Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank. A new and important era was opening before Him. He was now, upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of His life. Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired. He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor. He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub. No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude.

Da Jesus var steget op af vandet, bøjede han sig i bøn på flodens bred. En ny og betydningsfuld tid lå nu foran ham. Nu skulle han i større omfang end før gå ind til sit livs kamp. Skønt han var Fredsfyrsten, skulle hans komme være, som når et sværd drages af skeden. Det rige, han var kommet for at oprette, var helt anderledes end det, som jøderne higede efter. Han, som var selve grundvolden for Israels ritualer og husholdning, ville blive betragtet som dets fjende og ødelægger. Han, der havde forkyndt loven fra Sinaj, ville blive dømt som dens overtræder. Han, der var kommet for at nedbryde Satans magt, ville blive anklaget for selv at være Beelzebul. Ingen i verden havde forstået ham, og medens han gjorde sin gerning, måtte han stadig vandre alene. Så længe han levede, forstod hans moder og hans brødre ikke hans kald. Selv hans disciple forstod ham ikke. Han havde dvælet i evigt lys, han havde været ét med Gud, men hans liv på jorden måtte leves i ensomhed.