November 7

Songs in the Night

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. — Matt 26:30 BSB

This is the only record of Jesus singing while He was on earth. It’s worth noting that He sang a hymn with His disciples just as He was about to go to Gethsemane. It would not have seemed strange if He had sung on the Mount of Transfiguration, or when He entered Jerusalem to the people’s hosannas, or at some other moment of joy and triumph. But the fact that the only time we hear of Jesus singing is in the darkest night of His earthly life is very significant.

It reveals the deep joy that remained in Christ’s heart even amid His griefs and sorrows. He knew the agony awaiting Him in Gethsemane and saw the cross looming just beyond it. Yet, He went out into the darkness with songs of praise on His lips. There is a Scripture that says, "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame." This was the joy that expressed itself in a hymn of praise—the joy of doing the Father’s will and saving lost souls. Here, we get another glimpse of Christ’s immense love.

There’s also a lesson for us. We should go forward with joy to face 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 strength to be able to sing while we work and even while we suffer. The secret of Christ’s song was that He looked beyond the garden and the cross to the reward and the glory to come. If we look only at the sorrow before us, we cannot sing; but if we look ahead to the joy of victory, the reward, and the fruit that will come from the suffering, we can sing even in our deepest trials.