hards, 1987, 167). Jesus' calling as the true Messiah was then confirmed by a miraculous revelation from God which was then followed by his temptation by Satan in the desert. At first, Jesus was challenged by Satan to doubt God's care in his extreme need and to compromise his loyalty to God his Father. Undaunted, Jesus then began preaching and baptizing in the Jordan valley but soon moved to northern Galilee, where he concentrated on teaching and healing.
             Jesus soon won much notoriety among the Jewish establishment for keeping company with the outcasts of society. However, he frequently debated with Jewish religious leaders and despite his lack of a formal education as a scribe, his style of teaching and his growing group of disciples soon cast him in the role of a rabbi. These debates "were often heated and strongly worded and his condemnation of religious legalism" was a major factor in
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