From twelve until three o’clock darkness settled over the whole country; and at three o’clock Jesus cried with a great voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Mark 15:33-34 MLB

     When Jesus was crucified, a midnight shroud of darkness hung around the shuddering shoulders of the world.  Jesus felt He was in a God-forsaken place. The word “eclipse” is from the Greek ekleipsis, meaning to forsake or abandon.

     Seeing darkness in Egypt, historian Diogenes said, “One of two things is happening. Either the world is coming to an end, or God himself is dying.” Obviously, the world didn’t end, though some today see an eclipse as a sign of end times, based on Matthew 24:29-30 (“After the tribulation the sun will be darkened. Then will the sign of the Son of Man be shown in the sky. They will see the Son of Man coming on clouds of heaven with great power and glory.”)

     In the darkness obscuring that cross, the Son of God was dying for the sins of the world. “Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut his glories in when Christ, the mighty Maker, died for man, the creature’s, sin.” (Isaac Watts)

     Those who trust and follow the Savior “show others the goodness of God, who called us out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)  Jesus Christ is the Light of the world—our hope in the shadowlands of a despairing world, our confidence in the chaos of a disturbing world, our joy in the sadness of a dying world. 

     The Creator of the sun, the moon and hundreds of billions of galaxies whispered the universe into being. The Redeemer forgives everyone who accepts His grace. The Spirit within our hearts befriends us through all our years. One day we’ll live in a city where there is “no night—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them.” (Revelation 22:5 NLT) Until we see his face, may we never allow anything to eclipse our humble gratitude for His eternal love.

(c) By Pastor Johnny R. Almond