See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph
See the Conqueror mounts in triumph
See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph is a hymn text by Christopher Wordsworth (1862) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Found in CW93 174, elw 442, h82 215, lsb 494. Sung to HYMN TO JOY.
The hymn celebrates Christ's bodily ascension as the culmination of redemption and exaltation, emphasizing His ongoing intercessory work at the Father's right hand. Lutheran theology here affirms both Christ's human nature elevated to glory and His continued advocacy for believers.
History & Background
Written by Christopher Wordsworth in 1862 for Ascension Day observance, this hymn was first published in his collection of liturgical poetry. It has remained a standard English Ascension hymn in Lutheran hymnals since its composition.
Scripture References Replete with biblical imagery and allusion, this text by st.l=Ps. 24:7 Christopher Wordsworth was published in his Holy st. 2 = Luke 24:50-51 Year (1862) in ten stanzas. John Julian considers “See, the Acts 1:9 Conqueror” to be one of Wordsworth’s finest hymn texts. st. 3 = Eph. 2:6 The text views the ascending Lord being sung to by angels at Heb. 1:8 heaven’s gates (st. 1), recalls Christ’s suffering, death, resurrec Ps. 68:18 tion, and ascension (st. 2), and looks forward to our reign with Christ in glory (st. 3). The text emphasizes not only the event of the Ascension but also its meaning for us: in Christ’s ascension, “we by faith can see our own.”
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 174
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 442
- The Hymnal 1982 — 215
- Lutheran Service Book — 494
- Lutheran Worship — 118
- Psalter Hymnal — 414
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 218
Liturgical Use
Pentecost (entire hymn); other times of the church year—stanzas 1 and 3 as a sung prayer for illumination or as response to the sermon, stanza 3b as a doxology. 575
Bulletin Note
Wordsworth's 1862 hymn celebrates Christ's bodily ascension as the culmination of redemption, emphasizing His ongoing priestly intercession. A vital Lutheran affirmation: His human nature, now glorified, mediates for sinners.
Preaching Connection
This hymn's proclamation of Christ's ascended intercessory work transforms the hearer's experience of justification—the Law's accusation finds answer not in our works but in the perpetual advocacy of the exalted Christ at God's right hand.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Creation's joy → Cosmic praise → Divine love binding all → Victorious Christian march
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Ascension (7×)
- Easter 7 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Ascension (8×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Christopher Wordsworth, Bishop of Lincoln and nephew of the poet William Wordsworth, wrote this Ascension hymn for The Holy Year (1862), a collection meant to teach doctrine through the Church Year. It pictures Christ mounting the clouds as Conqueror and King (st. 1-2), parting from his disciples with hands raised in blessing (st. 3), and then reads the Ascension through Old Testament types: Enoch taken up (st. 3), Aaron entering the Holy of Holies with blood, Joshua entering Canaan, Elijah giving a double portion of the Spirit (st. 4). Its high point is st. 5: 'Thou hast raised our human nature… to God's right hand… Man with God is on the throne.' It ends in Trinitarian doxology.
Central theme: The ascended Christ as victorious King, true High Priest and giver of the Spirit, who has raised our human nature to God's right hand
Structure
Six eight-line stanzas (8.7.8.7 D). Triumph (1-2) — departure and Enoch (3) — Aaron, Joshua, Elijah (4) — our nature exalted (5) — doxology (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout: victory over sin and Satan (2), priestly entry with his blood (4), our nature enthroned (5).
Confessional Connections
St. 5 is a remarkable confession of the exaltation of Christ's human nature: 'Man with God is on the throne.' FC VIII.12, 26-28: the Son of Man, according to his human nature, is exalted to the right hand of God's majesty and power; the right hand is not a place but God's almighty power everywhere — which underlies the Lutheran confession of Christ's bodily presence in the Supper (FC VII). Christ the High Priest entering 'with His blood' (Heb 9:12; AC III). The Spirit poured out by the ascended Christ (Acts 2:33). Believers seated 'in heavenly places' in him (Eph 2:6).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Ascension; Sunday after Ascension.
Historical Notes
Wordsworth (1807-1885) wrote The Holy Year (1862) to give a hymn for every Sunday and festival, often heavy with typology.
About the Tune
REX GLORIAE (Henry Smart, 1868).
