A new factor suddenly came on the scene – the Jerusalem factor. Scribes coming from Jerusalem brought their learning and their hostility. They were always there, listening carefully to catch me in my speech.

At times, they would show themselves to confront me in debate. Time and again, I clashed with them. Soon, the crowds caught on and enjoyed to see their so-called wisdom overturned. But I knew the forces of evil were much deeper and defeating them in a debate would not put the axe to the root. Nothing touched their hearts and they were just waiting for their chance.

In Galilee, the climate was favorable to me. The people wanted to hear about the kingdom. However, I knew that my trip to Jerusalem would be quite different. There, the scribes and temple leaders would manipulate the crowds. So, their daily presence was always a reminder to me of the hostility that I would have to face when I came to Jerusalem. The future contained some inevitable events. I would go to Jerusalem. I would face hostility and my preaching would clash with the temple leadership. For now, I had the crowds, with their overwhelming needs and their great enthusiasm.