Darkness… vs. 45-49

• 1^st – Light of the world… vs. 45
  • Dark hour…
    • Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land!
    • Jesus was CRUCIFIED at 9am on a Thursday – Mark 15:25
    • From 12pm to 3pm the WHOLE [πᾶς] earth [τὴν γῆν] was DARK!
    • There is a lot of SPECULATION about what caused this DARKNESS…
    • Some say it could have been CLOUDS – others argue for an ECLIPSE…
    • Neither would explain how the WHOLE world went DARK…
    • But since Jesus is the LIGHT of the world – when He died the LIGHT went out!
    • John 8:12 – “Jesus spoke to them again saying: I am the light of the world.”
  • Victory…
    • In this DARK hour – it appeared the ENEMY was victorious…
    • Satan no doubt was rejoicing – because he thought killing Jesus meant he WON!
    • I Corinthians 1:8 – “[But] none of the rulers of this age [understood the plan]. For had they know they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
    • Although this was the DARKEST hour in history – it was all a part of the PLAN of God…
    • And He would follow up this DARK day – with our salvation!
    • Times are often the most DIFFICULT – just before God does the most AMAZING work…
    • That is why we must NEVER lose hope – even if we cannot SEE it – God is WORKING….
    • We just need to REMEMBER – it is always the DARKEST just before the DAWN!
  • 2^nd – Forsaken… vs. 46
    • Aramaic…
      • 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?
      • Around [περί] 3pm – just before His death…
      • Jesus CRIED [ἀναβοάω] out to the FATHER with a LOUD [μέγας] voice…
      • ELI [אֵלִי] – 2x for emphasis – the Aramaic word for My [י] God [אֵל]
      • LAMA – the Aramaic – to [לְ] what [מָא] – or for what reason…
      • SABACHTHANI – the Aramaic [שְׁבַק] – did You [תַּ] LEAVE [perfect] Me [נִי]
        
      • This saying of Jesus is ONLY recorded in Matthew and Mark [Ελωι] – Mark 15:34
      • Jesus spoke them in ARAMAIC [similar to Hebrew] – the language of the Babylon…
      • Because although the Bible is written in GREEK – most Jews spoke ARAMAIC [captivity]!
    • Separation…
      • For the first time in Eternity – the FATHER and the SON were separated…
      • Jesus who had never SINNED – now bore every SIN of every person…
      • The FATHER forsook the SON – because He carried the SIN of the whole world!
      • II Corinthians 5:21 – “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us – that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
      • Sin SEPARATES – because God is LIGHT and there can be no DARKNESS in Him – I John 1:5
      • When we choose to SIN – we are choosing to SEPARATE ourselves from God…
      • SIN keeps us from wanting to read our Bible – go to church – fellowship with believers…
      • SIN will keep us from growing in the LORD – but the LORD keeps us from SIN!
    • Prophecy…
      • Psalm 22:1 – “My God – My God – why have You forsaken Me!”
      • When Jesus was on the CROSS He was alone – NO one stood with Him…
      • He felt like He was a worm – something that no one cared about!
      • Psalm 22:6 – “I am a worm and no man. A reproach of men!”
      • WORM [תּוֹלָע] – a small worm used to create RED dye…
      • A WORM [תּוֹלָע] that in order to give life – attaches itself to a tree…
      • It dies as it gives birth staining the tree in a RED stain…
      • After its death – the RED stain becomes WHITE as snow and falls off the tree!
      • Jesus allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree – stained it with His blood…
      • After His death – He took the RED stain of our sin and made it WHITE as snow!
      • Isaiah 1:18 – “Though your sins are like scarlet [תּוֹלָע] they shall be as white as snow.”
  • 3^rd – Not Elijah… vs. 47/49
    • Bad interpretation…
      • Some of those who stood there when they heard that said: This Man is calling for Elijah.
      • The rest said: Let Him alone. let us see if Elijah will come to save Him!
      • Some [τις] of the CROWD who heard what Jesus said…
      • MISTOOK [imperfect] Him for calling [φωνέω] out to ELIJAH [the prophet]
      • They assumed Jesus was using ELI [אֵלִי] – as an abbreviation for ELIJAH…
      • Others [λοιπός] in the CROWD insisted [imperative] Jesus be LEFT alone…
      • They wanted to see IF [εἰ] ELIJAH would come [indicative] and save Him!
    • Be careful…
      • ELIJAH is considered the greatest of all the PROPHETS…
      • He faced off against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel – I King 18:40
      • He was one of TWO men in the Bible to NEVER die [chariot of fire] – II Kings 2:11
      • And was prophesied to come back before the Messiah returns [John the Baptist] – Malachi 4:5
      • Therefore to this day Israel is still looking for Elijah to COME [fourth cup of Seder]
      • And He is assumed to be one of the TWO witnesses in the TRIBULATION – Revelation 11:3
      • But Jesus was NOT calling out to ELIJAH – He was calling out to God [אֵלִי]
      • All of this came from MISINTERPRETING one single WORD…
      • This is why it is so important to be a GOOD student of the Bible…
      • It is easy to MISINTERPRET a verse if we are NOT careful!
      • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
        
