Colossians
1:5, 20, 23, 27; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 2:24- The hymn is O Jesus King Most
Wonderful (LSB 554). As you
come to worship tomorrow, come expecting to offer your Savior the worship with
which He is worthy. Come to offer Him your gift of adoration and praise. But do
more than simply come to a worship service – in service worship Him.
Little is known of James Wade. The Cyber
Hymnal says he was a composer and editor of vocal music, and “as of 1881, he
was a schoolmaster and organist in Bray, Berkshire.”
This is a warm and worshipful hymn, typical
of the writing of Bernard.
-1) O Jesus, King most wonderful,
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou Sweetness most ineffable,
In whom all joys are found!
Christ is described as King and Conqueror,
and “Sweetness most ineffable” (CH-1). Words such as sweet and sweetness are
used in the Bible more than a hundred times. When they do not refer to
sweetness of taste or aroma, they are used in a figurative sense to describe
what is pleasant and delightful, or attractive and beautiful. Christ’s beauty
is “ineffable”–meaning beyond words. Moses speaks of “the beauty of the LORD
our God” (Ps. 90:17).
But Isaiah says of the coming Messiah, “He
has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we
should desire Him” (Isa. 53:2). In the NASB, it’s “He has no stately form or
majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be
attracted to Him.” The NIV has, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to
him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” In His incarnation,
apart from His glorious revelation on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt.
17:1-2), it was not His physical appearance that impressed people, but His
gracious words, kindly deeds, and beauty of character.
In stanza-3, Bernard also speaks of Christ as
the “Light of all below” (Jn. 8:12)
and the Fount of life (Jn. 11:25). He
is also merciful and loving (stanza-4). Calling Him the “Fount…of fire”
Stanza-3) may speak of His purifying ministry
in our lives and hearts, through the Holy Spirit. Or, it could indicate the way
that knowing Him stirs up a holy zeal for the service of Christ.
-3) O Jesus, Light of all below,
Thou Fount of life and fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire!
-4) Thy wondrous mercies are untold,
Through each returning day;
Thy love exceeds a thousand fold,
Whatever we can say.
How, then, are we to respond to this wonderful Savior and Lord? CH-5 and
6 tell us several ways.
¤ Confess Him–witness to others about what He’s done for us (Ps. 105:1-2;
Mk. 5:19)
¤ Adore Him–exalt Him in our worship and praise (Ps. 29:2)
¤ Seek Him–make daily fellowship with the Lord our consistent habit (Ps.
105:3-4)
¤ Love Him–exclusively and sacrificially giving ourselves to Him and His
service (Matt. 22:37; Rom. 12:1)
¤ Reflect Him–as the Spirit of God forms the image of God in us (II Cor. 3:18)
-5) May every heart confess Thy name;
And ever Thee adore;
And seeking Thee, itself inflame,
To seek Thee more and more.
-6) Thee may our tongues forever bless;
Thee may we love alone;
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.[2]
Collect for the Glorious Reign of Christ —Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son, we pray, that he may lead home His bride, the Church, that we will all the redeemed may enter into Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. [3]
[1] The New Heaven, Schnorr
Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and
congregational use
[3] Collect
for the Glorious Reign of Christ, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
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