Although the Jewish rulers had carried out their fiendish purpose in putting to death the Son of God, their apprehensions were not quieted, nor was their jealousy of Christ dead. Mingled with the joy of gratified revenge, there was an ever-present fear that his dead body lying in Joseph’s tomb would come forth to life. They had labored to believe that he was a deceiver; but it was in vain. They everywhere heard inquiries of Jesus of Nazareth from those who had not heard of his death, and had brought their sick and dying friends to the passover to be healed by the great Physician. The priests knew in their hearts that Jesus had been all-powerful; they had witnessed his miracle at the grave of Lazarus; they knew that he had there raised the dead to life, and they trembled for fear he would himself rise from the dead. {3SP 176.2}

Skønt de jødiske ældste havde udført deres djævelske hensigt og ihjelslået Guds Søn, blev dog ikke deres frygt stillet derved; ej heller var deres misundelse mod Kristus forbi. De frydede sig vel over at have tilfredsstille sin hævnlyst; men dermed var dog blandet en stedsevarende frygt for, at hans døde legeme, som lå i (177) Josef grav, skulle opstå til liv igen. De havde forsøgt at indbilde sig, at han var en bedrager, men forgæves. Overalt hørte de, at de, som ikke vidste, at Jesus var død, spurgte efter Jesus af Nazareth; thi de havde ført sine syge og døende venner med sig til påskefesten, for at den Store Læge kunne helbrede dem. Præsterne vidste i deres indre, at Jesus havde al magt. De havde været vidne til hans undergerning ved Lazarus' grav. De vidste, at han der gav den døde liv, og de frygtede for, at han selv skulle opstå fra de døde.