Page 16 - November 2022 - Truth & Tidings

“ nd it was about the sixth hour, and Light of the World hang in darkness?
there was a darkness over all the
Some commentators cite Day of the Lord
Aearth until the ninth hour. And the texts from the Old Testament. For ex-
sun was darkened …” (Luk 23:44-45a). 1 ample, “And it shall come to pass in that
When Christ was born, supernatural day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause
light filled the skies (Luk 2:9). Just before the sun to go down at noon, and I will
His death, the skies went supernaturally darken the earth in the clear day” (Amo
black. If His cradle was a scene of light, 8:9). Others add texts from Joel’s prophecy
His cross suddenly became a spectacle (2:10,30-31), but Peter’s words in Acts 2:16-
of darkness. This darkness must have 21 (esp. v20) show this Day of the Lord
descended rather quickly and lifted just imagery to be yet future rather than being
the same for the sixth and ninth hours to fulfilled at the cross. Not a few believe the
be thus noted and therefore agreed upon darkness at the cross symbolized Christ’s
by Matthew, Mark and Luke. defeat of the powers of darkness there
2
We insist that this darkness was super- (cf. Luk 22:53; Joh 12:31; Col 2:14-15). We
natural, for it arrived at noon, when the must not be too dogmatic, for the Gospel
sun would normally be at its brightest. An writers do not directly state the meaning
of the darkness. But we may be able to
eclipse was not possible during the full
moon of Passover, and certainly couldn’t infer at least two things: the darkness
last for three hours. A desert sirocco points to God’s presence as well as His
punishment of sin.
or sandstorm would also be extremely
unlikely during the wet spring months. God’s Presence
Such “logical” explanations fall short. But It is reasonable to connect the darkness
Luke makes it very clear: “the sun’s light with God, since Jesus cried out “My God,
failed” (23:45 NET, ESV, HCSB). It wasn’t my God, why have you forsaken me?” just
that something was obstructing the bright- when the darkness ended (Mat 27:46; Mar
ness of the sun; it was that the sun itself 15:34 NET).
refused to shine. There are OT texts connecting the
But what did the darkness mean? What presence of God with darkness. “And the
significance did it carry? Why must the people stood afar off, and Moses drew
¹ Scripture quotations in this article are from the near unto the thick darkness where God
KJV unless otherwise noted. was” (Exo 20:21). “Then spake Solomon,
² Mat 27:45; Mar 15:33; Luk 23:44 The Lord said that he would dwell in the

336 TRUTH kTidings November 2022