The Jaw-Dropping Beauty of Jesus

On a recent episode of The Whole Counsel podcast that is published by Media Gratiae, the discussion focused on Hebrews 1 and 34 descriptions of Jesus in those 14 verses.

Ten Descriptions of Christ from the inspired human author (x10; vv. 1-4):

  • v. 2 — Definitive voice of God
  • v. 2 — Heir of all
  • v. 2 — Maker of all
  • v. 3 — Radiance of God’s glory
  • v. 3 — Exact representation of God’s nature
  • v. 3 — Upholds all by His word
  • v. 3 — Purifier of sins
  • v. 3 — Sat down (Priestly work complete)
  • v. 3 — Co-equal w/Father in Majesty
  • v. 4 — Better than totality of angels & Inheritor of more excellent Name

Twenty-four Descriptions of Christ from the Father (x24; vv. 5-14):

  • v. 5 — My Son (Ps. 2:7)
  • v. 5 — Today begotten
  • v. 5 — I will be a Father to Him (2 Sam 7:14)
  • v. 5 — He will be a Son to Me
  • v. 6 — All angels worship Him (Ps 97:7)
  • v. 8 — Inhabits everlasting throne (Ps 45:6)
  • v. 8 — You are God
  • v. 8 — You are King
  • v. 8 — Righteous ruler/scepter
  • v. 9 — Lover of righteousness (Ps 45:7)
  • v. 9 — Hater of sin
  • v. 9 — God is Thy God
  • v. 9 — Anointed by God (Isa 61:3)
  • v. 9 — Happiest of all
  • v. 10 — You are LORD (Ps 102:25)
  • v. 10 — You are forever
  • v. 10 — You are Creator of earth (Ps 102:26)
  • v. 10 — You are Creator of heaven
  • v. 11 — You are indestructible (Isa 51:6)
  • v. 12 — You will effect consummation (Ps 102:26-27)
  • v. 12 — You are immutable
  • v. 12 — You are eternal
  • v. 13 — Enthroned at God’s right hand (Ps 110:1)
  • v. 13 — Father will make enemies Thy footstool

Source: Media Gratiae

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou, burning sun with golden beam
Thou, silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three-in-One
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All the redeemed washed by His blood
Come and rejoice in His great love
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Christ has defeated every sin
Cast all your burdens now on Him
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

He shall return in pow’r to reign
Heaven and earth will join to say
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Then who shall fall on bended knee?
All creatures of our God and King
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

—Original words (v. 1-2) by St. Francis of Assisi, translated by William Henry Draper. Music, 16th Century German tune, adapted by Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird. Add. words (v. 3-4) by Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird. © 2013 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.

The King In All His Beauty

O lift your eyes to Heaven see
The Holy One eternal
Behold the Lord of Majesty
Exalted in His temple
As symphonies of angels’ praise
Now strain to sound His glory
Come worship, fall before His grace
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

Now see the King who wears a crown
One made of shame and splinters
The sacrifice for ruined man
The substitute for sinners
As Earth is stained with royal blood
And quakes with love and fury
He breathes His last and bows His head
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

Now see the Savior lifted up
The Lamb who reigns in splendor
The hope of every tribe and tongue
His kingdom is forever
Bring praise and honor to His courts
Bring wisdom, power, blessing
For endless ages we’ll adore
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

—Matt Boswell, Matt Papa © 2019 Getty Music Publishing / Messenger Hymns / Getty Music Hymns and Songs / Love Your Enemies Publishing / Adm by MusicServices.org.

Afflicted Saint To Christ Draw Near

Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,
Your Savior’s gracious promise hear;
His faithful Word you can believe:
That as your days your strength shall be.

Your faith is weak, your foes are strong,
And if the conflict should be long,
The Lord will make the tempter flee
That as your days your strength shall be.

So, sing with joy, afflicted one;
The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!
God shall supply all that you need;
Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in your Redeemer’s name.
In fiery trials you shall see
That as your days your strength shall be.

So, sing with joy, afflicted one;
The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!
God shall supply all that you need;
Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

When called to bear your weighty cross
Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,
Or deep distress or poverty,
Still as your days your strength shall be.

