That He Who of His own volition humbled Himself, should now occupy a place of undisputed honour and dignity at the Father’s right hand, must bring great joy to every blood-bought believer. We will adore Him forever that He stooped so low that we might be raised to a place of unequalled nearness to Himself. He gave Himself that He might redeem us and we will joy to see Him laden with honours eternally.

Sinners in derision crowned Him,

Mocking thus the Saviour’s claim;

Saints and angels crowd around Him,

Own His title, praise His name:

Crown Him! Crown Him!

Spread abroad the Victor’s fame.

        (Thomas Kelly)

Not only in heaven, but on earth, the very scene of His rejection, He will reign until every foe shall have been subjugated and every rebel fall beneath His sovereign sway and “of His kingdom there shall be no end” Lk.1.33. The risen, exalted Christ is heaven’s definitive answer to the ignominious treatment meted out to Him by His puny creatures before they nailed Him in derision to the tree. He bore the cross, He will wear the crown; He “bare our sins in His own body on the tree” 1Pet.2.24; “He shall bear the glory” Zech.6.13, and the sceptre of universal, unchallenged dominion will be placed in the competent hands that were once cruelly spiked to the cross.

We stand with wondering disciples on the Mount of Olives and watch the One we love ascend to those celestial, sublime scenes from which in wondrous grace He came, “made higher than the heavens” Heb.7.26; “Being made so much better than the angels” Heb.1.4, and has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” Heb.1.3. In His present and eternal exaltation He has not forgotten about those whom He rescued from the eternal burnings; He is our Great High Priest; our Advocate with the Father; the caring Shepherd Who “tends with sweet, unwearied care, the flock for which He bled” (J. East). We await His imminent return to take us to heaven and anticipate “the joy, to see [Him] reigning, worshipped, glorified, adored” (F.R. Havergal).

We acknowledge the contribution made by the authors of this ninth book in the “Glory” series, a work which reflects many hours of diligent study and involves many sacrifices, yet is undertaken cheerfully. As always, the book is sent with the earnest prayer that Christ will be honoured and our affections further entwined around the One Whom “God also hath highly exalted” Phil.2.9.

Roy Reynolds, N. Ireland, April 2016