“Then Came the Morning” by Luke Garrett
They all walked away, nothing to say
They’d just lost their dearest friend
All that He said, now He was dead
So this was the way it would end
The dreams they had dreamed were not what they’d seemed
Now that He was dead and gone
The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail
How could a night be so long?
Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn
Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come
The angel, the star, the kings from afar
The wedding, the water, the wine
Now it was done, they’d taken her Son
Wasted before His time
She knew it was true, she’d watched Him die too
She’d heard them call Him just a man
But deep in her heart she knew from the start
Somehow her Son would live again
Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn
Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come
Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come
For morning had come
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Chris Christian / Gloria Gaither / William Gaither
Dear God, I remember this song from when I was in high school. The man singing, Luke Garrett, came to our church for a revival and he stayed at our house. I remember driving him to the church a couple of times in my truck. I also remember liking this cassette. Some of the songs have stuck with me more than others. Now, on this Saturday before Easter–that awful time between the crucifixion and the resurrection–this one came to mind this morning. The verses take a shot at describing what it must have been like.
They all walked away, nothing to say
They’d just lost their dearest friend
All that He said, now He was dead
So this was the way it would end
The dreams they had dreamed were not what they’d seemed
Now that He was dead and gone
The garden, the jail, the hammer, the nail
How could a night be so long?
Even these words, I think, undersell the devastation they must have felt. He wasn’t just their dearest friend. Their dreams weren’t just of glory, power and joy. They thought this was it. This was the Messiah. They were willing to endure any amount of mockery for him. He told them so many times that he would die and be raised again, but they were either in denial or simply ignored and/or forgot what he said. Now they were devastated. They didn’t understand the plan. They didn’t understand what had to be done.
The angel, the star, the kings from afar
The wedding, the water, the wine
Now it was done, they’d taken her Son
Wasted before His time
She knew it was true, she’d watched Him die too
She’d heard them call Him just a man
But deep in her heart she knew from the start
Somehow her Son would live again
Now we address Mary’s disillusionment. I’m not sure of these last two lines–that she new deep in her heart he would live again. I think she was as confused on Saturday morning as anyone else. Confused it too weak of a word. She was as devastated as anyone else. But everything that happened. Those first few years of Jesus’s life. Not only the angels, the star, and the wise men. There were also the shepherds who showed up on that desperate night to affirm her. There were Simeon and Anna in the Temple during his dedication. There were Elizabeth, Zechariah and John. The water to wine. The healings. But this isn’t how it was supposed to go. Her ignorance left her devastated.
Then came the morning
Night turned into day
The stone was rolled away
Hope rose with the dawn
Then came the morning
Shadows vanished before the sun
Death had lost and life had won
For morning had come
Father, I’m in the middle of my own nighttime. I’m confused and maybe a little disillusioned. I guess my goal is to keep my eyes open for the sunrise and keep worshipping you in the meantime. Show me what to do during this night. Don’t let the time be wasted. Make it count. Make it count for those I love. Make it count for me. Make it count for your plan and your glory.
In Jesus’s name I pray,
Amen
Emails to God 