Darkness for Three Hours - Matthew 27:45

Matthew the apostle wrote concerning Jesus, “then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself. If you be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse forty-five of his book, Matthew wrote, “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land” where we read:

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

The verse reads, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness ...” Matthew began words, “now from the sixth hour” which means “and at the sixth hour of the day or twelve noon” “there was darkness” or “there was complete obscurity”. Matthew shared how a “darkness” began at twelve noon while Jesus was hanging on the cross.

The verse goes on to say, “... over all the land unto the ninth hour.” Matthew continued with the words, “over all the land” or “spreading to each, every, the whole and every part of the country, territory and region” “unto the ninth hour” or “to the ninth hour of the day or three o'clock in the afternoon”. Matthew shared how the “darkness” spread over all the territory in which Jesus was crucified, and it lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, it helps us to know the beginning of the day for the Jewish people is at “six o'clock” in the morning. At “twelve noon”, “complete darkness” fell over all the area in which Jesus was crucified. This “obscurity” lasted for three hours and did not dissipate until three o'clock in the afternoon had come. As though God Himself was demonstrating His anguish over this moment when His Son was dying upon the cross, “darkness” fell, and everyone in the surrounding area of the cross knew it. God loves people, and He paid the price for their salvation through His Son Jesus. The “cost” was heavy, and God watched His only begotten Son receive the punishment for all. May everyone reading these words carefully consider what Jesus did to remove the “darkness of sin” within their souls so they might have a relationship with His Father God in Heaven.

Next time Matthew wrote how, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice … My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.