Meaning of Matthew 27:45

The supernatural darkness that enveloped the land from noon until three in the afternoon during Jesus' crucifixion is a profound and multifaceted event, signifying a cosmic disruption and God's solemn judgment upon the sin for which His Son was being sacrificed. This period, which corresponds to the traditional hours of the morning and afternoon temple sacrifices, underscores the unique and ultimate sacrifice Christ offered, eclipsing any need for further animal offerings. The darkness is not merely a meteorological phenomenon but a theological statement, reflecting the spiritual darkness that sin brings and the immense weight of bearing the world's iniquities. It signifies God the Father's turning away from His Son as He was made sin for humanity, a moment of profound separation and divine wrath being poured out.

Context and Background

This event occurs during the sixth hour of the day (noon) and concludes at the ninth hour (three in the afternoon), as reckoned by the Jewish system of timekeeping. The crucifixion itself began around the third hour (9 AM). The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this phenomenon, with John omitting it, likely focusing more on the dialogue and theological pronouncements from the cross. The darkness is described as covering "all the land," suggesting a regional, perhaps even a wider, impact beyond just Jerusalem, though the precise geographical extent is debated. This period was also the time when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple, creating a stark contrast between the ongoing ritualistic atonement and the singular, divinely ordained atonement being enacted on Golgotha.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Judgment and Wrath: The darkness is a visible manifestation of God's judgment against sin. Jesus, as the sin-bearer, experiences the full force of this judgment, including the apparent withdrawal of God's presence, symbolized by the absence of light.
• Cosmic Significance: The event suggests that creation itself responded to the death of its Creator. The natural order was disrupted, indicating that this was no ordinary death but a pivotal moment in redemptive history.
• Solitude and Abandonment: While God was present with Christ in His suffering, the darkness visually represents the agonizing moment when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), highlighting the depth of His sacrificial experience.
• Supremacy of Christ's Sacrifice: The darkness during the time of Passover sacrifices emphasizes that Jesus' death is the ultimate and final sacrifice, superseding all previous atonements.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This passage calls believers to contemplate the immense cost of their salvation. The darkness serves as a stark reminder of the holiness of God, the pervasive nature of sin, and the absolute necessity of Christ's atoning death. It encourages a deeper appreciation for the light of Christ that dispels spiritual darkness and brings life and salvation. For those struggling with feelings of abandonment or spiritual desolation, this verse offers a profound understanding that even in such moments, God's redemptive plan was at work, and Christ Himself experienced the deepest form of spiritual isolation for our sakes. It also calls for repentance and a commitment to live in the light of God's truth.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

The darkness at the crucifixion is a climactic fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's suffering. It echoes passages like Isaiah 53:10: "Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand." The darkness can be seen as a divine "veil" or "shroud" over the land, signifying the transition from the old covenant to the new, from shadow to substance. It prepares the way for the resurrection, the ultimate triumph of light over darkness, life over death.

Analogies

• A Solar Eclipse: Just as a solar eclipse momentarily blots out the sun, casting a shadow on the earth, this divine darkness obscured the natural light, signifying a spiritual eclipse of God's immediate presence from the Son as He bore sin.
• A Funeral Shroud: The darkness can be likened to a solemn shroud draped over the land, marking the death of the ultimate sacrifice and the profound grief of creation at the event.
• The Plagues of Egypt: While different in nature, the unnatural darkness during the crucifixion shares with the plagues of Egypt the theme of God's sovereign power over creation and His judgment upon sin and rebellion.

Relation to Other Verses

• Zechariah 14:6-7: "On that day there will be no light, no cold, no frost. There will be only one day, known to the Lord—neither day nor night, though there will be light at evening time." This prophecy, while often interpreted eschatologically, can find a parallel in the unnatural cessation of light during Christ's passion.
• Amos 8:9: "In that day,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘I will make the sun set at midday and bring darkness to the earth in broad daylight." This prophetic judgment also speaks of a divinely ordained darkness as a sign of God's displeasure.
• John 1:5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This verse from John's Gospel directly contrasts the light of Christ with the darkness of the world, a theme powerfully illustrated by the literal darkness during the crucifixion, which ultimately could not extinguish the divine light.
• Hebrews 9:22: "In fact, according to the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." The darkness during the shedding of Christ's blood underscores the gravity of the sacrifice required for forgiveness.