Many of his disciples told stories of Jesus of Nazareth�s birth in Bethlehem. The stories often included a visit from the angel Gabriel to either Mary or Joseph informing them of Jesus� coming. After that, they were often inconsistent and because Jesus rarely spoke of his childhood, nobody was ever sure of the truth.
It was well known and documented, however, that Jesus first appeared as Son of Man when he went to visit John, who baptized people in water and heard their sins. Jesus invited John the Fisherman�s sons, Simon and Andrew to join him on his way to the Jordan river to meet with John and be baptized.
�We can�t go,� Andrew told him. �The catches have been meager lately. If we took a week off to go to the Jordan, we would have nothing when we returned.�
�And my wife has only recently died,� said Simon. �Her mother is very upset. I can�t leave her alone at a time like this.� Truthfully, Simon did not want to go, not only because he enjoyed spending time with his mother-in-law, who reminded him of his late wife Rachel, but because Rachel�s death had caused him to question his beliefs.
Jesus nodded, �I understand,� and continued on his way.
John the baptizer dressed in camel�s hair clothing and wore a leather belt, like the prophet Elijah. It was rumored that he ate nothing but locusts and honey. John�s followers said that when Jesus approached, John was overjoyed. �Look, the Lamb of God!� he shouted. He cried when he baptized Jesus. After the baptism, Jesus walked off into the desert and did not return for forty days. John�s followers were amazed to see Jesus return� no man could survive forty days in the desert without food or water. They overheard Jesus tell John that during his baptism, a voice had said �You are my Son, whom I love, and I am pleased with you,� and John had also heard this. John told his followers and anyone else who would listen, �I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.�
On his way, Jesus once again encountered Simon and Andrew. �It�s a good thing we didn�t go,� whispered Simon as Jesus approached. �A week�s journey could�ve been two months!� The brothers laughed.
�Hello boys,� called Jesus. �How is business going?�
�Lousy,� said Andrew, pulling his boat back ashore.
Jesus got into Simon�s boat and told him, �Go to deep water and let down the nets for a catch.�
Simon, said, �Master, we�ve worked hard all night and haven�t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.� The nets were so full that they nearly broke. Simon called over his brother and they filled their boats until they were almost sinking. Simon, full of shame, fell at Jesus� feet and said �Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!�
Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, �Come with me and I will make you fishers of men.� After this miracle, the fishermen trusted Jesus, so they left their boats to follow him. Andrew ran ahead to tell and the nearby fishermen James and John, Zebedee�s sons what had happened. Jesus turned to Simon and said �You are Simon son of John, but I will call you Peter.� From then on Simon was Peter, which means �Rock.� Peter took this as a great compliment and resolved himself to listen to Jesus and trust him from that point on.
Jesus wanted to go to Cana for a wedding, but it was the day before the Sabbath and he did not want to have to camp out in the desert. In the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus talked to the people, and they gathered around to hear him teach. Suddenly, a man came into the synagogue and screamed out �What do you want, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know what you are��
Before he could finish, Jesus said �Be quiet, come out of him!� and the spirit in the man left him. Everyone was amazed, they wondered �What is this? A new teaching�with authority. He commands evil spirits and they obey him!� They rushed out to tell their families of the healer.
When Peter saw this, he said, �Master, my mother-in-law has a fever. It�s dark and we can�t travel until tomorrow. Would you come to her house?�
Jesus said, �Of course,� and they went to the house. Jesus took the woman�s hand and helped her out of bed, and the fever left her.
�May I bring you anything, sir?� she asked Jesus sweetly, then turned to Peter and said, �You bring strangers to the house on the Sabbath without warning me? We have no bread, we have no wine. What an embarrassment!� She scoffed into the kitchen. That evening many strangers came to the house, seeking the healer they had heard about.
�Keep them outside,� said Peter�s mother-in-law, �We can�t have all these strange people from the synagogue in our house, what if they want to steal from us?�
Jesus was silent, and Peter was worried she had offended him. �Mother,� he said, �We do not know that they are thieves. They just want to talk to the teacher.�
�No, it is better that they stay outside,� said Jesus. Peter shrank back and went to sit at the table and wait for dinner, while Jesus opened the door and said, �Please do not enter this woman�s house, but I will teach you,� and from the doorway he taught the crowd outside the house.
�How did they find us here?� Peter asked Andrew. �Mother is very upset.�
�Well,� said Andrew, and just then, Philip�s head popped in the window.
�Will you let me in?� he asked.
�Yes, just a moment,� said Peter, then hissed, �Phil? You told Phil? That guy couldn�t keep a secret if you cut his tongue out!�
�Yes, but we have no food and Leah�s been in the kitchen all day preparing and since he�s a butcher you know they�ll bring us��
�Philip!� said Peter�s mother-in-law. �A leg of lamb you really shouldn�t have!�
�A good cut of meat,� finished Andrew.
�Come on in,� sighed Peter. �Philip, this is Jesus of Nazareth.�
�Of course, I was at the synagogue and I said to myself, �Who is this man? Everything he says is so right, so I asked Andrew if he knew him.�
They sat down to dinner, but were quickly interrupted. Because there were so many people outside, a group who came carrying a cripple tore off a piece of the roof and lowered the pallet on which the cripple was lying.
�My house!� said Peter�s mother-in-law.
�Don�t worry,� said Jesus. �My father is a carpenter, I will fix your roof tomorrow.� He turned to the cripple and seeing his trust said, �Son, your wrongs are forgiven you.�
Outside in the crowd were some temple authorities and they said, �How can this guy talk this way? He blasphemes! Who can forgive wrongs but God?�
Jesus knew they were debating and said to the crowd, �Why do you debate these things in your hearts? What is easier to say to the cripple, �Your wrongs are forgiven� or to say �Stand. Take your pallet and walk?� But so you know, the Son of Man has the right to forgive wrongs on Earth,� he turned to the cripple and said, �To you I say stand, take your pallet and walk home.�
The cripple stared for a moment, then stood. Astonished, he picked up his pallet in front of the crowd at the door who pushed forward to see, and walked toward them. They parted a way for him as he walked, and praised God saying, �We�ve never seen anything like this.�
In the morning, Peter�s mother-in-law set the leg of lamb to stew and Jesus taught the crowd. Jesus and the disciples went out to the Sea of Galilee to find materials with which to repair the roof and on their way saw Matthew, son of Alpheus, who was the tax collector. �Come with me,� said Jesus. They all walked through the grain fields and as they made a path began pulling stalks.
