Chapter 23

Thad and John ran to the live-box and returned with fish for breakfast, which they broiled over the fire, and produced wheaten bread from their well-filled baskets. The hour that followed was memorable. In a few days, the Master said, he would return home to his Father’s House and leave them to continue his work.

Eventually he would revisit the world. In the meantime, they who believed in him—’and they who will believe in me through your testimony’—would receive many indubitable evidences of his spiritual presence.

‘Can you tell us when to expect your return, Master?’ asked Philip.

‘No one knows the day, nor the hour, Philip,’ replied Jesus. ‘What I say unto you, you may say unto all—Watch!’

In a quiet voice he gave them instructions for their movements in the days immediately before them. No more fishing now: their fishing days were over. They were to return to Jerusalem and await further orders. With that, he rose, held his outstretched hands over them in blessing, and said tenderly, ‘My peace be with you.’ They had all bowed their heads while the touching words were spoken; and when, at length, they lifted their eyes, he was gone.

For a long moment they sat stunned to silence. Peter was the first to rise. They all came to their feet and gathered about him, their questing eyes fixed on his sober face. No one needed to inquire which, among them, was appointed to be their leader. Peter had suddenly acquired maturity. His resonant voice, when he spoke, had a tone of authority. There was no trace of pride or arrogance in it: indeed, it had something of the tenderness and compassion that had distinguished the voice of the Master. It quietly entreated, but with full confidence that it would be heard with respect. He remembered the strange sensation of power that he had experienced on the day, long ago, in the palatial home of Jairus when he had been in complete command of the crowd that had swarmed in out of the storm. It had been a heady potion, that consciousness of ability to command…Today, he had no pride of power: instead, he felt weighted with responsibility. Jesus had privately said to him, ‘You are a shepherd now! Feed my sheep!’

‘We will proceed to Jerusalem,’ said Peter. ‘James, John, and Thaddeus, you will row out to the ships, stow the nets, and secure the hatches. Then you will return home and prepare for your journey. The rest of us will go to our homes and say farewell to our families. We will all meet in Bethsaida an hour after noon.’

The Big Fisherman picked up his shirt and tugged it on over his massive shoulders.

‘And bid farewell to the lake,’ he added, as he turned away with Andrew. ‘It is unlikely that we will ever see it again.’

‘What will you do with the ships?’ asked Andrew, as they moved toward the highway.

‘I shall give them to Hannah,’ said Peter. ‘She can dispose of them—and use the money for her support…And your house in Capernaum, Andy?’

‘That shall be Hannah’s, too.’

* * * * *

Making their headquarters at the shop of the old weaver Ben-Josef, the disciples restlessly awaited their summons. At length it was announced that they were to assemble on a near-by hill-top in the early morning of the twenty-fourth day of Iyar.

In obedience, they went singly up the long hill where the Master met them; and, after a few enheartening words, instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they received further tidings.

Then they all knelt while he prayed for them; and when they arose from their knees, he was gone. Nor did they ever see him again, though—to the end of their days—they were constantly on the alert for his return.