In marked contrast with this humble man was the expected Messiah of the Jews. They believed that he would come with honor and glory, and set up, by power of arms, the throne of David. And they murmured: This cannot be the One who is to redeem Israel. Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? And they refused to believe him unless he gave them some marked sign. They opened their hearts to unbelief, and prejudice took possession of them, and blinded their judgment, so that they made no account of the evidence already given when their hearts had thrilled with the knowledge that it was their Redeemer who addressed them. {2SP 112.1}

Den Messias, som jøderne forventede, stod i en stærk modsætning til denne ringe mand. De troede, at han ville komme med ære og herlighed og oprette Davids trone med våbenmagt, derfor knurrede de nu og sagde: Denne kan ikke være den, som skal forløse Israel. Er ikke denne Jesus, Josefs søn, hvis fader og moder vi kender? Og de ville ikke tro på ham, med mindre han gav dem et særligt tegn. De gav vantroen i hjertet og blev fyldt med fordom, som formørkede deres dømmekraft, så at de glemte det bevis, som de allerede havde fået, idet deres hjerter fyldtes med overbevisning om, at det var deres forløser som talte til dem.