Augustine points out that the eclipse during Jesus’ death was not a natural occurrence, since Jesus’ death took place at Passover and eclipses normally take place only in the “last quarter of the moon.”
So, why did the Lord rearrange the cycles of the heavens for this purpose? The symbolism on one level is obvious: The Sun/Son is being eclipsed in His death, only to rise on the third morning. But if it was indeed an eclipse, the symbolism deepens. The moon is the light of the night, symbolizing the Old Covenant, the covenant of Passover and new moon festivals. The sun is the light of the day, the dawning day of the New Covenant. For three days between Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Old eclipsed the New, symbolized by the three-hour eclipse (Matthew 27:45) during Jesus’ crucifixion. In the end, darkness could not overcome the light.
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