The Light and the darkness

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

THE LIGHT AND THE DARKNESS

Luke 23:44-46

44 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. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

NIV

What was this darkness that fell upon the land of Israel for three hour? There is far too much scholarly discussions regarding this, parching the Greek as well as researching the words of supposed scholars who may or may not have lived before, during or after the time of Christ. Volumes have been written about this meaning of which no two agree upon so what are we to think about it? It is true that Greek does reveal this darkness was not over the entire world, but rather the region of Judea and perhaps some surrounding areas that Christ traveled to preach the good news. Because this darkness happened during the Passover which was celebrated only at a full moon which by all accounts a natural eclipse of the sun is impossible. So we are left with a supernatural darkness caused by the hand of God over the land of Israel that lasted three hours. There can be only one reason God would take the light away from these people. Jesus was the light of the world, and they had refused this light, therefore God was taking away their light to show them they were in the darkness within their spirits. The beauty of this for us is just that. We never have to fear the darkness for we are walking in the light. As far as we are concerned, we that believe in Christ, we will never be in the darkness which God has cast over those who refuse to believe. We have no idea of what hell is actually like, but we can be sure there is no light there, for Jesus is not there, but at that right hand of God. Because Jesus is the light, hell has to be in complete darkness, both spiritually as well as physically. There are people today who although are living in the daylight of the sun are still living in complete spiritual darkness. They are completely blind stumbling through their lives without a vision of the truth. But they can be, just as we have been, brought from the darkness into the glorious light of Jesus. But who will shine that light into the darkness of their lives? “Send me Lord, send me”, that should be our response. The other truth here is within the words of Jesus, as well in the curtain of the temple. We know the great significance of the curtain being torn. Jesus has given us access to God. No longer is he held behind the curtain, with only one man able once a year to enter into his presence. He has given us free access to him at all times through Christ. Once again we may learn the truth of God. Although for the moment, the body of Christ remained affixed to the cross, his spirit ascended to God. Once again we can know for sure that to be absent from the body is to be present with God. The “who” we really are, a spirit lives on in the presence of God when we leave this body. Now because we will deal with the resurrection of the body at some later time, let us be content to know that we will never die, and we will never have to experience darkness, for we are and will forever be in the light.