The Three Hours of Darkness

This is a very complex topic that we have to study. But this morning I would like to wind up this topic or to put in other words I would like to summarize the whole topic and conclude it once and for all. this morning. I pray that every word that is spoken is a blessing as we study this topic in relation to the Lord’s table that is before us. Let us turn to Matthew chapter 27 verse 45 and 46. From the sixth hour till the 9th hour, there was darkness in the land. [clears throat] And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli,” that is to say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” From the last time, I want to remind you a few things. When you go through this chapter verses 45, 46, 50, and 52, there are six miracles. There’s three hours of darkness. That inner veil that was in the temple did not tear from the top to up, but it from the bottom to up, but it tore from the top to the bottom. It was about a 4 inch thickness cloth that tore. We see that the earth shook and rocks were broken open. And we heard we read that uh the graves were open and many who had died were risen up. And so out of all these miracles that are happening, the one with the most depth is those three hours of darkness on Calvary. In our language, if we say it’s in the morning around 9:00 that Jesus was crucified, And then from 9 in the morning till at noon, Jesus hung on the cross, taking the scorn and the mocking of those who watched his crucifixion. And there was only one thing that God the Father wanted to see for the whole world to see that his son hanging on the cross. And if Jesus had not hung on the cross in broad daylight, the world would have said this whole thing was a performance had it been in complete darkness. But then we see at 12 at noon that the entire land was filled with darkness. And we see for the next three hours that none of the world could see that darkness of what happened on Calvary. Why did God the Father, who wanted the first three hours of Jesus on the cross to be public in broad daylight, use the last three hours of darkness? And this morning by the grace of God we are going to look for that answer to this question. There are many opinions on why this darkness or what this where this darkness is from. One one theory is that in the Sahara desert all the wind the windstorm picks up the dust and obscures the sun causing this darkness. One other theory is because of the solar eclipse that happened at that time, there was darkness in the land. And we know that there are planets including the earth, eight planets that are circling the sun. And so because the because the sun is not a planet, it is a star, it also rotates the earth. And so this eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the sun and the earth causing this darkness in the land. And very much the historians of that time who look into the death and the time of Jesus on the cross say that there was an eclipse at that time. But surely there cannot be an eclipse exactly at this time in this three-hour span. On the 14th day of the first month of Nissan is when the Jewish people celebrate the Passover. And on the next day they celebrate the feast of unleaven bread. new moon. And the first day of this first month is considered the day of the new moon. And by the 15th day of this month, that new moon becomes the full moon. And certainly on the day that there is a full moon there cannot be from an understanding of the solar system there cannot be a solar eclipse. And so we understand this surely cannot be a natural phenomenon that happened, this darkness in the land, but it was the hand of God Almighty on earth. And so as I say this, I I know that you don’t always have to believe that. All of you as children of God have the authority and the right, no matter what man of God comes up here and says something, have a right to look into it and question it. And so what does the word of God say about these hours of darkness? for we see in many centuries before that Jesus came and died on the cross. The prophet Amos prophesied in his book about the death of Jesus on the cross.
Let’s go to Amos chapter 8 verse 9. Let’s think about that for one second. And the background of this passage is the Lord is speaking in a mystery to the prophet Amos. And this is what the Lord tells him. And that day I will make the sun go down at noon. And we see that is exactly what happened on Calvary. And we see at the brightest height of the day at noon the sun came down on Calvary. And the next verse even cements it further. I will darken the earth in broad daylight. foreign. Dear children of God, the sun going down at noon or the darkening of the earth in broad daylight was not a natural phenomenon, but it is done by the one who sits on the throne in the third heaven. primary source and the Talmud is one of the primary sources of Jewish uh understanding. Babylonian and then Babylonian Talmud, we read this, the rabbis that were taken captive to Babylon. So the uh the in the Babylonian Talmood, the rabbis that were there captive believed that at any point if the sun failed in broad daylight to show its light, it would be a showing or indicating that a great calamity was coming. And it is true. It is the son of the father of the universe dying on the cross was the greatest calamity. And it was that great calamity of the sun going dark and causing darkness in the land. Let me tell you something that should bring you joy from the bottom of your heart. But what we who were once in darkness because of the darkness in that land at that time it became a point of grace for us. Because of the calamity of the son of man, son of God dying on the cross and shedding his blood for us, we have salvation. Why did God do this miracle from the beginning of time? The God who said, “Let there be light. We see that the same God who said at the beginning of time, “Let there be light,” is the same God who switched off the light for those three hours on Calvary. And there is a big reason and a big opinion on why God did this. for and one thought is that that same God who in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God when he hung on the cross the earth was covered with darkness so no one should see his final cries. Then if that