Resurrection Light Pierces Darkness

Resurrection Light Pierces Darkness – the timing could not be more perfect!

We’re all battling the harsh effects of COVID-19 in some way. You may have lost a loved one or be sick yourself. Or you could be struggling with job loss or the general disruption of normal life. Leaders and health officials stress we are facing the toughest weeks as this virus continues to spread. With the media’s relentless reminder of this fact, it feels like our darkest hour. Throw in the fact that it’s Holy Week, and the timing seems like it couldn’t be worse.

But wait, let’s take a step back for a minute. Something here sounds familiar. Haven’t there been situations in the past when things seemed abysmal? The timing looked all wrong. Then against the odds, something purposeful and life changing happens? The bible gives multiple accounts of this phenomenon. Let’s explore just a few.

Help Comes Too Late?

Remember Lazarus? He was the gravely ill friend Jesus was summoned to heal. But Jesus did not respond immediately. When Jesus finally arrives days later, Lazarus is dead. It appears Jesus is too late. Then Jesus stuns everyone by calling Lazarus forth from the tomb. It turns out Jesus wasn’t late after all.

Resurrection For All

Let’s move on to the most famous empty tomb, the tomb of Jesus. This story starts with fear, shattered dreams and sorrow. That’s because Christ followers expected Jesus to become their earthly king. They thought He would save them from Roman oppression. But God’s plan was much bigger. It was a plan to free mankind from the oppression of sin for all time. Jesus fulfills this plan by willingly dying on the cross in our place.

Divine Correlation

Fast forward back to present day. Our disrupted lives have been stripped bare of many things we take for granted. Freedom to go where we like. The ability to purchase whatever we want. A normal flow of work, school and play. But at the same time we are experiencing this sacred time called Holy Week. Is the timing a coincidence or is there a divine correlation? What if our lives have been simplified so we can focus like never before on Christ’s sacrifice for us?

Take time to consider how the brutal crucifixion turned out to be the most beautiful act of love ever demonstrated. What seemed like the worse time in history is the best news ever. Jesus defeated death and rose on Easter Sunday. His victory over sin and death is our victory. A promise of everlasting life that will sustain us through all the days ahead.

Going Deeper

If you want to dive deeper into the Holy Week story, turn to Mark chapters 12-16 in your bible. Don’t have a bible? No problem! You can download my favorite online tool – YouVersion – the bible app.

Jesus, in the midst of our hard times help us see how your resurrection light pierces our darkness. Let us see the divine connection between the height of our trials and the height of your glory through the cross. We fix our eyes on your victory over sin and death and lay hold of it’s promise over our lives. Amen.