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When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Darker
Selected Scriptures From The Easter Accounts

Introduction: Darkness

It was a most unusual source that started me thinking about the stifling darkness that fell upon the earth after Jesus was crucified. It was this packet of Fire Sauce from Taco Bell. Sayings are written on each packet. This one reads:

Help! I can’t tell where I am. It’s dark and I can hear laughing.

I guess you could say it got me thinking outside the bun. It describes precisely what the disciples must have been feeling. As literal and spiritual darkness fell over the earth, the disciples felt alone, abandoned and confused in the darkness. In the darkness they could have heard the laughing of the earthly enemies who had finally put Jesus in His place. In their hearts they may have also heard the laughter of Jesus’ spiritual enemies who believed they had finally defeated God’s plan for humanity.

John’s account of the Resurrection begins in darkness.

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.            John 20:1 NLT

As Mary walked in the darkness, she carried the darkness in her soul.

Have you ever groped your way through the darkness? You might do fine in familiar territory, but it becomes a most unsettling and unpleasant experience in unfamiliar surroundings.

One powerful encounter I have had with darkness came when I was locked away in a solitary confinement cell on Alcatraz. When we first moved to the Bay Area in the late 1970s this was one of our favorite activities when people came to visit us. For $2 you enjoyed a boat ride on the Bay and a complete tour of this infamous, high security prison. During the tour all the people who thought they could handle it were placed in the cells. I must admit a rising wave of anxiety upon hearing the door lock. Then, the guide would close the small window on the door plunging the occupants of the cell into total darkness. It didn’t take long, as a few seconds seemed to become an eternity, to figure out how effective this must have been as the cell’s sole occupant would have sat on the floor all alone in darkness. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief when the door opened.

Times of struggle are like darkness. Have you noticed how problems always seem bigger when it’s dark? Problems grow bigger and the darkness grows darker. In desperation you look for a switch to turn on hoping for just a little ray of light. Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark.

J. R. R. Tolkien, one of England's literary greats from a generation ago, wrote about a fantasy world called Middle-Earth that has captured the imagination of millions of people in this generation. Tolkien's trilogy of books known as "Lord of the Rings" has been widely popularized through three blockbuster movies based on them. The final book and movie, "The Return of the King," portrays a world where the armies of darkness, made up of vicious subhuman beings, are moving to destroy the last bastions of human life in Middle-Earth. But as the rightful king of Middle-Earth begins to emerge, the humans are rallied to what becomes the decisive battle against this advancing evil. In one drama-packed moment, one of the main characters climbs to the top of a daunting mountain, where a massive pile of wood awaits ignition. And there, he takes a torch and lights the signal fire. A waiting sentinel sees that fire and lights the fire on his mountain. And the summons-by-fire spreads across the kingdom, from mountaintop to mountaintop and the sentinels shout the triumphant news: "The beacons are lit!"

That’s what we celebrate today: The beacon has been lit! In the days leading up to what we now celebrate as Easter, Jesus and His followers experienced what must have seemed overwhelming darkness. There was a light, however, that would soon be turned on to pierce the darkness and show the way to life.

Look At The Deepening Darkness

Darkness Reigns In The Garden

It’s intriguing how much of the account leading to Easter takes place in darkness. One of the most powerful images in the movie The Passion of the Christ is the darkness. Darkness covered the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus wrestled with the decision that was His—to die or not to die. This was a titanic struggle that played out in the darkness. Jesus shared the depth of His struggle with His inner circle of disciples Peter, James and John.

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”                                                                         Matthew 26:38 NLT

Then, as they slept, He wrestled with His Father, praying three different times,

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

                                                                                                Matthew 26:39 NIV

Why is it that the most difficult decisions are those with which we struggle in the dead of night? Sleep is driven from us. We toss and turn and wrestle as it continues to grow darker until the morning finally comes to grant its temporary reprieve.

As Jesus finished praying the betrayer emerged from the darkness, the arrest took place and the darkest days in history began to unfold. Don’t miss the question addressed by Jesus to the authorities when He was arrested and the observation He connects to it.

Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”                            Luke 22:53 NLT

Darkness Reigns During The Trial

The disciples had to be baffled by the turn of events. I wonder how many times they asked each other, “What went wrong?” When Jesus was arrested the disciples fled away under the cover of darkness to hide. Then, they began to reemerge at the scene of the trial. During the intervening hours they had to wonder, “What went wrong?”

The question is often asked in our lives.

·         After 9/11

·         After Katrina

·         After success turns into bankruptcy

·         After marriage ends up in divorce

·         After a child chooses the wrong course

All of these and more can keep us up at night wondering, “What went wrong?”

The darkness was deeper for Peter than the other disciples. Just as Jesus had warned Peter, he denied Jesus three times as he waited by the fire in the courtyard outside the place where Jesus was on trial. Peter announced his denials with increasing vehemence.

·         I don’t know him (Luke 22:57)

·         I am not one of them (Luke 22:58)

·         I don’t know what you’re talking about (Luke 22:60)

With the third denial Luke tells us,

At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

                                                                                                Luke 22:61-62 NLT

The darkness grew deeper.

The darkness was deepest for Judas who betrayed Jesus. Too late, he realized,

“I have sinned for I have betrayed an innocent man.”          Matthew 27:4 NLT

He tried to undo what he had done. When he saw that he couldn’t, he threw the money at the feet of those in the Jewish ruling council and went out and hanged himself. It must have been very dark to see suicide as the only solution.

Darkness Reigns At The Crucifixion

Luke describes the depth of darkness at the Crucifixion.     

It was about noon, and the whole land became dark until three o'clock in the afternoon, because the sun did not shine.                                       Luke 22:44-45 NCV

The sun stopped shining. Literal darkness fell over them just when the sun should have been at its most intense brightness. When Jesus died darkness descended to its deepest density.

