There Was Darkness over the Whole Land
Introduction:
Read Matthew 27:45. “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” NKJV This began an amazing series of miracles surrounding the cross.
Body:
I. Three Hours of Darkness
· The time was from noon until 3:00 p.m. This was not just a local event. It was “over all the land.” It could not have been an eclipse for several reasons.
o Passover always occurred at the time of a full moon when an eclipse is impossible.
o Eclipses don’t last for three hours.
· Luke’s account adds the phrase “the sun’s light failing.” (Luke 23:44-45) “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.” NKJV The sun produces light [electromagnetic radiation] continuously by means of certain reactions. So God just turned it off ! Note the words of the historian Tertullian: “In the same hour too, the light of day was withdrawn, when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world portent still in your archives.”
· God’s power is startling! He caused the world to stop and take notice. No doubt those who mocked Jesus started to consider their words. Some may have thought the sun would never shine again.
· Note how the words of Psalm 18:9 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down With darkness under His feet.” and Amos 8:9 “And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord God, That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;” NKJV fit the events. The world would never be the same again.
II. The Tearing of the Veil
(Matthew 27:50-51a) “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;” NKJV
· Right after Jesus voluntarily and freely yielded up His Spirit; the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. That occurred at 3:00 p.m. when the evening sacrifices would have been being prepared by the priests. The word “behold” denotes awe, wonder, and amazement at what was being witnessed.
· This veil or curtain hung at the entrance to the Most Holy Place where the High Priest would enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. It was sixty feet high, thirty feet wide, and four inches thick. It would have been impossible humanly speaking to tear it. Only God could have performed such a feat.
· During ancient times, people would express sorrow by rending their garments. The rending of the temple curtain was an act of mourning on the part of the house of God. This showed shock at the sin of mankind and anger at the murder of the Lord.
· As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all. All obstructions between the worshipper and God were removed. Note Hebrews 6:19-20. “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” NKJV We can now have boldness and confidence to approach God. (Hebrews 10:22) “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” NKJV This is to be done, though, by faith. (Ephesians 3:11-12) “according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” NKJV
· There is also now no need for an earthly High Priest. Christ’s sacrificial death was only needed once for all time. (Hebrews 9:24-28) (Hebrews 9:26b) “but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” NKJV Now all Christians are priests. (I Peter 2:9) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” NKJV
· So the purpose of the veil had come to an end !
III. The Earthquake
(Matthew 27:51b) “and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” NKJV
· This was most definitely a supernatural event because the quake was so violent that even large boulders were split into, yet the buildings in nearby Jerusalem were unharmed. Note also that the cross was not even disturbed!
· Remember another time when there was a great earthquake. (Exodus 19:18) “Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.” NKJV This was the giving of the Law of Moses at Mt. Sinai. The quake at the death of Jesus signified the ending of that Law. Read Hebrews 12:25-28. “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.’ Now this, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” NKJV
IV. The Opening of Certain Graves
(Matthew 27:52-53) “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” NKJV
· Which graves were opened? It was only those of the saints, the righteous. The graves were left open until Christ was resurrected; then the saints came forth and went into Jerusalem and were seen by many.
· We are given little information about these saints. Probably they died again at a later time. But Christ, when He was resurrected, remained alive. (I Corinthians 15:20) “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” NKJV
Conclusion:
Christ’s death on Calvary made possible our ability to “come boldly to the throne of grace.” (Hebrews 4:16) “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” NKJV
Bobby Stafford
March 29, 2015
