The message of the Greeks, foreshadowing as it did the gathering in of the Gentiles, brought to the mind of Jesus His entire mission. The work of redemption passed before Him, from the time when in heaven the plan was laid, to the death that was now so near at hand. A mysterious cloud seemed to enshroud the Son of God. Its gloom was felt by those near Him. He sat rapt in thought. At last the silence was broken by His mournful voice, "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour?" In anticipation Christ was already drinking the cup of bitterness. His humanity shrank from the hour of abandonment, when to all appearance He would be deserted even by God, when all would see Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He shrank from public exposure, from being treated as the worst of criminals, from a shameful and dishonored death. A foreboding of His conflict with the powers of darkness, a sense of the awful burden of human transgression, and the Father's wrath because of sin caused the spirit of Jesus to faint, and the pallor of death to overspread His countenance.

Vil nogen tjene mig, sagde Jesus, da skal han følge mig, og hvor jeg er, der skal også min tjener være; vil nogen tjene mig, ham skal Faderen ære. Alle, der sammen med Jesus har båret selvfornægtelsens kors, skal få del med ham i hans herlighed. Det var Kristi glæde midt i hans ydmygelse og smerte, at hans disciple skulle herliggøres sammen med ham. De er frugten af hans selvopofrelse. Det er hans løn, når hans egen karakter og hans egen Ånd virker i dem, og dette vil være hans glæde i alle evigheder. Denne glæde deler de med ham, når frugten af deres møje og opofrelse viser sig i andres sjæl og liv. De er Kristi medarbejdere, og Faderen vil ære dem, som han ærer sin Søn.