Jesus knew that many followed him who hoped to receive temporal favors thereby. They looked for him to work some miracle that would benefit them; but especially did they hope that he would eventually free them from the Roman yoke. He also knew that there was one near who would betray him. He told them that there were some among them who believed not. “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” {2SP 283.3} He wished them to understand that their hearts must be open to the Spirit of God before they could be drawn to him by faith. They must be willing to have their errors reproved, to eschew evil, and lead holy lives. The unbelief existing among the priests and rulers influenced the people to be hesitating and doubtful. Jesus had given them sufficient proof of his divinity; but their incredulous minds were ever seeking to explain away his wonderful works. They reasoned that the disciples might have been under a delusion when they saw him walking upon the water. {2SP 284.1}

Jesus vidste, at mange fulgte ham, (284) for de håbede at opnå timelig vinding derved. De ventede, at han skulle gøre et mirakel, som ville gavne dem; men især håbede de, at han til sidst ville fri dem fra romernes åg. Jesus vidste også, at der var en nær, som ville forråde ham. Han siger til dem, at der var nogle iblandt dem, som ikke troede. "Og han sagde: Derfor har jeg sagt jer, at ingen kan komme til mig, uden det bliver givet ham af Faderen." (Joh 6,65) Han ønskede, at de skulle forstå, at deres hjerte måtte oplades for Guds Ånd, for de kunne drage nær til ham i tro. De måtte være villige til at tage imod irettesættelse for deres fejl, at omvende sig fra deres synd og at leve et helligt liv. den vantro, som herskede blandt præsterne og de øverste, havde indflydelse på folket, så at de var tvivlrådige og tilbageholdene. Jesus havde givet dem beviser nok for sin guddommelighed; men i deres vantro søgte de hele tiden at bortfjerne hans underfulde gerninger. De tænkte, at disciplene mulig havde taget fejl, da de så ham gå på vandet.