dead men; the stone rolled away not to release Christ but to show He had already risen • The Desire of Ages, p. 785 — Christ rose by the life that was in Himself; He had power to lay it down and power to take it up again; the resurrection was an act of His own divine authority • The Desire of Ages, pp. 788–789 — Mary at the tomb; her grief; the one word Mary spoken by the risen Christ; the recognition instant and complete • The Desire of Ages, p. 786 — Christ came forth clothed in majesty; the Roman guard fled; the resurrection the Father's seal upon the Son's atoning work