Amazing Grace
Thomas Kelly, 1769–1854
… Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:3, 4)
Ascension Day, when we commemorate the translation of our Lord to heaven, is often a neglected observance in the lives of many Christians. It occurs 40 days after Easter, and though it never falls on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day following Ascension Day is designated as Ascension Sunday. It is certainly one of the important events in the life of Christ, and it should be celebrated along with His birth, death, resurrection, sending of the Holy Spirit, and the promised second coming.
It is always thrilling to relive with our imagination the ascension scene on Mount Olivet described in Acts 1. There was the parting blessing from the Lord to His disciples and His final instructions regarding their mission to be worldwide witnesses after being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Then the One who had been nailed to a Roman cross just a short time before was dramatically taken up before their very eyes. And the two men dressed in white who suddenly appeared reminded the disciples that Christ’s ascension must always be related to His return—“this same Jesus … will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10).
“Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious” is generally regarded as one of the finest ascension hymns in the English language, one that is worthy of much greater use than it normally receives. Its author, Thomas Kelly, is recognized as one of Ireland’s finest evangelical preachers, as well as one of its most distinguished spiritual poets of the 19th century.
Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious: See the Man of Sorrows now; from the fight returned victorious, ev’ry knee to Him shall bow: Crown Him! crown Him! Crowns become the Victor’s brow.
Crown the Savior! angels, crown Him! rich the trophies Jesus brings; in the seat of pow’r enthrone Him, while the vault of heaven rings: Crown Him! crown Him! Crown the Savior King of kings.
Hark! those bursts of acclamation! Hark! those loud triumphant chords! Jesus takes the highest station—O what joy the sight affords! Crown Him! crown Him! King of kings and Lord of lords!
For Today: Luke 24:50, 51; Acts 1:1–10; Philippians 2:6–11; Hebrews 2:9
Rejoice in the truth that your Lord not only rose triumphantly but ascended into heaven victoriously to be your personal representative before the Father. Learn and sing this hymn—
Osbeck, K. W.
- And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted fro them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:50-51
- THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day i which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Acts 1:1-10
- Who, being in form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11
- But we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, which was made a little inferior to the Angels, through the suffering of death, that by Gods grace he might taste death for all men. Hebrews 2:9
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