The future life of Christ was mapped out before him. His divine power had been hidden, and he had waited in obscurity and humiliation for thirty years, and was in no haste to act until the proper time should arrive. But Mary, in the pride of her heart, longed to see him prove to the company that he was really the honored of God. It seemed to her a favorable opportunity to convince the people present of his divine power, by working a miracle before their eyes, that would place him in the position he should occupy before the Jews. But he answered that his hour had not yet come. His time to be honored and glorified as King was not yet come; it was his lot to be a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. {2SP 102.1}

Kristi fremtidige liv lå udbredt for ham. Hans guddommelige magt havde været skjult; i tredive år havde han ventet i fornedrelse uden at være kendt, og han havde intet hastværk med at begynde sin gerning før den bestemte tid. Men Maria længtes i sit hjertes stolthed efter, at han skulle bevise for de forsamlede, at han virkelig var den, som Gud ærede. Det forekom hende, at dette var en god lejlighed for Jesus til at overbevise det forsamlede folk om sin guddommelige magt, idet han for deres øjne udførte en undergerning, der kunne sætte ham i den stilling, som han burde indtage overfor jøderne. Men han svarede, at hans time var endnu ikke kommet. Hans tid til at blive æret og herliggjort som konge var endnu ikke kommet. Det var endnu hans lod at være en sorgens mand, fuld af pine.