CW 469 – Welcome, Happy Morning
“Welcome, Happy Morning” is an ancient hymn. It is one of the oldest in our hymnal. The words were written by an Italian named Venantius Fortunatus written around 590 A.D. That makes this Easter hymn over fourteen centuries old.
Consider the countless saints who have sung this hymn from various lands, in differing circumstances, of diverse cultures, over fourteen hundred years. In our hymn of the day this Sunday, we join our voices with the numerous saints who have come before us and are now celebrating Easter in heaven. Together the unified body of Christ celebrates the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ “from whom the entire family in heaven and on earth receives its name” (Ephesians 3:15).
Verse one: “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say; “Hell today is vanquished; heav’n is won today!” Lo, the dead is living, God forevermore! Him, their true Creator, all his works adore. (Refrain) “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say; “Hell today is vanquished; heav’n is won today!”
Recently I was blessed to be at the bedside of a 96-year-old World War II Navy veteran. His eyes were closed. His breathing was shallow. But his grip was still strong. I was there having a final devotion with this aged saint and his eldest son. As we talked, there was no fear of death. Only looking forward to being with Jesus. There were tears. But they were tears of joy that these last few difficult years would be over. There was pride at the accomplishments of the aged saint – with his military service, his decades of marriage, his raising of a strong Christian family. But the true pride came from receiving the grace of God through the saint’s baptism and confirmation as an adult after his children were born. It was pride in what Jesus Christ had made him to be and the reward Christ had won for him on the cross and out of the grave. A reward that was mere hours away from being given from Christ to his blood-bought saint.
We can sing with this aged saint, his family, and all the saints who have come before us and are now resting from their labors, “Welcome, happy morning!” Every morning as a child of God is a welcome one. Even when life is difficult, when work is hard, when health is poor, or when death steals another loved one away from us, we can still welcome each day as being a happy day. What could be bad about it?! Jesus Christ has crushed the Ancient Serpent. He has defeated death. He has conquered the grave. He has vanquished hell. And he has opened heaven to all who believe in him.
Verse two: Maker and Redeemer, life and health of all, God from heav’n beholding human nature’s fall, of the Father’s Godhead you, the only Son, mankind to deliver manhood did put on. (Refrain)
In the second verse, the author identifies who Jesus is. He is both our Maker and Redeemer. He is the One who made us and the One who bought us back when the devil stole us away from our Maker in the Garden (Colossians 1:16; Job 19:25). Jesus is a member of the Godhead, the
second person of the Holy Trinity. Together, our three-in-one God works to save sinful mankind. Through his incarnation the Son of God put on humanity to save sinful humans. “Since the children share flesh and blood, [Christ] also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil) and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Verse three: Source of all things living, you came down to die, plumbed the depths of hell to raise us up on high. Come, then, true and faithful, come, fulfill your word; this is your third morning— rise, O buried Lord. (Refrain)
With beautiful imagery, the author describes how the Son of God descended first from heaven to earth. He came down to die. Then after his third day resurrection, he descended to the depths of hell to declare his victory to the face of the devil and his demons. He descended to hell and then forty days later ascended to heaven. He ascended so we might ascend to heaven upon our resurrection from the grave.
Verse four: Free the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan’s chain; all that now is fallen raise to life again. Show your face in brightness; shine in ev’ry land as in Eden’s garden when the world began. (Refrain) “Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say; “Hell today is vanquished; heav’n is won today!”
When the United States finally entered World War II, many people – including Winston Churchill – reveled in the outcome that the Allies’ victory was now certain. The Allies remembered what happened when America joined the conflict in World War I. “Welcome, Happy Morning” treats the resurrection of Christ in the same way. The souls imprisoned and bound by Satan will be freed and released. The victory is won. The outcome is certain. It’s just a matter of time when the victory is seen, felt, and experienced. So, celebrate this morning, celebrate every morning, saying, “Hell today is vanquished; heav’n is won today!”