The disciples had been travelling with Jesus for quite some time. They had walked the length and breadth of the arid Judean wilderness. They had listened as Jesus proclaimed that the Reign of God was near. They heard him declare good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed. They watched as he healed the sick and drove out demons. They listened as Jesus told parable after parable that threatened to shake up the world as they knew it. They felt the sting of Jesus’ rebuke when they failed to understand. And still they followed this itinerate preacher as he trudged through the desert.