In the answer to His mother, Jesus showed for the first time that He understood His relation to God. Before His birth the angel had said to Mary, "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His 82 father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever." Luke 1:32, 33. These words Mary had pondered in her heart; yet while she believed that her child was to be Israel's Messiah, she did not comprehend His mission. Now she did not understand His words; but she knew that He had disclaimed kinship to Joseph, and had declared His Sonship to God.

Ved at svare sin moder på denne måde viste Jesus for første gang, at han forstod sit forhold til Gud. Før han blev født, havde engelen sagt til Maria: "Han skal blive stor og kaldes den Højestes Søn; og Gud Herren skal give ham Davids, hans faders, trone. Han skal være konge over Jakobs hus til evig tid." Luk. 1,2-3. Maria havde grundet over disse ord i sit hjerte; men skønt hun troede, at hendes barn skulle blive Israels Messias, forstod hun ikke, hvori hans kald bestod. Nu fattede hun ikke betydningen af hans ord; men hun forstod, at han havde frasagt sig slægtskab med Josef og havde erklæret, at Gud var hans Fader.