April 3, 2026 | Good Friday @ Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY
Scripture References
Scripture: John 1:5
When Darkness Comes
When we are in the midst of darkness—those heavy, disorienting seasons of life—one of the things we tend to do is look to the past.
We search for wisdom.
For insight.
For some way of finding hope, and, quite frankly, holding onto the hope we have.
Because deep down, at our core, we are people of the light.
We are people of hope.
We would much rather be joyful than burdened, to celebrate rather than be burdened by the worries of this world.
The reality is … there is darkness, and, often, the darkness is unavoidable.
What Holy Week Reveals
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday call us to face the reality that darkness is part of life. These are not easy services. They are not meant to be.
They exist to tell the truth:
Suffering happens.
Life hurts.
Life doesn’t always go as we had hoped or planned.
Joy is not always easy to find.
Darkness is not present because we are hopeless, lacking faith, or that God is displeased with us.
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday don’t tell the story of Jesus’ defeat, but that Jesus truly is the light that no darkness can overcome (John 1).
Remembering the Pattern of Hope
The darkness of these days invites us to remember another season: Advent.
Advent is a season of waiting, watching, hoping, and expecting. We were looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, the light that would come into the world … to enlighten the world.
Even in the darkest time of the year, when the days are shortest, we trust that light is coming. Spring is coming. The person of Jesus brings hope.
Darkness and Hope Belong Together
The darkness of these days calls us to remember the other times in which God’s people have experienced darkness and hope … darkness and new life – those are not mutually exclusive. Throughout scripture, God’s people know this pattern well:
- 400 years of slavery in Egypt
- 40 years wandering in the wilderness
- 40 years in exile in Babylon
These were times of real darkness, but not times of despair. They were never times without hope. Never times without God’s presence even though God’s presence was not as easily found.
Even when God felt distant, God was still at work—bringing light out of darkness. As we look back at our own lives, we can see where we have experienced darkness, moments of loss, hardship, and we see that God’s light has still broken through. It’s not always easy, neat, or clean.
As one of our people has said so well:
“God bless this mess.”
Holding On in the Middle of It
Here we are, at the end of Lent.
We name the reality of sin.
Of darkness.
Of death.
And sometimes, when we are in the middle of darkness and death – whether that is literal or metaphorical death, it can feel like it will never end … like we will never see the light again … that we will never experience the joy of life.
But the presence of darkness does not mean the absence of Christ.
The presence of darkness does not mean that God is not doing a new thing.
So we draw on our experience and what we know.
What we believe.
We rest on what we know deep in our souls.
The Light Is Still Coming
We collectively hold our breath through the end of this Holy Week. Together we wait, we watch, we hope, and we expect that the light of Christ will not be extinguished in death, but will burn brightly in the anticipation of new life.
As we sit in the darkness of this night … this Friday night … we know that the light of Sunday is coming.
So while we wait—
be the light of Christ in this present darkness.
Hold on to hope.
Live and rely on hope.
Reflection Questions
- When you are in a season of darkness, where do you see signs of light—past or present?
- What helps you hold onto hope when it feels distant or fragile?
- How might you be the light of Christ for someone else this week?
Epicurious Lutheran 
Leave a comment