Mark 15:33-41

Even in this, the briefest of descriptions of the crucifixion of Jesus there is much to study, consider, and on which to meditate. It is amazing how we, and I must include myself, and the church can say so much and so rarely speak of the death of our Lord. The Church has, with good intentions, tried to fix the problem of the community, the congregation, and the world by teaching from every part of Scripture and even beyond Scripture while focusing so little on the cross. God have mercy on us.

That day at noon darkness fell over the land. For three hours there was a supernatural darkness. This was no solar eclipse; an eclipse will not last that long.  This was no sandstorm; a sandstorm cannot produce that kind of darkness. The heart that will believe and the heart that refuses to believe sees the same event, the difference is that the heart either pays attention or the heart ignores.

To the Jews, this moment would have referred them back to the plagues on Egypt. Darkness covered the land, just as it did 1400 years before. The people in the darkness are under the curse of God. The physical universe displays the Almighty's displeasure and potential judgment.  There is nowhere to hide. Here is the lesson for all people everywhere, for us, and our moment and lives. When we reject the light of the world sooner or later we are plunged into darkness. That is true for the individual, it is true for the congregation, it is true for the church and it is true for any collection of people.  When we reject the light we come under darkness. When we reject the cross we are lost.