The immediate circumstances surrounding the death of Jesus are notable. First of all, the land went dark even though it was midday. This was a sign of divine judgement. Amos had announced that for the sins of Israel there will come a time when “I will…darken the earth in broad daylight” (8:9). Joel announced a dreadful day of the LORD when “the sun and moon are darkened” (2:10). For Amos and Joel these signs of judgement served as heavenly pleas for repentance: “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments” (2:12-13). We could see the rending of the curtain barring entrance to the Most Holy Place in the temple as a corresponding willingness of God to accept such repentance. And indeed, in all this darkness, the way to the light was being opened. For in the same scene an anti-Roman brigand (23:42) and a Roman centurion (23:47) are united in their confession of faith in Christ. This is a sign of things to come. But the tearing of the temple curtain also augurs the coming destruction of the temple. The promise to Abraham is being fulfilled and activated here in its consummate sense: those who bless the name of Jesus will be blessed and those who curse him will be cursed (Genesis 12:3). Joseph of Arimathea defended Jesus at his trial, and he honoured Jesus with his own tomb. He is remembered here, beside the brigand and the centurion, as the blessed. What matters, more than anything, is how we respond to Jesus.
Praise the name of Jesus and recommit yourself to him.
Read Luke 23:44-56