The Pharisees saw this and said, �Look, why do they do on the Sabbath what�s not right?�
Jesus said to them, �Didn�t you ever read what David did when he was needy and hungry�how he entered God�s house and ate the presentation loaves which it�s not right to eat except for priests and also gave to those with him? The Sabbath was made because of the man, not man because of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is also lord of the Sabbath.�
Jesus and his disciples took their grain and walked back to the house. �I�m having some people for dinner after the Sabbath ends,� said Matthew. �Would you and your followers like to come? I�d like to hear more about what you have to say.�
Jesus thought for a moment. �I was really hoping to get to Cana for this wedding.� Then he said, �But it�s only about a day�s walk. We�ll come, and then you will come with us.�
Jesus went and set up all the provisions for repairing the roof, then went to the synagogue to teach. When he arrived, a man with a withered hand was there waiting for him. The Jewish authorities were watching Jesus carefully to see if he would heal on the Sabbath so they could charge him.
Jesus said to the man, �Stand in the middle here,� and said to the authorities, �Is it right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or kill?�
They remained silent.
He looked around at them angrily, and grieved the hardness of their hearts and said to the man, �Stretch out your hand.�
The man extended his hand and it was healed. Jesus left the synagogue, and the Pharisees went to the Herodians to see if they could destroy him.
At Matthew�s house, Jesus and his disciples lay back with the tax collectors and wrongdoers. The Pharisees saw this and said to Peter, �Does he eat with wrongdoers and tax collectors?� Peter, mouth full of bread, looked at them and attempted to swallow the whole mass of food, and choked on it.
Jesus stepped in front of him and said, �The strong don�t need a doctor but the sick do. I came not to call the just but the wrongdoers.�
Peter finally swallowed the food and Jesus said to him, �I am the bread of life. Who comes to me will never hunger and who trusts in me will no way thirst again ever.�
Jesus went to talk to the crowd, and Peter sat in a corner and felt like a fool.
In the morning, after Jesus had repaired the roof, they set off for Cana. The group was soon at the wedding. When the wine had run out, Jesus� mother came over and said, �They have no more wine.�
�Does that concern you, woman?� He snapped, then seemed to reconsider. �I�m not yet ready,� he told her.
Mary wrinkled her nose triumphantly. �Do whatever he tells you,� she said to the servants, and patted Jesus on the arm.
Jesus stood for a moment, thinking. The servant waited in front of him for a command. Jesus looked up and noticed the stone washing jars for ritual cleansing. �Fill those jars with water. Then take some water from the jars and give it to the head servant.� The servants did as they were told.
When the head servant tasted the wine from the jars, he was pleasantly surprised. �Everybody brings out the best wine first, and when the guests are drunk brings out the poor stuff. You�ve saved the best for last!� Nobody could deny that the wine was the best they�d tasted.
�That is a great power,� said Philip, drinking down the rest of his wine and holding his cup up for a refill.
�Don�t make a buffoon of yourself, Phil,� said Peter, who had been thinking the exact same thing. Following this miracle, Peter trusted even more.
�Jesus, why don�t you come home for a while?� Mary asked.
�Yes, but only for a few days,� said Jesus. �You may walk with my mother and brothers; I wish to speak to John privately.� Peter joined Mary and her sons, but jealousy had planted its seed in his mind and on the road to Nazareth, it took root.
There were many questions Peter wanted to ask Mary about Jesus� childhood, but he was too distracted by the deep conversation between Jesus and John. The two spent most of the trip lagging behind the group and deferring those who came to interrupt. Peter wondered what sort of communication they shared that had to be so privileged that even he, Jesus� rock, was not allowed to overhear.
On the road, Joseph, Jesus� brother sidled up to Peter. �So,� he said, �Why do you follow my brother around?�
�Well,� said Peter, �Because he told us he could make us fishers of men, I guess.�
�What is that supposed to mean?� Joseph laughed.
Peter thought for a minute. �He heals people.�
�Really?� he said.
Peter shrugged. �Yes.� Peter didn�t know how to react to Joseph�s remarks, so he noticed Judas and said, �I�m sorry, I have to go speak to Judas about a financial matter,� and sped up so he wouldn�t have to talk to Joseph anymore.
Many people had followed the group from the wedding, hoping to see another miracle. Jesus went to the synagogue and taught in parables for many hours. The people were amazed. �Where did this carpenter�s son get such wisdom and these miraculous powers?� After sunset, a friend of his family came to the door. �Jesus, your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.�
�Who are my mother and my brothers?� he asked.
Then he looked at those seated around him, placed a hand each on Peter and John�s shoulders and said �Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God�s will is my brother and sister and mother.�
Peter smiled, but Joseph pushed his way through the crowded door. �You deny your own flesh and blood? Isn�t your mother�s name Mary? Aren�t James, Simon, Judas and I your brothers? Aren�t your sisters at home cooking for you and the small country you have brought to stay with us? Who do you think you are?�
Jesus sat and looked at Abraham for a long time. �Only in his hometown and his own house is a prophet without honor,� he said, more to his followers than to his brother.
�A prophet!� shouted Joseph, and turned to the crowd. �My brother, the ungrateful prophet!�
The crowd quickly lost its faith in Jesus and started towards their homes. Jesus turned to Peter, �Let�s continue on, I can perform no services where there is no faith.�
Along the way, Jesus told them �The reign of God is approaching, turn and face the good news.�
�Master, what is the good news?� asked Peter.
�Oh, Peter,� said Jesus. He placed his arm on Peter�s shoulder, like a father would to his son. �I will tell you. But first, tell me, what do the others traveling with us say that I am?�
Peter was glad to have such an easy question and answered eagerly, �Well, some think you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah, and the rest say you are Jerimiah or one of the prophets.�
Jesus nodded. �And you, what do you think I am?�
Peter blinked and before he knew what came out of his mouth said, �You are Messiah, son of the living God.� Having spoken the words, Peter knew that he believed them.
