But the Jews were displeased that Jesus should claim to be the bread of life come down from Heaven. “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it, then, that he saith, I came down from Heaven?” They so clung to their bigotry and pride that it now seemed impossible for them to believe evidence that was plain as the noonday sun. Their jealousy was aroused that this man of humble birth was able to work wonders that they could not explain away, and teach truths that could not be contradicted. So they endeavored to awaken the prejudice and unbelief of the people by referring scornfully to the lowly origin of Jesus, and by reason of his mysterious birth, insinuating that he was of doubtful parentage. They contemptuously alluded to his life as a Galilean laborer, and to his family as being poor and lowly. They declared that the lofty claims of this uneducated carpenter should be at once repudiated. {2SP 279.2}

Men jøderne var misfornøjede med, at Jesus fremstillede sig selv som livets brød, der var kommet ned fra himlen. "Og de sagde: "Er det ikke Jesus, Josefs søn, hvis fader og moder vi kender? Hvordan kan han da sige: "Jeg er kommen ned fra himmelen?" (42.vers) De holdt så fast ved sin indbildskhed og stolthed, at det syntes umuligt for dem at tro vidnesbyrd, der var så klare som solen ved middagstid. De var misundelige på Jesus, fordi han, som var af så ringe herkomst, var i stand til at udføre undergerninger, som de ikke kunne bortforklare, og at lære sandheder, som de ikke kunne modsige. Derfor søgte de at vække fordom og vantro blandt folket, idet de med foragt pegede på Jesu ringe herkomst, og de hentydede spottende til hans tvivlsomme fødsel på grund af hans moders stilling for den tid. De henviste med foragt til hans liv som en tømmermand i Galilæa og til hans slægtninge, der var fattige og ringe. De erklærede, at denne ulærde tømmermands højeste påstande uden videre burde tilsidesættes.