Significance of 6th and 9th Hours in Jesus' Death

As we ponder the significance of the 6th and 9th hours in Scripture, our minds are drawn to the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, where these hours hold profound importance. In the biblical context, the day is divided into 12 hours, beginning at sunrise, as Jesus himself notes in John 11:9, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" The 6th hour, which corresponds to noon, and the 9th hour, or 3 pm, are pivotal moments in the narrative of Jesus' passion.

When Jesus is crucified, the 6th hour marks the beginning of a mysterious and ominous darkness that shrouds the land, as recorded in Matthew 27:45, "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour." This unusual darkness, which lasts for three hours, is a dramatic expression of God's judgment and wrath, as well as a symbol of the spiritual darkness that Jesus is enduring on behalf of sinners, as he bears the curse of God, as stated in Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us."

The 9th hour is particularly significant, for it is at this moment that Jesus cries out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" as recorded in Matthew 27:46. This poignant cry, which echoes the words of Psalm 22:1, reveals the depth of Jesus' suffering and his experience of abandonment by the Father, as he takes upon himself the full weight of God's wrath against sin. And yet, even in this moment of desolation, Jesus' trust in his Father remains unwavering, as he commits his spirit into God's hands, saying, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46), thus fulfilling Psalm 31:5. The 6th and 9th hours, therefore, serve as a powerful reminder of the profound gravity of Jesus' sacrifice, as he absorbs the darkness of God's judgment, and in doing so, brings light and salvation to a world shrouded in sin and darkness.