"At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus." John 20:14
The story of Mary Magdalene is one of very tender interest. Jesus had wrought for her a very wonderful deliverance, casting out the seven demons which possessed her. From that time, her devotion to Him was such that she followed Him wherever He went, ministering to Him. She was one of those who watched by His cross and tomb, and came early to do honor to His body. In return for her loving devotion, Jesus appeared first to her in the morning He arose.
But when she saw Him, she did not know Him, though her heart was crying out for Him with intense yearning. As she stood talking with the angel, she heard a step behind her, and turned, and there Jesus stood. Yet she did not recognize Him, though she loved Him so much, and though her heart was hungering for Him. She was thinking of Him as dead, and she did not know Him when He stood before her alive. Another reason she did not know Him was, that her eyes were so full of tears, that she could not see Him. Many a time it is the same with us: we need Christ, and our hearts are crying out for Him. Yet when He comes to us — we do not know Him, and therefore fail to receive comfort from His presence.
There is a picture which represents a mother in deep distress; yet close by her is an angel bending over her to comfort her, his fingers touching at the same time the strings of the harp in his hands. But she is so absorbed in her own grief that she neither sees the angel, nor hears his celestial music. So her heart goes uncomforted and still breaking, while the comfort is so close at hand. We should look up when we are in sorrow; if we look down only — we shall never see the beauties and glories of the face of Jesus, and our hearts shall be uncomforted, though He is close beside us.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.