"There was darkness"

 “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:44-45 ESV)

At the time of the crucifixion in the sixth hour, Luke writes that the sun was darkened. What is interesting is that He used the Greek word ἐκλιπόντος (eklipontos, Strong’s 1587 [e]) which means eclipse. If you have ever seen a total eclipse of the sun, you know it is just like night. However, an eclipse was impossible because of the timing of the Passover with the paschal moon being full.

You see, an eclipse occurs when the sun, the moon, and the Earth align, with the moon passing between the sun and the Earth. A total eclipse can only occur during the new moon season. Other attempts to explain the darkness, such as sandstorms, fail, as the Greek word ἐσκοτίσθη (skotizó, Strong’s 4654), which means only to “obscure,” would have been used.

MacArthur writes that the sky was pitch-black, with no stars, also noting that an eclipse was impossible because of the paschal moon.1 Like many, McArthur mentions that others claimed it was satanic and Satan brought the darkness upon Christ. However, this was not moral or spiritual darkness, but a natural one, with only one possibility: God.

As Christ hung on the cross, there was mocking, laughter, and foolishness. There was gambling and drinking. It was almost a party atmosphere for all but the followers of Christ. Yet when God showed up at the top of Golgatha, the place of the skull, fear struck in the hearts of many, and it became the saving event He intended.

The Old Covenant with Abraham required it to be sealed by animal blood. The New Covenant was a unilateral covenant, meaning we, as God’s people, need not do anything but believe in the saving blood of Christ shed on that cross, which pleased God the Father, sealing our righteousness and placing His wrath upon Christ, who bore the punishment of our sins for us. We were saved from God, by God, for God. That is as one-sided as it gets.

The weight of the cross is immense. The physical weight carried by the beaten Christ and Simon of Cyrene is estimated to be about 300 pounds. The spiritual weight of the cross was carried by Jesus, mocked, scourged, beaten, and obedient, out of His love for us and the Trinity. He executed that plan, bearing the weight of the sin of all people, far greater than the physical weight Christ carried.

Now, Christ calls us to pick up our cross and follow Him. To place our faith in Him and bear the weight of our cross. Metaphorically, this means we carry our burdens, troubles, and trials while remembering our faith in Christ, which is why we have assurances of our salvation. No trial or trouble, no persecution or attack can remove our salvation from us. While we will have troubles on this Earth, we will have an eternity with God, in heaven, where there is no longer a cross to carry.

Who carries you when the darkness overcomes you, when your troubles are many? No one? Place your faith in Christ, and no matter the darkness, you will never again walk alone.

Salvation is free. Have you made your choice?

Grace and Peace.

1. John MacArthur, The King Crucified: Consummation at Calvary, Grace to You, 2008