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thick darkness” (1Ki 8:12). “He shrouded It was then that “the Lord … punished
himself in darkness” (Psa 18:11 NET). The Him for the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6
ceremonial account of God’s covenant HCSB). “Who his own self bare our sins in
with Abram also connects darkness with his own body on the tree” (1Pe 2:24); “For
His presence (Gen 15, esp. vv12,17). It he hath made him to be sin for us, who
seems that the darkness was a way of knew no sin” (2Co 5:21). This was the cup
shielding onlookers from the presence
of God, who is light, preserving them Jesus had been expecting, a cup of judg-
from certain death. Did the darkness at ment so dreadful that the contemplation
Calvary protect the spectators there from of it caused His bloodlike sweat in Geth-
3
a similar fate? semane. In the garden, Christ resolved to
But all this begs the question, If the drink it. On the cross, He did – every last
darkness does hint at God’s presence drop. God’s judgment for sin was poured
shrouded within it, what is the signifi- out and totally consumed by the Lord
cance of His presence at the cross? Those Jesus. I’m so glad that not a sin of mine
Day of the Lord texts mentioned earlier, was missing from that abominable cup!
along with many others, do suggest some- The God who doesn’t remember our sins
thing helpful to us. now (Heb 8:12; 10:17) remembered every
God’s Punishment one of them at the cross. This was the very
Darkness is repeatedly connected with reason Jesus went all the way to Calvary.
God’s wrath in both the OT and the NT. But no one saw it happen. Some watched
The judgment of the future Day of the Christ carrying His cross. Some looked
Lord will involve darkness, according
to many OT prophetic passages (e.g., Isa on as the soldiers drove the nails. Some
13:10; Joe 2:31; Amo 5:20; 8:9; Zep 1:14-15). witnessed the parting of His garments.
The ninth plague upon the Egyptians was But no human eye could see the Savior’s
a three-day judgment of darkness (Exo agony as He drank that cup. God cloaked
10:21-23). The Lord Jesus spoke about the scene in darkness, not only shielding
“outer darkness” (Mat 8:12; 22:13; 25:30) frail creatures from certain death but
when referring to the wrath of God. preventing cruel eyes from looking upon
We suggest, then, as others have, that His suffering Son.
the darkness at Calvary implied God’s God made sure that no one could leave
presence to administer judgment for sin, Calvary and say, I saw it all. Nor can we
judgment that fell upon the Lord Jesus “see it all” now. The darkness and the
Christ.
Darkness hung around Thy head, infinite majesty of the One who died there
guarantee that there will always be mys-
When for sin Thy blood was shed, tery when we survey the wondrous cross.
Victim in the sinner’s stead: Well might the sun in darkness hide
Saviour, we adore Thee. 4
³ Admittedly, the darkness was not only present And shut His glories in,
at Calvary, but “over all the land” (Mat 27:45), When the incarnate Maker died
extending beyond the immediate vicinity of the For man, His creature’s sin. 5
crucifixion, and perhaps even globally.
⁴ Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925) ⁵ Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

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