Men Called Him Master

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