The Coming Light

According to John the  resurrection morning story started in pitch darkness.  Black.  "...while it was still dark...." is how the gospel writer set the stage (John 20:1).  Matthew described the time by writing, "..the first day of the week was dawning."  (Matthew 28:1)  Mark wrote, "..the sun had risen..." (Mark 16:2) and Luke wrote that the story started "at early dawn." (Luke 24:1)  When John speaks of the resurrection story beginning in absolute darkness, it is as the drama begins with the curtain drawn shut and as we read, it ever so slowly is pulled open for all the world to see what is unfolding in the new light of what is surely a new day.

 

There are things to see on the this resurrection morning.  By the time Peter and John raced to the tomb in the rising of the early morning sun, there was enough light behind them to look into the darkness of the tomb and see that it was empty.  And the grieving weeping Mary Magdalene managed to get her eyes opened enough to see angels in white and then finally, the resurrected Jesus.  By the time the story is finished, the light of the new dawn is surely shining in overwhelming power over each of them.

The light which dawned upon the darkness so long ago has not grown dim, but shines ever so bright in our lives.  Of course, there are times when it seems that the darkness has once again taken hold of the light and overcome it, but there is no power within any darkness which can prevail against the light that broke upon the world that resurrection morning.  The Light of the World which slipped quietly on the earthly stage in Bethlehem burst forth in dominating brilliance that morning when the Word went out that death's hold had been broken for evermore.  We live now, but not in the darkness; instead, we live as one in whom the Light of the World has chosen to dwell.