Out of Darkness

Luke 23:44-45 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 
THE closest I’ve been to total darkness during the daytime was about 93% dark during a solar eclipse. The sun’s light was less, but there was still ample light from the sun. We needed no artificial light to see. In the eclipse, we knew the sun was still shining. Even those who experienced the total eclipse could still see a ring of the sun’s light. Darkness came and left quickly. No one said, “The sun stopped shining.” 
     But at Jesus’ death, Luke records that for three hours “the sun stopped shining”. Because the Passover happened near the time of the full moon, it was not possible for an eclipse to occur that day. Instead, the one who said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) had demonstrated his sovereign hand was on this day. 
     This darkness is a sign of God’s judgment on the earth. But let’s rejoice that the darkness also pointed to God’s future promise to draw his people to himself. See this in God’s promise to Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham): Genesis 15:12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then in the darkness God came to affirm his promise to Abram: Genesis 15:17 When the sun had set, and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces (of cut animals).
     God walked into the darkness he had set. With fire amid the sacrificed animals, the Lord assured Abram his descendants would see the light of God’s promise. Genesis 15:5 “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
      In Jesus’ death, God’s judgment passed over the Son and over the Jews. Then God’s light began to shine when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” This curtain covered the Holy of Holies. Only a priest properly prepared through God’s worship laws could enter this temple’s inner sanctuary. He was the one who would speak for the Jews on the Day of Atonement to remove the people’s sins for one year. As Jesus died, the Day of Atonement has come to all the world. The Lamb has been slain. The darkness had come. Now Jesus is the great High Priest. He is the fiery, blazing Light of the World. He opens the way for all mankind to be a spiritual child of Abraham – a child of God.
     There is often some level of darkness in our lives, isn’t there? Sometimes our trouble can overwhelm us, and we wonder if God is keeping his covenant promise to guard and to guide our lives. But know in Jesus his light is always ablaze with his promise: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  Keep your eyes to the Lod. He will come and light your way to him. 
 
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for bringing me out of the darkness and into your light. Amen.