Singing Our Way to Glory

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” ~Mark 14:26

How do you respond to difficulties? In what direction does your heart face in trial? Do you turn inward, focusing entirely on self-preservation? Do you turn backward, attempting to run away from the issue? Do you turn outward, lashing out at anyone who might be at fault for your situation? Or do you turn upward, acknowledging the providence of God, enabling you to sing His praises in the dark valley?

Right before Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of His crucifixion, the Bible tells us that He and His disciples sang a hymn. What thoughts would you have had as you walked to the Garden with your friends? Judas is coming to arrest Me. The Romans are going to beat Me. The Jews are going to mock Me and strike Me. My beard is soon to be ripped out. And worst of all, the Father is going to unleash His wrath upon Me for the sins of My people. What can I do? And what does Jesus do? He sings. What a remarkable response to difficulty we see in our Savior. When the most horrific trial of His life is rapidly marching closer, He sings.

Hours later we find Jesus hanging on the cross—His innocent wrists pierced with rough nails, His innocent back torn by whips and splinters, His innocent head hanging under the weight of His thorny crown. What is Jesus doing on the cross? We don’t find Him begging for mercy. We don’t find Him defending Himself before the mocking crowd. Instead, we hear His voice singing! Perhaps you’re wondering when this happens. I don’t remember Jesus singing on the cross, you think. But turn your attention to Mark 15:34, where we read, “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice… ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” I’m sure many of you know that these words are quoted directly from Psalm 22:1. The psalms, of course, were the song-book of Israel. They were the song-book of Jesus from His childhood. In other words, when Jesus was about to give up His spirit and enter into His glory, He sang a psalm of worship to God, just as He had at the outset of His suffering in Gethsemane.

My friends, when life is agonizing, we ought to sing to God. When trials come, we should be found singing. When betrayal happens and the hurt is so deep we feel like our souls are being crushed, let us respond with song. When death draws near, so far as God enables, let our final words be words of melodic praise to the One who is bringing us home to glory.

Psalm 118:15 says, “Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous.” What will be heard in your tent when trials come, when betrayal occurs, as this earthly life draws to a close? I trust it will be the glad songs of salvation.

Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Pastor of Teaching & Spiritual Formation