“Thine is the Glory” (ELW 376)
Devotion
Thine is the glory,
risen, conqu'ring Son;
endless is the vict'ry
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!
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
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
"Thine is the Glory" is a hymn written by Swiss hymn writer and pastor Edmond Budry. He used the tune from a chorus in Handel's oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus," which featured the faithful Jewish leader who defied the Greek edict forbidding Jewish practices in Israel. With a setting belonging to 200 years before Christ, Handel's chorus is titled "See the Conquering Hero Comes." Thus we have an Easter hymn with two layers. The original context is composed in honor of an ancient Jewish zealot. On top of that a second layer is placed, its lyrics honoring a Jewish hero on a far greater scale, the savior of humanity who rose from the dead. The hymn heralds Jesus, pronouncing "endless is the victory." Wins and losses tallied throughout the conflicts of the ages pale in comparison to the one victory that matters most—Christ’s victory over death. Christ’s victory is eternal, without end, a victory in which we his followers share.
Prayer
God of the ages, in death your son defeated death. Draw me into the endless celebration that is Christ's victory, confident that all glory belongs to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.