But the Jewish leaders were unchanged by the events they had witnessed. Their hatred of Jesus had not abated. The darkness that had mantled the earth at the crucifixion was not more dense than that which still enveloped the minds of the priests and rulers. At His birth the star 771 had known Christ, and had guided the wise men to the manger where He lay. The heavenly hosts had known Him, and had sung His praise over the plains of Bethlehem. The sea had known His voice, and had obeyed His command. Disease and death had recognized His authority, and had yielded to Him their prey. The sun had known Him, and at the sight of His dying anguish, had hidden its face of light. The rocks had known Him, and had shivered into fragments at His cry. Inanimate nature had known Christ, and had borne witness to His divinity. But the priests and rulers of Israel knew not the Son of God.

I begyndelsen havde Faderen og Sønnen hvilet på sabbatten, efter at deres skaberværk var fuldført. Da "himmelen og jorden med al deres hær fuldendtes" (1Mos. 2,1) frydedes Skaberen og alle himmelske væsener ved at betragte det herlige syn. "Morgenstjernerne jubled til hobe, og alle gudssønner råbte af glæde." Job 38,7. Nu hvilede Jesus efter genløsningens gerning, og skønt der var sorg blandt dem, der elskede ham her på jorden, så var der dog glæde i Himmelen. Forjættelsen om fremtiden var herlig i de himmelske skabningers øjne. Et genoprettet skaberværk og en frelst slægt, der aldrig ville kunne fortabes, når den havde overvundet synden, dette, som skulle blive resultatet af Kristi fuldendte gerning, så både Gud og englene. Den dag, hvor Kristus hvilede, er for stedse kædet sammen hermed. Thi "fuldkomment er hans værk", og "alt, hvad Gud virker, bliver evindelig." 5Mos. 32,4; Præd. 3,14. Når den tid kommer, "da alt skal blive genoprettet, som Gud har talt om gennem sine hellige profeters mund fra fordums tid," (Apg. 3,21), skal skabelsens sabbat, den dag, hvor Jesus var lagt til hvile i Josefs grav, stadig være en hviledag og glædesdag. Himmel og jord skal forene sig i lovprisning, når de frelstes skarer "hver uge på sabbatten" (Es. 66,23) i glad tilbedelse bøjer sig for Gud og for Lammet.