At the commencement of the Feast of Tabernacles, the absence of Jesus was commented upon. The Pharisees and rulers anxiously looked for him to come, hoping that they might have an opportunity to condemn him on account of something he might say or do. They anxiously inquired, “Where is he?” but no one knew. Presently a dispute rose among the people in regard to Jesus, many nobly defending him as one sent of God, while others bitterly accused him as a deceiver of the people. {2SP 338.1}

Ved begyndelsen af løvsalernes højtid blev der gjort bemærkninger om Jesu fraværelse. Farisæerne og de øverste ventede ængstelig på hans komme, idet de håbede at få anledning til at fordømme ham på grund af et eller andet, som han ville sige eller gøre. De spurgte ivrig: "Hvor er han?" Men ingen vidste det. Der opstod snart en strid blandt folket angående Jesus. Mange forsvarede ham frimodig som en, der var udsendt af Gud, meden andre bitterlig anklagede ham for at være en bedrager.