The Darkness: Its Origin, Power, Presence, & Meaning
Article #18 on the Passion of Jesus Christ
Was this a Solar Eclipse?
“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” – Luke 23:44-45
Physically speaking, was this a solar eclipse? No. Naturally occurring solar eclipses are only possible during a new moon, and the beginning of the Passover Feast on the 14th of Nisan / Abib commenced during a full moon. Was it a darkness that could be physically seen? Yes. Biblically, a darkness settled upon “the whole land” of the city of Jerusalem, and likely that of the Kingdom of Judah; however, reportedly, it is possible that it reached even as far as the land of Egypt!
“This darkness was a preternatural eclipse of the sun; for it was at the time when the moon was in the full, as appears from its being at the time of the passover; which was on the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, the Jews beginning their months from the new moon: and moreover, it was over all the land, or earth, as the word may be rendered; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "the whole world was dark"; at least it reached to the whole Roman empire, or the greatest part of it; though some think only the land of Judea, or Palestine, is intended: but it is evident, that it is taken notice of, and recorded by Heathen historians and chronologers, as by Phlegon, and others, referred to by Eusebius (d). The Roman archives are appealed unto for the truth of it by Tertullian (e); and it is asserted by Suidas, that Dionysius the Areopagite, then an Heathen, saw it in Egypt; and said, "either the divine being suffers, or suffers with him that suffers, or the frame of the world is dissolving.” – John Gill
“Dionysius, the Areopagite, was an Athenian by birth, and educated in all the useful and ornamental literature of Greece. He then travelled to Egypt to study astronomy, and made very particular observations on the great and supernatural eclipse, which happened at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion.” – John Foxe
What shall we say then about the supernatural origin of this physical phenomena? Can we be certain that this darkness was astronomical? No. There is more than one way for “the sun” to be “darkened” (Lk. 23:45). A thick blanket of dark clouds can shut out the light of the sun, thus making it dark in the daytime (Ezek. 30:3, 34:12; Joel 2:2, 10; Zeph. 1:15). Should we blindly trust the testimony of the astronomer named Dionysius? No (see Appendix #1). Can we be certain about why the darkness happened? Yes.
However, some try to explain why it happened by following the interpretation of the heathen astronomer from Egypt, who reportedly spoke of what he deemed to be an unexplainable disorder in heaven. In the worst case scenario, Dionysius was proposing the possibility that “the frame of the world is dissolving”, or that it was hereby permanently and irreparably being destroyed. In the best case scenario, Dionysius was proposing the possibility that heaven was temporarily in disorder because “the divine being suffers, or suffers with him that suffers”, implying that once the suffering comes to an end then the celestial and astronomical things will come back into order. Sadly, the famed puritan commentator, Matthew Henry, proceeded to argue that the sun withdrew in confusion and disorder because it was unable to look on the awful scene manifest at the Cross.
“The indignities done to our Lord Jesus, made the heavens astonished, and horribly afraid, and even put them into disorder and confusion; such wickedness as this the sun never saw before, and therefore withdrew, and would not see this.” – Matthew Henry
Even though this interpretation may seem plausible, it is thoroughly unbiblical. “Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” (Job 38:33). The disorder of the sun, moon, and stars is inconsistent with the sovereignty of our Creator (Ps. 147:4-5, 148:1-6). The confusion of the astronomical lights that rule the Day and Night calls into question the supreme rulership of God in Heaven (Gen. 1:14-19, Ps. 136:9). For, the confusion of the former would implicate the confusion of the latter.
“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by Day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by Night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of Hosts is His Name: If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.” – Jer. 31:35-36
We can be absolutely certain that the darkness in question did not originate from astronomical disorder or confusion. Every detail of the crucifixion scene was sovereignly determined by God like every color and hue on the canvas in a work of art (Acts 2:23). All men are beckoned to look at the Cross because it is a masterpiece of our Creator! In reality, Dionysius was confused about what was happening. It would seem entirely plausible to nearsighted mortals that the death of the Son of God would occasion confusion and disorder in the heavens. Nevertheless, our Creator is perfectly capable of governing creation and maintaining its order, even while hanging on a Cross. It goes without saying that the other Persons of the Trinity were capable of the same.
