Thine be the glory!

A glorious hymn for a glorious Easter Sunday morning, proclaiming the victory over death which Jesus Christ won for us through his resurrection.

The words of the hymn were written in 1884 by Swiss pastor Edmond Budry, and set to Handel’s tune ‘Maccabaeus’ which was composed in 1747.

The hymn describes the biblical account of the resurrection, with the angels rolling the stone away from the tomb leaving only the folded grave-clothes for the followers of Jesus to find. The risen Jesus later met them, and he meets us too; lovingly he greets us, scattering fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing. I love this line, and we should do more of it! We have a song of triumph and life and victory and glorious hope to sing, for our Lord lives and reigns and death has at last lost its sting.

Perhaps referencing the doubt expressed by Thomas when he first heard about the empty tomb, the hymn exhorts us to faith in the glorious Prince of Life. The risen, death-conquering Son of God brings us help through our difficulties, the promise of eternal life and safe-passage to our home with him in heaven.

What a glorious hope and an astonishing victory won for us. Thine be the glory!

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering 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.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.