�Peter, you are blessed with this knowledge, not by man but by my Father in heaven. I called you Peter because you are the rock on which I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it,� Jesus said.
As they approached the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said, �Let us go over to the other side of the Sea.�
Jesus and some of the disciples left the crowd and boarded a fisherman�s boat�the man was a friend of John. A violent storm and the journey was tumultuous. Jesus was laying in the stern, napping.
Andrew came to Peter and said, �If we don�t do something we�re all going to die out here. He likes you best, why don�t you go ask him?�
Peter knew that Andrew was right. The boat was tossing in such a way that it would soon capsize and they were miles from shore. He approached Jesus and shook him.
�Master, is it nothing to you that we will all die?�
Jesus sat up and said to no one in particular, �Silence, be still.� The wind suddenly fell and the sea was again calm.
�Why be so cowardly? Where is your trust?� he said to them all, and to Peter added, �Nobody will ever die if he trusts in me.�
They landed in Gerasene country. As they climbed out of the boat, a man from the tombs came barreling towards them. His arms and legs showed evidence that he had at one time been bound by shackles and chains, but that he had broken these chains. His body was covered in gashes from where he had smashed himself against the rocks. Upon seeing the man, Jesus said �Out, foul spirit.�
The man, naked and bloody, fell to his knees and screamed out, �What am I to you, Jesus Son of the Highest God? I beg you��
�What is your name?� he inquired. Peter turned his eyes away from the man. He smelled of human waste and was upsetting to look at. Peter forced himself to look and began to feel pity, instead of disgust, towards the man.
The man said, �Legion is my name because we are many. Please do not send us out of the country. We are at your mercy.� The man looked around and spotted a herd of pigs grazing nearby. �Let us enter the pigs. Send us to the pigs!�
With a wave of his hand, Jesus granted Legion�s request. Peter knew this because at that moment, the herd rushed down a cliff and jumped into the sea and drowned. There must have been thousands of them.
The men who herded the pigs came running over and said, �What is going on? What did you do to our pigs?� Then they noticed the demoniac sitting quietly and dressed, and were afraid. �Who are you?� they asked him, then shook their heads. �It doesn�t matter. Please just leave our village.�
The demoniac followed Jesus to his boat. �Please sir, take me with you. I can never repay my debt but I will try.�
Jesus shook his head. �No, go instead to your home and tell the people there how much the Lord has done for you and pitied you. That is payment enough.�
The demoniac headed back to the town, and told all of the people about Jesus. They all wondered.
When they arrived back on the other side of the Sea, John, who had waited with the owner of the boat for their return, told him, �Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name. We stopped him since he doesn�t follow us.�
But Jesus said, �Don�t stop him. No one will do a powerful thing in my n ame and soon speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you are Messiahs�amen I tell you that he shall no way lose his reward. Whoever causes one of these little ones who trust to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were set around his neck and he were thrown in the sea. If your hand makes you stumble cut it off. It�s better you enter life maimed than having two hands go off into Gehenna �where their worm never dies and the fire is not quenched.� If your foot makes you stumble, cut it off, for it�s better to enter life lame than be thrown into Gehenna with both feet. If your eye makes you stumble gouge it out. It�s better to enter the reign of God with one eye than to burn in unquenchable fire with two eyes. Do you understand?�
John nodded and walked back to the owner of the boat to thank him. Peter was secretly thrilled to see John scolded. John had finally made a mistake and Jesus seemed even more disappointed in him than he had been in any others. His words had been harsh and frightening, more so than any language Peter had heard before, but at the same time, made sense. Jesus took the word very seriously and wanted everyone to devote himself entirely to it.

After this, Jesus called the most devout of his followers to come with him that afternoon to pray with him on the mountain. This was unusual because Jesus often retreated to pray alone. Jesus looked at the twelve men before him: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Isacariot. �Would you like to know about the reign of God?� he asked his disciples.
�Yes!� they said.
�Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn,� he said, looking at Peter, �for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst,� Jesus paused and peered at his disciples, �for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. And most of all, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
�You are the light of the world. People don�t light a lamp and put it under a bowl, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so they may see your good deeds and praise our Father in heaven,� Jesus said.
�We have heard you teach many times, but we do not understand,� said Thomas. �Why do you tell these stories?�
�It is important that you understand,� said Jesus, looking around at the Twelve. His expression grew more confused as he noticed the befuddlement on their faces. Peter became concerned. Jesus did not look happy. �To you, the mystery of the reign of God is given, but to those outside,� he glanced down the hill, �everything is in parables so
Seeing they may see and not find
And hearing they may hear and not understand�
Otherwise they�d turn and be forgiven.
But your eyes and ears are blessed because they see and hear. Amen I tell you that many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see and hear what you hear but were not as lucky as you are.�
The disciples passed looks back and forth between one another. They did not understand. Peter watched Jesus and saw him take a deep breath to begin again. �The kingdom of heaven,� he began, �Is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, the weeds also appeared.
�The man�s servants came to him and said, �Sir, didn�t you sow good seeds in your field? Where did the weeds come from?�
��An enemy did this,� he replied.
�The servants asked him, �Should we pull them up?�
��No,� he answered, �because while you are pulling the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat. Let them grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters to collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned, then to gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.� Do you understand this story?�
Peter felt ashamed that he did not understand. He looked around at the other disciples, many of whom also appeared confused, then took a deep breath and said, �Master, I don�t understand.�
Jesus nodded. �The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world,� Jesus looked down and Peter smiled at him to continue, �and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
�Just like at harvest time, at the end of the age, the Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and everyone who does evil. The angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will weep and gnash their teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.�
Jesus saw understanding dawn on Peter�s face. �Peter, tell them what I am,� he said.
Peter stood and said proudly to the group, �Our master Jesus is Messiah.�
�I know that you all believe this to be true. Now I will tell you the truth of the word, without parables so that you may understand. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Amen I tell you they have received their reward in full. But when you all pray, go into your room or a quiet place away from others and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, don�t babble on like the pagans. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. You should say,
��Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from the evil one.
�If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, then your Father will not forgive your sins.�
�Must we forgive debts too?� asked Judas.
