Had they known that they were putting to exquisite torture one who had come to save the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with horror and remorse. But their ignorance did not remove their guilt; for it was their privilege to know and accept Jesus as their Saviour. They rejected all evidence, and not only sinned against Heaven in crucifying the King of Glory, but against the commonest feelings of humanity in putting to a torturous death an innocent man. Jesus was earning the right to become the Advocate for man in the Father’s presence. That prayer of Christ for his enemies embraced the world, taking in every sinner who should live, until the end of time. {3SP 154.1}

Dersom de vidste, at de overgav den, som var kommet for at frelse den faldne slægt fra evig fordærvelse, til så udsøgte pinsler, så ville de være blevet grebet af forfærdelse og samvittighedsnag. Men deres uvidenhed kunne, ikke forsone deres synd; thi de havde haft anledning til at kende og tage imod Jesus som deres Frelser. De forkastede al overbevisning og syndede, ikke blot mod himlen, idet de korsfæstede herlighedens herre, men mod alle menneskelige følelser, idet de overgav et uskyldigt menneske til en pinefuld død. Men Jesus opnåede således ret til at blive menneskenes talsmand hos Faderen. Kristi bøn for hans fjender omfatter verden og indbefatter enhver synder, som lever indtil verdens ende.