Complete darkness

29/03/2024 5 min

Listen "Complete darkness"

Episode Synopsis

In the gospels of Luke (23:44), Matthew (27:45) and Mark (15:33) the accounts of Jesus's crucifixion describe the complete darkness on earth from noon to 3.00 p.m. whilst Jesus was dying. Jesus cried out in Matthew's account, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" as He felt utter separation from God as man's sin fell on him. From Luke we learn that then the curtain of the temple was torn in two, with Mark further describing it as being torn from top to bottom, an impossible feat as It was a thick curtain (a hand breadth). This curtain divided the Holy of Holies High Priest inner sanctuary from the rest of the temple. The High Priest had to specially prepare himself in order to go there one day a year every year to remove all Israel's sin which separated them from God. The darkness for 3 hours and then the ripping of the dividing curtain signifies the enormity of man's sin and subsequent separation from God, with then Jesus's death on the cross completely reinstating mankind's relationship with God. Jesus's sacrifice came once and for all. (Hebrews 9:12). As with all relationships we can reject or accept.