* * *
“This wild man of the desert is drawing crowds,” one Pharisee complained to his fellow priests as he paced the stone floor of the Temple. “He could be dangerous. Some of the rabble who follow him are calling him the Messiah. It’s blasphemous, that’s what it is.” The black-robed Pharisee shook his head, his full beard quivering.
“Oh, come now, Josiah. It’s not that bad,” said his friend, Simon. “He denies he is the Messiah. I don’t think we need to take that rumor seriously.”
“Ah, but there is no denying he is attracting attention. More people follow him every day and participate in that strange ritual he calls baptizing. I say he is dangerous.”
“Well, he certainly should be watched carefully,” said his companion. “But I hear that he may be in a bit of trouble with the Tetrarch, Herod Antipas. He has openly criticized Herod’s marriage to his brother’s wife,” said Simon. “Perhaps, I should say ex-wife. That alone may get the baptizer out of the water and into Herod’s prison. Then, he will no longer be troublesome and we can forget him,” Simon laughed.