�Yes, Judas,� said Jesus. �Also, don�t do your �acts of righteousness� before men, to be seen by them. When you give to the needy, like when you pray, don�t announce it with fanfare like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored for it by men. When you give to the needy, don�t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing so that it can be done in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will then reward you.
�Give what you can, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves trasures in heaven, where they will be safe. No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and Money.�
�Okay,� said Judas. Peter glanced at their treasurer. Judas�s face looked defensive, as though he felt like the whole sermon had been directed towards him.
�Now, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. But do not tell anyone what Peter has so plainly told you,� said Jesus.
In the morning, Jesus said to the Twelve, �You should go off and spread the good news; the reign of God is coming!�
�Master, what do we do if we encounter the Pharisees or the teachers ask us what we are doing?� asked John.
�You, John, should have no problem finding an answer to their questions,� said Jesus. �But, do not resist them, or any evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. If anyone questions you, be honest, tell them the good news.
�Remember: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. In everything, do unto others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Your Father will watch over you,� Jesus said. �Let�s go down the mountain before it rains. I have some things I must do. Go and teach! We�ll meet here again around Purim, so that our reunion will be a joyful time.� With that Jesus started to walk down the hill.
Peter climbed behind Jesus, �Master, what must we do to do the works God requires?�
�The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.�
�Master, where should we go?�
�Seek and you will find,� Jesus repeated. �Go with your brothers. Together you will find a way.� Jesus looked over his shoulder. �John,� he called.
�Yes sir?� said John, sliding on the mud and catching his footing next to Jesus.
�I will need you to come with me for the time we will be away. A second set of legs will be necessary.�
�Of course,� said John.
Peter shook with envy. Why not him? He was as quick and as trustworthy as John. �Master,� said Peter, trying to catch his attention, �What about the people?�
�Peter,� said Jesus. �I think you�ve found your way.�
�Of course,� said Peter. �It�s just like you�� but when Peter turned Jesus and John had already disappeared into the crowd, �said.�
There were hundreds of people at the base of the mountain, all clamoring to get a word in to Jesus. �Excuse me,� said Peter, climbing back up onto a small hill. �Please listen.�
Andrew climbed up next to Peter, put his fingers in his mouth and whistled. The crowd turned their attention toward the brothers. Andrew looked at Peter. �Well?� he said.
�Thank you,� mumbled Peter, then said louder, �Thank you all. The Teacher has gone on private business. We are Jesus� students.�
A ripple of conversation went through the crowd, and someone shouted, �How old are you? You don�t look a day past your bar mitzvah!�
Peter thought for a moment about what he thought Jesus would say. �What is age? If I am a man, I am a man, and I have learned from the man you came to find.�
�But can you heal? We walked three days to see the healer! Our son is dying,� said the man in the crowd.
�No,� said Peter. �I have no more power than you do.� The crowd was growing louder and their voices sounded angry and harried. �We walk from Judea to see the healer and he leaves us with a child�I would be surprised if this kid had a year of Talmud study under his belt�what are we going to do now? Did someone see which way he went?�
�But!� shouted Peter, worried �Ask and it will be given to you! Your Father will provide.� Peter had lost the crowd. They had turned away; some were wandering back towards the towns they had come from. Peter scampered down from the hill.
�Sir, sir please wait,� he called to the man with the sick son.
�Yes, what?� said the man.
�What is your name?� asked Peter.
�My name is Isaac,� he said. �But what is that to you?�
�I am Peter, and Jesus has entrusted those who are seeking help to me. Where is your son?�
�He is with his mother, over by the camp,� said the man, gesturing at the makeshift shelters.
�May I see him?� asked Peter.
�Well I don�t see what good it�s going to do,� muttered Isaac. �You already told us that you can�t heal him.�
�I know,� said Peter, dejected.
Seeing Peter slump, Isaac said, �Come this way. It can�t hurt, right?�
�No,� said Peter. �It definitely can�t hurt.�
The man�s son was shivering with fever and his head was rested in his mother�s lap, even though he looked to be almost grown. �What is his name?� asked Peter.
�Aaron,� said the boy, his teeth chattering.
�Aaron,� said Peter, �Do you believe that Jesus can heal you?�
�Of course,� said Isaac, �Why else would we have walked all the way down here?�
�Okay,� said Peter. �Do you believe that God can heal Aaron?�
�If God willed it, it would�ve been done,� said Isaac. �We made the appropriate sacrifice in the synagogue, and we prayed with the priests.�
�But do you trust?� asked Peter.
�We�re desperate,� said Isaac.
�Have you sat down in a quiet place and asked God to heal your son?�
�No.�
�If I told you that I could heal him, would you believe me?� asked Peter, thinking of what Jesus had told him on the mountain.
�You already said you could not,� said Isaac, exasperated.
�If you believe that God can heal your son, and you believe that Jesus can heal your son, then your son is healed,� said Peter. �Go away from here and look inside your heart, and ask your Father to make your son well. If you only ask, you will receive.�
Isaac shrugged and walked off.
�What are you doing?� asked Philip, who had walked up during the conversation.
�Jesus said that we have the keys to the kingdom,� said Peter lamely. �Jesus always says it is faith that heals the people, not him.�
�Do you think I�ll be able to make wine?� asked Philip.
�I suppose so,� said Peter, uncertainly.
�Well all right,� said Philip.
Peter went back to the mass of people congregated and tried to answer their questions. As he was explaining the parable of the weeds, Isaac ran up to him. �Peter!� he cried. �Peter my son is well, you have healed him!�
Peter was shocked, and the crowd suddenly became interested in him. �You can heal as well? I thought you said you couldn�t!�
�No!� said Peter. �It is not me, but it is God, and your faith that will heal the sick.�
The crowd did not believe him and called him a liar. �Ask this man,� said Peter. �Was I even there when your son�s fever left him?�
�No,� said Isaac, �but you told me he would be healed and he was.�
�Because you asked God to heal him,� said Peter. �The reign of God is near. Turn and face the good news!� So Peter told the crowds as much as he could of what Jesus had taught him, and those who trusted enough found that they could heal themselves and their loved ones.
Peter noticed Judas sitting off from the group. �Hey,� he said to Judas.
�It is our second-in-command!� said Judas unenthusiastically.
