The Mystery of the Cross of Christ

Prepare for Life

There is great mystery surrounding the cross of Christ. For three hours, from noon to three, while Jesus hung on the cross everything went literally black. Total darkness fell over the land. The curtain came down. Luke said, “It was as if the sun stopped shining.” Matthew, Mark and Luke each describe this three hour period with one sentence, “Darkness came over the land.” John covered this time with silence. Then he picks up by saying, “Later, knowing that all things had been accomplished….” John 19:28. Jesus subsequently said, “It is finished.” John 19:30. But what was accomplished? What was finished? And why the darkness?