We know those times when it seems like the sun has stopped shining and darkness rules. And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any darker, the shadow of death appears. Death is the ultimate reality of life. I have at times taken a jab at doctors by reminding them that they ultimately fail 100% of the time because finally, indisputably everybody dies.

There is a three postcard series that captures our human reactions to death. The first one is titled Fear. It pictures a man standing directly below an enormous, needle-sharp dagger suspended on a much-too-thin thread. The man says, “It’s very inconvenient to be mortal. You never know when everything may suddenly stop happening.”     

The second card is titled False Hope. It pictures a person lying in bed saying, “Tell the scientist to hurry. I don’t want to die before they discover how to save me.”

The third card is labeled Uncertainty. It portrays a jogging health enthusiast saying, “I’m doing what I can to prolong my life hoping that someday I’ll learn what it’s for.”

We have strange reactions to the prospect of death. Woody Allen is credited with saying some very strange things. But, they are sometimes so strange that they actually make sense. About death he said, “I am not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Most of us would probably agree with him.

There is no deeper darkness than death. As Mary Magdalene came to the tomb it was still dark but the deepest darkness was in the hearts of those people closest to Jesus who couldn’t escape the nagging doubt-filled question, “How could Jesus be dead?”

Then, just when they thought it couldn’t get any darker Mary came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away. Confusion reigned at first but it soon started to dawn on them that Jesus was no longer dead. Morning came. The Risen Son appeared and they knew the life giving light. We have all heard, and perhaps spoken, the wisdom of never looking directly at the sun. This morning I am inviting you to look directly at the Son—the Son of God!

Look At The Life-Giving Light

Death Was Conquered

The last enemy to be defeated is death. Paul states it directly,

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.                              1 Corinthians 15:26 NIV

The glorious message of Easter is that death has been conquered and it has been destroyed.

Two thousand years ago, it appeared that the forces of darkness had won their ultimate victory. The Son of God was dead, buried in a tomb. Those who followed Him were in total despair. That was Friday. Sunday was coming. And when it did, Jesus blew the doors off His grave and walked out under His own power, leaving death—mankind's final enemy—vanquished and powerless. And that Easter morning, the beacons were lit. From the mountaintop of that generation, the message that Jesus is alive and death has lost has ignited a fire on the mountain of the next generation. And today, twenty-one centuries later, we are the ones left here by Jesus to light the beacon for our generation.

Death has looked us in the face and we can look right back at it without flinching and declare,

"Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? ... Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

                                                                                                1 Corinthians 15:54, 55, 57 NIV

A familiar quote says it all: "If non-Christians want to know what belonging to Jesus is really all about, let them come to our funerals."

It's there at the time of death when the beacon from Easter morning shines the brightest. When everything earth offers has no answers, the beacon shines brightly.

Resurrection Is Assured

As the New Testament draws to a close, the living Christ appears to the Apostle John in all His glory and He says:

"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

                                                                                                Revelation 1:17-18 NIV

The blazing beacon of Jesus' victory over death means there is nothing in your life that is bigger than He is, and if you belong to Him, nothing can defeat His plans for you.

Conclusion: Dawn Follows The Darkness

It’s important to acknowledge the reality of the saying, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” It’s imperative, however, to latch on to the reality that dawn always follows the darkness. One of the facts of history is that for every sunset there has been a sunrise. It was dark on that first Easter morning as Mary approached the tomb. And then the light of the resurrection dawned in all its brilliance.

What a tragedy it is that people miss it—so many people miss it. It took the darkness of Jesus’ death to provide the never-ending light of life.

·         Some of you have chosen to embrace the light and life found in the resurrected Savior. You have latched on to Him and you are never going to let go. You understand the joy of the Resurrection.

·         Some of you may be considering stepping into the light this morning. You understand that Jesus died so your sin could be forgiven and you can receive the gift of becoming a child of God. My question for you is, “Are you ready—right now?”

·         Some of you may be deciding that you would rather stay in darkness. You refuse to acknowledge what God has done for you in Jesus. My question for you is, “Why?”

Jesus died in darkness so the light could shine on Easter. Do you care?

If you would allow me to mix my metaphors a bit I’d like to close with this illustration. It was the middle of the night when a fire broke out in a multi-family housing unit in New Brunswick, New Jersey. 15 residents slept unaware of the deadly danger. A Deputy Fire Chief arrived first on the scene. He realized he didn’t have time to put on his usual protective gear. Knowing minutes are precious at a time like this he rushed into the burning building and began pounding on doors. One older man was unable to get out by himself so this valiant rescuer carried him down the stairs and out into the street. And then, he went in for more. All 15 residents got out alive. The man who saved their lives didn’t. One man gave his life so others could live.

I owe my life to someone like that—a Rescuer who gave His life so I, and many others like me, would not have to die eternally for things done wrong. The Bible calls those wrong things sin and compares it to walking it darkness. Paul invites us to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus,

And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light. God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid for our sins, and in him we have forgiveness.                                                         Colossians 1:12-14 NCV

That can be you beginning today. You and I are that man in the burning building who can’t get himself out. We have to let Jesus carry us to safety. That means you need to reach out to Him, put your arms around Him and trust Him to save you. If you’ve never done that, you are still in sin’s burning building—or in darkness if you prefer that metaphor—and your time is running out. It’s not enough to know He died and was resurrected to save you. You have to put your total trust in Him.

The light shines today and it shines brightly. But, darkness longs to invade once again through the greatest tragedy in all of creation. What’s that? The greatest tragedy is for Jesus to give His life so you could be rescued from the darkness and then have you choose to live and die without Him, paying forever a penalty He has already paid. Reject the darkness by accepting Jesus.