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” - Heb 1:3
Things proceed from bad to worse when it comes to misinterpreting the Bible. One bad interpretation leads to another one that’s even worse. Leave it to a heathen astronomer to cast a shadow of confusion upon the crucifixion scene! Nevertheless, with things proceeding from bad to worse, some would go so far as to suggest that Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, was confused about what was happening at the Cross, and for this reason He exclaimed, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46, Mk. 15:34)! One would think that spending so much time looking at the stars would have humiliated Dionysius before the LORD (Job 22:12, 35:5, Isa. 55:8-9). Coincidentally, at the time of visitation, the poor man was in Egypt (Ps. 8:3-4; Lk. 19:41-44).
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” - Psalm 8:3-4
“And when He was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” - Luke 19:41-44
Apparently, according to Psalm 8:3-4, Dionysius was missing the message of Heaven written in the stars! Sadly, the man was in Egypt at the time of visitation. However, according to Matthew 2:1-12, not so much could be said about the Magi from the East! They correctly read the message of God in the stars. Having discerned the time of visitation, they were directed by a star right to the child. Bringing gifts, they bowed down and worshipped the King in a marvelous fulfillment of Psalm 8:3-4 (Matt. 2:1-12).
Physical Signs & Spiritual Realities
Momentous occasions of divine significance in human history are often marked with physical and visible signs. Mankind is hereby beckoned to take a closer look at these signs to discern the spiritual meaning behind them.
In living and in dying, the earth and skies bore witness to the coming and going of Emmanuel (Isa. 7:14). At birth, the darkness of that holy night was illuminated with the splendor of a heavenly light, even “the glory of the Lord”, as it was cast upon the shepherds of the field and shining round about them (Lk. 2:9). At once, there appeared “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God”, and they could be heard audibly exclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Lk. 2:13-14). This was a loud announcement of divine love, goodness, and blessing coming upon all mankind! Even the stars of space were conveying a message to men – one star in particular even stood over the child’s exact location (Matt. 2:1-12).
The child’s growth into adolescence and maturity was no less spectacular (Lk. 2:40-52). A great Light had dawned upon this world, and at the onset of the ministry of Jesus Christ at the age of thirty years old, the Light of the world rose to prominence with inescapable brightness (Matt. 4:16, Lk. 2:32; Jn. 1:4-9, 3:19-21; Isa. 42:6-7, 49:6). “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9). Nevertheless, at death, in the closing scenes of the theater of the Atonement, just the opposite was foretold to come.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life.” - John 8:12 (Jn. 12:35-36, 46)
The visit of this Dayspring would soon come to an end (Lk. 1:78-79). It was only a matter of time for Day to turn into Night. In no uncertain terms, our Lord said, “Yet a little while is the Light with you.” (Jn. 12:35), and by this He meant, “…the Night cometh” (Jn. 9:4).
“I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is Day: the Night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” – John 9:4-5
Literally, as the time was rapidly approaching when the Son of God would no longer be “in the world” (Jn. 9:5), because in death He would soon depart from this world, Jesus also spoke of the coming of “the Prince of this world” and “the power of darkness” (Jn. 14:30, Lk. 22:53). It is not at all unusual for the darkness of Night to be seen approaching on the horizon of earth as Day turns into Night. However, if Christ is the Light of the world, then the displacement of the Sun from its lofty abode in the vault of heaven has grave implications for the inhabitants of earth (Num. 24:17, Mal. 4:2, Rev. 22:16).
“Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” - John 14:30
“Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to Him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” - Luke 22:52-53
As the Prince of this world, Satan had always played a decisive role in the great conflict between sinners and God (Gen. 3:1-7; Eph. 6:12). How much more on this woeful night of treachery and betrayal, when our Lord was arrested, tried, and condemned in the middle of the night (Jn. 8:44; Lk. 22:3, Jn. 13:2, 27-30)? Then things proceeded from bad to worse on the morrow! Crucifying the Lord of Glory was a crime so dark that it outweighed the combined guilt of every murder of righteous men and prophets since the world began (Lk. 11:49-51).
“…It shall be required of this generation.” – Lk. 11:51
“Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” – Matt. 12:45
This generation was in trouble. They had spiritually degenerated into ferocious “bulls”, “lions”, & “dogs”, and they surrounded the Prince of the Prophets on the hill of Golgotha (Ps. 22:11-21; Matt. 7:6). In a hideous display of human depravity, the people were growling, barking, and roaring out their hatred for the Son of God. The presence of darkness was so thick that it could be said, without exaggeration, that “every foul spirit” of hell was present on that woeful hill (Rev. 18:3, Matt. 12:45)! Even so, physically speaking, an otherworldly darkness was cast upon the spectacle of ages.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” – Matt. 27:45
“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” - Mark 15:33
“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.” - Luke 23:44
The good Shepherd saw what was coming a long way off. The wolves could not sneak up on the Son of God. Dark plans and evil powers by sinning men and angels could not lure, trick, catch, or surprise Jesus Christ. Whatever happened was foreseen, expected, and entirely understood by the Lord. Indeed, it is outrageous to suppose that the Lord of Glory succumbed to confusion at the Cross! It is blasphemy.
“I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” - John 10:11-18
Instead of running away, Christ selflessly acted to protect and secure the sheep from danger. Courageously, upon being completely enclosed in darkness, the noble Shepherd gave up His life to the wolves (Jn. 10:11-18). The epic battle between Mankind and the Serpent must come to an end somehow, even if the Son of Man would be badly hurt in the process (Gen. 3:15).
“And the LORD God said unto the Serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” – Gen. 3:14-15 (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7; Matt. 1:1-2:23; Lk. 1:1-2:38)
The conflict between Satan and the Son of God was real. Nevertheless, this dark Day cannot be called the Day of the Devil. No! “This is the Day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). It is the Day of the LORD! Even so, on this dark Day, let us hear the Spirit of Prophecy declare, “God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” (Ps. 118:21-27). The Devil wasn’t victorious in the battle (Heb. 2:9-10, 14-15). In suffering an earthly defeat of physical death at the Cross, Jesus Christ got the victory! The bruising of the Son of God makes everything better for sinners. How do you defeat a snake? Crush its head under your heel. No marvel if the heel is bruised in the process.
“Comparatively speaking, to put His foot on the Old Serpent was an easy task for Christ and did but cost Him a bruised heel. But this Gethsemane agony wounded His very soul even unto death. What is it then, do you think, that so peculiarly marks Gethsemane and the griefs thereof? We believe that, then, the Father put Him to grief for us. It was then that our Lord had to take a certain cup from the Father’s hand. Not from the Jews, not from the traitor, Judas. Not from the sleeping disciples, nor from the devil came the trial, then – it was a cup filled by One whom He knew to be His Father, but Who, nevertheless, He understood to have appointed Him a very bitter potion, a cup not to be drunk by His body and to spend its gall upon His flesh, but a cup which specially amazed His soul and troubled His inmost heart.” – C.H. Spurgeon, The Agony in Gethsemane
From Gethsemane to Calvary, the archnemesis of mankind was haunting every scene. The belligerence and blasphemy of an angry Devil was manifest all throughout – especially, in the final 3 hours of darkness at the Cross as the climax of it all! Nevertheless, Satan was peripheral in the Passion of Christ. The Devil’s fury was of little concern to the Eternal Spirit of the Son of God. Someone else deserves credit for the darkness.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” – Isa. 45:7
“By His Spirit He hath garnished the Heavens; His hand hath formed the crooked Serpent.” - Job 26:13
“He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is Night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.” - Psalm 104:19-22
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” - Amos 3:6
“The LORD hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the Day of evil.” - Prov 16:4
“Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.” - Psalm 35:5-6
The darkness is never void of dangerous creatures (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6). There are devils lurking in the presence of darkness using it as a covert. Nevertheless, no matter how furious the swarm of hellish creatures are, they are unwillingly subordinate to the command of Divine Majesty (Isa. 7:18, 46:11; “…it was commanded” – Rev. 9:1-4; Jas. 2:19). Therefore, the presence and power of darkness came to be known as a notorious divine punishment in Biblical History (Jer. 13:16, 23:12, Lam. 3:2). Egypt had her day of physical darkness, and one of angelic destruction (Ex. 10:21-23; Ex. 12:23). Babylon will have her day of physical darkness, and one of angelic destruction (Rev. 16:10-11; Rev. 9:1-12, 16:13-14, 18:2). Literally, the darkness in both cases are expressions of divine wrath.
