Feb 5 - Jesus Singing

February 5

Jesus Singing

 Mt 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out

 Robert T Ketchum was a great servant of God. He died in 1978.  He wrote at least three books, all of which I own.  One of them contains a marvelous sermon entitled The Death Hymn of Christ  which deals with the verse before us today.  I can still remember having him in my home for Sunday dinner where he signed the books he had written.

OK, what about this verse and the singing of a hymn?  Right after they had shared the cup at the last supper, which was the Jewish Passover, Christ and His eleven disciples  (Judas was off betraying Christ) sang a hymn. Afterwards they went out to the Mount of Olives, which was just outside the east wall of the city.

Do we have any idea what they sang?  We know it wasn’t “the Old Rugged Cross”  or “Amazing Grace”.  They most likely sang the traditional Passover song that was sung after they had finished the cup. The Jewish nation referred to the singing as the Hallel.  Sometimes known as the Egypt Hallel.  They had no need of a hymnal because they would have sung the familiar words since they were children. The Hallel was sung at more than just Passover.  It would be like our singing some of the Christmas songs we sing. We are all familiar with the words… well until we get to the second verse!

 Instead of Frosty the Snowman they sang from the psalms. If they followed traditional Jewish customs it would have been psalms 113-118.   Sometimes part of the people would sing a phrase and be answered back by the rest, as can be seen in the first 4 verses of Psalm 118.  There the phrase …”for his mercy endureth forever”  would have been the response.  

Now just imagine you were in that room with those 11 disciples and Christ as they sang (or chanted)  John may have had a soft voice. Peter’s voice would have stood out as he sang loudly, off key, off tempo and certain in his own mind that he sang the best. Think over who was there and their background. What would a tax collector or fishermen sound like? As individuals they may have sounded a little like your neighbor’s dog howling at the moon.  But collectively, with Christ’s unifying voice they must have sounded marvelous.  Christ would be crucified within a few hours, yet he sang.  Take a few moments and turn to psalms 113-118 and read some of the verses that Christ sang.  While you read listen to the sweet sound of the Savior’s voice singing.

Ps 113:5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

Ps 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Ps 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell

gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.  

Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Ps 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Just imagine hearing the Savior singing some of these verses. Many contained prophetic references to His coming, death and resurrection glory.  What a glorious privilege to have been part of that choir.  We are also encouraged to spend time singing.  We have much to be thankful for and the melody we should have in our hearts cannot be contained and must break forth in singing.

Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

After they sang they went out to the Mount of Olives. Christ went to spend some agonizing time in prayer at the very place where He would be betrayed with a kiss, kidnapped by religious leaders who abused Him before turning Him over to the authorities.  In the Garden Christ prayed and then came to his disciples and found them sleeping three times during the night.  These were the men who only a few hours previously had assured Christ they would die for Him but could not manage to even pray for Him. They were asleep. “Could you not watch with me one hour?” Christ asked them. Then they all went back to sleep. He returned to find them asleep again. Finally he returned from praying and found them asleep a third time. “Lord you can count on us! We would all be willing to …ZZZZzzzzzzz”

          Let us sing with Christ, making melody in our hearts.  I doubt that I need to say much about sleeping disciples.  When we have examined ourselves and renewed our devotion to Christ during communion we sing a hymn and then go out. But do we go out like the disciples and spend our time asleep.  Our world grows worse by the minute and too many Christians consider the evils of the world, knowing their family members, neighbors, friends and people in their community need to hear of Christ but   ZZzzzzzzzzz.  Some of us need to shake off our desire to snooze and do the work we are called to do.  Or would you have stayed awake and prayed while Christ was in the Garden?  Take heed, lest ye fall.