Light Shrouded by Darkness

Light came into the world:

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”  (John 1:9)

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer.  Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.  The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”  (John 12:35-36)

The Light of the World:

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”  (John 12:26)

Darkness covered the earth:  

“And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” (Mark 15:33)

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?”  (Mark 15:34)

“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.”  (Mark 15:37)

In a purely speculative mode, my imagination runs deep with the thought that when darkness covered the earth, maybe the enemies of God thought that the light of the world had been extinguished and perhaps even conquered by darkness.   

But many believe the darkness was from God to shroud (cover, screen, conceal) the inconceivable sufferings that Jesus went through as He bore the sins of mankind while on the cross.

If the enemies of God had done a little “victory dance” while the light of the world was briefly shrouded, victory clearly slipped through their fingers when Jesus rose from the dead. Perhaps it could even be said that the Light of the World shone even brighter as He triumphed over sin and death!