At the ninth hour the darkness lifted from the people, but still enveloped the Saviour. It was a symbol of the agony and horror that weighed upon His heart. No eye could pierce the gloom that surrounded the cross, and none could penetrate the deeper gloom that enshrouded the suffering soul of Christ. The angry lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as He hung upon the cross. Then "Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" As the outer gloom settled about the Saviour, many voices exclaimed: The vengeance of heaven is upon Him. The bolts of God's wrath are hurled at Him, because He claimed to be the Son of God. Many who believed on Him heard His despairing cry. Hope left them. If God had forsaken Jesus, in what could His followers trust?

Det var, som om gravens stilhed havde sænket sig over Golgata. Skaren, der havde forsamlet sig omkring korset, blev grebet af en usigelig rædsel. Forbandelserne og hånsordene standsede midt i afbrudte sætninger. Mænd, kvinder og børn kastede sig ned på jorden. Undertiden flammede stærke lyn frem fra skyen og åbenbarede korset og den korsfæstede Frelser. Præsterne, rådsherrerne, de skriftkloge, bødlerne og hoben mente alle, at gengældelsens time nu var kommet. Efter en tids forløb var der nogen, der hviskede, at nu ville Jesus stige ned fra korset. Nogle forsøgte at famle sig tilbage til byen, medens de slog sig for brystet og jamrede af frygt.