Tag Archives: Ascension Day

Music

Sunday Singing: Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious

Leave a comment
“Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious” sung by the congregation of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

Last Thursday was Ascension Day, making today Ascension Sunday. It’s been a trying week for me, so leaning into Christ victorious is comforting.

Peter referred to Christ’s ascension when he preached to the crowd at Pentecost, saying, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. . . . For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

Today’s hymn by Irishman Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) speaks to this most incredible moment in history. Look, ye saints, he says. Look at the Man of Sorrows now! You thought he was dead, and now, not only is that not true, he has risen into the clouds to receive his crown.

1 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.

2 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.

3 Sinners in derision crowned him
mocking thus the Savior’s claim;
saints and angels crowd around him,
own his title, praise his name:
Crown him! Crown him!
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame!

4 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.

Religion

Ascension Day

Leave a comment

Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Rome 1510 – 20

It’s Ascension Day, a very important feast in the Christian calendar, which (like so many important feasts) is little noticed today.

I read something in one of Francis Schaeffer’s books a long time ago that left an impression on me. I’m pretty sure he was citing someone else. The idea was that the importance of the Ascension is (at least in part) that it proclaims the physical existence of Heaven. According to the testimony of witnesses, Jesus had (after the Resurrection) an actual body that could be touched and consumed food. And that body went somewhere. Not to a “philosophical other,” but to some place where bodies can live.

It’s part of our hope of eternity.

Happy Ascension Day.

Religion

Ascension Day

Leave a comment

Ascension Bamberg Apocalypse
“The Ascension of Christ” from the Bamberg Apocalypse, 11th Century

Today is Ascension Day in the Christian calendar. I won’t tell you what it’s called in Norwegian, because you’ll laugh.

All right, I’ll tell you if you insist. But don’t laugh.

Kristi Himmelfartsdagen.

Ascension Day is one of those sadly neglected church festivals that’s actually pretty meaningful. Ascension Day ties up the bow of the Resurrection, you might say. It finishes the operation, resolves the chord.

It has a number of implications. I saw a list today, and there were more than I’d ever thought about.

But I’ll mention the one that I remember, one Francis Schaeffer mentioned in one of his books.

Ascension Day verifies the physicality of Christian faith.

If you believe (and if you don’t, you’re not really a Christian) that Jesus rose from the dead with a body – a functioning body that could be touched and that ate food – then where is that body now?

The Ascension tells us that it’s with God in Heaven. Not some “metaphysical other.” Not the land of spirits and ghosts and legends. Some physical place. You can’t hide a body in a myth.

A place, as He promised, where we will be also someday.

Happy Ascension Day!