Issue 1580 – Seven Sayings, Part Twelve – October 20, 2024

Good morning.
This morning, in our study of the “Seven Sayings,” we move on to the last of the seven,” The Word of Contentment.”
Two of the gospels record Jesus’ last words slightly differently.
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30
The two accounts give us slightly different information, but we know both are true. Eyewitness testimony differs somewhat based on the witnesses’ perception and recollection. We know Jesus gave up His life and declared it finished.
A possible complete rendering of the account could be… Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. It is finished,” and bowing His head, He breathed His last. [or some variant thereof]. It is simple to reconcile the accounts; they don’t contradict one another.
Jesus suffered for the world’s sins. Jerusalem was darkened for three hours, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom, and the dead were seen walking in the city (See Matthew 27: 51-54). All of these indicate that something supernatural had occurred.
I want to pause here and look at those events; they are too big to pass over.
It was now about the sixth hour,and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. Jerusalem, indeed the entire land of Judea, was darkened. Some have thought that all of the earth was darkened.
A typical solar eclipse could not have caused the darkness. A natural solar eclipse is not possible during Passover; the sun and moon are not aligned correctly. Yet, the Scriptures and at least one non-biblical source note it happening.
Tertullian (the Roman historian) wrote that an independent account was recorded in the Roman archives: “And yet, nailed upon the cross, He exhibited many notable signs, by which His death was distinguished from all others. At His own free will, He, with a word, dismissed from Him His spirit, anticipating the executioner’s work. In the same hour, too, the light of day was withdrawn when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world portent still in your archives.”
Some have explained the event away by claiming it was simply heavy clouds or perhaps a sandstorm. We don’t know the mechanism, although I suspect the crowds at the grave would have dispersed if it were a sandstorm sufficient to blot out the sun.
Some have claimed that the darkness did not happen, yet it is also recorded elsewhere, as we have seen. There is indeed only one recorded reference outside of Scripture, but Judea was a nowhere province in the Roman Empire; we wouldn’t expect to find much recorded about a simple solar event. To see even one reference is quite extraordinary.
The dead walking the streets is an incredible sign and totally in keeping with the death and resurrection of Christ. We don’t know how many of the dead were seen or for how long. We don’t know what happened to them after.
Tomorrow, we will examine the tearing of the temple curtain and begin to dig into the last saying.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
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Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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