In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden. He makes darkness His pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes. God and 754 His holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son. Yet His presence was not revealed. Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed. And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father's presence. He trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him.

Med undren var englene vidne til Frelserens fortvivlede sjælekval. De himmelske hærskare tildækkede deres ansigter for ikke at se det forfærdelige syn. Den livløse natur udtrykte deltagelse for sin krænkede og døende Skaber. Solen nægtede at beskue det frygtelige syn. Dens klare stråler oplyste jorden i deres fulde middagsglans, da det pludselig var, som om den var udslukt. Et fuldkomment mørke indhyllede korset som et ligklæde. "Der blev mørke aver hele landet indtil den niende time." Der var ingen solformørkelse eller anden naturlig årsag til dette mørke, der var så tæt som ved midnatstid uden måne eller stjerner. Det var et underfuldt vidnesbyrd, der blev givet af Gud, for at senere slægter kunne blive styrkede i troen.