Easter morning arises yearly with such hope wrapped within the traditional family celebrations. But those days leading up to the very first Easter were very dark for the friends of Jesus. Completely forgetful of all that He had prepared them with, of all that He had taught, most sat huddled behind locked doors weeping tears of confused grief. Their expectations of reigning in His kingdom lay shattered with their hearts broken by the loss of His presence. Everything must have felt hopeless. How could He be the Messiah if He could die?
Before sunrise on the first day of the week, however, the power of the empty tomb had already transformed a bleak morning. Two women came weeping to anoint Jesus’s body. To add insult to their already injured hearts, His body was not there. When Mary Magdalene questioned who she thought was the gardener, the morning’s Secret spoke her name. This Messiah could not be held by death. The tomb had released its grip. Darkness could not win. Before the sun had risen that day, the Light of all mankind had dawned with a bright hope man had never before seen.
Only a few knew the Light broke forth that day, but in the hours following, every friend of Jesus would have a new song to sing. That is often the way of darkness. God is working miracles in those darkest hours just before the light drives away the shadows. Like the disciples learned, the best was yet to come.
The disciples’ plight in the three days between Jesus’s death and resurrection was not an isolated incident. While sin exists on the planet, darkness will stake its claim for the hearts of men and women. Even believers can forget His song in these dark seasons.
There is a species of canary resident to Australia who have forgotten their song. Regent honeyeater canaries learn their specific melody from the singing of their own kind around them. However, their population is decreasing, leaving many alone with other species. The lone honeyeaters pick up the melodies of other birdsongs, leaving their song muddled and unrecognizable to the females who listen for a mate. Because they have forgotten their song, it is unlikely that their species will continue much longer.
Much like these birds who have forgotten their song, believers too can lose the joyful melody of praise they were created to sing. Like the disciples who forgot what Jesus taught them, and the promises He assured were ahead, today’s followers can be forgetful too. So many things crowd in to muddle the song once sung. But Jesus left His song with us in the form of His Word. As it fills His people, music naturally becomes an outpouring of His Spirit, which He uses to teach and admonish others of His truth. (Colossians 3:16-17.) God sings His song in the night seasons to remind, reaffirm, and reinforce His presence and promises. His hymns, Psalms, and spiritual songs call back weary hearts to sing along with Him again. This blog is meant to reignite the song in the heart of the weary, the fearful, the broken, the hopeless, and those walking through a dark season. May His song fill each heart with His faithful grace that accompanies their journey, Home.
His Song in the Night 