As Joseph and Mary should return from Jerusalem alone with Jesus, He hoped to direct their minds to the prophecies of the suffering Saviour. Upon Calvary He sought to lighten His mother's grief. He was thinking of her now. Mary was to witness His last agony, and Jesus desired her to understand His mission, that she might be strengthened to endure, when the sword should pierce through her soul. As Jesus had been separated from her, and she had sought Him sorrowing three days, so when He should be offered up for the sins of the world, He would again be lost to her for three days. And as He should come forth from the tomb, her sorrow would again be turned to joy. But how much better 83 she could have borne the anguish of His death if she had understood the Scriptures to which He was now trying to turn her thoughts!

Da Josef og Maria skulle vende tilbage fra Jerusalem sammen med Jesus, håbede han på at vende deres tanker til profetierne om den lidende Frelser. På Golgata søgte han at lindre sin moders sorg. Nu tænkte han på hende. Maria skulle være vidne til hans sidste dødskval, og Jesus ønskede, at hun skulle forstå hans kald, for at hun kunne få kraft til at bære det. når sværdet gennemtrængte hendes sjæl. Som Jesus nu havde været skilt fra hende og hun med sorg havde søgt efter ham i tre dage, sådan skulle han atter, når han blev ofret for verdens synd, være tabt for hende i tre dage. Og når han atter steg op af graven, ville hendes sorg atter blive vendt til glæde. Men hvor langt bedre ville hun ikke kunne have udholdt smerten ved hans død, hvis hun havde forstået de skrifter, som han nu forsøgte at vende hendes tanker hen til!