Luke 23:44-49
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured… (v. 44-45a, NASB). The ESV has verse 45a as while the sun’s light failed… and the NKJV has Then the sun was darkened… I’m intrigued by this darkening. I’m trying to imagine this daytime darkness. We’ve all seen dark clouds before a storm, but typically they don’t last for three hours! My Study Bible pointed out that Passover occurs during a full moon and an eclipse cannot occur during a full moon. This must have been a very thick cloud covering the area for a long time! And the darkness covered “the whole land”, which surely would have included the temple area where all the Jewish leaders hung out. Surely they also saw this darkening.
This darkness immediately calls to mind Exodus 10:21, Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt.” Exodus 22b continues with …there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. So I’m wondering if any of the Jews standing near the cross had this same reflection back to Exodus and, if so, what would have been their reaction? Certainly the centurion was affected by it all. How could others also not have been struck by all that occurred? Maybe they were! I hope we are…!
Slava Bohu!