Christ was now standing in a different attitude from that in which He had ever stood before. His suffering can best be described in the words of the prophet, "Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. 13:7. As the substitute and surety for sinful man, Christ was suffering under divine justice. He saw what justice meant. Hitherto He had been as an intercessor for others; now He longed to have an intercessor for Himself. As Christ felt His unity with the Father broken up, He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness. In the wilderness of temptation the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now 687 the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ's ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ's; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan's kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power. With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ's soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan's kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God.

Nu var Kristus kommet i et helt andet forhold, end han nogensinde før havde været. Hans lidelse kan bedst beskrives med profetens ord: "Frem, sværd, imod min hyrde, mod manden, som står mig nær, så lyder det fra Hærskarers Herre." Zak. 13,7. Som stedfortræder og selvskyldner for syndige mennesker led Kristus under Guds retfærdighed. Han så, hvad retfærdighed betyder. Hidtil havde han været talsmand for andre; nu længtes han efter selv at få en talsmand.