In nature one with God, The Son partakes in love, Of human flesh that we, Partake of God above.
The account of our Lord's Transfiguration is a narrative that has long captivated my interest, especially because it incorporates so much Old Testament imagery. Here are three hymns that I've written on this revelation of our Lord's glory.
“THE BODY OF OUR LORD”
The Body of our Lord,
In his transfiguration,
Shone brightly as the sun,
In full illumination.
In nature one with God,
The Son partakes in love,
Of human flesh that we,
Partake of God above.
The prophets had foretold,
His coming Incarnation;
The Word would make our flesh,
His only habitation.
Now what their mouths foretold,
Elijah, Moses, see —
The Son of God made man,
That we God’s sons might be.
God’s glory in a cloud,
Once filled the Tent of Meeting;
The God enshrined therein,
All Israel was entreating.
But now the Father’s cloud,
Has filled a human tent —
His own beloved Son,
The Glory whom he sent.
The Body of God’s Son,
Transfigured on the mountain,
Now clothes the child of God,
Adopted in the Fountain.
When earth’s dark grave we leave,
Transfigured we will be;
Christ’s glory we will share,
Through all eternity.
Tune: Was Frag Ich Nach Der Welt
“NO PILLARED FLAME, NO STORM-CLAD KING”
No pillared Flame, no storm-clad King
No Lord around whom seraphs sing,
But God made flesh and flesh made God,
Transfigured Savior, You we laud.
In naked fear we trembling stand,
A sin-cloaked, dark-souled, outcast band.
Clothe us in blood-washed robes of white,
Suffused with Your own healing light.
No temple veiled for favored few,
Is He the Word made Man for you:
His heart the Father’s holy place,
The mercy seat of cleansing grace.
“This is My Son!” the Lord avowed,
In lowly stream and mountain cloud,
That we baptized in Jesus’ name,
Here and above, His love proclaim.
Though sickness vex, addictions rage,
Though ills untold our deaths presage,
Transfigured life in Christ we bear,
By grace we all His nature share.
Tune: Puer Nobis
“FROM THE MOUNT OF OUR LORD’S GLORY”
From the mount of our Lord’s glory,
Other mountaintops appear.
Peaks in concert sing this story:
Our salvation has drawn near.
Shine, O Lord, from every height
Rays of wisdom, peace, and light!
Moses from Mount Sinai preaches
Words in stone that shatter hearts.
Down into the depths he reaches,
Bidding us from sin depart.
Rise, repent, O Christian, see
Light and life on Calvary!
As Elijah battles evil,
Truth and lies on Carmel fight,
Christians strive against the devil;
Warfare is our daily plight.
Grant us peace midst war and loss,
From the mount of our Lord’s cross.
Jesus from Mount Calv’ry preaches
Blood-soaked words that heal our hearts.
Warfare ends, the battle ceases,
Peace and hope our Lord imparts.
Christ, transfixed on Calv’ry’s tree,
Grant that we transfigured be!
Here we see salvation’s story,
Here the law has been fulfilled,
Here is Christ in thorn-crowned glory,
Here our hearts His peace has stilled.
Here, our Lord, upon that height,
Shines on us as Light of Light!
Tune: Unser Herrscher
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