My mother enrolled me in piano lessons in kindergarten. My first teacher was Mrs. Hilfiger, and after a few years, I began taking lessons from Mrs. Ellenberger. She taught me to sight-read music and encouraged me to play every song in the hymn book. I would play and sing in the evenings, and one of my favorites was “In the Garden.”
The hymn’s author, C. Austin Miles, had just read John 20 and was moved by the garden meeting between the resurrected Jesus and His faithful follower, Mary Magdalene. As Miles reflected on this beautiful scene, he was drawn to consider his personal relationship with Jesus and the opportunity to meet Him in a garden.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? For Whom are you looking?” Supposing that it was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you carried Him away from here, tell me where you have put Him and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” – which means Teacher or Master.
- John 20:15-16
Mary’s heart was heavy with grief. She had witnessed Jesus’s crucifixion. After the soldiers confirmed His death, she watched Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus carry His body to the nearby garden tomb. Mary sat across from the tomb, watching them wrap the body and lay it on the cold stone ledge.
Early on the third morning, she returned to the garden and found an empty tomb. Her eyes brimming with tears, she asked, “Sir … tell me where you have put Him.”
Can you imagine hearing the resurrected Jesus speak your name? My friend, He knows your name. Too often, we hurry about, make noise, and get caught up in the world’s distractions, and as a result, we miss His still, small voice.
Bible reading, prayer, and seeking God’s guidance are essential to spiritual growth and well-being. We must also cultivate quiet and silence in our personal time with the Lord. A wise and godly mentor once told me that discerning the Lord’s voice takes time. She encouraged me to be still and wait patiently.
The words of this hymn often draw me into a peaceful time with Jesus, serving as a gentle reminder – “and the joy that we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”
In the Garden
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
He walks with me, and He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy that we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
Head to Heart
What would it be like to meet your Lord and Savior—face-to-face—in a lovely garden? To hear Him speak your name. How would you respond—fall to your knees in worship or begin to speak words of adoration and praise for Him?
Perhaps you have a favorite place to sit—peaceful, calm, and quiet. I encourage you to go to this spot and spend time with the Lord today. You might begin by reading a passage of Scripture, then sit quietly. Remember, the Lord teaches us and gently guides our steps when we sit with Him—quiet, patient, and still.
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