From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

I have always assumed that the earth’s darkness was due to God’s sadness at Jesus being killed. This may have been the case. Another reason for it might be this: That Jesus was the light of the world, and as the weight of sins of all humanity throughout all time past, present, and future fell on his shoulders, this had not only spiritual implications, but physical ones as well. The world darkened.

He said in John 8:12, that if we follow him, we will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

We can see that Jesus was not only dying here, but he was scorned and rejected. He was ridiculed. And even though supernatural events took place through him in his life and even here in his dying process, the majority of people still rejected him.

Alongside this despicable behavior, Jesus stayed the course of grace and love through to the end. He died for all and he died for the one. He sacrificed so all could have freedom from sin. And he sacrificed so a few would be able to choose to follow him and truly live.

And here, he gives up his spirit to God. He relinquished it to him. It was his choice to come to earth. It was his choice to suffer among sinners. And it was his choice to relinquish his soul to heaven at the end.

Jesus always chose us over his personal comfort. He always sacrificed for new life over selfish wants. He loved the unlovable. He loved me.

Lord, thank you for all that you did in your life and in your death. You loved me before I was born and you love me today. I truly live because you died to pay the price of my sin.