While it was still dark…

Easter, April 9, 2023

Things are scarier in the dark! There’s something about the dark that makes things worse.

At times life feels dark and scary and hopeless. You might be worried about a friend or family member who lost their way. Or worried about a heath diagnosis. You might feel defeated because a relationship came to an end or devastated because someone you love has died. When you find yourself in a dark time, where do you find hope? You know that God is good. But you wonder, “Why, God, why aren’t you doing what I want you to do?”

The story of Easter starts with John 20 verse 1: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…” Notice, it’s still dark. Jesus has died and his followers feel scared and hopeless. And in the dark, Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ grave and sees the stone at the entrance to the tomb has been rolled away.

We look at this now and say, “Mary, don’t you remember what Jesus said? He said repeatedly that he has to go to Jerusalem, and suffer and die, then be raised!” But his followers didn’t listen when Jesus said that. They didn’t want to think about Jesus dying. They brushed off his words.

So, Mary sees the empty tomb as a huge problem! Someone stole Jesus’ body! She runs and tells the disciples; we’ve got a problem! Jesus is missing!

Peter and another disciple run with her to see the tomb. They see the empty tomb, but still don’t understand Jesus rose from the dead. They leave, and Mary stands at the tomb weeping. Some angels ask her why she is weeping. Now when angels are talking to you, and you STILL don’t believe a miracle happened: something’s wrong with you!

The Easter story can make you feel better if you’re in a dark place, feeling hopeless, wondering where God is and why he doesn’t help. Even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t believe God would work a miracle and raise Jesus.

Mary had been with Jesus and seen him heal people of terrible diseases. She had seen him restore sight. Even with angels in front of her, Mary doesn’t believe Easter will come! When we’re in a dark place, we can have a hard time believing our good God is still going to work a miracle.

What’s the answer? The opposite of fear and hopelessness is trust and faith. Remember God’s goodness! Thank him! Declare, “Even though I have a lot of reasons to despair, I trust in the Lord!” Remember all HE has done.

Remember God’s miracles: God created the world and all that is in it, remember God sent Moses to Pharoah, and God set the people free from slavery. When the people were hungry with nothing to eat, God sent manna, which was like flour to make bread. Manna rained down from heaven. God miraculously provided. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. God is so good. Remember what good things he has done in your life! Remember the dark times he got you through. Remember, while you wait, remember God’s goodness. We may enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we learn to trust God in the valleys. In dark times faith grows when we remember God’s goodness,

Next in the Easter story, Mary sees a man she thinks is the gardener. “Sir if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him,” she says. This man says to her: “Mary!”

She finally realizes he is Jesus and cries out, “Teacher!” The dark night is over, and Mary is reunited with the Lord! He is alive! The miracle of Easter is that through Jesus’ death and resurrection God defeated death. Jesus died and paid the price for our sins. Through him we receive grace and forgiveness. Mary runs and tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”

Easter brought new HOPE to Mary and the disciples! Their faith grew as they saw the darkest moment of their lives transformed into light by God. Christ was risen! We may enjoy God on the mountaintops, but we learn to trust God in the valleys.

My challenge for you is to remember a time God turned your darkness into light. I encourage you to write that memory down, begin to keep track of God’s goodness and God’s miracles in your life. They can keep you going when you go through dark times.

Easter shows us God is working for our good, even in what seem to be the darkest times. God’s timing is not our timing. But with God there is always a way. Happy Easter!

Let us pray: Holy God, you are our strength. Even if you don’t answer a prayer, we will praise you. We praise you for who you are: loving, faithful, and forgiving. Even when we have trials, we want to praise you, God. Give us the faith to trust you in dark times. Help us to never let go. Thank you for Jesus, we give our lives to you. Amen!