When It Seems as if Darkness Wins

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Darkness crouched by the cross. As lots were cast, and a prisoner saved, his fingers slid across the noonday sun. Thunder answered this caress. Lightning split the untimely eclipse. And the earth itself raged. But nearby, women fixed their eyes on Jesus.

The Lord is my light.

For three hours as darkness reigned, the women stood by, fixed to the light. This man of light, he drank their darkness. He lifted the cup to his lips and drank it dry. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The Lord is my salvation.

"It is finished!" he cried. The price was paid. And the Father's hands reached down from his throne tearing  the great divide from top to bottom.  But near the cross, these women stood watching.

The Lord is the strength of my life.

They followed as his body was carried to the garden and laid in the tomb. Wanting to honor their Lord in his death they hurried back to compound their mixture of myrrh and aloes. With their world tilting dangerously, they refused fear and chose courage.

Of whom shall I be afraid?

On this day when it seems as if darkness wins, would you fix your eyes on this Jesus? Would you stand by the cross and watch and wait? Even as storm clouds gather and lightning splits the sky, would you stay close? And when it seems as if death owns the day, would you refuse fear, follow closely, and honor him deeply?  On this day ... when it seems that darkness wins.

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

For further reflection:  Matthew 27:45-55; Mark 15:33-47; Luke 23:44-55; John 19:16-42