Contrastingly, physical sunlight is an expression of divine love (Matt. 5:44-45). However, according to the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:44-45, the curse of darkness upon sinners rarely comes in the form of physical darkness. Evidently, the blessing of physical light is almost universally shown to sinners all throughout time, except in unique circumstances of divine judgment: something like the judgment of God upon Egypt through Babylon (Ezek. 32:7-8).
“And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.” – Ezek. 32:7-8 (see Ezek. 30:18-19)
In prophetic terminology, this is what happens when the armies of Babylon physically invade and conquer Egypt. The physical components of this are obvious. In the death and destruction of war, there is fire; and as a result of the burning fire, there is smoke. Sometimes even whole cities are burned! Then a smokey canopy of dark clouds forms in the sky to blot out the light of the sun, moon, and stars. This is a Day of Darkness: literally, a darkness in the daytime! The very same prophetic description was used by God to describe the coming judgment of God upon Israel and Judah through Assyria and Babylon.
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the Day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A Day of Darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:” - Joel 2:1-2, 10 (see Joel 2:1-11)
“And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.” – Isa. 5:30 (see Isa. 5:26-30)
“That Day is a Day of Wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a Day of Darkness and gloominess, a Day of Clouds and thick darkness,” – Zep. 1:15
Obviously, the Day of Darkness was the doom of the people. Its presence alone should have been feared! For, there are always evil powers hiding in its curtains! Therefore, the prophets were moved by God to declare these hidden things to the people: in looking into the darkness, they saw an Army of Devils in its covert (Joel 2:1-11, Isa. 5:26-30, Rev. 9:1-19; Hab. 3:16; Joel 1:4, 2:25)! These angelic beings are also known as “the Rulers of the darkness of this world” (Eph. 6:12). Of course, Lucifer was there too, as the celestial King of Babylon, and he was visibly commanding the Host of Hell (Isa. 14:4, 12)! However, the LORD spoke of this very same King, calling him, “My Servant” (Jer. 25:9, 27:6, 43:10), showing everyone who was really in control. Can you believe it?
“Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.” – Hab. 1:5-6
Divine sovereignty wields both men and angels to accomplish justice all throughout biblical Church History. In other words, where Satan was present and at work, divine wrath was at work. This is God’s jealousy actively controlling Babylon’s fury (Ezek. 23:23-25), even as the Sword of the LORD was being wielded in the battle (Ezek. 21:3-7, 30:24-25, Jer. 21:4-10, 48:10). Can you believe it (Hab. 1:5-6)? Maybe not. Perhaps you too have been confounded by the darkness.
First, a deluding power of spiritual darkness maneuvered the condemned peoples into a conflict with divine wrath through Babylon (Amos 5:18-20, 8:9, Micah 3:6-7, Isa. 59:9-10), and then a physical darkness was manifest in the onslaught of destruction through war.
