The Saviour understood the plottings of the priests against him; he knew that they longed to remove him from their midst, and that their wishes would soon be accomplished; but it was not his place to hasten the culminating event, and he withdrew from that region, taking his disciples with him. Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world. His example of self-denial and disinterested benevolence was before them. His life of purity, of suffering, and devotion, was known to all. Yet this short period of three years was as long as the world could endure the presence of its Redeemer. {2SP 370.2}

Frelseren forstod, hvorledes præsterne lagde planer imod ham. Han vidste, at de længtes efter at bortfjerne ham, og at deres ønske snart ville blive opfyldt. Men det var ikke hans pligt af fremskynde den begivenhed, som skulle fuldende hans værk, og han drog bort fra denne egn og tog sine disciple med sig. Jesus havde nu virket offentlig i verden i tre år. Hans selvfornægtende eksempel og uegennyttige godgørenhed var vel kendt. Alle havde hørt om hans hellige liv, så fuldt af lidelse og hengivenhed i Guds vilje. Men det korte tidsrum af bare tre år, var så lang en tid, som verden kunne tåle sin Frelseres nærværelse.