So, sing with joy, afflicted one;
The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!
God shall supply all that you need;
Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

—Original words by John Fawcett (1782), additional words by Constance Dever. Music by Constance Dever. © 2018 Praise Factory Music / Sovereign Grace Worship / Sovereign Grace Music

O Christ What Burdens Bowed Thy Head

O Christ, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner’s stead,
Didst bear all ill for me.
A Victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there’s no load for me.

Death and the curse were in our cup:
O Christ, ’twas full for Thee;
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
’Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup, love drank it up;
Now blessing’s draught for me.

Jehovah lifted up His rod;
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God;
There’s not one stroke for me.
Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.

The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me.

Jehovah bade His sword awake;
O Christ, it woke ’gainst Thee!
Thy blood the flaming blade must slake;
Thine heart its sheath must be;
All for my sake, my peace to make;
Now sleeps that sword for me.

For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee!
Thou’rt ris’n—my hands are all untied,
And now Thou liv’st in me.
When purified, made white and tried,
Thy glory then for me!

—Words by Anne R. Cousin. Music by Ira D. Sankey.

Christ Our Hope In Life And Death

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.

Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him.

There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.

O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.

—Words and Music by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa ©2020 Getty Music Publishing / Messenger Hymns / Jordan Kauflin Music / Matthew Merker Music / Getty Music Hymns and Songs / Love Your Enemies Publishing / adm at MusicServices.org — CCLI # 7147502

See The Destined Day Arise

See the destined day arise!
See a willing sacrifice!
Jesus, to redeem our loss,
Hangs upon the shameful cross;
Jesus, who but You could bear
Wrath so great and justice fair,
Every pang and bitter throe,
Finishing Your life of woe?

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lamb of God for sinners slain!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ, we praise Your name!

Who but Christ had dared to drain,
Steeped in gall, the cup of pain,
And with tender body bear
Thorns and nails and piercing spear?
Slain for us, the water flowed,
Mingled from Your side with blood;
Sign to all attesting eyes
Of the finished sacrifice.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lamb of God for sinners slain!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ, we praise Your name!

Holy Jesus, grant us grace
In that sacrifice to place
All our trust for life renewed,
Pardoned sin, and promised good.
Grant us grace to sing Your praise
‘Round Your throne through endless days,
Ever with the sons of light,
“Blessing, honor, glory, might!”

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lamb of God for sinners slain!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ, we praise Your name!

—Original words by Venantius Fortunatus, tr. Richard Mant, Public Domain
Alt. words, chorus, and music: Matthew Merker ©2014 Matthew Merker Music / Sovereign Grace Praise

Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

—Words by Henry F. Lyte. Music by William H. Monk

All Glory Be To Christ

Should nothing of our efforts stand,
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive

To you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me what is your life
A mist that vanishes at dawn,
All glory be to Christ

All glory be to Christ our King,
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ

His will be done,
His kingdom come,
On earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread
Praise Him the Lord of love

Let living water satisfy
The thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
All glory be to Christ

All glory be to Christ our King,
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ

When on that day the Great I am,
The faithful and the true
The Lamb who was for sinners slain
Is making all things new

Behold our God shall live with us
And be our steadfast light
And we shall e’re His people be,
All glory be to Christ

All glory be to Christ our King,
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ

—Words: Dustin Kensrue. Music: Auld Lang Syne – Scottish traditional.
© 2012 We Are Younger We Are Faster / Dead Bird Theology
CCLI Song # 7008232

Lord Have Mercy (For What We Have Done)

For what we have done and left undone
We fall on Your countless mercies
For sins that are known and those unknown
We call on Your name so holy
For envy and pride, for closing our eyes
For scorning our very neighbor
In thought word and deed we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a Savior

Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us

For what You have done Your life of love
You perfectly lived we praise You
Though tempted and tried You fixed Your eyes
You finished the work God gave You
And there on the tree A King among thieves
You bled for a world’s betrayal
You loved to the end Our merciful friend
How pure and forever faithful

Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us

For hearts that are cold for seizing control
For scorning our very Maker
In thought word and deed we’ve failed You our King
How deeply we need a Savior

Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us
Lord have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on us

—Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Aaron Keys, and James Tealy
©2019 Getty Music Hymns and Songs / Love Your Enemies Publishing /
Getty Music Publishing / Messenger Hymns / My Eleiht Songs /
Adm. by MusicServices.org / Common Hymnal Publishing / 10000 Fathers /
Adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com