While the disciples had been absent on their missionary tour, Jesus had visited other towns and villages, preaching the gospel of the kingdom. It was about this time that He received tidings of the Baptist's death. This event brought vividly before Him the end to which His own steps were tending. The shadows were gathering thickly about His path. Priests and rabbis were watching to compass His death, spies hung upon His steps, and on every hand plots for His ruin were multiplying. News of the preaching of the apostles throughout Galilee reached Herod, calling his attention to Jesus and His work. "This is John the Baptist," he said; "he is risen from the dead;" and he expressed a desire to see Jesus. Herod was in constant fear lest a revolution might be secretly carried forward, with the object of unseating him from the throne, and breaking the Roman yoke from the Jewish nation. Among the people the spirit 361 of discontent and insurrection was rife. It was evident that Christ's public labors in Galilee could not be long continued. The scenes of His suffering were drawing near, and He longed to be apart for a season from the confusion of the multitude.

Medens disciplene havde været borte på deres missionsrejse, havde Jesus besøgt andre byer og landsbyer og havde prædiket Rigets evangelium. Det var på dette tidspunkt, at han fik meddelelsen om Johannes Døbers død. Denne begivenhed viste ham med levende klarhed, hvordan hans egen vej måtte ende. Skyggerne samlede sig tæt om hans sti. Præsterne og de skriftkloge var altid på vagt for at bevirke hans død, spioner fulgte ethvert af hans skridt, og alle vegne lagde man råd op om at tilintetgøre ham. Rygtet om apostlenes prædiken i hele Galilæa nåede til Herodes og vakte hans opmærksomhed for Jesus og hans gerning. Dette må være Johannes Døber, sagde han, han er opstået fra de døde; og han udtrykte ønsket om at få Jesus at se. Herodes levede i en stadig skræk for, at der i hemmelighed kunne skabes en revolution, der havde til formål at afsætte ham fra tronen og bryde det romerske åg, som hvilede på jødefolket. Misfornøjelsens og oprørets ånd modnedes blandt folket. Det var tydeligt, at Kristi arbejde blandt folket i Galilæa ikke kunne fortsættes ret længe. Hans lidelse nærmede sig, og han længtes efter en tid at være borte fra mængdens larm og forvirring.