At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of glory now;
’tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
At his voice creation sprang at once to sight:
all the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
all the heavenly orders in their great array.
Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners, unto whom he came;
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious when from death he passed;
bore it up triumphant, with its human light,
through all ranks of creatures, to the central height,
to the throne of Godhead, to the Father’s breast,
filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.
In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true.
Look to him, your Savior, in temptations’ hour;
let his will enfold you in its light and power.
Christians, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Father’s glory o’er the earth to reign;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.
Caroline Noel, 1870
Read Philippians 2:5-11
(This hymn reads like a creed, a succinct statement of the things we believe about Jesus Christ. It poetically relates His role in creation, His incarnation, His atoning work, and His exaltation. The unifying idea is His name, Jesus. Jesus means savior. Verse 3 says, “faithfully he bore it spotless to the last.” Jesus faithfully carried His name as the sinless sacrifice. Because of His willingness, because of His obedience, we call Him Lord. Which, the hymn writer explains, means, “In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue/ all that is not holy, all that is not true.” Worship the Lord Jesus.)