Chapter 13

David listened impassively until Gershon had finished.

‘How do you know he can’t!’ he inquired. ‘Apparently, all you know is—you can’t! Perhaps you had better wait and verify your opinion.’

‘But’—spluttered Gershon—’the fellow is not a physician! He is a carpenter!’ He was moving sullenly away, disappointed over this interview with the most influential man in Bethsaida, when the sound of many voices came from the cottage—excited, astonished, happy voices! Amazing news circulated through the crowd that massed about the steps. Simon, his heart pounding hard, pushed his way into the house and down the hall toward Hannah’s bedroom. Andrew was emerging with wet eyes and a queer little whimper that seemed oddly out of keeping with his radiant smile. It was true then! It had happened!…Hannah was sitting up. Esther, kneeling beside the bed, was feeding her from a bowl of broth. Simon stood there silently, his eyes overflowing.

‘Hannah!’ he murmured.

‘It was Jesus!’ she said, hardly above a whisper.

‘Where is he?’ asked Simon.

Esther glanced up to say that he must be somewhere in the house; that he was here only a moment ago. Simon withdrew to inquire. He met Andrew, and asked him.

‘The Master has gone,’ replied Andrew.

‘Did he say where he was going?’

‘No. He may have gone back to Capernaum.’

‘You didn’t see him leave?’

Andrew shook his head.

‘He…the Master didn’t inquire for me, did he?’ asked Simon, after some hesitation.

Andrew shook his head.

‘Did he have anything to eat?’ asked Simon.

‘Probably didn’t want anything,’ said Andrew. ‘He was very tired.’

‘I shall try to overtake him—on the road,’ said Simon, moving away.

Walking rapidly to the highway, he shaded his eyes for better vision and searched the thoroughfare, as far as he could see; but without sighting Jesus.

Troubled, lonely, ashamed, and sick at heart, he trudged slowly toward Capernaum. As he neared the old home, his steps lagged. The door was open. Jesus was at work on the old lathe. Simon went in and sat down on the tool-chest. He waited for Jesus to speak.

After a long silence, Jesus put down Ebenezer’s broken contraption and said, with a sigh: ‘Simon, Satan has been beating you on his threshing-floor.’

There was nothing that the remorseful Simon could say. He hung his head and tugged at his lip.

Leaning forward with a sigh, Jesus again took up the broken lathe and resumed his work. Presently he turned toward Simon with a compassionate smile and said gently, as to a chastised child: ‘But I am still praying for you.’

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