The Darkness is Overcome
REV CHARLIE (APRIL 2021)
Darkness features prominently in the Easter story, from the last supper right through to Jesus’ burial.
In John’s Gospel, when he describes the last supper, there is a discussion about the one who would betray Jesus. That scene ends with these words, ‘As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.’ Judas went out into the darkness to betray Jesus; aligning himself with darkness itself. That same night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed in anguish, even sweating drops of blood. Jesus knew what he must endure and could feel the darkness closing in around him. He was afraid.
Not long afterwards a mob with swords and clubs came to arrest Jesus. Just before he was arrested Jesus said, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Jesus was taken straight to the Jewish ruling council, who broke with convention by conducting Jesus’ trial by night, further emphasising the sinister nature of the proceedings. Peter was stood outside in the courtyard, where he denied Jesus three times.
Jesus was condemned by the Jewish authorities and paraded before Pontius Pilate, King Herod and an agitated crowd before he was handed over for crucifixion. When Jesus died at midday, ‘darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.’
Finally, Jesus’ limp and lifeless body was taken down from the cross and placed in a nearby tomb. A large stone was rolled across the entrance and the man who is God was reduced to a corpse, surrounded by pitch darkness.
In the first chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus is referred to as ‘the Word’; the first five verses read as follows: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In the Bible, darkness often represents death, evil and the dominion of Satan. The author of life could not be overcome by darkness and on the third day Jesus rose from the dead. The light of the world came bursting from the tomb. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
When we listen to the news and hear of war, famine, corruption, violence, climate change and the global pandemic, the world seems a dark and sinister place. Indeed, we can often feel the darkness closing in around us personally, as we struggle with the challenges of life. Jesus’ resurrection changes everything! It proves that darkness will not have the last word and that light will ultimately prevail.
Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
