He had been separated from his mother for quite a length of time. During this period he had been baptized by John and had endured the temptations in the wilderness. Rumors had reached Mary concerning her son and his sufferings. John, one of the new disciples, had searched for Christ and had found him in his humiliation, emaciated, and bearing the marks of great physical and mental distress. Jesus, unwilling that John should witness his humiliation, had gently yet firmly dismissed him from his presence. He wished to be alone; no human eye must behold his agony, no human heart be called out in sympathy with his distress. {2SP 99.2}

Jesus havde været adskilt fra sin moder i nogen tid. I denne tid var han blevet døbt og havde udstået fristelsen i ørknen. Maria havde fået underretning om sin søn og hans lidelser. Johannes, en af de nye disciple, havde søgt efter Kristus og fandt ham i hans fornedrelse. Han var udtæret og viste tegn på, at han led stor legemlig og åndelig nød. Jesus ønskede ikke, at Johannes skulle være vidne til hans fornedrelse; og havde derfor venligt, men med bestemthed sendt ham bort fra sig. Han ønskede at være alene. Intet menneskeligt øje skulle se hans sjælekamp; intet menneskeligt hjerte viste medlidenhed med ham i hans elendighed.