“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour,” (Luke 23:44).
There are many instances recorded in Scripture where elements of nature responded to direct commands of God and God’s people contrary to their natural course. So it should come at no surprise that at the most pivotal point in the history of the world – the death of Christ – unnatural events occurred that could not be explained outside of divine intervention.
One such event was when darkness struck at midday, covering the face of the earth for the final three hours of Christ’s life. It could be said that God covered his Son in this blanket of darkness to silence those who were railing and mocking and daring him from the foot of his cross. Another consideration is that God used the earth’s natural light source to demonstrate on a grand scale the significance of what was happening on that hill right outside Jerusalem as the light of the world was dying. Yet another possible explanation may be that as he was unleashing the full force of his wrath on the sins of the world, God wanted to be alone with his Son.
Still another aspect of this unnatural event could represent the shadows of ceremonial law that began in darkness with Moses on Mount Sinai now coming full circle in the darkness that covered Christ on Mount Calvary. In his life Christ fulfilled all the law and the prophets, and through his death he abolished the ceremonial law by fulfilling it and established fully the law under Christ, which is to say, the new covenant and new Testator (Gal. 6:2).
A second unnatural occurrence at the death of Christ was an earthquake so violent that it split boulders and moved huge stones that covered graves in and around the city. Though earthquakes may be a more common natural event, this one occurred at the exact moment Christ cried out, “It is finished!” and gave up the ghost. The very earth that held his cross in place and received his spilt blood could do no less than writhe and tremble, knowing its Maker’s shoulders at that very moment broke under the double burden of man’s sin and God’s wrath.
No power in heaven or earth can shake the earth from its foundation but the one whose word alone made it and hung it (Ps. 104:1-5, Job 26:7), and yet the very breath of his nostrils can shake it out of its place. As David notes, the earth trembles at “the presence of the Lord, the mighty God of Jacob,” (Ps. 114:7). And in another place the psalmist explains what happened here at the moment Christ died, “The earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken,” because God was executing his wrath on the sin in which Christ atoned. God’s wrath at man’s sin is more than sufficient to shake the earth and threaten its foundations (Ps. 18:15). All of nature, in truth, groans under the weight of sin and longs for redemption (Rom. 8:22-23) for sin cursed the earth that drowned it after, that shakes it here, and that shall burn it at last.
The lessons we can learn from creation are many, including that of lowly humility and undisputed allegiance to its Maker, a long obedience consistent with its God-given purpose, and an abundant spirit of gratitude in its bountiful rains and dews, rays and hues. And finally, as is so poignantly evident here, its trembling reverence at the Savior’s passion and death.
Contemplations:
- O my blessed Savior, how well may the heavens and earth say to us, “we have mourned to you, and you have not wept,” (Matt. 11:17). Shall your death, Lord, darken the eye of the sun and yet not wet the eye of the sinner?
- How does nature’s sun not stop shining when the light of the world, the Sun of righteousness, is going out? Shall my heart not share sorrow with such company, especially when it could have instead sorrowed for all eternity in utter darkness?
- In the last day, Lord, you have told us that the sun will be turned to darkness and the moon into blood (Matt. 24, Mark 13). But until then, help me clearly see the forces of the light of life warring against the forces of darkness of sin and death as you see them, that I may, with all my might and strength, fight for righteousness every day you give me breath (John 1:4, 9).
Further References for Luke 23:44:
Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33; Exod. 10:21; Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20
