"Sometimes it almost seems as though the scribes were right!" confessed Andrew.
Simon caught him up instantly. "Do you think that Jesus is trying to destroy the faith of our nation?" he asked sharply. Andrew did not answer.
"Why did we follow him in the first place, brother?" urged Simon. Still Andrew said nothing—but he knew what Simon meant.
"Should we go back to our fishing, Andrew?"
"Oh, no!" answered Andrew, thinking of the hopeless years before Jesus came. "That could never be."
"God has sent him to open a new day for us!" declared Simon firmly.
Jesus had been walking with Philip, but now he dropped back beside the other disciples. The road lay between high rock walls. Their footsteps rang with a hollow sound. The shadows were deep; no other travelers were in sight. James said quietly, "We were just talking about what people are saying, Master."
"What do they say about me?" asked Jesus. Simon knew that he sensed the discouragement and doubt of his followers.
"The Pharisees say that you are trying to break down the Law of Moses," replied John hesitantly. There was a long silence.
"Some people think you are John the Baptizer risen from the dead," added Andrew.