We all instinctively understand why Easter, celebrating the cornerstone of our faith – the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ – is marked with special songs. But should these powerful anthems of faith be confined to a single season? If the resurrection is the bedrock of our belief, shouldn’t our churches resonate with “Easter songs” throughout the entire year? This prompts the question: do songwriters intentionally create songs just for Easter, or is there a deeper purpose to these powerful worship anthems?
As a songwriter deeply involved in church worship, I recognize that inspiration fuels the creative process. Songs emerge from specific experiences, divine revelations, or to serve a particular purpose within the church body. Church songs, fundamentally, are musical expressions of biblical truths. Some songwriters directly set Scripture to melody, resulting in powerful anthems like “Forever,” “You Are Good,” and “Revelation Song.” Others draw inspiration from specific biblical narratives, giving us songs like “How Deep The Father’s Love for Us” and “Jesus Messiah.” And many rejoice in God’s character and promises, leading to songs of praise such as “This Is Amazing Grace,” “Cornerstone,” and “Good Good Father.” These songs also serve as calls to worship and prayer, exemplified by “10,000 Reasons,” “Lord I Need You,” and “Blessed Be Your Name.”
It’s noticeable that certain church songs gain prominence around specific times of the year, Easter being a prime example. Worship leaders, myself included, often seek out these new releases to keep our congregations engaged with relevant and timely music.
Elevation Worship’s release of “Resurrecting” perfectly timed with Easter was a memorable example. I immediately recognized its power to articulate the very essence of Easter – Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – so explicitly captured in the lyrics. Adding it to our Easter setlist felt natural and impactful. Teaching it in the weeks leading up to Easter Sunday allowed our congregation to fully embrace the song. When Easter weekend arrived, the unified voices singing “Resurrecting” created a powerful worship experience, deeply connecting us to the heart of Easter.
However, in the weeks and months following Easter, a question lingered: how could we keep the potent message of “Resurrecting” and other “Easter songs” alive in our regular worship? It felt as if their impact was uniquely tied to the Easter season. When was the right time to revisit these powerful songs?
Initially, Communion Sunday seemed like a fitting occasion. Communion, in its essence, is a recurring mini-Easter, a time to remember and celebrate Christ’s sacrifice through the elements, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. “Easter songs” seemed to align with this act of remembrance.
But then came a gentle yet profound shift in perspective, a nudge from the Holy Spirit. The realization dawned: “Easter songs” as a separate category, limited to a season, don’t truly exist.
Joel Houston of Hillsong Worship, reflecting on their “Easter single” “Grace to Grace,” articulated this beautifully: “We’re here for a journey. It’s a process that involves taking up our cross and denying ourselves, following Him daily. It’s a process that involves humility and surrender time and time again…” This hits at the core truth: our walk with God is a daily journey, as Micah 6:8 encourages. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross isn’t an event confined to Easter Sunday; it’s the foundation of our lives every single day. Through Christ, we are justified, redeemed, and eternally claimed (Romans 8:31-39, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 3:18). Living in this new life means keeping the “Easter” message – the cross and resurrection – at the forefront of our minds, as Colossians 3:1-4 urges.
This realization liberated me from the notion of seasonally restricting powerful worship songs. I no longer avoid “Top 100 Songs for Easter” lists throughout the year. Instead, I actively seek to keep the cross and resurrection central in my own heart and in the worship experience of our church family. I believe this was the original intent of songwriters who penned these powerful “Easter songs” – to fuel a continuous celebration of Christ’s transformative work in our lives.
Without Easter, without the resurrection, there would be no Church. That’s why remembering and celebrating the cross isn’t just for Easter; it’s the heart of our weekly gatherings. Ultimately, it’s “All Because of Jesus” (Romans 8:9-11) that we gather, worship, and live out our faith. Let’s embrace the powerful message of Easter songs and integrate them into our church worship year-round, constantly reminding ourselves and our congregations of the life-changing reality of the resurrection.
