It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
Luke 23: 44-46
Darkness came over the whole land. Many have wondered how it could have become dark at midday. Many skeptics point out it would have been impossible for there to be an eclipse of the sun by the moon, because at passover, the sun and moon are in opposite places in the sky. This is true. But early records from historians other than from the Bible mention the darkness. What could have happened? The sun failed to give light, but why?
John MacArthur points out in his writing Condemned and Crucified that “The darkness at the crucifixion of Christ represents God’s divine judgment. The cross became the place for the pouring out of His wrath. Jesus Christ was not just one man among thirty-thousand people who were crucified. He was not some well-meaning martyr. He was the recipient of divine judgment…The darkness at the cross is the Father’s commentary on His judgment of sin. “
The darkness was not by eclipse, but caused by God and symbolic of His judgement upon sin. Jesus became sin for us and felt the forsakenness of separation from the Father. He did not sin, but He willingly bore our sins and willingly gave up His life to redeem us. The One who came as the light of the world suffered because of the darkness of our hearts.
Ultimately, because of this darkness at midday, this death on the cross, we can walk in the light, forgiven and free. We can have life, abundant life!
“Lord, your death on the cross is our victory! Because of you, fear no longer has any place in our life. You have removed death from our vocabulary. In you Lord Jesus, we have life now and life with you forever.”
Scott for Wellspring Copyright 2008
