Public

1. Was the general public for or against Jesus?

As long as He healed the sick and demon-possessed Jesus was popular with the crowds. They even wanted to make Him king to throw off the Roman yoke. When Jesus refused their political kingdom and invited them into His spiritual kingdom, they lost interest. His ministry in Galilee came to an end and He spend His last six months in Judea and Perea. In spite of His hearty welcome in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus knew that once again it was politically motivated. He knew that Judea too would reject Him if He refused to be a political Messiah. Therefore He wept when they rejoiced. A few days later a mob helped the religious leaders to get the governor so far to condemn Jesus to death although he had declared Him innocent several times. When He was crucified Jesus asked His Father to forgive them. Seven weeks later on Pentecost three thousand of them became followers of Jesus. So the crowds started with great public support; they lost interest when He refused to be a political Messiah; they eventually sided with His enemies to kill Him; but when the Holy Spirit came many of them saw the light and accepted Jesus as their Savior.
 

2. Were Satan’s temptations in the wilderness aimed at easy public support?

A person who could make bread from stones, who could jump from the temple without being injured, and who had all the kingdoms of the earth at His feet would indeed immediately be a very popular political leader. Satan tried to lure Jesus into the same direction that the crowds tried to. Jesus knew who He was, what His task was, and what the nature of His kingdom was. He said it very clearly that His kingdom is not of this world.