By Gideon E. Macomber
The composer and author of this hymn is C. Austin Miles. He was born January 7, 1868, and he died March 10, 1946.
This hymn was written in 1912. The publisher Dr. Adam Geibel asked Mr. Miles to write a hymn text that would be “sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line; one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds.” Mr. Miles said after writing the hymn…
“One day in March, 1912, I was seated in the dark room, where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favorite chapter, John 20—whether by chance or inspiration let each reader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power to charm.
As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, “Rabboni!”
My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in, and hurried away.
John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came Peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.
As they departed, Mary reappeared; leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing, so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched and looking into His face cried “Rabboni!”
I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.”
This hymn was taken from John 20:10-18
For more information on Charles Austin Miles Click Here
Sources
Osbeck, K.W. 101 Hymn Stories. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications. 1982
Osbeck, K.W. Amazing Grace. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications. 1990
Spencer, D.A. Hymn and Scripture Selection Guide. (Revised and expanded edition.). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. 1993
