Darkness Covered the Land

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. Mark 15:33 (KJV)

Until writing this devotion, I always thought that the sky just turned dark and ominous like before an ugly storm. Most all the versions said the same thing as the KJV translation. Was it dark like midnight under a cloudy sky? If it was truly dark, how did all this get accomplished? I had to take a sacred pause. 

How could this be explained? 

Yes, the Roman soldier standing in front of Him, watching all this happen, said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” One centurion professed the truth. Only one.

Several women were there to witness His death. They stood far off but they could hear. They heard the hammers striking the spikes. Most likely their question was, “Why?”

After Jesus breathed His last breath, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. How did the religious leaders explain it? Jesus had told them what would happen and it transpired as He had said. I remain curious about that rationalization.

We all have questions about that Friday afternoon. Calling it good has always made me feel a little uncomfortable. It was not good for Jesus. It was part of God’s plan but crucifixion was an agonizing death. Even more painful was that moment of separation from Father God. All of man’s sin hung on him and Holy God could not look upon wickedness. The weight! Humiliation. Abandonment. 

When Jesus cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachani?” (Meaning, My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?) He was actually quoting the first line of Psalm 22. If the learned scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were up on their scripture reading, shouldn’t they have recognized these words? Did they even go to Golgotha or were they too busy?

The world has turned Good Friday into a shopping day. Carts are full of Easter candy, bunnies, and perhaps a new outfit. When was the last time we heard a commercial on TV or the internet that emphasized the good news of Jesus Christ? 

Darkness has covered our land but I still believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ. He died for our sins and was raised from the dead. He is coming back…soon.

Thank You LORD! 

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to take away our sins. Help us to remember the sacrifice that was made. AMEN.