Jesus now stood before the Jews in his true character. He declared that whatsoever things the Father did, those did also the Son in like manner, by the exercise of a like power, and with like results. He also promised those who heard him that they should witness greater acts than he had yet performed in healing the sick, the lame, and the blind. The Sadducees were in opposition to the Pharisees regarding the resurrection of the dead. The former claimed that there would be no resurrection of the body. But Jesus tells them that one of the greatest works of his Father is raising up the dead, and even so the son of God has power in himself to raise from the dead. “Marvel not,” said he, “at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” {2SP 167.1}

Jesus erklærede, at han ikke kunne gøre noget af sig selv, "uden hvad han ser Faderen gøre." Hans forhold til Gud forbød ham at udrette noget uafhængigt af Faderen; han kunne intet gøre imod hans vilje. Hvilke skarpe irettesættelser disse ord indeholdt især for dem, som ville straffe Guds Søn, fordi han udrettede den gerning, som han var sendt til jorden for at udrette! De havde adskilt sig selv fra Gud ved sine ugudelige handlinger og søgte i sin stolthed og indbildskhed at leve uafhængig af ham. De satte tillid til sig selv i alt og følte ingen trang til at højne visdom end sin egen, der kunne vejlede deres handlinger.