that's how he thinks he
will get his way!_ he thought. "Now look," he said to Jesus in his most
practical tone. "I know many people in Jerusalem who can help us...."

James's anger boiled over. "Master, he is interested only in special
privileges!"

"That is a lie!" snapped the Zealot, looking fiercely at James. "I want
only...." Peter's little girl was crying. Harsh voices and frowning
faces had frightened her. She clutched Jesus' robe with both tiny hands
and buried her head in his robe.

"Here, let me take her," said Peter, starting to rise. But the little
girl clung all the closer to Jesus.

"Except you become as little children," said Jesus, "you cannot enter
the Kingdom of Heaven." He stood up, holding the child in his arms; he
did not intend to listen to the angry debate any longer. "I have
appointed you to proclaim the news of the Kingdom of God," he declared.
"You are the salt which must season the whole earth. Everything depends
on you. But what if the salt loses its taste?" The men again felt in his
voice the deep grief they had caused him. "It is fit only to be thrown
out and trampled on! Let there be peace between you!"

Jesus gently put Peter's daughter in her father's arms and left the
room. He walked down to the shore of the lake. The trip from Caesarea
Philippi had been tiring, and he longed to be alone. Under the tiny
white stars he was far from the jealousies and selfishness of his
followers. Sometimes they were truly noble and brave. They were loyal
too, and yet ... they seemed never to understand! In the quiet night
Jesus gave thanks to his Father in heaven for the men who had given up
everything to follow him; he prayed that they might soon understand the
true meaning of the Kingdom of God.

Suddenly there were running footsteps behind him. Jesus stopped
abruptly. Had Herod already discovered that he was back in Galilee? Had
spies followed him here so that they could arrest him secretly? Two
figures emerged from the darkness.

"Master!" It was John. James was with him. Relief flooded through Jesus.

"We wanted to tell you about something we did." There was a note of
pride in John's voice. "Do you remember when James and I went to buy
food today? We found a man casting out evil spirits in your name. We put
a stop to it right away!"

"We will never allow anyone to interfere with us," added James. "He
might even persuade some people to follow him. We want nothing like
that!"

Jesus did n