April 8, 2020
Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,
Our Lenten Series continues this week with the theme of It Is Still Dark with Reverend Robert Wilkins, Allen Temple Ministry Affiliate and Managing Principal of Encounter Alliance, LLC.
Forward Together by Faith,
Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Senior Pastor
It is Still Dark
John 20:1-18
John 20:1-18
Darkness is a powerful and intimidating force with both physical and psychological dimensions. Physically, darkness is the absence of light that limits vision, and hinders movement. Lack of movement reduces freedom. Psychologically speaking, darkness is the absence of joy and gladness in life that invites sadness, anger, 
anxiety, and fear. Darkness obscures the thought process and sometimes makes it difficult to know the difference between reality and one’s own imagination. In the dark, we are quick to jump to conclusions about what actually happened and who did it.
anxiety, and fear. Darkness obscures the thought process and sometimes makes it difficult to know the difference between reality and one’s own imagination. In the dark, we are quick to jump to conclusions about what actually happened and who did it.That is what happened to Mary Magdalene when she arrived at the tomb of her dear friend, Jesus, early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark. Mary notices that the stone covering the tomb had been rolled away. Without any other evidence or further investigation, she jumped to the conclusion that the body of Jesus had been stolen by “they”. Confused and disheartened, she runs to spread the rumor to the friends of Jesus, two of whom come running to see for themselves. Peter and the other disciple enter the tomb and confirm that the body was gone, “they believed …but they did not understand.” How could they believe what they did not understand? Nevertheless, then they do what many people do when they encounter the dark ------ go home and lock the doors.
There is a natural tendency to flee from the dark, hoping that light will bring clear answers, certainty and safety. However, a lot of the world’s light is artificial. Mary Magdalene chooses a different way. She lingers in the darkness weeping and wondering, not only “Where did they put Jesus?”, but also “Where did I put Jesus?” Her courage and persistence are soon rewarded by the appearance of a stranger who calls her by name – “Mary”. In the dark, Mary finds what she is looking for and she is found in the process.
It is still dark in the world today. Lent is an invitation to linger in the darkness to wonder, to search, to weep and to wait in the darkness. To experience Divine presence in stillness, solitude and silence…
…Hush, hush…somebody’s calling my name…while it is still dark.
For Further Reading:
- Mark 1:35
- Acts 16:25-28 (NIV)
- Psalm 119:148 (NIV)
- Genesis 32:24
Rev. Robert A. Wilkins is a Ministry Affiliate of Allen Temple Baptist Church and the Managing Principal of Encounter Alliance, LLC, a ministry management and educational service advisory firm for faith-based organizations. Rev. Wilkins is the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at the American Baptist Seminary of the West and Chairman of the Board of the Beneficial State Foundation.