  • 4^th – I Thirst… vs. 48
    • Compassion…
      • Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge.
      • Filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed and offered it to Him to drink!
      • ONE person responded to Jesus CRYING out…
      • They IMMEDIATELY ran and grabbed a sponge and filled it with VINEGAR [sour wine]
      • They put it on a STICK so that Jesus could DRINK [imperfect] from it!
    • Broken Heart…
      • If we are wondering why give Him VINEGAR when He was carrying out for God [אֵלִי]
      • We get the answer in the parallel account in the book John!
      • John 19:28 – “Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished… said: I thirst!”

• Jesus THIRST was a result of His physical condition…
• His scourging and crucifixion put Him in [hypovolemic] shock from massive loss of blood…
• His heart would have raced to pump blood that was NOT there…
• His kidneys would have begun to shut down to preserve body fluids…
• Causing Him to experience extreme THIRST as the body tried to replenish lost fluids…
• Leading to a rapid heartbeat causing fluid to build up around His heart [pericardial effusion]
• That shortly would lead to heart failure – Jesus died of a broken heart!

• 2^nd – Death of Jesus… vs. 50-56
  • 1^st – It is Finished… vs. 50
    • Final words…
      • Jesus cried out again with a loud voice!
      • Jesus gave one FINAL loud [μέγας] cry [κράζω]
      • John 19:30 – “He said: it is finished!”
      • FINISHED – from the root [τέλος] – to COMPLETE or bring to an END…
      • [Perfect] – the work of REDEMPTION was completed ONCE and for ALL…
      • [Passive] – there is NOTHING we had to do – Jesus did it ALL…
      • [Indicative] – there is no question that it is TRUE – the price was paid for EVERYONE!
    • Sent away…
      • [He] yielded up His spirit!
      • Jesus did NOT die – He [active] sent away [ἀφίημι] His Spirit [τὸ πνεῦμα]
      • Because NO one could take His life – He CHOSE to lay it down…
      • And He also had the POWER to take it back again!
      • John 10:18 – “No one takes [My life] from Me but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again.”
      • Jesus did NOT come to HEAL us – make us RICH – or tell us how to have BETTER lives…
      • Jesus came to DIE – because it was the ONLY way to save us from our SIN!
      • People are always trying to ADD to the work of the CROSS…
      • Telling us we MUST go to church – be good – obey the commandments…
      • Yet when Jesus said – it is FINISHED – He meant it…
      • It does NOT matter who we are – what we have done…
      • How many mistakes we have made – if we messed up TEN years ago – or TODAY…
      • The work of the CROSS was COMPLETE – it took care of EVERYTHING!
  • 2^nd – The Veil… vs. 51
    • Top down…
      • Behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom!
      • BEHOLD [ἰδού] – we are COMMANDED [imperative] to look…
      • The moment Jesus DIED – the VEIL of the TEMPLE was TORN [passive] – from the TOP down…
      • The TEMPLE was divided inside into TWO parts…
      • The HOLY [הַקֹּדֶשׁ] – was the FIRST room where ONLY the priest were allowed…
      • And the HOLY of HOLIES [קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים] – the inner room with the Ark of the Covenant…
      • The VEIL was a TEN centimeter thick cloth – separating the HOLY from the HOLY of HOLIES!
    • Separation…
      • Only the High priest could enter the HOLY of HOLIES – Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16
      • He would enter with the BELLS on his robe – if they stopped it meant he was DEAD…
      • Tradition tells us he would have a ROPE around his foot – to drag him out…
      • The reason was to show the SEPARATION between God and man – Hebrews 9:7-8
      • But because Jesus DIED for our sin – we have ACCESS to the presence of God…
      • There is no longer a SEPARATION between God and man…
      • We can now boldly enter the very throne room of God – the Holiest of All!
      • Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
    • Repaired…
      • Tradition says that not long after – the Jewish leaders sewed the VEIL back up…
      • God had OPENED up the way – men wanted to CLOSE it again…
      • They would rather have RELIGION – than a true RELATIONSHIP with God!
      • Men love religion because it puts salvation in their hands…
      • But Religion cannot get us to heaven – on the contrary it keep us from God…
      • It is like putting the Veil that Jesus tore down back up again!
  • 3^rd – The Saints… vs. 51-53
    • Open graves…
      • The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
