Darkest Night records the last week of Jesus’s life, from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the sealing of his body in the tomb. It includes the story of the darkest night in history—the night of Jesus’s death and burial. On Easter morning, it’s time to flip the book to Brightest Day.
Brightest Day records the story of Jesus’s resurrection and the fifty days that followed. Based on accounts in the Gospels and the book of Acts, it chronicles the impact Christ’s resurrection had on his followers.
In taking our punishment for sin by dying and by rising again, Christ won an eternal victory. Just prior to his death on the cross, Jesus uttered three momentous words: “It is finished” (John 19:30). The apostle Paul shares why these words are significant:
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:17–22
Through Christ’s resurrection, we go from death to life. Brightest Day presents stories of people changed by Christ’s resurrection power. On Easter morning, read one story and share a special treat or baked good together to celebrate the resurrection. Then read one story a day for the week that follows. As you read, you are invited to be changed just like the people in the stories.
Story 1: The Stone Is Rolled Away
The guards at Jesus’s tomb were in for a surprise on Easter morning. Just as the sky was starting to lighten, the earth began shaking violently and a mighty angel of the Lord appeared. His face shone like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The terrified guards fell to the ground as if dead. In an instant, the angel rolled the stone away from the mouth of the tomb and sat on it. Jesus, alive, walked out of the tomb. He had risen from the dead, just as he said he would.
By the time the soldiers came to their senses, the tomb was open—and empty. They ran the mile back to Jerusalem and breathlessly told the religious leaders what had happened. The chief priests and Pharisees offered the soldiers a deal:
If they would lie about Jesus’s body—saying that the disciples had stolen it during the night—they would receive money in return. It seemed like an easy solution, but the soldiers felt conflicted. What if the governor found out they had been sleeping on the job? They would be in so much trouble! Sensing their hesitation, the religious leaders promised the soldiers protection. They assured them that they had no reason to worry; their jobs would remain secure. If word ever made it back to the governor, they would take care of things. They simply had to lie about what happened at the tomb. So, the soldiers did. They lied and took the money from the chief priests and Pharisees. Today, many people still believe the false claim that Jesus’s body was stolen from the tomb.
At about the same time, just aft er sunrise, some women who were friends of Jesus, arrived at the tomb in the garden. They were carrying fragrant spices and perfumes to anoint Jesus’s body. The women had been worrying how they would ever be able to move the stone that had been set in front of the tomb opening. It was enormous and probably weighed as much as a horse!
Imagine their surprise when, arriving at the tomb, they found the stone rolled away! As they cautiously peered into the carved stone entrance, they saw the linen cloths in which Jesus’s body had been wrapped—but the body was gone!
Suddenly, two shining angels appeared. The women, alarmed and frightened, bowed their faces to the ground. The angels said, “Don’t be afraid. Jesus was crucified, but he is not here. He is alive! Remember how he said he would be crucified, but then would rise from the dead on the third day! Now go quickly and tell his disciples that he is alive, and you will all soon see him in Galilee!”
The women, still trembling but now joyful, hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples everything they had seen and heard.
Matthew 28:1–8, 11–15
Mark 16:1–8
Luke 24:1–12
John 20:1
QUESTIONS:
- Why did the religious leaders want the soldiers to lie about what took place at the tomb?
- What did the women think happened when they saw the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus missing?
- What did the angels tell the women at the tomb to do?
Excerpted from Darkest Night Brightest Day © 2022 by Marty Machowski. Used with permission of New Growth Press. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.
Darkest Night Brightest Day
Start a new Easter season tradition with your family by reading this “upside-down” book from Marty Machowski. The first side, Darkest Night, has seven stories that recount the events of Passion week ending with Christ’s crucifixion and burial. Flip the book over and continue by reading Brightest Day with seven more stories that progress from Christ’s resurrection through Pentecost.
