"Whoever puts his faith in God is a member of my Kingdom. To you"—he looked around at all the disciples now—"I have entrusted the keys to the door of my Kingdom. If you teach men to believe in me, they shall enter!"
"We will tell every Jew that you are the Messiah!" burst out the Zealot enthusiastically.
"No!" declared Jesus firmly. "This must remain a complete secret."
The disciples were dumfounded. "But, Master," protested Andrew, "a Messiah whom nobody knows can never lead the people!"
"Now is the time for action!" exclaimed the Zealot.
"I have work to do which you do not understand," answered Jesus. "I have come to save the people—but in order to do it, I must first endure much suffering."
"We are ready to fight for you," answered Judas.
"It will cost more than that," replied Jesus. "I will be rejected by the high priest, the Pharisees, the scribes—and every authority in our nation."
"We can overcome them if we have to," said the Zealot impatiently.
The answer came like an exploding bomb. "They are going to kill me," declared Jesus plainly.