On the 12th Day of Christmas Past…
Question: How is “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” a Christmas song and what is your favorite line?
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You’re the Future of the World
By Jerry Borrowman
It was cold, dark, and damp, and as we pulled up in front of the small Catholic nursing home, our thoughts were centered more on hot chocolate and popcorn than on Christmas caroling. We missionaries had spent a wonderful day singing in hospitals and nursing homes throughout southern Dallas. But now it was late, and our voices were tired. We were glad to arrive at the last stop of the day.
Inside it smelled musty. We huddled for a few minutes in one corner of the foyer while the Catholic sisters brought their patients in wheelchairs to hear us sing. As we started the first carol, a remarkable thing happened. In spite of our hoarse throats, our singing sounded more clear and true than at any of the other performances we had given that day. A feeling of warmth enveloped us. We were filled with a sense of peace and reverence.
After we finished the last song, the nurses asked us to wait while they returned the patients to their rooms. A few minutes later, the sisters came back to thank us for coming. Sensing that they didn’t want us to leave yet, we volunteered to sing one more song for them. Rather than a traditional carol, we softly sang:
“I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead. He lives, my everliving Head. He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need. . . .He lives! All glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: “I know that my Redeemer lives!”
With tears in their eyes, the nuns, who were selflessly spending their lives serving others, rushed forward to thank us. One sister, the supervisor of the others, took my hands in hers and said, “You’re the future of the world, do you realize that? You young men are the future of the world!” As a young missionary, I sensed her sincerity—and the new hope and faith we had brought into her life. For a moment our differences disappeared, and we all received a witness, borne by the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ does indeed live.
“I Know That My Redeemer Lives” might not be what comes to mind when you think of Christmas music. But as a beautiful video put out by the Church in 2000 portrays, if Christmas is all about Christ, then perhaps this is one of the most fitting songs we could listen to at this time of year. Watch and listen to the video below. What lines stand out to you especially this Christmas?
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I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.
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He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.
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He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.
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He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
“He lives to plead for me above.” This reminds me of the Savior’s willingness to be my advocate, to represent me, to advocate for me before the Father and seek His mercy on my behalf.
This song is about Christ & Christ is Christmas. He lives to bless me with his love.
This is a wonderful song at all times, but Christmas is all things Christ centered! I love the line “He lives to plead for me above.” I need His love and help.
He lives to bless me with his love is what keeps me going many days. Christ is what Christmas is all about and this song reviews all he does for us.
I love the whole hymn and was touched by the vidio today in todays post. My favorite line is “I know that my redeemer lives”, because I do know that He lives and I am so grateful for him and that Knowledge I have been blessed with. He lives.
So many good lines! I’m not sure I could pick just one favorite, but one I love is “ He lives and loves me to the end.” So many times throughout the song I picture the Savior just giving me the biggest hug! This line perfectly encompasses, as does the entire song, that no matter the times we may go through that He will always love us.
I think the story said it perfectly when it spoke on how Christ is the reason for the season. What better song to celebrate Christmas than one that talks about our loving Savior.
“Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my redeemer lives.”
This is a hymn that never fails to bring tears to my eyes and a lump that is hard to sing past. He lives and loves me. There is no greater joy than to know that this is true. He loves …me.
Of course Christ is what Christmas is about. Any hymn or song that glorifies and reminds us of Christ is a Christmas song.
This hymn teaches us who He is and what He does for us. He is my leader, adovcate, prophet, priest, king, protector. He guides me, knows me, gives me daily life and a promised resurrection. He loves me. He lives
I love this hymn. There are so many great lines but if I choose just one then this line give me so much hope. “He lives and loves me to the end.”
I know that He lives and I’m so grateful for the love He has for us.
Christmas is about Christ and what He has done for us. This hymn is what Christmas is all about.
This is my favorite hymn about the Savior. I love all the lines, but this is the one I would choose:
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!” What a perfect song for Christmas.
My favorite line is, “He lives and I shall conquer death.” This truth sustains me every day knowing that I will see him again, as well as those who preceded me in death. This hymn certainly is a perfect song to remind us at Christmas time of all the things our Lord and Savior has done for us. I know that my redeemer lives!
One thing that quickly came to mind is how many different names refer to the savior Jesus Christ in the scriptures. All glory to his ‘name’.
It is worth studying His Name.
I love this hymn.-I Know That My Redeemer Lives. Some of my favorite words are: He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
The Lord is truly the Prince of Peace.
I had never thought of this song as a Christmas hymn until now, but agree that it has a wonderful Christmas message. He lives and I shall conquer death has such powerful meaning in this beautiful hymn. It sums up one of the greatest purposes of the Saviors life, to overcome death and allow all of us the gift of eternal life.
I can’t sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives with dry eyes. The line that caught my eye tonight is “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! Jesus is; Love,hope,peace,life . . .my Savior, my Redeemer.
“He lives my hungry soul to feed” is my favorite line & this is a Christmas song because Christ was born to fulfill all of these roles mentioned in the song.
He lives to calm my troubled heart and so many other things. I Know that my Redeemer lives!