From Newsgroup: alt.bible

How did the darkness come about during the last 3 hours of Jesus's
crucifixion?

Matthew 27
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the
ninth hour.
[note: this would be noon to 3pm.]
46 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?
[...]
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost.
51 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;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept
arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many.

The usual explanation is a solar eclipse. This is not likely because a
total solar eclipse only lasts a couple minutes. Besides, the Gospels
are clear that Jesus was crucified either the day before Passover (John)
or on Passover (Synoptics). Passover always happens at a full moon,
while solar eclipses only happen at a new moon.

Did the sun simply turn off?
Really thick cloud of volcanic ash, where no volcano is known to be
active at the time?
Sandstorm or dust storm exaggerated as darkness?
Are the Gospels wrong about Good Friday happening at Passover?
Are the Gospels wrong about the 3 hours of darkness?
Just a miracle of unknown mechanics?

I'm hoping folks here can offer their takes on the 3 hours of darkness
on Good Friday. TIA.
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From Newsgroup: alt.bible

On 9/20/2025 2:39 AM, Samuel Spade wrote:

How did the darkness come about during the last 3 hours of Jesus's crucifixion?

Matthew 27
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
[note: this would be noon to 3pm.]
46 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?
[...]
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost.
51 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;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many.

The usual explanation is a solar eclipse. This is not likely because a
total solar eclipse only lasts a couple minutes. Besides, the Gospels
are clear that Jesus was crucified either the day before Passover (John)
or on Passover (Synoptics). Passover always happens at a full moon,
while solar eclipses only happen at a new moon.

Did the sun simply turn off?
Really thick cloud of volcanic ash, where no volcano is known to be
active at the time?
Sandstorm or dust storm exaggerated as darkness?
Are the Gospels wrong about Good Friday happening at Passover?
Are the Gospels wrong about the 3 hours of darkness?
Just a miracle of unknown mechanics?

I'm hoping folks here can offer their takes on the 3 hours of darkness
on Good Friday. TIA.

A similar incident occurred in Egypt, where God caused it to be dark for
three days (Exodus 10:21-23), yet this did not happen in Goshen where
God's people were (Exodus 10:23b). God later referred to these events as
His signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 6:22). So yes, the correct answer is
that it was "a miracle of unknown mechanics".
--
Have you heard the good news Christ died for our sins (rCa), and God
raised Him from the dead?

That Christ died for our sins shows we're sinners who deserve the death penalty. That God raised Him from the dead shows Christ's death
satisfied God's righteous demands against our sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John
2:1-2). This means God can now remain just, while forgiving you of your
sins, and saving you from eternal damnation.

On the basis of Christ's death and resurrection for our sins, call on
the name of the Lord to save you: "For 'everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:13, ESV).

https://christrose.news/salvation

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From Newsgroup: alt.bible

Christ Rose <usenet@christrose.news> wrote:

On 9/20/2025 2:39 AM, Samuel Spade wrote:

How did the darkness come about during the last 3 hours of Jesus's crucifixion?

Matthew 27
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
[note: this would be noon to 3pm.]
46 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?
[...]
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost.
51 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;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

The usual explanation is a solar eclipse. This is not likely because a total solar eclipse only lasts a couple minutes. Besides, the Gospels
are clear that Jesus was crucified either the day before Passover (John)
or on Passover (Synoptics). Passover always happens at a full moon,
while solar eclipses only happen at a new moon.

Did the sun simply turn off?
Really thick cloud of volcanic ash, where no volcano is known to be
active at the time?
Sandstorm or dust storm exaggerated as darkness?
Are the Gospels wrong about Good Friday happening at Passover?
Are the Gospels wrong about the 3 hours of darkness?
Just a miracle of unknown mechanics?

I'm hoping folks here can offer their takes on the 3 hours of darkness
on Good Friday. TIA.

A similar incident occurred in Egypt, where God caused it to be dark for three days (Exodus 10:21-23), yet this did not happen in Goshen where
God's people were (Exodus 10:23b). God later referred to these events as
His signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 6:22). So yes, the correct answer is
that it was "a miracle of unknown mechanics".

Thanks for your answer.

One might hope that miracles, if they exist, could eventually be
described in an intellectually satisfying way, like the natural world
is. If so, would they no longer be miracles? Depends, and I don't know.

It's another case of sufficiently advanced technology being
indistinguishable from magic.
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