Look, the Sight is Glorious, LBW 156
1 Look, oh, look, the sight is glorious,
See the man of sorrows now;
From the the fight returned victorious,
Ev'ry knee to him shall bow.
Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him!
Crowns become the victor's brow.
Crowns become the victor's brow.
2 Crown the Savior!
Angels crown him!
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
On the seat of pow'r enthrone him
While the vault of heaven rings.
Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him!
Crown the Savior,
King of kings.
Crown the Savior,
King of kings.
3 Sinners in derision crowned him,
Mocking thus the Savior's claim;
Saints and angels crowd a round him,
Own his title, praise his name.
Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him!
Spread abroad the victor's fame! Spread abroad the victor's fame!
4 Hark!
Those bursts of acclamation!
Hark!
Those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
Oh, what joy the sight affords!
Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him!
King of kings and
Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!
Devotion
To pick an ascension or an end-time hymn for Transfiguration Sunday is a little risky. Where is the ambiguity? Where is the cross? In Mark 9, Jesus certainly knows what is ahead of him and to sing, "Look, the Sight is Glorious," might seem like doing Easter without Good Friday.
Yet, Transfiguration invites us to do Easter in the midst of our Good Fridays. In all three synoptics the text is set among Jesus' predictions of his passion. The assurance of sonship comes exactly five verses before the assurance of suffering. The connection between Transfiguration and Easter has been long recognized by the church. Choosing an Easter hymn before the time, or an Ascension or End Time hymn, might be a way to reflect on this reality.
By birth we are chronological beings with the struggle preceding victory. By rebirth we are blessed to be eschatological beings with a promise of victory preceding and accompanying the struggle.
Prayer
And so we wait for you, Lord. Yet in the waiting, come to us and be with us, even now, O Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.