Darkness When the Sixth Hour Came - Mark 15:33

Mark wrote when they crucified Jesus, “they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, you that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, Save yourself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-three of his book, Mark shared how there was “darkness”, “when the sixth hour was come” where we read:

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The verse reads, “And when the sixth hour was come, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “the sixth hour” which means “the sixth hour of the day or at twelve o'clock noon” “was come” or “appeared and came forth” the following. Mark shared how the time was “twelve noon” on the day in which Jesus was crucified.

The verse goes on to say, “... there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” Mark continued with the words, “there was darkness” which means “there appeared and came forth shadiness, obscurity and darkened eyesight or blindness” “over the whole land” or “upon the entire and complete arable land, country, territory and region” “until the ninth hour” which means “till the ninth hour of the day which is three o'clock in the afternoon”. Mark shared how a darkening came upon the entire “countryside” until three o'clock in the afternoon.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how the area of Jesus' crucifixion was made completely “dark” from noon until three in the afternoon. This three hours of “darkness” was a direct result from God for the crucifixion of His Son Jesus. As though all the universe reacted to Jesus dying, this “dark” period arrived and fulfilled scripture concerning God's Messiah. (See Isaiah 50:3-4 and Amos 8:9-10). God desires to have a personal relationship with every person. Those who are wise will not continued in the “darkness” of their hearts, but will yield themselves to Jesus who alone is able to bring a people into the “light”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".