is the reason, why did not God hide those first three hours when Jesus hung on the cross in broad daylight? Why didn’t God the Father have any compassion on the Son? We know that if God had such compassion on his son like that, Jesus would not cry out from the cross like he did. We see Jesus crying out at the ninth hour with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And if God the Father had any compassion on his son hanging on the cross, would Jesus cry out like this to his father? And we we know very understand very clearly that this miracle of darkness in the land was clearly orchestrated by the father. These uh these three hours of darkness are not coming out out of anyone’s imagination. We read throughout the synoptic gospels which are Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that the authors of all three gospels use the exact same wording when they’re describing this moment. for all three of these gospels specifically write in very simple terms that while Jesus hung on the cross after three hours of daylight there were three hours of darkness. And that is the prophecy we read from the book of Amos that I will make the sun go down at noon and I will darken the earth in broad daylight. And so now I want you to come with me and as we’re going to study that whether Jesus mentioned about these three hours of darkness in his public ministry on Earth. We read that in his first miracle in Canaa of Galilee when Jesus was at the wedding feast and turning water into to wine that he turns to his mother and says,”Woman, my hour has not yet come. While Jesus was on this earth, there were many opportunities for people to try to harm him. And we read in Matthew chapter 2:13 that Joseph has a dream. An angel says, “Arise, take the young child and his mother to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod is seeking to destroy him. for synagogue. And we read in Luke chapter 4 where those in the synagogue when they heard the words that Jesus said, they were filled with wrath and threw him out of the city and they led him to the top of the hill so they can throw him down from the cliff. We read in John chapter 11 that from the day that after Jesus uh resurrected Lazarus that the they plotted to kill him. But we see in each of these situations that no one was able to harm Jesus. But we know specifically that is because his hour had not yet come. There’s one big thing what we must understand this morning. We need to understand if you are sitting here thinking that God you have to move according to my plan, my convenience, we need to understand that God has much higher plans and nothing can change that. Understand that the plans that God has for us, even if you sit and fast and pray, whatever plans that God has for us is what will happen. But what should be our true prayer? That dear God, whatever plan, whatever purpose you have for me, let it be fulfilled in my life. Let’s turn to a passage that one of the gospels cover that the other two gospels do not look at in detail. There’s a passage that we read when Jesus is being taken in the garden of Gethsemane. Before he goes in front of the Hebrew court and the Roman court, there are some words that Jesus says. Luke Luke 22 verse 52 and 53.
[snorts]
And that last part of verse 53, but this is your hour and the power of darkness. We see that from the time Jesus was born, even before his birth, there were kings and nobles in the land that wanted to suppress or kill Jesus. But now when the people and the guards have come to the garden of Gethsemane, he looks at them and says, “But now this is your hour.” We see this moment where the father gives up his son to humanity. And the next passage that says this is the power of darkness. And those hours of darkness by by this reference that says the power of darkness is pointing at those three hours of darkness on the cross. And every great man that has come into this world is there to build up some great kingdom. But there’s only one man that came into this earth to do something else. It is Jesus who came into this earth with the sole purpose of dying. Who was born of a woman. Some of you may think is if if he’s coming just to die, shouldn’t he just die any anyhow anyway? He did not come to simply die along the road. And he, as the prophets prophesied centuries before, he came to die on the cross for the sins of humanity. He was broken and destroyed on Calvary as a one-time sacrifice for humanity. And there’s one more thing that Jesus said in those three hours of darkness. John chapter 9 verse 4. We need to stop and think about this verse. In my childhood, I heard many messages from servants of God who have used this verse about uh the night coming when there no one can work and using it saying this is a verse alluding to the tribulation time. Many times when great men of God preach, we just accept it and move on. But I’m not blaming them. Those were blessed men of God who shared many things for our spiritual growth. And as I read this verse, this verse caught my attention. And so in my time of prayer and meditation, I put this verse forward. But let me share what the Holy Spirit has opened this passage to me so I can share it to you. There is a night when no one can work that is coming. If Jesus was talking about the tribulation time when he was talking about the nights that no one could work, he would have rather said the the nights that no one could work as plural, not the night that no one could work. So it’s very clear that Jesus is not talking about the tribulation time. There is a night coming that no man can work. And only at a time when the God of heaven can work. We understand that the the three hours of darkness on Calvary were not co coincidental but done by the work of the God of heaven. Now let us look at the beginning part of that. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. And in a private conversation that Jesus is having with his disciples, he is telling them, I must work the works of him who has sent me while it is day. Jesus was not talking about some events that should happen way beyond in the future. He’s talking about their public ministry together. And now why did these three hours of darkness why did they have to happen? It is a very depth and and mysterious topic. And that darkness is foreshadowing the judgment of God. And we see the darkness and the judgment of God in various prophets from Isaiah to Amos to Joel. We if we know that God’s righteousness is the light, then we truly understand that God’s judgment is darkness. We see that the cross that is standing on Calvary symbolizes the judgment of the father. We know that wherever the judgment of God comes down, there can be no sun or light or stars that can shine in that area. We see that when that time of judgment came down on Calvary and that cup of punishment fell on the on the son Jesus as he hung on the cross that there was darkness in the land. But we see here this man that is hanging on the cross is not si is not being punished because of sin or something that he committed. But he’s he’s hanging on the cross in complete innocence because he did not know what sin was. What does the word say about this lamb without blemish 7 26 says for such a high priest was fitting for us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and become higher than the heavens Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. So when darkness was covering Calvary, what truly happened? It was the punishment of God. The wrath of God, that cup of wrath poured out from God the Father onto the forehead of the Son on the cross. How can God the Father who forgives many great sinners pour out his wrath on his own son on the cross? We know this verse very clearly from the prophet Isaiah chapter 53:10. It pleased the Lord to bruise him. We see willingly the God of heaven who sits on the third in the thrones of the highest heaven says it pleased the Lord to bruise him. We see the specific moment on Calvary. Psalm 22:1 for trouble is near. Do not be far from me because there is no one to help. And it is that son who is crying out this cry from the bottom of his heart. And so let me present to you from my understanding and the thoughts of CH Spurgeon who ex who was one of the greatest uh orators and expository preachers how he explained the three hours of darkness. Spurgeon says that in those three hours of darkness the devil came up to Jesus. And he says that the devil came up to Jesus’ ear and said, “Oh, son of Mary, you are one without a father. You are the son of Mary. And so during those moments of suffering when Jesus was being mocked as the devil came into the ear of Jesus Yes. And so CH Spurgeon said it like this. As Jesus is hanging on the cross, tied up and unable to move, the devil is coming into his ear and saying, “You remember many years ago when you were fasting and praying in the in the wilderness of Judea?” And the devil said, “At that time, I took you onto a high hill. And so while you stood on that hill, I showed you the greatness of all the kingdoms of the world. And I told you at that time, you never have to die and and suffer all this shame in front of the world. I gave you this shortcut and I everything that you have lost I can give back to you but you just have to bow down to me for one time and I beg for you to do that. No one in the wilderness would have seen it. And I didn’t ask you to bow down to me ever again. but you didn’t listen to me. And so I was waiting to end your arrogance. Now I have that opportunity. As you lie and as you are nailed to this cross, even the God that loved you has forsaken you. Now you have nothing to do. Now let me tell you my plan and you will die and one of your people will bury you. But understand and remember you will never be resurrected. And I have made the preparations to seal the tomb where you will be buried so that you will never come out. And I have arranged that my friend Tiberius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, will seal that tomb shut. That grave will never open so that on earth or in heaven there will be no such thing as the son of God. And so we read that the one who sits in heaven is laughing and he holds them in duration. But we understand that our beloved Jesus on the third day rose again, breaking that seal of Caesar that was closing that tomb that he lied in. And let me close my words here. And we know that Jesus in those last few minutes on the cross said the these words, “It is finished. Greek. And we know that when a prisoner is released after serving his sentence, it is written in his records as he’s leaving the prison. Sentence fully served.
And the term that is used is it is finished. the sentence is fully served. And so in many ways in in understanding the culture and the time that when he was before he was resurrected, he was held in the grave. He was in bondage on the cross and held by the nails directly to the cross. And he was held in that grave that was cut out of stone in the ground. But when he came out of the grave and came up in and was resurrected, God the Father said, “It is finished. paid in full.
At that time when people would go to the store and buy something, they would the the the store owner would write on the receipt, it is paid in full. paid in full. When God the Father accepted Jesus the son that who resurrected from this earth and as Jesus came into heaven and sat at the right hand of the father with the precious blood that was shed on the cross, God the father said it is paid in full. Battle is won. The war is over. And when there is a war and the battle is finished and they come back home, they will write in their records, “The battle is over. The war is won. It is finished. The battle is won. The war is over. And after those three hours of darkness and where Jesus suffered on the cross when he came to the father, it was written in the records of heaven. The battle is over. It is finished. Let me remind you something, dear church this morning. You know what was the greatest greatest project that God did in the history of humanity? And it is the grace of God that delivered us from the darkness of his age. And there was no other project that God had other than saving us from the darkness of this age. And the greatest project that God had was to deliver us from the power of darkness and convey us into the kingdom of his sonary.
And on Calvary that that war happened.
The battle is won and the war is over.
And we know that at Calvary the battle was won and the war is over. May God bless us with these words