God's Judgment of the Jews through Babylon: It is a "DAY OF DARKNESS" (Joel 2:2)! It is when the earth and heavens tremble and turn dark before, amidst, and about the celestial and terrestrial armies of Babylon the Great (Joel 2:10). For, the rise of Babylon by war and conquest will result in blood, fire, and pillars of smoke as a third of mankind dies in the onslaught (Joel 2:30-31). In reflection upon these wonders, Zephaniah says, "That Day is... a Day of wasteness and desolation, a DAY OF DARKNESS and gloominess, a DAY OF CLOUDS and THICK DARKNESS" (Zeph. 1:15)! Even so, the loud shouts of angelic voices bear witness to the woefulness of this dreadful Day (Rev. 8:13)! God, the Creator, would have men gaze upward and behold the astonishment of the heavens - that men would depart from earthly passions and become horribly afraid (Jer. 2:12-13)! Look, and see: the whelming clouds of smoke! In horror, behold: the ghostly creatures proceeding from the thick darkness! Wonder, and regard: a haunted earth with an open Hell! [Jer. 4:19-29; Joel 2:2, 10, 30-31; Zeph. 1:14-18; Isa. 13:1-11, 59:9-10; Rev. 8:12, 9:1-19]
This is a horrifying darkness. Nevertheless, this darkness is a shade of gray compared to the pitch-black scenery of hellfire! Remember, hell is a place in the afterlife that is repeatedly called “outer darkness” in the New Testament (Matt. 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). This means that the clouds of darkness in time are thin and bright compared to the “outer darkness” of eternal damnation! However, not so much could be said about the darkness on the hill of Golgotha from noon to 3 p.m. on the 15th of Nisan. Yet another form of darkness was present there that was even worse than the others. Do you agree?
There are in fact three forms of darkness to be reckoned up here. Each one deserves our sober consideration, as there are distinct powers at work in all three forms of darkness: (#1) in time, (#2) in eternity, and (#3) at the Cross.
In the first form of darkness that is manifest in time, the Devil is on-the-loose and dealing out demonic fury in a killing rampage that is mitigated and temporary.
In the second form of darkness that is manifest in eternity, instead of tormenting others, the Devil is imprisoned and suffering unimaginable torment under the divine fury of Almighty God in a place that was created for his everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:41, 2 Pet. 2:4; Lk. 8:31; Rev. 20:1-3, 7).
In the third form of darkness, at the Cross, the Son of God was suffering a thousand hells all at once! The impossible was then feasible through the sinless and spotless Lamb of God, who came into the world to absorb the full volume of God’s eternal wrath due to sinners in just a few short hours.
The divine wrath that powers hell was spawned, amassed, and concentrated on one Man. The torment the Son of God suffered under the sword of divine justice is literally unimaginable and incomprehensible. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure: Satan is peripheral to the Passion of Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:31, Zech. 13:7, Isa. 53:5, 10)! Not even the Devil is a capable vehicle to deliver the divine wrath of a thousand hells upon the Son of God! Why? Hell punishes Satan. The fallen Cherub is tormented there alongside everyone else. This is why demons don’t want to go there (Lk. 8:31).
Mark the beginning and end of this darkness at the Cross of Christ! As the Son of God began to suffer a maximum degree of divine wrath for condemned sinners in being nailed to the Cross at 12 noon, it was then that a thunderous darkness formed overhead; and, as soon as the suffering of our Lord ended in death at 3 p.m., and hereby the atonement for sin was “finished” (Jn. 19:30), it was then that the thick darkness immediately dissipated into a clear Day of sunshine once again.
This remarkable sign (among others) was so compelling that upon seeing it many eyewitnesses came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God (Matt. 27:51-56, Mk. 15:37-41, Lk. 23:44-49, Jn. 19:31-37). Even so, God would have men estimate this Day to be the darkest of all time! Heaven would direct sinners to esteem these three hours to be the darkest and blackest of human history! For, if this dark Day is regarded in due honor by sinners, worshipfully, then every other dark Day on earth will be illuminated with light.
