DARKNESS
Notes
Transcript
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
On march 8th, America is preparing for a full solar Eclipse that will not happen again until August 23rd, 2044
During the Solar Eclipse this year over 30 million people will be in the direct path of the full eclipse.
Remarkably the full eclipse will last an astounding 4 min 38 sec.
For this time the earth will go dark.
In 2017, we also experienced this phenomenon and for a few minutes before and after the eclipse the Earth was dark. However, at Calvary we see the land was dark for three hours. Even if one would like to say it was a coincidence of timing with an eclipse, the three hours itself would be a miraculous event.
Yet, for three hours the earth was dark. What was the source and reason for this darkness? This morning I would like to examine the Scriptures and see what we may learn.
I. The Darkness of Mourning.
I. The Darkness of Mourning.
A. Mourning over Sin
A. Mourning over Sin
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
B. Mourning ove Seperation
B. Mourning ove Seperation
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
II. The Darkness of Wrath.
II. The Darkness of Wrath.
The second cause of darkness was the wrath of God.
In the Bible we see that darkness is often associated with God’s wrath.
15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness,
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”
22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.
23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
III. The Darkness of Silence.
III. The Darkness of Silence.
44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.
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;
10 I will turn your feasts into mourning, And all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist, And baldness on every head; I will make it like mourning for an only son, And its end like a bitter day.
11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord.
1
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Chorus
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
2
Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
3
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.