"You have forgotten what the Prophet Hosea once said," replied Jesus. "To certain people it was said at one time, 'You do not belong to God'--but now these very people are the children of God!" There was finality in Jesus' voice, and the disciples could say nothing more as the woman went home to her daughter. Jesus knew from their sullen silence that the disciples resented his kindness to the gentile woman. He saw Simon, Andrew, and James drop behind the group. "How can he do a thing like that?" fumed Simon. "He came to help outcasts--but not gentiles!" "She had the impudence to call him 'Lord'!" remarked Andrew. Nevertheless, not one of them dared complain against Jesus even though they went on talking among themselves after they left the country around Sidon. Jesus made it so hard for them to follow him! Yet they were bound to him, and nothing could drive them away. Jesus did not enter Sidon, but turned back toward the mountain passes that led toward Caesarea Philippi, a city near the foot of Mount Hermon. The disciples had preached the good news of the Kingdom in the villages of upper Galilee, and every day they saw people that they recognized. But something seemed to be wrong. When they had preached before, the people had welcomed them with joy. But now people hardly even greeted them! What had happened? Had they forgotten the Rabbi from Nazareth who had healed their sick? Where were the people who had said that Jesus had changed their lives and given them new hope? "Have the rumors about us spread here too?" asked James in despair. "Do you wonder the people think he goes to extremes?" asked James bitterly. "If they knew he told a gentile woman she could share in our Kingdom, everyone would turn away from us!" "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.