�What�s wrong?� asked Peter.
�Where do you think he went?� asked Judas.
�I don�t know,� said Peter. �I�m sure it was important though.�
�Don�t you find it strange that he took John with him and left the rest of us to fend for ourselves?�
�I guess,� said Peter. �Many of us needed the time, though. Andrew went back to check on Mother and his wife. Plus, while he is there he can maybe catch some fish if someone hasn�t moved in on our water and make some money for us.�
�Money,� said Judas, �Is something we definitely need.�
�What do you mean?�
�We�ve only got enough to last us a few weeks left. Without Jesus here and those women who donate their earnings, we will not be able to eat when he comes back. We are not exactly gaining popularity with the Pharisees and soon I worry that people will not let us into their homes for fear of retribution.�
Peter thought about it for a minute. �I�m sure that Jesus has a plan.�
�Kid, take it from someone older and wiser,� said Judas. �We are going to be in a lot of trouble very soon. As great as building a treasure trove in the kingdom of heaven is, if we don�t put something into this,� he held up the pouch in which the funds were kept, �We will all get there much sooner than we anticipated.�
About a week before Purim, Andrew came back. �News of Jesus has spread,� he said. �Rachel�s mother said that he raised a man called Lazarus from the dead in Bethany.�
�Really?� said Peter, wide and green eyed. He wished desperately that he, and not John, had been there to witness the miracle of resurrection.
�That�s what I heard. I�m only repeating a story,� said Andrew. �She also said that he fed five thousand people with two loaves of bread and seven fish.�
�Wow,� said Peter.
�And he called the Pharisees hypocrites right to their faces,� said Andrew. �But all the news is not good.�
�What�s wrong?� asked Peter.
�Asher and Simon have taken our boats and are fishing where we did. And the new tax collector has been bothering your mother-in-law, saying that if she doesn�t pay her taxes to the Caesar, they will take her away. I�ve only come back to tell you this, and to tell you that you have to come home.�
�I�m not going home,� said Peter. His mind was racing. He had an obligation to his mother-in-law, but he was so important here, after this time people in the group had begun to come to hear him teach.
�Simon, you have to come home,� said Andrew. �I know you are drunk with power, but we have to live in reality. Jesus took John on his special journey. He left you behind. Now you must be responsible to those you left behind.�
�No,� said Peter. �I�m not going, and that�s that.�
�I�ll let you think about it,� said Andrew. �But I�m sure you will do the right thing. You know that God would want you to take care of your responsibilities. You have obligations.�
Peter shrugged and walked away. He avoided Andrew, and felt a nagging in his stomach thinking of his poor mother-in-law, but refused on principle. �I will not be guilted into giving up on my chance to enter the kingdom of God. Like Jesus said, I am his brother.� Peter enjoyed the fame and power of being Jesus� rock, and knew that Andrew had given up.
�Your brother is gone,� Philip told him the day before Purim. �He left this for you.� Philip handed him a pouch full of coins, easily a week�s worth of fishing. �I�m going to go home too. Andrew says that my daughter is up to his waist now. I can�t chase dreams, I have to go support my family.�
Peter nodded. �I understand. I hope that God does too,� he said.
�I am sure that God will,� said Philip.
�Take care then,� said Peter.
�You too,� said Philip.
Peter went to Judas and gave him the coins. �You�re starting to think like a man,� Judas told him, pocketing the pouch, then pulling it back out. �Here,� he said, taking out some money. �Why don�t you walk to Tiberias and get some wine for Purim?�
Peter took the money and left. When he returned, Jesus and John were back. �Master!� said Peter and he embraced him.
�Now is not the time, Peter,� said Jesus, looking into the distance. The Pharisees were coming.
�What are you teaching?� they asked. �People are not coming to synagogue, they are praying at home. You ignore the word! Why don�t your disciples walk after the way of the elders but eat bread with dirty hands?�
�Isaiah spoke of you hypocrites when he said
This people honors me with lips
But their heart is far from me
They worship me in vain
Teaching teachings which are men�s commands.
Deserting God�s command you keep man�s way. These rituals you have concocted, this business you have set up are all your own creation and you keep these rules not for your Father but for your own gain.� He turned to the crowd and said, �Hear me all of you and understand. There is nothing outside a man that entering him can defile him but the things coming out of a man are the ones that defile a man.� Jesus turned and walked away.
�Jesus, what does that mean?� asked Peter.
�Are you stupid?� spat Jesus. �Don�t you understand that anything outside entering a man can�t defile him because it doesn�t enter his heart but his belly and goes out of him? The things coming out of a man are the things which defile him. From inside the hearts of men come bad thoughts�fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, hatred, deceit, lust, evil eye, slander, pride, folly: all these evil things come from inside and defile a man.�
Peter wondered what had happened in the months when Jesus was away to make him so short and hostile. Perhaps, he reasoned, it was his own bloated ego from running the camp that made him sensitive to criticism.
A while later, a man approached Jesus, �Teacher, I brought you my son who has a dumb spirit. Wherever it seizes him it throws him down and he gnashes his teeth and goes stiff. I asked Peter to expel him and he couldn�t.�
Peter looked at the man. He had talked to him a week earlier, and told him that all he needed to heal his son was faith, just as he had with so many others. He was embarrassed that his failure had been brought in front of Jesus.
�Unbelieving generation, how long must I be with you? How much more will I have to bear?� He sighed disgustedly. �Bring him to me.�
The man brought forth his son, and the boy immediately fell convulsing to the ground.
Jesus watched the boy twitch on the ground and asked the father, �How long has this been happening to him?�
�Since his childhood. It often throws him into fire or water to destroy him, but if you can do anything take pity on us. Help us, if you can.�
Jesus was visibly irritated. ��If you can?�� he asked incredulous. �Everything can be for a believer.�
The man said, �I want to believe. Help my unbelief!�
Seeing the gathering crowd, Jesus said quickly, �Dumb and deaf spirit, I order you to come out of him and enter him no more!�
The boy shook so hard and screamed, then fell so still that he appeared to be dead. Jesus pulled the boy up and he stood.
Peter was confused. He had been sure that the man�s disbelief was the reason the spirit had not left the boy. �Why couldn�t I expel it?� he wondered aloud.
