“And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’… And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” Mark 15:33–34, 37

As I was reading an Easter devotional last week, a question was asked about this passage in Mark. Choose the passage or phrase that stands out the most to you from Mark 15. Read it aloud several times, emphasizing different words each time. Why did you choose this phrase? What might God want to teach you through it?

“…there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” v.33

This phrase is one I typically rush over to get to the climax of the passage (v.34). Jesus Christ crying out to God, breathing His last breath… what an intense moment of sorrow, heaviness, and wrath. But when I read through the whole passage multiple times, until is the unexpected word that sprung off the page and pierced my soul.

Darkness over the whole land. Can you imagine? By historical accounts, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place during the day. The darkness coming over the entire land wasn’t a full solar eclipse like we have experienced before. It was darker than that. I imagine this darkness not only penetrated the people’s eyes but also their hearts. (See Amos 8:9 for the significance of darkness.)

The Jews imagined a king who would rule over the entire kingdom of Israel, overthrow the Roman Empire, and reign forever right then and there. Darkness? I think they probably lost hope and braced for more confusion and terror. Jesus would soon die, and the Jewish people would go back to being under Roman authority and Pharisaical law, yearning for the promise of freedom—a Messiah, a Redeemer.

Until.

The ninth hour.

The wrath of God was satisfied in the ninth hour. He turned His face away from His beloved Son, and the Son breathed His last breath so that the debt of all who believed would be paid in full.

This word until became a hinge word to me, where despair turns to hope like the word but in many of the Psalms.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?… But I have trusted in your steadfast love.” Psalm 13

“You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth…” Psalm 71

“And I said, ‘This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.’ But then I recall all you have done, O Lord…” Psalm 77

The Father had this plan from the very beginning. He knew what had to happen. He didn’t decide on a whim that He would turn His full wrath on Jesus and plunge the world into darkness. The world waited. Jesus waited in the most grueling way.

Darkness consumed the land until the ninth hour.

Jesus suffered slow suffocation and torture until He breathed His last breath.

A centurion didn’t believe in this Christ until he saw the agony of His lonely death.

We deserved the wrath and judgment of God for our sins until Christ took it all upon Himself through steadfast obedience and powerful love.

When there seems to be no hope, when darkness is our closest and dearest friend, when all we know is suffering and heartache, God still provides. When I first read this verse, I was simply taking in a description of the time of the event and the length of the period of darkness. This word until is just a small preposition, but it is a big, beautiful word that I recall and repeat—a word that warms my heart and brings such joy to my soul. Packed into this small word is the provision, love, and promise of God.

My heart aches and grows weary when I hear prayer requests from others about children dying, widows suffering, the sick waiting for a new organ, and the hungry growing weak. This is heavy and hard stuff. We’ve all seen it, and we’ve all been through it. I don’t say the following lightly, in a trite fashion, or without deep conviction in its truth.

We can trust in the hope of the next until. We can run the race and endure until Jesus comes again.

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:7–8

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

Heavenly Father, what love You have lavished on us by pouring the wrath we deserve on Your only Son! The darkness lifted and now we have the Light of the World. Thank you for this passage in Mark and thank you for the hope it brings. I pray for all those who are enduring immense suffering and sorrow. I pray that they see the comfort and hope Christ brings. Blanket them with Your love and compassion. Consume them with peace and give them Your strength to press on and endure until. In Jesus’ name, Amen.