Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Saviour could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father's acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal. Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father's wrath upon Him as man's substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God.

Gennem hele sit liv havde Kristus for den faldne verden forkyndt det gode budskab om Faderens barmhjertighed og tilgivende kærlighed. Han havde forkyndt frelse selv for den største af alle syndere. Men nu, hvor han bærer den frygtelige byrde af skyld, kan han ikke se Faderens tilgivende ansigt. At det guddommelige åsyn var forsvundet for Frelseren i denne time i den største nød, skar ham i hjertet med en smerte, som mennesker aldrig helt vil kunne fatte. Så stor var denne kval, at hans legemlige lidelser næppe føltes.