Words: , April 28, 2006:

During my morn­ing com­mute, I was con­tem­plat­ing a hymn by Will­iam Ada­ms (no re­la­tion), which I had seen set to Zun­del’s tune Beech­er. As I drove, whist­ling the tune, it oc­curred to me that this ex­ub­er­ant mel­o­dy would be well suit­ed to a joyous East­er sun­rise ser­vice. Then the words “Seal of Cae­sar could not hold Him” en­tered my mind, and I be­gan to be­lieve God was speak­ing a new hymn to me. I wrote the words down in a note­book from the glove com­part­ment, and al­most fin­ished them in the park­ing ga­rage over lunch­time. The fourth and fin­al verse ar­rived be­fore I got home that ev­en­ing.

Dedicated on Mo­ther’s Day 2006 to my wife Paula: Next to Christ, she is the best thing that ever hap­pened to me.

Music: Beecher, , Christ­ian Heart Songs, 1870.

ON THIS MORN WE SEE THE DAWNING © 2006 Richard W. Adams
These lyr­ics may be free­ly re­produced or pub­lished for Christ­ian wor­ship or de­vo­tions,
pro­vid­ed they are not al­tered, & this no­tice is on each copy. All other rights re­served.

On this morn we see the dawning
Of a bright and glorious Sun;
Night is banished, shadows fleeing,
Demons scatter, devils run.
To the garden come the women,
Bringing spices for the dead,
Wondering how to plead with soldiers,
Guards of empire, armed and dread.

See, the empty sepulcher greets them,
Heavy rock now rolled away;
No more soldiers, nor a body,
Only grave cloths where He lay.
Seal of Caesar could not hold Him,
Nor a mighty door of stone;
King of kings, the Lord has triumphed,
He has trampled Satan’s throne.

From the tomb a light is streaming,
Proving faith is not in vain;
In the morning joy befriends us,
Sacred mystery now made plain.
Can it be? The dead is living?
Yes, the Son has hell overcome;
Angel messenger proclaiming:
“See the power of death undone!”

From the silent, stone cold prison,
God erupts in glorious might;
Suffering over, Christ has risen,
Ends the age of gloom and night.
Death, the final enemy, conquered,
Now we no more fear the grave;
Jesus died in place of sinners,
And He lives, almighty to save.

ON THIS MORN WE SEE THE DAWNING © 2006 Richard W. Adams
These lyr­ics may be free­ly re­produced or pub­lished for Christ­ian wor­ship or de­vo­tions,
pro­vid­ed they are not al­tered, & this no­tice is on each copy. All other rights re­served.