Light in Darkness

Morning was when the resurrection was discovered.  All the gospel writers agree on this one element of the story.  There are points of diversion, but it is clear that the setting for the greatest story ever told is early morning.  John's gospel reports, "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark..."  (John 20:1)  What is implied in the accounts of the other gospel writers is spelled out by John who loved to write of the contrast between light and darkness.  Before the sun came up and while darkness was still heavy on the earth, Mary Magdalene, began her walk to the place where the dead body of Jesus had been placed.

 

It is not hard to imagine that there was another darkness resting upon her that was deeper and darker than the one still laying hard upon the earth.  There was surely a deeper darkness within in her heart as her grief and sorrow guided her back to the place so quickly left on Friday evening.  Anyone who has ever stood at the grave of a loved one can understand the depth of the darkness which grief over the loss of someone loved brings. 

 

And while our journey toward the remembrance of this Resurrection Sunday may take us to a place other than a sanctuary filled with celebration, the message we will discover has not changed.  Nothing can change the message of resurrection.  No troubling day and no darkness has such power.  Nothing can take away our hope.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, "...But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead..."  (I Corinthians 15:20)  Christ is risen!  Christ is risen, indeed!  And as He has been raised from the darkness of death, so have the faithful who have died before us, and so shall we.  Thanks be to God for bringing light to the darkness!