"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." Matthew 26:30
This is the only record of our Lord's singing when He was on the earth. It is worthy of special notice, that it was just as He was starting out to Gethsemane, that He sang a hymn with His disciples. It would not have seemed so strange to us if He had sung that night on the Transfiguration Mount, or the day He entered Jerusalem amid the people's hosannas, or on some other occasion of great gladness and triumph; but that the only time we hear Him singing, should be in the darkest night of His earthly life — is very suggestive.
It tells us of the deep gladness that was in the heart of Christ, under all His griefs and sorrows. He knew the agony into whose black shadows He was about to enter. He saw the cross, too, which stood just beyond Gethsemane. Yet He went out toward the darkness with songs of praise on His lips. There is a Scripture word which tells us that "for the joy set before him — he endured the cross, despising the shame." This was the joy that broke forth here in a hymn of praise. It was the joy of doing the Father's will, and of saving lost souls. Thus, we get here another glimpse of Christ's great heart of love.
We learn a lesson, too, for ourselves. We should go forward with joy — to meet sorrow and sacrifice when we are doing our Father's will. We should learn to sing — as we enter life's valleys of shadow. It is a great thing to be able to sing as we work, and sing as we suffer. The secret of Christ's song here — was His looking beyond the garden and the cross; He saw the reward, the glory, the redemption accomplished. If we look only at the sorrow before us — we cannot sing; but if we look on to the joy of victory, and the blessedness of the reward, and the ripened fruits which will come from the suffering — then we too can sing, as we enter the sorest trial.
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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.