As Jesus was crucified, there was darkness over the land. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of the Son of God. As the Son, he was beloved by the Father. Because he was beloved, his crucifixion had special meaning. Darkness implies that something is missing. Just like darkness is absence of light, so also is evil an absence of good. When Jesus was placed on the cross, something began to die. It was the Light of the World. Christ is the Light of the World and that light was about to be extinguished momentarily.
As the Son of Man was being killed, darkness was filling the land. It all seemed very sad. The disciples had run away and were hiding. The death sentence was pronounced. The nails had been driven in. No one comes down from the Roman Cross. Near despair had overwhelmed those who helplessly watched. Predatory glee filled the minds of the Jewish leaders. But what was Christ thinking? What was the Father thinking? What did Satan think? In times of crisis, darkness covers the land. People dwell in darkness because of sin. Children are living in darkness right now because of human sin. The father that will not work to feed his children leaves his family in darkness. The mother that is too angry with society so that she only blames others brings darkness into the home. These are the types of sins that Jesus died to remove.
The darkness was only temporary. It was long enough to declare God’s displeasure of sin. While Satan rejoiced in the darkness, the Father and the Spirit were grieved. The Son grieved also. But to satisfy the justice of God, the Son bore the penalty for human sin and rebellion against God. Christ endured the suffering and the darkness to pay the penalty for sins committed against him. Christians do not live in the darkness however. They are called to live in the light and to walk in the light (1 John 1:5-7). Because Christ died for us, the Righteous for the unrighteous, we are to live for him and for his glory. If our sins are what caused the darkness, then we will want to flee from them immediately.