Hallelujah! What A Savior!

For The Easter SeasonHallelujah! What A Savior!Lifted Up Was He To Die. This is a line from the familiar worship hymn which appears on the facing page. Notice that each stanza ends with, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” The fact that He was lifted up to die caused passers-by to shake their heads in unbelief. Here was one who seemingly had power to heal the incurable and even bring back to life those who had died, but who yet Himself was here dying by crucifixion. Lifted up as He was made it easy for His enemies to curse Him and heap derision upon Him. He was lifted up so that God could heap our sins upon Him to bear, and pour out wrath upon Him for our sin. Lifted Up Was Why He Came. But this lifting up was what He had come for. He prophesied saying, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, thus must the Son of Man be lifted up, that everyone who believes on Him may not perish but have life eternal” (Jn. 3:15 JND). We who look on Him to be figuratively our deliverer from the “bite of the serpent” do indeed love to sing that line of praise, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” Lifted Up On High Was He. In worship, we remember not only His death but also His resurrection and exaltation: “God ... has raised up Jesus ... having hanged on a cross. Him has God exalted by His right hand as Leader and Savior” (Acts 5:30-31). He was lifted up to the highest position of honor and power where we now see Him by faith. From there He is daily leading us and saving us by His power. As we contemplate how He delivers us day by day, we do respond eagerly with, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” Lifted Up On High He’ll Be. Today believers see Him on high by faith, but one day all men shall see Him by sight. Then, to Him shall every knee bow in submission, if not in worship (Phil. 2: 9-11). Then, in bodies like His “body of glory” (Phil. 3:21), in sinless perfection and in full knowledge of what His being lifted up has wrought for us, we will exclaim again and again, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!” By Alan H. CrosbyHallelujah! What A Savior! “Man of Sorrows,” what a name,
For the Son of God who came,
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Guilty, vile and helpless, we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” Can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished” was His cry;
Now in heaven exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior! By P. P. Bliss (1838-1876)