This was not a new doctrine which Jesus taught. It was the fulfillment of prophecy, which, as expounders of the word, the priests and elders should have thoroughly understood. In declaring that none come to him unless the Father draws them, the Saviour wished them to understand that God would never appear in person to teach them concerning the way of life. Humanity could not endure the vision of his glory for a moment; only through the Son could they come to him. In seeing and hearing the Son, they saw and heard the Father. He is Mediator between God and his disobedient children. The Jews claimed God as their teacher, but Christ declared such profession vain, for, said he, “Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” {2SP 280.1}

Det var ingen ny lære, Jesus forkyndte. Det var opfyldelsen af en profeti, som præsterne og de ældste, der fortolker Guds ord, burde have forstået grundig. Idet Frelseren siger, at ingen komme til ham, uden Faderen får draget ham, ønsker han at vise dem, at Gud aldrig vil åbenbare sig personlig for at lære dem livets vej. Menneskene kunne ikke udholde at se hans herlighed et eneste øjeblik. De kunne blot komme til ham gennem Sønnen. Idet de så og hørte Sønnen, så og hørte de Faderen. Han er en midler mellem Gud og hans lydige børn. Jøderne sagde, at Gud var deres lærer; men Jesus erklærede, at denne bekendelse var forfærdelig; thi siger han: "Hver den, som hører af Faderen og lærer, kommer til mig."