The dimly-lighted sanctuary serves as a reminder of the awful consequence of sin and the darkness that fell upon the earth on the Friday when Jesus was crucified. “And it was the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.” Tenebrae is a Latin word meaning shadow or darkness, and the service used tonight is sometimes called the “Service of Shadows.” There are seven candles to correspond to the seven sayings Jesus spoke from the cross. The extinguishing of candles symbolizes the flight of the disciples, as well as the total submission of Jesus in suffering for the forgiveness and salvation of all humanity. The final darkness symbolizes the death of our Lord and reminds us of Christ’s stay in the tomb. The lighted Paschal candle is carried into the darkness – as a reminder of the victory of God’s love that occurs on Easter. We rest assured in the power of God to conquer even death and in God’s grace for all through Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World. The loud closing of the book echoes Jesus’ cry on the cross, “It is finished.” The Bible is loudly closed to symbolize that in Jesus – his ministry, death, and resurrection – all the Scriptures find fulfillment. The Bible remains closed until the middle of the Easter Vigil service, when it is opened to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection!
