Among the people many believed on Him, and they said, "When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these which this Man hath done?" The leaders of the Pharisees, who were anxiously watching the course of events, caught the expressions of sympathy among the throng. Hurrying away to the chief priests, they laid their plans to arrest Him. 458 They arranged, however, to take Him when He was alone; for they dared not seize Him in the presence of the people. Again Jesus made it manifest that He read their purpose. "Yet a little while am I with you," He said, "and then I go unto Him that sent Me. Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come." Soon He would find a refuge beyond the reach of their scorn and hate. He would ascend to the Father, to be again the Adored of the angels; and thither His murderers could never come.

Blandt folket var der mange, der troede på ham, og de sagde: "Når Kristus kommer, mon han da vil gøre flere tegn, end denne har gjort?" De ledende blandt farisæerne, som spændt fulgte begivenhedernes gang, lagde mærke til disse sympatitilkendegivelser blandt mængden. De skyndte sig hen til ypperstepræsterne og lagde planer om at gribe ham. De besluttede imidlertid at gribe ham, når han var alene, fordi de ikke vovede at gøre det i folkets nærværelse. Atter gav Jesus dem beviser for, at han kunne læse deres tanker. "Endnu en kort tid er jeg hos jer," sagde han, "så går jeg bort til ham, som sendte mig. I vil lede efter mig og ikke finde mig, og der, hvor jeg er, kan I ikke komme." Snart skulle han finde et tilflugtsted uden for rækkevidde af deres hån og had. Han ville stige op til sin Fader og atter blive tilbedt af englene; og derhen kunne hans mordere aldrig komme.