With amazement the heavenly messengers beheld the indifference of that people whom God had called to communicate to the world the light of sacred truth. The Jewish nation had been preserved as a witness that Christ was to be born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line; yet they knew not that His coming was now at hand. In the temple the morning and the evening sacrifice daily pointed to the Lamb of God; yet even here was no preparation to receive Him. The priests and teachers of the nation knew not that the greatest event of the ages was about to take place. They rehearsed their meaningless prayers, and performed the rites of worship to be seen by men, but in their strife for riches and worldly honor they were not prepared for the revelation of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded the land of Israel. Hearts selfish and world-engrossed were untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven. Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen. To these heaven's embassy was sent.

Med forundring så de himmelske sendebud ligegyldigheden hos det folk, som Gud havde udvalgt til at meddele verden den hellige sandheds lys. Det jødiske folk var blevet bevaret som vidne om, at Kristus skulle fødes i Abrahams slægt og være af Davids hus; men alligevel vidste de ikke, at hans komme nu var forestående. I templet viste morgenog aftenofferet hver dag hen til Guds Lam; men selv her var der ikke truffet forberedelser til at tage imod ham. Folkets præster og lærere vidste ikke, at alle tiders største begivenhed snart skulle finde sted. De gentog deres meningsløse bønner og udførte gudsdyrkelsens ritualer for at ses af mennesker, men ved deres strid for at blive rige og vinde verdslig ære var de uforberedte til åbenbaringen af Messias. Israels land var gennemsyret af den samme ligegyldighed. Egenkærlige hjerter, der var optagne af verden, lod sig ikke bevæge af den glæde, der havde betaget hele Himmelen. Kun nogle få længtes efter at se den Usynlige. Til disse blev det himmelske budskab sendt.