May 31

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour. — Luke 23:44 BSB

He died in darkness so that, when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the light of His glory will shine upon us. For Christians, death has no sting, because Jesus drained the curse from it.

Mrs. Browning beautifully describes the effect of Christ’s death on two angels who lingered behind the hosts of heaven gathered at the cross. One angel is troubled by the thought that humans now have more reason to love God than even the angels do.

“Oh! Not with this blood on us – and this face,
Still, haply, pale with sorrow that it bore
In our behalf, and tender evermore
With nature all our own, upon us gazing –
Nor yet with these forgiving hands upraising
Their un-reproachful wounds, alone to bless!
Alas, Creator! shall we love Thee less
Than mortals shall?”