Lake of Galilee. He carried reports from local officials throughout the provinces that Herod ruled. As he read
single governor reports that there are Jews going through our cities and towns talking
d, "There is a carpenter from Naza
as anything to do
says this fellow wants to do away with the Jewish religion." The man sp
man is he?"
ople," he said. "This Pharisee admi
nded. "Has John the Baptizer risen from the dead?" Against his
ossible," answ
really is John." Herod turned to the officer wh
he is Elijah; others say someone else
ey said about John the B
t missionaries!" ob
inted to the reports in front of him. "
be," admit
at moment, he would have been even more anxious. They were in high s
gdom!" remarked Simon. "Do you not think that the
ndrew. "Herod has crushed them so that
imon said: "I cannot understand what it is about
as made the others feel the
that James, John, and the Zealot had returned ahead o
elves obeyed us in your
rtheless, you should rejoice because you have done the w
"not everyone was glad to see us. I had trouble
"Many times we tried to tell them the news of the etern
story of the Sower,
what you meant. Mast
fe. Some fell on the road at the edge of the field, and the birds ate it up. This is
it withered away because it had weak roots. This is like the person who is ve
his is like the person who hears the word but is so worried or bus
oduced a fine harvest. This is like the person who hears and really understan
ld not be surprised if some of the Pharisee
ne who is seeking political power will join us. Only per
everyone listened eagerly to us! It will not
ed Jesus, "but that is not our business. God sent me in
will free them from the Romans. I do not doubt that they would be glad to be rid of the Rom
same thing?" ret
to explain further, because the people of Capernaum were every day crowding to the home of Simon. When all of the Twelve had a
many people followed them down t
d the Zealot. "What a wonderful chanc
hill where very few people pass by." James and John turned t
eft the group and began to walk along the shore. Soon the others realized tha
is going to follow us," rem
p without a shepher
e beginning to arrive. "I think I know a place where we can get awa
. When the boat landed he led the crowd to a grass
ast the sun touched the hills of Galilee a
ou think we had better send t
ere is no place to buy food here. T
it?" said Jesus. "You gi
provisions with us. Master," said James. "And besides, eve
hilip. "What shal
it would take far more money than we have to b
have we all toget
od. "This seems foolish to me," remarked James. Finally Andrew found a b
ld one of the loaves in his hands and thanked God for it; then he broke it
crowd. "If you eat only this kind of food, you will eventually die. I have anothe
er again. You must hear and believe my word,
is food come from? They could hardly believe what the people near Jesus said: th
ey will do anything for a perso
to your ancestors while they were in the desert," he cried out, "but they died. The true
ut a man in the crowd. "We do
hat kind of food perishes," replied Jesus. "Rather, be
iven them. They paid no attention to his words. "We will do
ur king! You sh
mpel him to be king!"
ck and called his d
Zealot was alarmed. "Surely he
to the Twelve, startin
"But, Master...." He let go
d him. "But he is not the kind of king
few attempted to follow, but they soon realized that twilight wa
ater." The wondering men got into the boat and rowed away. Jesus stood watching them as th
burst out the Zealot, bitterly disappointed. "Wha
desire for politic
anything practical?" asked the Zealot. "What will his teachings
esus. "He did not say, 'I am your Kin
mean?" aske
ends to start a rebe
se all this talk of a
e no other way," said Simon, reflectively. "But there is something abo
he western sky was black. The boat was in the middle of the la
worried. The boat rolled. It was he
oat swung broadside and lurched dangerously in the trough of the waves. Water poured in. Simon stepped swiftly to the c
out," said Simon. More came
ter out, we'll never get
r the side into the boat. Desperately the men tried to bail out
er. "Look! What's that?" He p
he men forgot the waves. Terror gripped them.
e afraid!
of Jesus they were hearing. "Oh, save us. Master!
ed. "Have you no faith, even af
water, but danger was past. Almost afraid to look, the disciples tu
pernaum?" said Jesus. "Did I not give bread to