Life Emerges from the Darkness
Current coronavirus restrictions are driving us to do some things we might not otherwise do. Last weekend we spent a family day cleaning out our fish pond. The water was very green and who knew what was lurking in its inky depths. The last we knew, there were six goldfish in the pond. But as we bucketed out the dark green water and dug into the thick black sludge at the bottom, we found ourselves scooping out glittering goldfish after goldfish. By the time we get to the bottom, we had uncovered thirty-one fish. Many were small but some were absolute monsters. So much life had been hidden in the darkness just waiting to be revealed.
The image of those fish emerging out of the darkness brought the first Easter Sunday to my mind. On that morning, in more ways than one, the friends of Jesus were in a very dark place. Jesus has died on Good Friday. They were lost in the darkness of grief, and, having left home before dawn, they were walking through the physical darkness of night as well. But what they found cut through every darkness.
At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow... The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” (Matthew 28:1-7).
The first light they encountered was that of an angel. But he was just a small fish who spoke about a monster that was still to be revealed - Jesus. Jesus has defeated death. Jesus has overcome darkness. “He is not here; he has risen.” The good news of Easter to those walking in darkness is that Jesus is alive, we can meet him, and when we do, his light will eradicate every darkness in our lives once and for all.
Neil Percival
The image of those fish emerging out of the darkness brought the first Easter Sunday to my mind. On that morning, in more ways than one, the friends of Jesus were in a very dark place. Jesus has died on Good Friday. They were lost in the darkness of grief, and, having left home before dawn, they were walking through the physical darkness of night as well. But what they found cut through every darkness.
At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow... The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’” (Matthew 28:1-7).
The first light they encountered was that of an angel. But he was just a small fish who spoke about a monster that was still to be revealed - Jesus. Jesus has defeated death. Jesus has overcome darkness. “He is not here; he has risen.” The good news of Easter to those walking in darkness is that Jesus is alive, we can meet him, and when we do, his light will eradicate every darkness in our lives once and for all.
Neil Percival