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Mark 15:33

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¶ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

And {G1161} when {G1096} the sixth {G1623} hour {G5610} was come {G1096}, there was {G1096} darkness {G4655} over {G1909} the whole {G3650} land {G1093} until {G2193} the ninth {G1766} hour {G5610}.

At noon, darkness covered the whole Land until three o'clock in the afternoon.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

Commentary

Context

Mark 15:33 describes a profound and supernatural event that occurred during Jesus' crucifixion. According to Jewish reckoning, the "sixth hour" corresponded to noon (12 PM), and the "ninth hour" to 3 PM. This three-hour period of intense darkness fell over the land while Jesus hung on the cross, enduring the peak of His physical and spiritual suffering. This dramatic occurrence is also recorded in the parallel Gospel accounts of Matthew 27:45 and Luke 23:44-45, underscoring its historical and theological significance within the crucifixion narrative.

Key Themes

  • Supernatural Darkness: This was not a natural solar eclipse, as the Passover occurred during a full moon, making a solar eclipse impossible. The darkness was a miraculous, divine intervention, signifying God's direct and active involvement in the events unfolding on the cross. It was a cosmic sign of immense spiritual import.
  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The darkness symbolizes God's judgment against sin, which was being poured out upon His Son, Jesus, who bore the sins of humanity. It reflects the immense weight of the world's sin that Christ carried, as prophesied in passages like Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Old Testament prophets often spoke of a "day of darkness" as a sign of the Lord's coming judgment (e.g., Amos 8:9; Joel 2:31). This supernatural darkness at the crucifixion fits within this prophetic tradition, pointing to the ultimate judgment against sin being executed through Christ's sacrifice.
  • The Gravity of Atonement: The darkness highlights the profound spiritual battle and the immense cost of atonement. It signifies that God was turning His face away from the sin being borne by His Son, emphasizing the separation and suffering Jesus endured on humanity's behalf.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "darkness" used here is skotos (σκότος), which typically refers to physical darkness, but can also carry connotations of spiritual or moral darkness. In this context, it unequivocally describes a literal, tangible darkness that covered the land. The phrase "over the whole land" (ἐφ’ ὅλην τὴν γῆν – eph’ holēn tēn gēn) suggests a widespread phenomenon, emphasizing the universal scope and significance of Christ's atoning work for all humanity.

Practical Application

The darkness at the crucifixion serves as a powerful and sobering reminder for believers today:

  • The Severity of Sin: It underscores the immense gravity of human sin, so offensive to God that it plunged the world into darkness as His Son endured its full penalty.
  • The Depth of God's Love: Paradoxically, this dark moment illuminates the immeasurable depth of God's love. It was out of His profound love that He allowed His Son to endure such suffering, providing a way for humanity's redemption. This event is a central demonstration of God's love for the world.
  • The Completed Work of Christ: This period of darkness culminates with Jesus' triumphant cry, "It is finished" (John 19:30), signifying the completion of His atoning work. The lifting of the darkness signals that the penalty for sin had been fully paid, offering believers assurance in the finality and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.
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Cross-References

  • Matthew 27:45 (20 votes)

    Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

  • Luke 23:44 (11 votes)

    ¶ And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

  • Luke 23:45 (11 votes)

    And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

  • Amos 8:9 (10 votes)

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

  • Amos 8:10 (10 votes)

    And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only [son], and the end thereof as a bitter day.

  • Mark 15:25 (10 votes)

    And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

  • Isaiah 50:3 (7 votes)

    I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.