But the calm voice of Jesus hushed for a moment the clamorous throng as He again declared that He had not come to establish a temporal rule; He should soon ascend to His Father, and His accusers would see Him no more until He should come again in glory. Then, too late for their salvation, they would acknowledge Him. These words Jesus spoke with sadness and with singular power. The Roman officers were silenced and subdued. Their hearts, though strangers to divine influence, were moved as they had never been moved before. In the calm, solemn face of Jesus they read love, benevolence, and quiet dignity. They were stirred by a sympathy they could not understand. Instead of arresting Jesus, they were more inclined to pay Him homage. Turning upon the priests and rulers, they charged them with creating the disturbance. These leaders, chagrined and defeated, turned to the people with their complaints, and disputed angrily among themselves.

Men Jesu rolige stemme fik for en kort stund den larmende skare bragt til tavshed, da han atter erklærede, at han ikke var kommen for at oprette et timeligt rige. Han skulle snart stige op til sin Fader, og hans anklagere ville ikke mere få ham at se, før han kom igen i herlighed. Så ville de anerkende ham, men det ville være for sent for deres frelse. Jesus sagde disse ord med sorg og en særlig kraft. De romerske officerer tav stille. Skønt de var fremmede over for guddommelig påvirkning, følte de sig så bevægede som aldrig før. I Jesu stille, alvorlige ansigt læste de kærlighed, godhed og stille værdighed. De følte sig draget til ham på en måde, som de ikke selv forstod. I stedet for at gribe Jesus var de mere tilbøjelige til at hylde ham. De vendte sig mod præsterne og rådsherrerne og beskyldte dem for at skabe uroen. Disse ledende mænd vendte sig krænkede og ærgerlige til folket med deres beklagelser og drøftede harmfuldt sagen indbyrdes.