Jesus In The Dark - Mark 15:33-34 Series

Judgment on Jesus

But why just a sign of judgment? Why didn’t God actually punish them? He did, but the punishment landed on mankind’s representative—the last Adam, Jesus. The only re-sponse to that darkness Mark gives us is v.34.

33 At the sixth hour darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The judgment on Israel fell on Israel’s shepherd, who came to fulfill all that Israel was supposed to be. The judgment on humanity fell on the ultimate human, who stands for the whole human race as the last Adam.

What Was It Like for Jesus?

So what was it like for Jesus during those three hours of darkness? The reason dark-ness is so often used as an indication of God’s displeasure is that God is light. So darkness is what happens when he turns his face away.

Light brings life. Darkness brings death.

With light comes perception and understanding. When there is light, you can see. With darkness comes ignorance and confusion and stumbling. Light exposes threats. Dark-ness surrounds you with danger—danger that you can’t even see coming.

As Psalm 22 describes, bulls and wild beasts surrounded him. Wild animals often stand for evil spirits. All the forces of darkness swirled around Jesus to torment him with-out any protection from God.

Light is connected to joy. Darkness with gloom.

Think of the very first reference to darkness in the Bible.

Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.

That’s what it was like before the days of creation. God’s first act of creation was to create light and put darkness in its place. So for darkness to show up at noon, in the time and place where light belongs, is a sign of de-creation. The undoing of everything God has done to make human life possible. It’s like the very creation is coming apart at the seams when Jesus dies. All that sustains life is being withheld. All the horrible things darkness represents—that’s what Jesus endured in those three hours.

When God turns the light of his countenance toward you, you can handle anything. We read about martyrs who were burned at the stake who had tears of joy while they were burning. Paul and Silas were singing while they were in stocks in prison. In Acts 4 the Apostles rejoiced when they were flogged for Jesus’ sake. So often God gives special grace to his children in severe suffering that brings them joy. That’s how it had always been for Jesus. In the past, when Jesus drew near to the Father in prayer, he experienced joy and hope and strengthening… —all the various benefits that come from the light of God’s presence. Even in Gethsemane God sent angels to comfort him.

But not this time. When he turned to God this time, no joy, no feelings of hope, no comfort—none of that. This time God allowed Jesus to feel the ice cold, pitch black, outer darkness as if he had been completely abandoned by the Father.