While It Was Still Dark

Daily Reading: John 20

Scripture Focus: While it was still dark... (John 20.1)

Devotional Thought: Jesus' ministry had promised the dawning of a bright, new day. But now, he was dead and in the tomb. Mary, with love for Jesus, made her way to the grave "while it was still dark."

Mary was surrounded by material darkness. In the pre-dawn hour in that garden graveyard, there was little light. She had to get along the best she could under the circumstances.

Mary was lost in a miserable darkness. Jesus - who had delivered her from the darkness of demons, whom she loved with all her heart, and in whom she had put all her hope - was gone. She felt trapped. Alone. As dead on the inside as her Friend inside the tomb.

Unaware of what had happened, Mary was in a mental darkness. Mary did not have all the facts of the case yet. She did not know that Jesus was alive!

Mary labored in mutual darkness. Those with her, those who were left at home, those who had buried her Master - all of them - believed that Jesus was dead, never to be heard from again. Together, they just had to somehow go on.

Yes, it was still dark, but it was a momentary darkness. What she didn't know, in her personal darkness, was the fact that Jesus was alive! Yes, he had died and was buried, but God brought him back from the dead! The darkness fled as the dawn broke on a new day, not just then, but for all eternity!

May the light of the resurrection dispel all of your darkness!

Prayer: Hallelujah! Jesus, you are alive! The light of your living presence dispels all the darkness! I serve a risen Savior! Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 38.9-16

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. 11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. 14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. 16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”