�This kind comes out for nothing but prayer,� said Jesus.
The crowd pressed him and Jesus turned away from them and gestured for Peter to join him. �I prayed,� he said.
�I know,� said Jesus. �It is not just prayer�sometimes when people do not believe, you must allow them to believe.�
�What do you mean?� asked Peter.
�The man brought his son to see me, and he believed that only I could expel the spirit from his son. If he had put his faith in God, he could have saved himself a trip, but this man needed a manifestation of God to put his faith in. Do you understand?�
�No,� said Peter.
�At the moment I commanded the spirit out of him, the man�s faith was brought to life. He asked God with his heart to heal the boy, but only because he believed that my words would heal him. He did not put his faith in you, which is not your fault. Some men have the least faith, and they will be least in the kingdom of heaven.�
Six days later, Jesus brought Peter, John and James to the very peak of the mountain alone. Jesus changed in shape before them and his clothes became a bright white such as no bleach on Earth can whiten. Elijah appeared to them with Moses and they were talking with Jesus.
Peter, shocked, said to Jesus, �Teacher, it is so good that we are here. We can each make a tent so there will be three�one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.� Peter was embarrassed by his outburst but he was terrified. He looked over to John and James who stood trembling like trees in a storm. Then a cloud came and blocked the moon and they heard a voice say, �This is my Son, the loved one. Hear him.�
Suddenly, looking around they no longer saw anyone but Jesus standing with them. As they climbed back to where the other disciples were resting, Jesus warned them never to tell what they witnessed on the peak of the mountain. Then he went off to pray alone, leaving them.
�Can you believe that?� asked Peter, flabbergasted.
�Of course,� said John. �We shouldn�t talk about it, he told us not to.�
�No, he told us not to tell anyone. I don�t think Jesus would mind if we collected our thoughts on the miracle we just witnessed,� said Peter.
�Well I think he would, and I don�t want to disobey him,� said John.
Peter quietly seethed at John for a while, then noticed Jesus walking back.
�There is something else you must know,� he said. �We will go to Jerusalem for Pesach, and when we arrive, I will be handed into the hands of the elders, the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will mock me, spit on me, flog me and then they will kill me, but on the third day I will rise.�
Peter was horrified and forgetting himself, took Jesus by the arm and said, �Never, Lord, this shall never happen to you!�
Jesus shook him off and said, �Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.�
He turned to the John and James and said, �If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. The Son of Man is going to come in his Father�s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. Amen I tell you, some of you standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in the kingdom.�
Jesus climbed down the mountain, and the three men followed him in stunned silence. Peter ran to tell the others, �Jesus wants to go to Jerusalem, where he knows he will be killed. We can�t let him do this!�
John stepped in, �Peter, you are still thinking selfishly. Jesus said that if we try to save him, we will only lose. This is part of the plan, don�t you see?�
The next morning, James and John approached Jesus and said, �Teacher, promise that you will do whatever we ask for us.�
�What is it that you want me to do for you?� Jesus asked.
�Grant that one on your right and one on your left we may sit in your glory,� said John.
�You don�t know what you�re asking,� Jesus sighed. �Can you drink the cup I�m drinking or be baptized with the baptism I�m to be baptized with?�
�Yes, we can,� said John.
�Then what I drink you�ll drink, and in my baptism you�ll be baptized,� he said. �But to sit on my right or left is not mine to give, but rather for the ones to whom those places are assigned.�
The other disciples were affronted by John and James�s request. Peter was glad that they finally saw how John thought himself better than all the others, but at the same time pitied them because nobody would speak to them or share food with them for the rest of the day.
At the end of the day, Jesus called them to a meeting. �You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exert power over them. Whoever wishes to be great among you will be the servant to all of you, and whomever thinks himself first will be last. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.� He nodded, and afterward, everyone spoke to Zebedee�s sons again.
As they walked toward Jerusalem, Jesus sent Matthew and Thomas toward the Mount of Olives and told them, �In the village opposite you, there will be a tethered colt. Untie it and bring it back to us. If anyone asks you what you�re doing, tell them �The Lord needs it and at once he�ll send it back.��
Matthew and Thomas returned to the road a few hours later with the colt. �Master, it was there just as you said it would be,� said Thomas, �and when its owner asked what we were doing, we told him what you said and he let us have it!�
Jesus climbed onto the colt and told them, �When we enter the city, you must sing.� He wanted to fulfill the prophesy of the coming of Messiah.
They spread their coats in the road and branches of leaves cut from the fields. They cried out ��Hosanna! Blessed he who comes in the Lord�s name! Blessed the coming reign of David our father! Hosanna in the heights!��
So he entered Jerusalem and the Temple, and looking around at everything�the hour was late and very few people were around�he turned around and went to Bethany. Jesus did not speak to anyone for the rest of the night, and the next morning he was hungry, and saw a fig tree in the distance. Jesus approached it, hoping to find fruit, but found only leaves because it was too early for figs. �Let no one ever eat fruit from you again,� he said to the tree, and Peter, who had followed him, heard him.
They returned to Jerusalem that day and entered the Temple. Jesus, eyes wild, began overturning tables and chairs, knocking money to the ground and screamed out, �Hasn�t it been written that �My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations?� But you have made it �a bandit�s cave.�� The chief priests and scholars heard and looked for a way to destroy him because they feared him.
As they walked back to Bethany, they passed the fig tree, which had withered in its roots. �Look, the fig tree you cursed has withered,� said Peter. This worried him because Jesus had not been destructive at the beginning of their journey. More and more it seemed to Peter that Jesus was trying to bring about the reign of God by putting himself in danger, rather than waiting on the natural order.
The next day, when Jesus returned to the temple and again tried to upset the commerce, the chief priests, scholars and elders came to him and asked, �By what right do you do these things? Or who gave you this right?�
A crowd had gathered to see what would happen, and Jesus said loudly, �If you answer my question, I will answer yours. John�s baptism�was it Heaven�s or men�s?�
Peter could see how clever the question was�if they said �Heaven�s,� he could ask them why they did not trust God, but if they said �men�s� the crowd would be angry because they believed John to be a prophet. �We don�t know,� said the elders.
