Lost in the Darkness of Unbelief

Lost in the Darkness of Unbelief

          Ethos is the distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution.

It is difficult to understand the dynamic of hatred in mob-think.  When mobs are incited with hatred, psychopathic monsters are created from otherwise normal people.  Group-think usually means the cessation of an individual’s thought process often accompanied by the complete abandonment of any governing moral ethic or ethos.  Under such circumstances, the monster within the fallen human nature is exposed in all its demonic horrors.  This was the scenario around the crucifixion of Jesus.  This was a demonically controlled and orchestrated event.  Yet, God allowed it to take place to secure the possibility of humanity’s redemption. 

“³³ And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, ³⁴ They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. ³⁵ And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. ³⁶ And sitting down they watched him there; ³⁷ And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁸ Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. ³⁹ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, ⁴⁰ And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. ⁴¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, ⁴² He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. ⁴³ He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. ⁴⁴ The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. ⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ⁴⁷ Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. ⁴⁸ And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. ⁵⁰ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. ⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; ⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. ⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:33-54).

          In the middle of Matthew 27:33-54, we find the remarkable truth of verse 45, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”  The first hour of the day was at Sunrise.  The first event of this Wednesday morning (not Friday) is recorded in Matthew 27:1-2.

“¹ When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: ² And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor” (Matthew 27:1-2).

          The interrogation of Jesus by Pilate, the choosing of the murderer Barabbas over Jesus, and the scourging and mockery of Jesus all took place within a three-hour period (6 A.M. to 9 A.M.).  Mark 15:25 tells us Jesus was nailed to the Cross on the third hour, or at nine A. M.  For the next three hours, Matthew 27:36 says, “And sitting down they watched him there.”  For those three hours the scene is an amphitheater of carnality.  The crowds and the soldiers impudently mock Jesus.  Then they join with the chief priests and the scribes as they ridicule and mock Jesus on the Cross.

“⁴¹ Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, ⁴² He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. ⁴³ He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matthew 27:41-43).

          Then God steps in to get their attention.  In the very middle of the day, when the scorching Sun stood directly overhead, God turn out the lights.  I would imagine that for the next three hours there was some soul searching going on within that darkness.  I imagine a few chief priests and scribes were sweating bullets.  One thing of which we can be sure, for three hours the ridicule stopped.  Another thing of which we can be sure is that for a while there was panic and then everything settled down into silence.  For the next three hours, the scene around the Cross was one of solemn silence.  Darkness and silence can be two somber experiences to generate sober thinking.

          What kind of Being can turn the brightness of noonday into the blackness of night?  Only the Creator can do that.  God was showing the world His presence at the Crucifixion of His “only begotten Son” and teaching these impudent people to be reverent before His Son Jesus.

“For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name” (Amos 4:13).

          The word “darkness” in Matthew 27:45 is translated from the Greek word skotos (skot'-os).  This Greek word can refer to night darkness, or it can refer to darkened eyesight; blindness.  It is also used metaphorically of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties.  This Greek word is the general word for darkness. 

          The Greek word gnophos (gnof'-os) is the word used for the kind of darkness that accompanies a storm.  So we know this was not the kind of darkness referred to in Matthew 27:45.  It was not a stormy day darkness because it was not a cloudy day.  Even on a cloudy day there is still some light.  The Greek word achlus (akh-looce') is the common word used to denote darkness which is due to fog or a mist.  Therefore, we know it was not this kind of darkness because it was not foggy out.

          Since this was the Passover, we know this darkness could not have been due to a solar eclipse since the Passover takes place during the time of the full moon.  A solar eclipse could not happen during this time.  The Greek word zophos (dzof'-os) is used for the darkness of Hell.  Therefore, we know this darkness is not of demonic origin.  This darkness was caused by God.  This darkness was a miraculous supernatural interference with the normal aspects of the creation.  God spoke to this solemn assembly in the only kind of language lost men understand.  He took away the normal and replaced it with the abnormal.  Everyone in that city new that this was the judgment of God and they quaked in fear. 

          Suddenly, the silence is broken with a voice out of the darkness.  “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  At the voice of Jesus, the Creator of Heaven and earth, light bursts forth into the darkness. 

          For the space of three hours, Jesus Christ the incarnate, eternal Son of God was alone in the darkness of broken fellowship with the Father.  For all the eternal existence of the Triunity of the Godhead, the fellowship of the Godhead had never for one moment been broken.  Take the loneliest day of your life and multiply that by a billion and you will not even touch upon the agony of those three hours.  Add to that the most stressful, painful day of your life and multiply that by a billion and you are still nowhere near the suffering of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary.  This loneliness of separation from God is the primary torment of Hell. 

          We can identify with suffering in the terms of pain, loneliness, stress, and anguish.  Yes, Jesus suffered all those things, but on top of all of that He took our eternal separation from God upon Himself.  Now, for three hours, God the Father poured out His eternal wrath upon the sin of all mankind on the body of His only begotten Son.  In that three-hour moment of darkness, Jesus bore the torment of eternal Hell for all of mankind. 

“⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 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” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

          Darkness as a separation from the light of God’s knowledge is a small token of one aspect of Hell.  This is to what God refers in Psalm 112:10.  This is spiritual death.  It is separation from God.  He took the death of separation from God upon Himself and then He died physically (Matthew 27:50).  Jesus took our death sentence upon Himself and suffered death for us.  In doing so, He broke the bondage of the curse of death.

“¹⁰ Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; ¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: ¹² Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. ¹³ Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. ¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. ¹⁵ Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! ¹⁶ For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder” (Psalm 107:10-15).

          It is the “thick darkness” that separates sinful men from a holy God.  Without that darkness, the glory of God would burst forth upon lost man and consume him.  The darkness of the three hours of the Crucifixion was necessary because Jesus was bearing the sin of all mankind and it exhibits the spiritual reality of God’s separation from sin.  It is most probable that the darkness shielded the lost from the glory of God’s holiness shining in burning wrath upon His Son during His crucifixion as Jesus vicariously bore our sin in His body on the tree (I Peter 2:24). 

          Darkness was a solemn reminder to the Jew of God’s presence.  The Chief priests and scribes who knew the Scriptures were very much aware of what this darkness meant.

“¹⁸ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. ¹⁹ And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. ²⁰ And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. ²¹ And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:18-21).

          For those of simple minds, who can see the torments of the curse of God upon humanity only in the terms of physical anguish and torments of the flesh, they do not comprehend the horrors of Christ drinking the cup of God’s wrath in the three hours of darkness.  Within those few hours of time were compressed the eternal wrath of God upon all sinful men now poured out upon the body of the Lord Jesus.  For Jesus, the momentary physical torments of the mind and flesh were insignificant to bearing God’s wrath upon the sins of all humanity.  If anyone was to be saved from God’s wrath upon sin, Jesus had to drink the “cup” of God’s “indignation” (violent passion-filled wrath).

“⁴ The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. ⁵ The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. ⁶ Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup” (Psalm 11:4-6).

“¹⁷ And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. ¹⁸ And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. ¹⁹ And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath” (Revelation 16:17-19).

          No one can understand the Gospel who does not grasp Jesus vicariously drinking the “cup” of God’s wrath upon sin for all sinners.  He was not drinking that “cup” for His own sin, for He had no sin (II Corinthians 5:21).  He was drinking the “cup” of God’s wrath for the sins of all humanity for all times.  However, Jesus drank MY “cup” and YOUR “cup” so we could be redeemed. 

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).

“²² Who {Jesus} did no sin, neither was guile {intended deceit} found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him {God} that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree {He drank OUR cup}, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. ²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (I Peter 2:22-25).

The engulfing darkness during the crucifixion of Jesus is not the end of the story.  The crowd and the soldiers had a change of heart after those three hours in the darkness.  God was still moving and when God moves, things happen.

“⁵¹ And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; ⁵² And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ⁵³ And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. ⁵⁴ Now when {all the previous mockers} the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:51-54).

          We read these verses and wonder at the miracles of the earthquake and giant rocks being torn apart like pieces of paper.  We wonder at dead men rising from their graves for family reunions.  Yet, there are two miracles here that overwhelm all the others.

          First, the two-foot-thick veil that shut men out of the Holy of Holies and away from direct access to God was torn in two from the top to the bottom.  It did not just have a tear in it.  It was completely torn into two pieces.  That darkness that separated God from man was no longer needed.  Saved man could now have direct access to God.  Jesus has removed the veil and open the door to the presence of God.

“¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest {the resurrected and glorified Jesus}, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

          The second miracle that overwhelms all others is when unbelievers become believers.  God is willing to save even the likes of those who ridiculed and mocked Jesus.  Jesus made intercession for the very people that mocked Him and Crucified Him as was prophesied in Scripture.  Jesus died for sinners.  Only sinners can be saved. 

“¹⁰ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him {in anticipation of the redemption outcomes}; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed {saved souls}, he shall prolong his days {resurrection}, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand {dominion restored}. ¹¹ He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied {satiated; His wrath satisfied or propitiated}: by his knowledge {understanding what the Gospel of Jesus accomplishes for the believing sinner} shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. ¹² Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:10-12).

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).

          Out of the protective and binding darkness of the fall of mankind into sin, “light” once again shines forth.  The “light” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as He died on the Cross of Calvary is to bear the death sentence upon all mankind and to reconcile “whoever will” to fellowship with God.  Yet there are those who refuse to look at the “light” of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.  They cover their eyes to the wondrous story of the Cross of Christ and blind their eyes to the Gospel of gift salvation.  They continue to live in the blindness of their ignorance of God and His love for them.

“³ But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:3-6).

          The darkness was there because God was imputing man’s sin to Christ on Calvary where Jesus bore the “wages of that sin” (Romans 6:23a), which was death.  He did that to open the door to God’s impartation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the believing sinner (justification) in the gift of God’s indwelling Spirit.  Can you honestly say with the soldiers and the crowds, “Truly this was the Son of God”?  Until you do, you are still lost in your sin.  You need to understand and believe the Gospel.  You will need to publicly acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord of your life. 

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Numerous studies and series are available free of charge for local churches at: http://www.disciplemakerministries.org/ 
Dr. Lance Ketchum serves the Lord as a Church Planter, Evangelist/Revivalist. 
He has served the Lord for over 40 years.