Jesus Lives, and So Shall I
Jesus lives, and so shall I,
Death! thy sting is gone forever.
He who deigned for me to die,
Lives, the bands of death to sever.
He shall raise me with the just:
Jesus is my hope and trust.
Jesus lives and reigns supreme;
And, His kingdom still remaining,
I shall also be with Him,
Ever living, ever reigning.
God has promised: be it must;
Jesus is my hope and trust.
Jesus lives, I know full well,
Naught from Him my heart can sever,
Life nor death nor pow’rs of hell,
Joy nor grief, henceforth forever.
None of all His saints is lost;
Jesus is my hope and trust.
Jesus lives, and death is now
But my entrance into glory.
Courage, then, my soul, for thou
Hast a crown of life before thee;
Thou shalt find thy hopes were just;
Jesus is the Christian’s trust.
The German text was written by Christian Gellert (1715-1769), a professor at the University of Leipzig whose students included Goethe and Lessing; and this English translation was made by Philip Schaff (1819-1893), the noted Swiss-American church historian. The hymn is usually sung to “Zuversicht,” (“Confidence”), a sturdy chorale tune by Johann Cruger (1598-1662), cantor at St. Nicholas Church in Berlin, who is probably best known as the composer of “Nun Danket,” the tune to which “Now Thank We All Our God” is usually sung.
Rachel Matzko chose this hymn as a favorite before she was diagnosed with cancer. It was sung at her funeral by Pam Dunbar, a friend and member of the BJU music faculty.