Thine Is the Glory (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 376)
1 Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is the victory, Thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Thy body lay.
Refrain
Thine is the glory, risen conqu’ring Son,
Endless is the vict’ry, Thou o’er death hast won.
2 Lo! Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom;
Let his church with gladness hymns of triumph sing;
For the Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.
Refrain
3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conqu’rors, through thy deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
Refrain
Text: Edmond Budry; Music: George Fridric Handel; Public Domain
Devotion
Some of its language may seem a bit old fashioned, but the joy expressed in this hymn makes my heart sing. The promises claimed in the words of this hymn move human hearts to joy. Many think of death as a final experience in a person’s life. We grieve the immediate loss of a loved one. It’s been over twenty years since my parents died and yet I remain filled with joy at the prospect of seeing them again. Does that mean I ignore the pain of separation? No! It still hurts that they are gone.
The Apostle Paule reminded the grieving Thessalonians: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.” (1 Thess 4:13-14)
Prayer
Loving God, we praise you for the miracle of eternal life. Grant that we live into this miracle and share its glory with all those we see! Amen.