Hymn History: He Lives!

A composer’s legendary response to the question “Why worship a dead Jew?”

Why should I worship a dead Jew?” challenged a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by Alfred H. Ackley, author and composer of this favorite gospel hymn. Ackley’s emphatic answer came quickly: “He lives, I tell you. He is not dead, but lives here and now. Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.” The young Jewish student eventually accepted the living Christ as his own personal Savior. Because of the events surrounding this experience, Mr. Ackley read the gospel accounts of the Resurrection with fresh insight. The words “He is risen” suddenly took on new meaning. Soon he expressed in song the thrill within his own soul—the indwelling presence of the living Christ. And since its first publication in 1933, “He Lives” continues to inspire Christian congregations with the truth that one of the most compelling proofs of the Resurrection is the daily demonstration by believers that Christ’s divine life is now being evidenced in our very bodies. Alfred Henry Ackley received a thorough education in music, including study in composition, at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England.
As a performer, he was recognized as an accomplished cellist. Following graduation from the Westminster Theological Seminary, Ackley was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry.Even while pastoring churches in Pennsylvania and California, Ackley maintained a keen interest in the writing of gospel music. He died on July 3, 1960, but during his lifetime, Ackley wrote more than one thousand gospel songs in addition to aiding in the compilation of various hymnals and songbooks. But the song for which the Christian church will ever be grateful is this one. It thrills our hearts with its triumphant message and silences the skeptic and the scoffer with these words of personal experience:

“You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!”