Some may question the wisdom of Jesus in introducing a subject so easily misunderstood as that which had turned so many from him on this occasion. But he had a purpose in view. He saw that a most trying ordeal awaited his disciples in his betrayal, his agony in Gethsemane, and his crucifixion. He knew who among his followers were unbelieving and who were of weak faith. Had no test been given them, Jesus would have had many among his followers who were weak in character, and undecided. When the great trial came, and their Lord was betrayed and condemned in the Judgment Hall; when he was humiliated, and the multitude, who had hailed him as their king, hissed at him and reviled him; when the cruel, jeering crowd cried, “Crucify him!”—then these faint-hearted ones would have sunk beneath their fear and disappointment. {2SP 289.2}

Nogle kan måske drage Jesu visdom i tvivl, fordi han fremførte sådanne ting, som så let kunne misforståes, og hvorved så mange vendte sig bort fra ham; men han havde en vis hensigt dermed. Han så, at en store prøve ventede hans disciple, når han blev forrådt, under hans sjælekval og derved hans korsfæstelse. Han vidste, hvem det var blandt hans efterfølgere, der var vantro, og hvem der havde en svag tro. Dersom Jesus ikke havde prøvet dem, (290) så ville mange af hans tilhængere have været svage og vaklende i deres karakter, når den store prøve kom, og deres herre blev forrådt og fordømt af det jødiske råd. Når han blev tilsidesat af mængden, foragtet og bespottet af dem, der havde hilset ham som deres konge, når den grusomme, hånende skare ville råbe: "Korsfæst ham!" - da ville disse frygtelige mennesker være blevet overvældede af frygt og skuffelse.