The Death of Jesus as an Eclipse

DEVOTION 16- Jesus Death and Mid-day Darkness
33At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). (Mark 15:33)

45From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,c lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection ande went into the holy city and appeared to many people.  54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54)

44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,45for the sun eclipsed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”e When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-45)

Thoughts: Some say this could not be a solar eclipse because total eclipses only last about seven minutes.  But a partial eclipse can easily last three hours. NASA says that there were eight total solar eclipses between 26 and 36 AD.      However, Jesus died at Passover which requires a full moon, while a solar eclipse requires a new moon.  However, there could be two causes of the darkness- dark clouds combined with a lunar eclipse.  Astronomers say that there was a lunar eclipse in Jerusalem April 3, 33 AD.  There also was a large earthquake that day.  The ancients not only followed signs in the stars when a special person was born (like the star of Bethlehem and the wise men), but also darkness was seen as a sign that a great person has died.
        The darkness at the crucifixion should not be seen as just an astronomical phenomenon that just happened at the crucifixion.  It was God trying to speak to us and wake us up.

Prayer; Lord, let me listen in the darkness and light to you.  


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