Matthew, Mark, and Luke say that the sun stopped shining from six until nine while Jesus was on the cross. They are using Hebrew time, not modern time. Hebrew time has the first hour at sunrise and the twelfth hour at sunset. So, the sixth hour in Hebrew time is noon in modern time, and the ninth hour in Hebrew time is 3 pm in modern time during spring. The darkness of all mankind’s sin was placed on Jesus, and the unique union between God the Father and God the Son was suspended for three hours. Jesus was fulfilling God’s foreordained will, the the three hours of darkness.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke note what appears to be an insignificant event when Jesus paid the price for mankind’s sin with his death on the cross. They say the curtain of the temple was torn in two. This curtain separated the most holy place and the holy place, symbolizing sin separating us from entering God’s presence (Exodus 26; Hebrews 9 3-10, 10:19-22). With my sin removed, I now have direct access to God.
Hebrew’s author wrote, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22) Time to meet the maker of my new soul and spirit.
