Those Dear Tokens of His Passion
My favorite Advent hymn (and quite possibly my favorite hymn, period) is Charles Wesley’s “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending.” This is especially true when it is paired with the hymn tune HELMSLEY. (In our Hymnal 1982, it is Hymn 57.)
The triumphant strains of the first and second verses give way to a more reflective stanza in verse 3:
Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshipers;
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars!
It’s a beautiful stanza that reminds us of the time when the disciple Thomas had to see the wounds in the resurrected Jesus’ hands and side to know that He was real and not an apparition (John 20:24-29). It wasn’t until Thomas put his finger into Jesus’ hands and his hand into Jesus’ side that he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
The Advent season is not simply a reminder of peace and goodwill. It is not a vague, shapeless spirit of holiday cheer. Rather, Advent reminds us that our savior is Jesus of Nazareth whom we believe will come again in power and great glory. When He comes, He will still have the scars on His hands, feet and side that He suffered while winning our redemption on the cross.
May we also gaze on His glorious scars and say, “My Lord and my God!”
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