Zenetti wrote the text in 1973.[1] The poem appeared in the collection Sieben Farben hat das Licht, by J. Pfeiffer in
Munich.[2] With a traditional melody from Israel, it was included in the German Catholic hymnal
Gotteslob of 1975 in the regional section for the
Diocese of Limburg as GL 835.[3] In the
2013 edition it is GL 781 in the section for Easter,[1] as a new Easter hymn.[3]: 148–149
Text and melody
Zenetti created a refrain and four
stanzas, both of four lines each, to a popular melody from Israel
[4] which is also used for the earlier song "
Kommt herbei, singt dem Herrn" by Diethard Zils (GL 140), a paraphrase of
Psalm 95. While Zils repeated his lines when the music repeats,[4]: 107–108 Zenetti wrote consecutive text in both refrain and stanzas.[5]
The refrain begins and ends the song, calling to look:[3]: 155
Full of exclamation marks, the lines refer to
Jesus, who
rose on the third day and "stands among us".[3]: 155 A comparison of 15 new Easter hymns shows that two-thirds of them include a statement about the living Jesus, and all of them mention implications for the singers in the present and their reaction.[3]: 149
The first stanza begins "Kommt durch die verschlossnen Türen" (Comes through the locked doors),[3]: 155 alluding to
post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and stressing that Jesus says now as back then: "Habt keine Angst." (Do not be afraid.) and "Friede sei mit euch." (Peace be with you.)[5] The second stanza begins "Und wir hören seine Worte" (And we listen to his words),[3]: 155 referring to the
two disciples walking to Emmaus, for whom he broke the bread.[5] The third stanza begins "Keiner lebt nur für sich selber" (Nobody lives only for himself), presenting the idea that believers ("we") live and die belonging to the Lord.[5] The final stanza begins "Er ist bei uns alle Tage" (He is with us always), recalling the promise at the
ascension, according to
Matthew 28:20.[5]
The song was set for four-part choir by Jürgen Theis, published by
Butz.[6] Kurt Grahl composed a setting for four-part choir, trumpet and strings or keyboard instrument.[7]
^
abcdefgAlbert-Zerlik, Annette (2006).
"Neue Osterlieder". Auf der Suche nach dem neuen geistlichen Lied: Sichtung – Würdigung – Kritik (in German). Books on Demand. pp. 148–162.
ISBN978-3-77-208168-2.