Scripture Verse

We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Kelly
1769–1855

Words: Tho­mas Kel­ly, Hymns on Va­ri­ous Pass­ag­es of Scrip­ture, fifth ed­i­tion (Du­blin, Ire­land: 1820).

Music: St. Mag­nus at­trib­ut­ed to Jer­e­mi­ah Clarke in The Di­vine Com­pan­ion, se­cond ed­i­tion, by Hen­ry Play­ford (Lon­don, 1707). Har­mo­ny by Will­iam H. Monk, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc).

illustration
The Crowning with Thorns
Michelangelo Caravaggio
1571–1610

Lyrics

The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.

The highest place that Heav’n affords
Belongs to Him by right;
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And Heaven’s eternal Light.

The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom He manifests His love,
And grants His name to know.

To them the cross with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of Heaven.

They suffer with their Lord below;
They reign with Him above;
Their profit and their joy to know
The mystery of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him,
His people’s hope, His people’s wealth,
Their everlasting theme.