But the plans which these rabbis were working so zealously to fulfill originated in another council than that of the Sanhedrin. After Satan had failed to overcome Christ in the wilderness, he combined his forces to oppose Him in His ministry, and if possible to thwart His work. What he could not accomplish by direct, personal effort, he determined to effect by strategy. No sooner had he withdrawn from the conflict in the wilderness than in council with his confederate angels he matured his plans for still further blinding the minds of the Jewish people, that 206 they might not recognize their Redeemer. He planned to work through his human agencies in the religious world, by imbuing them with his own enmity against the champion of truth. He would lead them to reject Christ and to make His life as bitter as possible, hoping to discourage Him in His mission. And the leaders in Israel became instruments of Satan in warring against the Saviour.

I en af de første profetier om Kristus står der skrevet: "Ikke viger kongespir fra Juda, ej herskerstav fra hans fødder, til han, hvem den tilhører, kommer, ham skal folkene lyde." 1Mos. 49,10. Folket flokkedes om Jesus. Mængdens velvilligt stemte hjerter tog hellere imod læren om kærlighed og godhed end mod de strenge ceremonier, som præsterne forlangte. Hvis ikke præsterne og de skriftkloge havde lagt sig imellem, ville hans lære have bevirket en sådan reformation i verden, som denne aldrig havde oplevet før. Men for at kunne bevare deres egen magt besluttede disse ledende mænd at nedbryde Jesu indflydelse over folket. Hans afhøring i Sanhedrin og en offentlig fordømmelse af hans lære ville hjælpe til at udvirke dette; thi folket nærede stadig stor ærbødighed for deres åndelige vejledere. Hvem der end vovede at fordømme de rabbinske krav eller forsøgte at lette de byrder, de havde lagt på folket, blev betragtet som ikke blot skyldig i gudsbespottelse, men i forræderi. På grundlag heraf håbede de skriftkloge at vække mistanke mod Jesus. De fremstillede ham som et menneske, der forsøgte at nedbryde de fastsatte skikke og således forårsagede splittelse blandt folket og banede vejen for en fuldstændig undertvingelse under romerne.