Hail The Day That Sees Him Rise
Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!
To His throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners giv’n, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heav’n. Alleluia!
There for Him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
He hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!
Take the King of glory in! Alleluia!
See, He lifts His hands above! Alleluia!
See, He shows the prints of love! Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!
Blessings on His church below. Alleluia!
Lord, beyond our mortal sight, Alleluia!
Raise our hearts to reach Thy height, Alleluia!
There Thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!
Find our heav’n of heav’ns in Thee! Alleluia!
WITHIN A YEAR after his conversion in 1738, Charles Wesley wrote three great hymns to celebrate special days of the church: “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” for Christmas (December 22), “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” for Easter (April 3), and “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” for Ascension Day.
Charles Wesley is well known, but Martin Madan, who had a role in Wesley’s hymns, has almost been forgotten. Madan was one of these who was converted through the preaching of the Wesleys and later became a preacher himself. He also became interested in music, and although he left no song that we now sing, he edited many of Charles Wesley’s hymns for inclusion in his hymnal. Madan liked to insert alleluias into hymns, and it was probably he who put the alleluias into both this hymn and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.”
Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.
Luke 24:50-52
From the book
