Purposeful Timing: 6 Hours on the Cross

Have you ever wondered how long Christ had to suffer on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven? How many hours does it take to redeem humanity? And since everything God does is purposeful, what is the spiritual significance concerning the amount of time Christ spent on the cross?

Scripture tells us it was the third hour (9:00 am) when they put Christ on the cross. In addition, Mark 15:33 says, “At the sixth hour (12:00 pm) darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 pm).” It was the ninth hour when Christ cried out in a loud voice, dismissed His Spirit, and died. Thus, Christ spent six hours on the cross. Why?  What is the purpose of the six hours?

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth in six days. The number six is symbolic of the whole creation that was originally perfect, but was subjected to sin’s curse after the fall of Adam and Eve. That is why in Romans 8:22 it says, “that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”

The six hours Christ spent on the cross represents the fact that He died to reverse sin’s effect upon all of creation. 

Because of the cross, there will one day be a new heaven and a new earth.

Of equal importance, the number six represents humankind, for humans were created on the sixth day of creation. Not only did Christ die to redeem creation, He died to save humankind and to prove His love for us. For, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Furthermore, the six hours on the cross were divided between three hours of light and three hours of darkness. In Scripture, the number three refers to The Perfect Witness, that is, to God. Again, we must ask why?

During the first three hours of Christ’s crucifixion there was light. Light is symbolic of God’s truth, holiness and purity. The three hours of light were a Perfect Witness to Christ as the sinless Lamb of God.

The last three hours of the crucifixion darkness covered the land. Darkness represents being under God’s judgment. So, the three hours of darkness were a Perfect Witness to Christ being judged for the sins of the world.

The three hours of light came first because the sacrifice had to be examined and shown to be spotless and without blemish before it could be sacrificed.

How awesome! Everything God does is rich in meaning. His timing is truly purposeful. He died at exactly the right time, in exactly the right way in order to demonstrate His great love for us! The Eternal Christ did in a few hours what finite humans could never do: pay for our sins and open the way to the Father’s Presence. Therefore, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

I pray that you will begin to see how perfect and purposeful God’s timing is concerning your life. You are unique, there’s no one else like you. God has always had a specific purpose in mind for you. God knows where you are and who you are. He loves you with His very life. I pray you will walk in the fullness of His perfect love and purposeful timing for your life.

You are the one God loves!

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.