What is the meaning of the darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour?

The darkness from the sixth to the ninth hour, roughly noon to three in the afternoon, was not just bad weather. It is presented as a sign from God. It pictures God’s judgment on sin and shows how serious it was that his Son was being rejected and killed. It also reflects what Jesus was going through in his soul as he carried the weight of human sin. While people kept mocking him, creation itself seemed to protest what was happening on that hill.

What does “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” mean here?

When Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me,” he is using the opening words of a well‑known psalm of suffering. He is truly feeling the pain of being under God’s judgment against sin, even though he himself never sinned. His human soul feels the horror of that separation. Yet he still says, “My God,” which shows he is clinging to trust even in deep anguish. This cry lets us see how far he was willing to go to bear the penalty our sins deserved.

Why did some bystanders say Jesus was calling for Elijah?

When Jesus said, “Eli, Eli,” some nearby twisted his words and said he was calling for Elijah. The passage shows this as part of their mockery and hardness of heart. They were not trying to understand his cry to God. Instead, they treated the moment like a joke and waited to see if some miracle rescue would happen. Their reaction highlights how blind people can be to who Jesus is, even while clear signs and deep suffering are right in front of them.

What is the significance of the temple veil being torn from top to bottom?

The veil in the temple separated the holiest place from the rest, picturing how sin kept people away from God’s presence. When Jesus died and the veil was torn from top to bottom, it showed that God himself was opening the way. Through Jesus’ death, the barrier that sin made is removed. People no longer need that old system of sacrifices and priests to come near to God. This sign says that through Jesus’ blood, anyone who trusts in him has direct access to God.

Why does the passage mention the earthquake, rocks splitting, and open graves?

The earthquake, the splitting rocks, and the opened graves are signs that something huge is happening in God’s plan. They show that Jesus’ death is not just the end of one man’s life, but the turning point in the fight against sin and death. The graves open and, after Jesus is raised, some holy people are raised too. This points to his victory over death and hints at the future resurrection of all who belong to him. Creation itself seems to respond to the death of God’s Son.

What does the centurion mean when he says, “Truly this was the Son of God”?

The centurion was a Roman officer in charge of the execution. He had likely seen many people die, but what he saw with Jesus was different: the darkness, the earthquake, the way Jesus cried out and then willingly gave up his spirit. These signs filled him with fear, and he confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.” His words show that even a Gentile soldier could recognize Jesus’ true identity. It is a witness that Jesus’ glory is seen most clearly in his death.

Who were the women watching from afar, and why are they important?

The passage names several women watching from a distance: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and had served him during his ministry. While many of the male disciples had fled, these women stayed and watched. Their presence shows quiet faithfulness and love. They are important because they are reliable witnesses to Jesus’ death, and later they will also be witnesses to his resurrection.

Why is this passage important for understanding sin and atonement?

This passage shows how serious sin is: it brings God’s judgment, darkness, and even affects creation. Jesus’ cry of forsakenness shows the cost of bearing sin’s penalty. The torn veil and opened graves show that his death really does something: it removes the barrier between God and people and breaks the power of death. Seeing Jesus willingly yield up his spirit helps us understand that he laid down his life as a sacrifice. This gives a clear picture of how God deals with sin through his Son.

How can this passage speak to someone who feels abandoned by God?

Someone who feels abandoned can see that Jesus has been in that dark place. He truly felt forsaken and cried out to God with honest words. Yet even in that moment he still called him “My God” and later entrusted his spirit to the Father. This means he understands that lonely, painful feeling from the inside. It also shows that what looks like abandonment can be part of God’s saving work. Because Jesus went through this, those who trust him can know that their own sense of being forsaken is not the end of the story.

Matt.27.45

Matthew 27:45

KJV

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

The Death of Jesus

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

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?

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.