Lyrics
Verse 1
I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see His wounds,His hands, His feet.
My Saviour on that cursed tree
Verse 2
His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone
Chorus
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Verse 3
And then on the third at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King
Chorus
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Verse 4
He shall return in robes of white,
The blazing Son shall pierce the night.
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face
Chorus
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This song moves through the story of Christ's death, burial and resurrection in four verses with a recurring chorus. The opening verses place the singer at Calvary, noting the wounds in His hands and feet, then describe the body laid in Joseph's tomb with the entrance sealed by a heavy stone. The wording follows the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and burial in a plain, narrative style.
The third verse turns to the resurrection with the line "The Son of heaven rose again" and asks "O trampled death where is your sting?", a phrase that echoes Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:55. The chorus keeps returning to the same simple praise, "O praise the name of the Lord our God", so each part of the story is answered with worship.
The final verse looks ahead to the return of Christ and the singer rising among the saints with eyes fixed on Jesus. The title, Anastasis, is the Greek word for resurrection, which fits the Easter focus of the lyrics.
Related Scripture
- 1 Corinthians 15:55 Paul asks where death has its victory and sting, wording echoed in the third verse.
- Matthew 28:5-6 The angel announces that Jesus has risen, matching the dawn resurrection verse.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Describes the return of Christ and believers being gathered to Him.