In Mark 14:51-52 a young man finds himself in an awkward place. After Jesus was arrested, the young man followed from a distance in the dark. Suddenly, the young man was recognized the guards seized him. He left his linen cloak behind and fled into the night, naked.
On Monday, March16, 2020, the world feels pretty scary to many people. The knowns and unknowns of COVID-19 leave us feeling like we are in the dark, awaiting good answers. In many ways, we have been exposed as weak and needy. Like the young man in Mark, we are in the dark, exposed, and as a result of the required social distancing, we are somewhat alone.
The dark is scary, but remember, naked and alone in the dark doesn’t have to be your future.
What is your dark place today? For many of you, the dark place is fear of a global pandemic. Consider these words of encouragement from Isaiah 43:
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, o Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be turned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
What is your dark place? Is your dark place a place of temptation and trial? 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises,
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Are you tempted today to despair? Are you tempted to respond with fear and panic? God has provided you a way of escape. Consider the following ways to escape your fear and panic:
- Turn the TV and social media off. Limit your exposure to the coronavirus, but also limit your exposure to news about it. Consider setting parameters around the amount of news and social media exposure you will allow yourself.
- Run to God’s word. Find the way out.
- Read a good book
- Participate in an online Bible study, pray, journal, or work to memorize Scripture.
- Call the members of your LifeGroup regularly to check in on them or to call your aging parents.
- Go for a walk.
- Listen to a good podcast (I personally recommend The Ordinary Christian Podcast)
- Since you are home anyway, organize a cabinet or do a home improvement project.
- Throw a ball with your kids
These are uncertain times, but we serve a certain God. A God who is not and was not surprised. In the darkness of this present moment, we can all be tempted to despair. But, remember, darkness flees from the Light.
The theme of darkness and light runs throughout the Bible. Darkness represents loneliness, isolation, sin, and destruction. Light represents the movement of God. The Bible begins with darkness. In the darkness, Jesus was arrested. During his crucifixion, darkness covered the earth. The dark is a scary place. But, consider how Jesus dealt with the darkness. He hovered over the darkness and spoke light into existence. He rose with the sunrise. Even when he met with his disciples and restored them to service in John 21, Jesus built a fire…there was light.
We believe that the young man in Mark 14 was a future missionary named John Mark. On the night Jesus was betrayed, John Mark was alone and naked in the dark, but God was not finished with him. He would go on to accompany Paul and Barnabas on mission. At the end of Paul’s life, John Mark was one of the people Paul wanted to see (2 Timothy 4:11). Alone and naked in the dark was part of Mark’s story, but it wasn’t his future. God had plans.
The world seems dark now, we feel exposed and lonely, but there is Light. His name is Jesus, and he has called his followers to shine his light into a dark world. Be the light today…our world needs it.
