"But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place."  Luke 24:21 NRSV

On March 20th 2015 many parts of the globe experienced a solar eclipse - some partial others total.  A solar eclipse is an amazing phenomenon and quite an exhibition of one of nature’s finest moments.  Crowds gathered, armed with protective eyeglasses and cameras, to areas of the earth where they could capture this thrilling spectacle.  Astronomers tell us that a solar eclipse occurs when the sun and moon are in alignment.  In a total eclipse light from the sun’s rays are blocked by the moon so an observer on the earth is able to witness the transition from full light to partial light then total darkness. 

The evolution from light to total darkness has a noticeable impact on nature.   There is a significant drop in the temperature the air becomes chilly.  Animals are sent into a period of confusion believing that the day is over and begin to return to their nests.  Nocturnal creatures crawl out of they habitats and start foraging.  However, the experience is reversed as total darkness makes way for partial light and then the full brilliance of the sun is seen again. 

The imagery of an eclipse has also made its way into pop culture.  The musical artist Bonnie Tyler sang about experiencing a total eclipse of the heart.  The person she loved brought light to her life but his unexpected departure plunged her in emotional darkness and fear.  She likens this darkness to a total eclipse of the heart.  From this darkness she longs to be rescued believing that his return would bring light into her life again.

The interplay and rivalry between light and darkness is a dominant motif in the Bible.  Light very often represents knowledge of God, truth, righteousness that aims to lead to hope and happiness whereas darkness symbolises error, sin and evil, which lead to despair and death.  The disciple and those who had high expectations of Jesus as the Messiah had their light of hope eclipsed when he allowed himself to be arrested by the Roman authorities.  Incited by the Jewish leaders Jesus was arraigned before a mock court and condemned as a common criminal, humiliated, slapped, spat upon, mocked, brutally beaten and nailed to a cross.  It is the most shameful death inflicted on Rome’s worst criminals.

Everything the disciples longed for evaporated.  With no Jesus, there was no restoration of the kingdom and no hope for Israel.  As light faded from their experience and the cold chill of meeting the same fate as their Master engulfed them confusion and fear drove them into hiding from the Jews.  The conversation between the two disciples travelling on the road to Emmaus captured the anguish and pain of their shattered dreams.  ‘We had hoped that he would be the one to redeem Israel’ (Luke 24:13-35).  The darkness of death brought a total eclipse to their grandest expectations. 

It becomes apparent that if the disciples had studied the prophecies and paid close attention to the teachings of Jesus they would have known that the darkness that eclipsed their hope and plunged them into as state of anxiety and fear was only momentary.   The biblical account tells us that Jesus, after being crucified and buried on Friday, defeated the powers of death and rose from the grave Sunday morning.  When the disciples saw their resurrected Lord sorrow gave way to joy, despair turned into hope and what seemed to be darkness broke forth into brilliant light.  They went onwards from that time, not in mourning and loss, but in passionate enthusiasm proclaiming the message of the risen Christ - the foundation of the Christian faith and hope.

The light of God’s love has been partially eclipsed by the darkness of sin and evil.  The loss of light has left human beings in a state of dread, fear, misery and death.  However, the death of Jesus on the cross was designed by God to restore the light of God’s love.  This light brings with it forgiveness of wrongs done and a restoration of our relationship with God.  During this season that seeks to bring the world’s attention to the ‘Passion of the Christ’ the brilliance of Easter is in discovering that if our lives are in alignment with Jesus, the light of the world, the darkness that results from being separated from God will be eclipsed from our hearts.  Why not ask Jesus to fill your life with the light of God’s love today.