(I’m posting several quick things today. This and the previous one are quick thoughts from the text of yesterday’s sermon — others are things I’ve been meaning to post for a while.)
Matthew 27:45-46
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?
Exodus 10:21-22
21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:
In Exodus, darkness over the land was the ninth plague, immediately preceding the final one — the death of the firstborn son. I found the parallels interesting, given the links between the Passover and Christ.
The darkness was recorded by contemporary historians: http://creation.com/darkness-at-the-crucifixion-metaphor-or-real-history
Thanks, Michael. Good information.