�Well then I can�t tell you by what right I do these things,� said Jesus simply. He sat outside the Temple and said, �A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and built a watchtower to protect it. Then he leased it to tenants and went away. At the harvest, he send a slave to the vineyard to collect the fruit, but the tenants beat him and sent him back empty handed. The man sent another slave. They beat the second one and insulted him. The man sent another slave, and continued sending slaves, and the tenants beat some and killed others. Finally, the man had only one messenger left: his son. He sent his son, thinking �They will honor my son.� But the tenants said, �This is the heir, if we kill him, then the inheritance will be ours.� So they killed the son. What will the man do? He will kill the tenants, and give the vineyards to others.�
The priests wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd because they knew that the parable reflected on them. They went and called the Pharisees and the Herodians to come and try to trick Jesus into incriminating himself.
�Teacher we know you�re honest and teach God�s way. Is it right to pay tribute to Caesar?� they asked him.
�Bring me a denar so I may see,� he said. Peter wiggled with delight. This was the Jesus he really liked to see�cleverer than anyone he�d ever met. Jesus was in his element under fire, and Peter thought for a moment that Jesus� plan (if his plan was, in fact, to bring about change through creating a spectacle) would work, without Jesus having to die.
The Pharisees produced a denar. �Whose picture is this?�
�Caesar�s,� they said.
�Then Caesar�s things give back to Caesar and God�s things to God,� he said and laughed.
They were dumbfounded by him.
�Beware the scholars,� he warned the crowd, �the ones who parade in flowing robes and like to be greeted in the markets and seated in the best seats in the synagogues and at banquets, the ones consuming widows� houses under cover of long prayer: these shall get greater damnation.�
That evening, Andrew and Philip met them by their house in Bethany. �We heard about Jesus all the way in Bethsaida! We were among the first, we couldn�t deny that we are a part of something bigger than fishing and butchery,� said Andrew.
�You�re right,� said Jesus. �See these huge buildings? There shall be no stone left on a stone that will not be thrown down.�
That evening, Jesus called the first four, Peter, Andrew, James and John to the Mount of Olives to tell them privately of the things to come. �Watch that nobody leads you wrong. Many will come in my name and lead people astray. When you hear of wars, don�t be afraid. It must happen and nation will be against nation. There will be earthquakes, famines and the onset of birth and pain.
�They�ll hand you over to the courts. You�ll be beaten in synagogues and stand before kings and governors for my sake and witness to them the good news. You�ll be hated by everyone because of my name but the one surviving to the end�that one will be saved.
�If anyone tells you to look at a Messiah, don�t trust them. In those days after the trial,
The sun shall turn dark,
The moon give none of her light,
The stars shall be falling from Heaven
And the powers in the Heavens shall quake.
Then they�ll see �The Son of Man coming on clouds� with great power and glory and then he�ll send the angels and they�ll gather his chosen. What I say to you I say to all�watch.�
Peter spent that night crying. He was afraid because Jesus sounded like he had really lost his mind, and also because he was afraid that what Jesus had said was true, and that he would be shamed, beaten and ultimately killed. Andrew comforted him, but the reality of death is difficult for any teenage boy to bear, and Peter knew in his heart that following Jesus would ultimately kill him, but was so devoted that he could see no alternative but to march onward towards his death.
Jesus and his disciples stayed in Simon the leper�s house in Bethany. A woman came to the house and broke a full flask full of nard ointment to pour on Jesus� head. �Why did we waste that ointment?� asked Judas. �We could have sold it for three hundred denars and given it to the poor. You�re a stupid woman.�
�Let her be,� said Jesus. �She did a good deed on me. The poor will always be here, but I will not be. What she could do, she has done. It is early to anoint my body for burial. Amen, I tell you wherever the good news is declared, what this woman did shall also be told.� Judas left the house then, and later it would be known that he had gone to the chief priest and promised silver for Jesus.
The next day was the first day of Pesach, and Peter asked him, �Master, where would you like to have the Pesach Seder?�
He told Andrew and Peter, �Go into the city, and you�ll meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. Wherever he goes, tell the owner �The teacher says where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?� He will show you a big room that is ready for the meal. Prepare for us there.�
They went to the city and down an alley, a man was milling around with a water jug. He seemed to be waiting. When he saw Peter, he looked him up and down and then walked towards them. It was as though he had recognized Peter. He gestured with his head to follow him and walked them through the city to a building, where Peter told the owner, �The teacher says, �Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?�� The man nodded and showed them the room upstairs, just as Jesus described it. Some of the women who had followed them were already there, preparing the meal.
They all gathered and lay reclined for the Seder. Jesus filled a basin of water and approached Peter. He started washing Peter�s feet and wiping them off with the towel he wore. Peter was embarrassed. �Master, you�re washing my feet?� he asked.
�What I�m doing you don�t know yet but you�ll know after this,� Jesus said.
�No way will you wash my feet not till eternity,� Peter said, withdrawing his legs.
�Unless I wash you, you have no part in me,� said Jesus.
Peter looked warily at Jesus, but gave back his feet. Then he realized that Jesus� time was running out and said, �Lord, not just my feet but also my hands and head.�
Jesus washed all of their feet and said, �Do you know what I�ve done to you? You call me teacher and lord and well you say it, for I am. If I, your lord and teacher, washed your feet, then you should wash one another�s feet. I�ve given you an example. Amen I tell you a slave is not greater than his lord, nor one who�s sent greater than the one sending him. If you know these things then you�re blessed if you do them. I tell you before it happens so you may trust when it happens�that I am. Amen I tell you the one accepting me accepts the one who sent me. Amen I tell you that one of you shall hand me over.�
Everyone at the table studied everyone else carefully. Peter, who was laying next to John, nudged him and said, �Ask him who it is he�s talking about.�
John shook his head, but Thomas had overheard and egged him on. �Come on, John,� he said.
So John leaned onto Jesus� chest and said, �Lord, who is it?�
�The one I�ll give a sop to when I�ve dipped it,� said Jesus. He dipped the sop and gave it to Judas. John tipped his head slightly toward Judas. Peter was saddened but not surprised. Judas had, in his own way, not believed in Jesus through much of their journey. He was not happy and Peter could not see the word bringing him any more joy, especially now that the good news had turned ugly.
