Some people have objected that this hymn is nothing but a sentimental nature hymn with no religious theme. However, the circumstances of its writing show clearly that it was inspired by the incident of Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus, whom she suddenly recognized in the Garden of Gethsemane on the morning of the Resurrection. In March 1912, C. Austin Miles was sitting in the darkroom, where he kept his photographic equipment and, incidentally, his organ. As he took his Bible it fell open at his favorite chapter, John 20, which he reread. Then, gazing at the light-blue wall opposite him, he seemed to see the story enacted before his mind’s eye. There were Peter and John meeting Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Finding it empty, the two men left. Mary, alone, talked with “the gardener,” who then revealed Himself to her as the risen Lord. Austin Miles came to himself with his muscles tense. Gripping his Bible and under the inspiration of his vision, he wrote the poem as quickly as he could.

In the evening of the same day he composed the tune for the words, and published the hymn in The Gospel Message, No. 2, in 1912.

Miles was born at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on January 7, 1868; he was educated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced pharmacy for several years, but having written a gospel song that was favorably accepted, he was encouraged to write more. In 1898 he left pharmacy and worked full time for the Hall-Mack Publishing Company in Philadelphia, serving for 37 years as editor and manager. When the firm merged with Rodeheaver Company in 1935, he continued in an editorial capacity. He composed several anthems and cantatas, but he wished to be remembered as a composer of gospel songs, which he thought were of more value to the average person. He died at Pitman, New Jersey, on March 10, 1946.

📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.