May 4, 2010
John 20
Pastor John Edwards
One of the greatest influences in my life was a 12-year ministry association with a precious woman of God with whom I worked in The Salvation Army. Her life’s example taught me much about compassion-in-action, while providing a healthy perspective on viewing situations “beyond the surface.”
On many occasions, I’ve pondered one of her favorite phrases. Often she would preface a description of something beyond appearances with the words, “in the dark of the night.” That’s when all was quiet, devoid of pretense and loaded with serious introspection.
I was reminded of it again when reading these words from John 20:1-2, “…while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running…and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb…’”
Things can appear very different in the dark. Like Mary Magdalene, we can reach some wrong conclusions there, unless we seek the Light through the pages of His Word and the revelation that comes through vibrant relationship with Him.
Mary Magdalene’s “Light encounter” is reported in verses 14-17. How interesting that Jesus spoke to her, yet she didn’t recognize Him initially. After revelation came, she “…went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’” (verse 18)
In “the dark of the night” of our lives, we can choose to respond from our limited understanding…or press into an encounter with His Light that will dispel the darkness. I invite you to join me in a daily pursuit to make the right choice.
Did you know? In his formative years, Pastor John served as a deacon in the nation’s first merger of a Presbyterian Church US (now USA) and Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation.
