All three synoptic evangelists recorded the supernatural darkness that covered all of Judah from12:00 noon to3:00 p.m. None of them explained it. They all evidently viewed it as a sign of God"s judgment on Jesus (cf. Isaiah 5:25-30; Isaiah 59:9-10; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:14-15; Amos 8:9-10; Micah 3:5-7; Zephaniah 1:14-15). The Father withdrew the light of His presence from His Son during the hours when Jesus bore the guilt of the world"s sins ( Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Perhaps darkness covered the whole land of Israel because it also symbolized God"s judgment on Israel for rejecting His Son. [1] The ninth plague in Egypt was a plague of darkness, and it too was followed by the death of the firstborn ( Exodus 10:22 to Exodus 11:9). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Mark 15:22-47 - A King Upon His Cross
Our Lord refused to drink the potion prepared by the women of Jerusalem, in order to stupefy those who were crucified and so deaden the sense of pain, because He would drain the cup to its dregs. It was nine o'clock in the morning when He was nailed to the cross. His persecutors were, as they thought, destroying the Temple of which He had spoken in John 2:19, and making its restoration impossible. In fact, however, they were giving Him the opportunity of fulfilling His great prediction. He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Nature veiled her face from that awful spectacle. Christ was not really forsaken, but as our Redeemer he passed under the dark shadow of human sin. The access to the Holy of Holies is now forever free through the entry of our great High Priest. See Hebrews 9:7-8. What love inspired the women, Mark 15:40, to brave the horrors of the scene! And how good to see that God cares for the body as well as for the spirit of His beloved! For Joseph, see Matthew 27:57 and Luke 23:50-51. Born of the Virgin's womb our Lord was buried in a virgin tomb. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 15
1Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate 6Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released, 12and Jesus delivered up to be crucified 16He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked; 21faints in bearing his cross; 27hangs between two thieves; 29suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd; 39but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God; 42and is honorably buried by Joseph
Greek Commentary for Mark 15:33
The sixth hour [ωρας εκτης] That is, noon (Jewish time), as the third hour was nine a.m. (Mark 15:25). See Matthew 27:45 for discussion. Given also by Luke 23:44. Mark gives the Aramaic transliteration as does B in Matthew 27:45, which see for discussion. [source]
Forsaken [egkatelipes)] Some MSS. give εγκατελιπες ōneidisas (reproached). We are not able to enter into the fulness of the desolation felt by Jesus at this moment as the Father regarded him as sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). This desolation was the deepest suffering. He did not cease to be the Son of God. That would be impossible. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 15:33
Matthew 27:45From the sixth hour [απο εκτης ωρας] Curiously enough McNeile takes this to mean the trial before Pilate (John 18:14). But clearly John uses Roman time, writing at the close of the century when Jewish time was no longer in vogue. It was six o‘clock in the morning Roman time when the trial occurred before Pilate. The crucifixion began at the third hour (Mark 15:25) Jewish time or nine a.m. The darkness began at noon, the sixth hour Jewish time and lasted till 3 p.m. Roman time, the ninth hour Jewish time (Mark 15:33; Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44). The dense darkness for three hours could not be an eclipse of the sun and Luke (Luke 23:45) does not so say, only “the sun‘s light failing.” Darkness sometimes precedes earthquakes and one came at this time or dense masses of clouds may have obscured the sun‘s light. One need not be disturbed if nature showed its sympathy with the tragedy of the dying of the Creator on the Cross (Romans 8:22), groaning and travailing until now. [source]
Greek Commentary for Mark 15:33
That is, noon (Jewish time), as the third hour was nine a.m. (Mark 15:25). See Matthew 27:45 for discussion. Given also by Luke 23:44. Mark gives the Aramaic transliteration as does B in Matthew 27:45, which see for discussion. [source]
Some MSS. give εγκατελιπες ōneidisas (reproached). We are not able to enter into the fulness of the desolation felt by Jesus at this moment as the Father regarded him as sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). This desolation was the deepest suffering. He did not cease to be the Son of God. That would be impossible. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 15:33
Curiously enough McNeile takes this to mean the trial before Pilate (John 18:14). But clearly John uses Roman time, writing at the close of the century when Jewish time was no longer in vogue. It was six o‘clock in the morning Roman time when the trial occurred before Pilate. The crucifixion began at the third hour (Mark 15:25) Jewish time or nine a.m. The darkness began at noon, the sixth hour Jewish time and lasted till 3 p.m. Roman time, the ninth hour Jewish time (Mark 15:33; Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44). The dense darkness for three hours could not be an eclipse of the sun and Luke (Luke 23:45) does not so say, only “the sun‘s light failing.” Darkness sometimes precedes earthquakes and one came at this time or dense masses of clouds may have obscured the sun‘s light. One need not be disturbed if nature showed its sympathy with the tragedy of the dying of the Creator on the Cross (Romans 8:22), groaning and travailing until now. [source]