"Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord." John 20:20
Christ's death had caused them great sorrow; to have Him back again from death — gave them unspeakable joy. Indeed there never would have been and Christian joy — if Jesus had not risen from the dead. It was necessary that He should die for our sins; but if He had died and remained in the grave — no benefit could have come to us from His dying.
A dead mother cannot do anything for her children; nor could a dead Savior have helped those who trusted in Him.
We need a living Savior, to whose feet we can creep with our penitence when we have sinned, and in whose hands we can be kept in safety until we reach glory.
We need a living Friend, who will bless us by His rich love; whose strong arm will hold us up in weakness, and defend us in temptation; whose presence will restrain us from sin, and inspire in us all good thoughts and holy desires and aspirations.
We need a living Comforter, who will stand for us in Heaven and plead our cause there — and stand by us on the earth in all our imperiled life.
We need a living personal Caretaker, who will look after all our interests, plan for our lives, order our steps, and provide for all our needs.
We need a Prince who had won for us the battle over death and the grave, and is able therefore to bring us also from under the power of death.
No wonder, then, that the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord, when they had Him back again from the dead. We should be glad too, and rejoice in the glorious truth of Christ's resurrection. We have a living Savior! We have One in Heaven who loves us. Our Redeemer holds the keys of death. No dark grave can hold us, or any of ours who sleep in Jesus. We can enjoy as real communion with Jesus — as did His first disciples, because He lives and is one with 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.