Captain of Salvation


Captain of Salvation
Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 King James Version (KJV)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
A favorite hymn in my growing up years was “Christ is the world’s true light, its Captain of salvation,” sung briskly. Among my bits of appreciation for the new hymnal (1982!) is that, unlike several old beloveds, this hymn was brought forward. Whether it’s sung Sunday with the Hebrews reading or not, it will float in my mind all week, and the midi of its tune St. Joan is on my desktop.  
Christ is the world’s true light,
Its captain of salvation,
The daystar clear and bright
Of every race and nation;
New life, new hope awakes
For all who own His sway:
Freedom her bondage breaks,
And night is turned to day.

In Christ all races meet,
Their ancient feuds forgetting,
The whole round world complete,
From sunrise to its setting:
When Christ is throned as Lord,
All shall forsake their fear,
To plowshare beat the sword,
To pruning hook the spear.

One Lord, in one great name
Unite us all who own Thee,
Cast out our pride and shame
That hinder to enthrone Thee;
The world has waited long,
Has travailed long in pain,
To heal its ancient wrong,
Come, Prince of Peace, and reign.
(The Hymnal 1982, #542).
For the next several Sundays we shall be reading through the Book of Hebrews, likely written in the second half of the first century AD. Folks who listen will find it filled with marvelous things.
TW+