The Jewish leaders gathered around Jesus. They said, “How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Christ, {\cf2\super [168]} then tell us clearly.”
Elijah came to all the people. He said, “When will you people decide who to follow? If the Lord is the true God, then you should follow him. But if Baal [200] is the true God, then you should follow him!”
Jesus told them everything that would happen. He did not keep anything secret. Peter spoke to Jesus alone. Peter criticized Jesus for saying \{those things\}.
The Jews answered, “We are not killing you for any good thing you did. But you say things that are against God. You are only a man, but you say you are the same as God! That is why we are trying to kill you with rocks!”
“I have told you these things, using words that hide the meaning. But the time will come when I will not use words like that to tell you things. I will speak to you in plain words about the Father.
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The Jewish leaders had already decided that they would punish any person that said Jesus was the Christ. {\cf2\super [158]} They would put those people out of the synagogue. {\cf2\super [159]}