Text: Mark 15:16-39 1. Jesus came to walk through the utter darkness ∙ Darkness covers the land When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Mark 15:33 1. Jesus came to walk through the utter darkness ∙ Darkness covers the land ∙ The cry of separation And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Mark 15:34 Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 1. Jesus came to walk through the utter darkness ∙ Darkness covers the land ∙ The cry of separation ∙ A painful surrender to death Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. Mark 15:37 2. Jesus came to unleash the greatest victory 37 Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39 LOOK TO THE CROSS. ∙ Look at that Jesus died for you. ∙ Look at the darkness that he came to face in your place. ∙ Look at what it tells you about the blackness of your own soul without him. ∙ Look at how his suffering sets you free, how he is the only one who opens the way to God. ∙ Look and see that because he suffered alone in his darkness you are never alone in yours.