The Cross Wasn’t a Moment of Abandonment: A Trinitarian Perspective (Part 2)

God Was Present at the Cross

When we look at the crucifixion, one striking detail is the darkness that covered the land from noon to 3 p.m. (Mark 15:33; Matthew 27:45). Some might think this darkness symbolizes God’s absence, but the Bible often associates God’s presence with darkness—think of Mount Sinai (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 4–5) or passages like 2 Samuel 22:10, 12 and Isaiah 45:3. Darkness in Scripture can highlight God’s majesty, mystery, and activity.

Robert Gundry points out that this supernatural darkness hid Jesus from those mocking Him and emphasized the gravity of the moment. Jesus didn’t die slowly like many criminals; He died with a loud shout, committing His Spirit into His Father’s hands (Luke 23:46). Even the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, a supernatural act that only God could accomplish, signaling open access to His presence.

In short, the darkness and the torn veil don’t show God’s absence—they point to His active presence and work, opening the way for all who believe.

Did God “Turn Away” from Sin?

A common question people ask is: Did God forsake Jesus because He cannot look at sin? Many respond “yes,” assuming that God had to turn away because Jesus bore the sins of the world. But the Bible tells a fuller story. In Habakkuk 1:12-13, the prophet asks God why He seems to “look idly” at wrongdoing. This doesn’t mean God can’t see sin—He clearly does—but it highlights God’s justice and relational engagement. God’s holiness and love are not contradictory; they work together perfectly. He saw the sin in Noah’s day, the idolatry of Israel, and the wickedness of Nineveh—but He did not turn away. He acted to bring judgment, redemption, and restoration.

God is relational. He sought Adam and Eve after their sin (Genesis 3:8–9, 21) and interacted with sinners through Jesus, forgiving, restoring, and drawing people to Himself (John 4:1-42; John 8:10-11; Luke 19:10).

If God truly could not “look at sin,” Jesus could never have been born, lived among sinners, or borne the world’s sins on the cross. Instead, Jesus proves that God’s love is greater than sin. He entered a broken world, took on human flesh, and bore our sins, showing that God does not turn away but draws near in love and redemption (John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Dr. Chiqui Wood puts it beautifully:

“If God was after judicial satisfaction, a simple decree would have been enough; but He is after relationship, so everything He does, He does relationally. He doesn’t just give salvation as a gift; He Himself becomes the gift. In the Person of Jesus Christ, we are saved.”

God saw sin clearly, but His holiness did not prevent Him from drawing near. On the cross, we see the fullest revelation of a God who overcomes sin with love—the Father was not absent; He was actively present, redeeming the world through Christ.