      • The graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
      • Coming out of the graves after His resurrection – went into the holy city appeared to many!
      • Along with the torn VEIL – the EARTH [ἡ γῆ] shook [σείω]
      • The GRAVES of MANY [πολύς] of the SAINTS [ἅγιος] opened up [passive]
      • Those who had fallen SLEEP [κοιμάω] – a euphemism for believers who have DIED…
      • Were RESURRECTED – came out of their graves AFTER Jesus was raised [He was FIRST]
      • They went into Jerusalem [Holy city] – and appeared to MANY [πολύς] people!
      • The suggestion is Old Testament saints who were buried in Jerusalem…
      • King David – King Hezekiah – the Prophet Isaiah – and others…
      • Were all walking around Jerusalem in their GLORIFIED bodies AFTER Jesus Resurrection!
    • Paradise…
      • When Old Testament saints DIED they did NOT go to heaven – their SIN was NOT yet paid…
      • In the center of the EARTH – there are TWO compartments…
      • One a place of COMFORT – for those who DIED in faith [paradise]
      • The other a place of TORMENT – for those who REJECT God [hell]
      • When Jesus died on the CROSS – He descended into the GRAVE [שְׁאוֹל] – Ephesians 4:9
      • He went down to Abrahams Bosom [παράδεισος] – Luke 16:22
      • There He shared the GOOD news to all who had died in FAITH – Isaiah 61:1
      • Then He set the CAPTIVES free – because the price for SIN had been paid…
      • At which point the earth SHOOK – because the GRAVE could NOT hold the SAINTS!
      • I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “O death where is your victory? How we thank God who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!” [NLT]
      • The Gospel message is NOT just about the DEATH of Jesus…
      • They KEY to the Gospel is that there is also a RESURRECTION…
      • It is the PROOF that there is DEATH is NOT the end…
      • We have the confidence that one day we also we overcome the GRAVE! 
      • II Corinthians 5:1 – “We know that if our earthly house – this tent is destroyed – we have a building from God – a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.”
  • 4^th – The Soldiers… vs. 54
    • Fearful…
      • When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus.
      • Saw the earthquake and the things that had happened they feared greatly saying:
      • Truly this was the Son of God!
      • The CENTURION and the SOLDIERS who were guarding Jesus…
      • Saw the sky grow DARK and the earth QUAKE – and were very AFRAID…
      • They were the ONES who had crucified Jesus – and were questioning their life choices…
      • They said: it is TRUE [ἀληθής] that Jesus was [imperfect] – A son of A god [no article]!
      • The soldiers were AMAZED by seeing the DARKENED sky and EARTHQUAKE…
      • But they did NOT necessarily believe that Jesus was God – who died for their sins!
    • Emotional…
      • James 2:19 – “Even the demons believe – and tremble.”
      • DEMONS [δαιμόνιον] believe there is a God – and they have an emotional response to Him…
      • Like the SOLDIERS – they TREMBLE in His presence…
      • But it goes without saying that DEMONS will NOT be saved!
      • Just because we attend a moving worship service – that makes us FEEL closer to God…
      • Or we ENJOY coming to church – but do NOT change our heart…
      • Those EMOTION do NOT bring clarity to TRUTH – they often conceals it…
      • The ONLY way to be SAVED is to CHOSE to put our FAITH in Jesus!
  • 5^th – The Women… vs. 55-56
    • Looking on…
      • Many women who followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to Him were looking on from afar.
      • Among whom were Mary Magdalene – Mary the mother of James and Joses.
      • And the mother of Zebedee sons!
      • There was also a group of WOMEN who were watching the CRUCIFIXION from AFAR…
      • Mary the mother of Jesus was there to see her son die – John 19:25
      • Mary Magdalene [Jesus cast SEVEN demons out of her] – Luke 8:2
      • Mary the mother of James and Jose [perhaps the sister of Mary] – John 19:25
      • Salome the mother of James and John [Sons of Thunder] – Mark 15:40
      • The Apostle John was also there – John 19:26
    • Faith…
      • These WOMEN and John saw the same thing as the SOLDIERS…
      • But they had a very different RESPONSE – they did NOT fear – they had HOPE…
      • They heard the WORD of God – and had a sliver of FAITH…
      • Maybe – just maybe – THREE days later Jesus would be BACK!
      • Mark 8:31 – “The Son of Man must… be killed – and after three days rise again.”