Scripture References
Ps 68:18 Eph 4:8 Acts 1:9-11 Ps 24:7-10 Ps 47:5 Col 2:15 Luke 24:50-51 Gen 5:24 Heb 11:5 Heb 9:11-12, 24 Heb 6:19-20 Josh 21:43-45 Heb 4:8-9 2 Kgs 2:9-15 Acts 2:33 Eph 2:6 Eph 1:20-22 Heb 2:9 Col 3:1-4
Stanza by Stanza
See, the Conqueror goes up in triumph; see the King in royal state, riding on the clouds as his chariot to his heavenly palace gate! Listen — choirs of angels sing joyful alleluias, and the high doors are lifted to receive their heavenly King.
Ps 68:18 (TLH's text): 'You ascended on high, leading a host of captives' (Eph 4:8). The cloud (Acts 1:9). 'Lift up your heads, O gates… that the King of glory may come in' (Ps 24:7-10). 'God has gone up with a shout' (Ps 47:5).
- Scripture
- Ps 68:18, Eph 4:8, Acts 1:9, Ps 24:7-10, Ps 47:5
- Imagery & language
- Conqueror; cloud-chariot; lifted gates.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the King's triumph.
- Connection to previous
- Triumph.
Who is this coming in glory with the trumpet of jubilee? The Lord of battles, God of armies — he has won the victory. He who suffered on the cross and rose from the grave has conquered sin and Satan; by death he has plundered his enemies.
Ps 24:8: 'Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!' Jubilee — release (Lev 25:9-10; Luke 4:19). 'By death hath spoiled His foes' — Col 2:15; Heb 2:14. The Ascended One is the Crucified.
- Scripture
- Ps 24:8-10, Lev 25:9-10, Col 2:15, Heb 2:14
- Imagery & language
- Jubilee trumpet; spoils.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — victory through death.
- Connection to previous
- Victory.
While he raises his hands in blessing he is parted from his friends; while their eager eyes watch, he goes up on the clouds. He who walked with God and pleased him, preaching truth and judgment to come — he, our Enoch, is taken up to his everlasting home.
Luke 24:50-51: 'lifting up his hands he blessed them… he parted from them.' The last sight of Jesus is blessing. Enoch 'walked with God… God took him' (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5) and prophesied judgment (Jude 14-15). Christ is the true Enoch.
- Scripture
- Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:9-11, Gen 5:24, Heb 11:5, Jude 14-15
- Imagery & language
- Hands in blessing; Enoch translated.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — departing in blessing.
- Connection to previous
- Our Enoch.
Now our heavenly Aaron enters within the veil with his blood; Joshua has now come to Canaan and kings tremble before him. Now he settles the tribes of Israel in their promised resting place; now our great Elijah gives a double portion of his grace.
Aaron: Christ 'entered once for all into the holy places… by means of his own blood' (Heb 9:12, 24; 6:19-20). Joshua (Greek 'Jesus'): he gives the true rest (Heb 4:8-9; Josh 21:43-45). Elijah: as Elisha received a double portion when Elijah ascended (2 Kgs 2:9-15), so the ascended Christ pours out the Spirit (Acts 2:33).
- Scripture
- Heb 9:11-12, 24, Heb 6:19-20, Heb 4:8-9, Josh 21:43-45, 2 Kgs 2:9-15, Acts 2:33
- Imagery & language
- Aaron; Joshua; Elijah.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — priest, conqueror, giver of the Spirit.
- Connection to previous
- Types fulfilled.
You have raised our human nature on the clouds to God's right hand; there we sit in heavenly places, there we stand with you in glory. Jesus reigns, worshiped by angels; man is on the throne with God. Mighty Lord, in your ascension we see our own by faith.
The theological climax. Our human nature is now at God's right hand in the person of Christ (Eph 1:20-22; Heb 2:9). 'Seated us with him in the heavenly places' (Eph 2:6). 'Man with God is on the throne' — FC VIII: Christ's human nature exalted to the full use of divine majesty. 'In Thine ascension we… behold our own' — Col 3:1-4: our life hid with Christ.
- Scripture
- Eph 1:20-22, Eph 2:6, Heb 2:9, Col 3:1-4, Rev 3:21
- Imagery & language
- Human nature enthroned.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — our nature exalted in Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Our nature exalted.
Glory to God the Father; glory to God the Son, who died, rose and ascended for us and has won the heavenly kingdom. Glory to the Holy Spirit! To one God in three persons be glory on earth and in heaven, endless glory.
Doxology summarizing the Second Article — 'dying, risen, ascending for us.' 'One God in Persons Three' (Athanasian Creed).
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 13:14, Matt 28:19, Rev 5:13
- Imagery & language
- Doxology.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
Ascension Christ's triumph Heavenly exaltation Intercessory ministry