Behind the Hymns: I know that my Redeemer lives

I Know That My Redeemer Lives is an English Christian Easter hymn in by Samuel Medley. It was published in 1775 and is written for Easter Sunday.

Samuel Medley 1738-1799

Samuel received a good education, but not liking the business to which he was apprenticed, he entered the Royal Navy. Having been severely wounded in a battle with the French fleet off Port Lagos, in 1759, he was obliged to retire from active service.

A sermon by Dr. Watts, read to him about this time, led to his conversion. He joined the Baptist Church in Eagle Street, London and shortly afterwards opened a school, which for several years he conducted with great success. Having begun to preach, he received, in 1767, a call to become pastor of the Baptist church at Watford and from 1772 he led a large congregation for 27 years in Liverpool.  Most of Medley's hymns were first printed on leaflets or in magazines and later were included in hymnals.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the hymn was in common use in both Great Britain and America, easily known by the oft-repeated "He lives!".

Though the hymn is originally based on the Old Testament verse from the Book of Job, where Job proclaims "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" (Job 19:25), it is mostly used as a hymn for Easter Sunday commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus. Medley was also inspired by Thomas the Apostle coming to believe after having seen Jesus after the Resurrection

Other versions of the song:

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth is from the third movement of Messiah, George Friederic Handel’s masterpiece, and most well-known work. Like the rest of its songs and choruses, the text is entirely based on Scripture, in this case on verses from Job 19:25-26 and 1 Corinthians 15:20.

Handel’s  unwavering faith was expressed almost poetically;  a few days before he passed he stated his desire to die on Good Friday, “in the hopes of meeting his good God, his sweet Lord, and Savior, on the day of his Resurrection.”

Incredibly, he lived until the morning of Good Saturday, April 14, 1759, and his death came only eight days after his final performance, at which he conducted his masterpiece, Messiah. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, with over 3,000 in attendance at his funeral. 

A statue erected there shows him holding the manuscript for the solo that opens Part Three of Messiah, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.

 

 The different versions on You Tube:

I Know That My Redeemer Liveth -  Messiah, Handel 

https://youtu.be/Kg7aXEvCeXY

Hymn: I know that my Redeemer lives    https://youtu.be/2k8rKROCaDk

 

My Redeemer Lives - Nicole C. Mullen   https://youtu.be/y8SIcb2j1kQ

 

Michael Hicks music version:  https://youtu.be/SkLuZxqPPzE