�Take,� said Jesus, passing around a loaf of bread, �For this is my body.� Then Jesus passed around a cup and said, �This is my blood of the promise poured out for many. Amen I tell you never will I drink the fruit of the vine till the day when I drink it new in the reign of God.
�All of you shall stumble,� he told them.
Peter shook his head. �Even if everyone stumbles, I won�t.�
Jesus said to him, �Amen I tell you, you will deny me three times before the cock crows twice.�
Peter could not and would not believe Jesus. �If I must die with you no way would I deny you.� All the others chimed in with Peter, saying �We will not deny you, Lord.�
�After I am gone,� said Jesus, �If you ask me anything in my name, I�ll do it.� Jesus was teary eyed. He went into the garden, and many of his disciples followed him. �My soul is anguished.� Then he said quietly, �Abba, Father, everything is possible to you. Take this cup from me� � but just then Judas came into the garden with a crowd of chief priests, scholars and elders.
He had told them, �Whomever I kiss is Jesus,� so he entered the garden and said, �Teacher!� and kissed Jesus on the cheek. The slaves rushed forward and grabbed Jesus, and Peter drew his sword and cut off the High Priest�s slave�s ear.
�Peter, put your knife away,� said Jesus. �This is the cup I�ve been given, and so I will drink from it.� The disciples then scattered, but Peter and John snuck behind the procession to the High Priest�s courtyard. John knew the High Priest from his days as a fisherman, so he went inside, then came out and brought Peter in as well.
The girl at the door asked, �Aren�t you one of this man�s disciples?�
Peter, afraid for his safety said, �I�m not.�
Inside, Jesus was being questioned and Peter worried for his safety too. He moved to the fire where the slaves were warming their hands because it was closer to the door.
�Are you sure you�re not one of his disciples?� said a slave.
�No, I�ve never seen the man before tonight,� Peter said, in agony, moving still closer to the door. He could not hear anything.
One of the slaves who had seized Jesus asked him, �Weren�t you in the garden?�
�I have no idea what you�re talking about,� said Peter, and then the cock crowed, and Peter realized what he had done. He fled from the garden. The next day, he went to the city and saw as the crowd chose to free Barabbas, a known robber, instead of Jesus, whom they had loved the day before.
A price was placed on the heads of any known disciples of Jesus, so Peter was forced to leave Jerusalem and hide in Bethpage. Mary Magdalene, a woman who had followed them for the last months, brought back the terrible news of Jesus� fate.
As he had predicted, Jesus was beaten and humiliated. They charged him with speaking against Caesar and he was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Before he was crucified, he was so badly beaten that he could barely carry his stake to Golgotha. He died the same day that they crucified him, and his last words were, �My God, my God, why did you forsake me?�
The day he died was before the Sabbath. John came to Bethpage that night. He had stayed through the whole terrible ordeal, and because he was known and well-liked in Jerusalem nobody accused him of being a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.
�Peter,� he said, �You are a coward and did not deserve the great love that he gave to you. Joseph of Arimathea pleaded his case and Jesus will be given a proper burial, as though that matters to you.� John shook his head, disgusted.
�John, it is a matter of my life,� said Peter.
�What happened to �If I must die I will not betray you?�� John spat. �Your convictions are misguided. You loved him as a man, not as Messiah. You abandoned him in his time of need, when we should have showed the most support. What is your life to his? The curtain in the temple is torn in two. Even the centurions recognize that he was Messiah.� John was crying, and Peter was crying too.
�John I love you like my brother but he chose us both knowing our characters and knowing before we did what we would do,� said Peter. �The people know me. If so many believe he is Messiah, then those who I met and taught will remember the man he left to tend to them. I will build his church,� said Peter.
�If I were him,� said John, �I would have chosen better men.�
�But you are not him, and if you were you would embrace me and forgive me,� said Peter.
�I do forgive you,� said John, �But Jesus would not have run away from you if you had been seized.�
He would not have, thought Peter, but he refused to give John more satisfaction that John had already given himself.
On the Sabbath, they fasted and on the third day, Peter had a strange dream. He was back on the beach in Bethsaida, and a man waved him down from the shore, as Jesus had. �Hello boys,� he called to them. Peter was in the boat with Andrew, James and John. �How�s business going?�
�Lousy,� Peter called back.
�Try casting your nets starboard,� suggested the man.
John said, �It�s the Lord.�
Peter knew this was true and jumped into the water, swimming to him. The first four dragged the fish in from the boat and brought them to Jesus to roast on the fire he had built.
�Simon, my Peter, do you love me?� he asked.
�Yes Lord, you know I care for you,� he said.
�Good, then tend my lambs,� said Jesus. He turned to Peter again. �Simon, my Peter, do you really care for me?�
Peter was confused. He had just answered this question. �Yes Lord,� he said lamely. �You know I care for you.�
�Guide my sheep,� said Jesus. He turned to Peter a third time and said, �Do you care for me?�
And Peter, finally understanding that he was forgiven grew sad and said, �Lord, you know everything. You know I care for you.�
�Tend my sheep. Amen I tell you when you were younger you dressed yourself and walked where you wished bun when you age you�ll stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you don�t want to go,� Jesus said, warning Peter of his death. �Follow me,� said Jesus.
Peter felt himself pulled to follow Jesus. He turned, panicked, and saw John behind him as he was dragged behind Jesus. �Lord and what about this one?�
�If I want him to stay till I come, what�s it to you? You follow me,� said Jesus, and he held his hand out backwards.
Peter woke with a start. Mary Magdalene was in his room sobbing.
�Sister, what is it?� Peter asked her, it was very early in the morning.
�They�ve taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don�t know where they put him,� she sobbed.
�Did anything else happen?� Peter asked her gently.
Mary became transfixed, ��He�s going ahead of you to Galilee. There you�ll see him as he told you,�� she said and fainted.
�John!� said Peter, but John was already awake.
�He has shown me where he is,� he said, stuffing his belongings into a satchel. �I know where to go.�
�So do I��

Facts, translations and stories heavily borrowed from Three Gospels by Reynolds Price, The New International Bible and The Message.

Word Count: 11,507