The Redeemer (17 page)
“Just look at the time. Where does it go?”
“We can find our way out,” John said.
Jesus allowed them to escort Him out of the courtyard, and I followed. When we were out of hearing, Peter exhaled the breath he’d been holding for the past minute.
“Thank God that’s over.”
Jesus did not reply, so I did.
“No, Peter, He’s just getting started. Can’t you see what’s happening? Jesus is pushing the priests and elders for a showdown.”
I knew what He was doing, but I still didn’t know why.
A
S
J
ESUS EXPANDED
His ministry, I had to expand my definition of a miracle to include things not related to healing. Like the time He crossed a lake by boat to get some rest, only to find out He’d been followed by a crowd of five thousand men and anybody’s guess how many women and children. They would not leave Him alone no matter where He went. He spent most of the day healing their illnesses. As the afternoon wore on, the disciples grew anxious about where the crowd would find food to eat, since they were outside of town.
“Jesus,” John said. “It’s getting late. How many people have You healed? Send the rest home. It’s already way past the lunch hour.”
“Didn’t they bring food with them?” Jesus seemed surprised that they might not have.
“It doesn’t look like it,” John answered as he looked over the crowd.
“Then find some and feed them.”
“It would take a lot more than what we could scrape together to feed a mob this size,” Peter added.
“Go through the people and see what you can locate.”
Reluctantly the Twelve obeyed and set out to see if anybody had brought any groceries. They hadn’t gone very far when they found a little boy with a few loaves and fish that he was willing to give them.
“What about the rest of you?” Peter asked the people. No one volunteered anything.
“If they have anything else, they’re not planning to share it,” John said under his breath. “Let’s take what we’ve got to Jesus.”
“This is it,” Peter said as he handed over the meager find.
“Is this all the people had?”
Peter nodded.
“Then it’s enough.”
Jesus took one loaf and one fish and held it high over His head so all the people could see. Then He blessed the food, thanked His Father, and began to break off pieces and hand it out to the people. Before you knew it, fish and bread were popping up everywhere, so that by the end of the day everybody had his fill. There was enough left over to fill twelve baskets.
Within a few days the story circulated how Jesus had miraculously multiplied the loaves and fish. And that’s just what He did. Only it didn’t happen like you might think. Granted, there was a lot going on that day, and I could be wrong, but here’s what it looked like to me.
The little boy wasn’t the only one with food. Those people knew where they were going and how long they might be gone. They would not set out for a day-long healing crusade without taking food and water with them. Every family had some food hidden in their sacks. They each knew what
they
had, but they didn’t know what anybody else had. Fearing someone would take it away from them, no one was willing to be the first one to bring out lunch. When they saw Jesus take what He had and begin to share it, one by one each person did the same thing. The only ones who forgot to take any food with them were the disciples.
Jesus never pandered to the appearance of magic, though the crowds would have no doubt swooned if He had—the more spectacular the show, the better. Certainly He did remarkable things in healing, raising the dead, even calming a storm once. But He did not do tricks, nothing trivial, although I suppose one might try to make a case for the water-into-wine episode. Everything Jesus did was about a life lesson.
Suppose He had used His supernatural powers to magically multiply bread and fish. So what? How hard would that have been for the Son of God, and what would anyone have learned from it? What Jesus taught the people that day was far more important than showing off how talented He was. Jesus demonstrated sharing so they would learn the laws of generosity and abundance.
When it was all over, Jesus, the disciples, and I got back in the boat and headed across the lake. All in all it was a great day, but Jesus seemed pensive. After a few minutes He began to talk.
“Be careful. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
“What does He mean?” James whispered to Peter.
“I don’t know. He must be upset that we forgot to bring bread for ourselves.”
Aware of their discussion, Jesus shook His head then turned to them.
“Is metaphor completely wasted on you? Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Try hard; what do you think I’m talking about?”
“Does it have anything to do with the fact that John forgot to bring lunch?” Peter asked.
“This was not my day to be in charge of lunch,” John said.
He isn’t telling you to guard against the yeast used in bread. He’s talking about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
I suppose Jesus decided it wasn’t worth pursuing, because He remained quiet for the rest of the trip. Before long we came to the region of Caesarea Philippi. I wasn’t at all comfortable, because I recognized the place as a region where worship of demonic gods had been rampant on and off over the centuries. I wasn’t sure whether this was an “on” or an “off” season, but I didn’t want to run into any of them and have to explain why I was there.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Jesus said.
He led us through the remains of a temple where sacrifices were made and idols were worshipped. Sitting down on a stack of stones that had once been an altar, He asked the disciples a question.
“Who do people say I am?”
“Some say John the Baptist raised from the dead.”
“Others say Elijah.”
“I’ve heard them say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
They looked at the sky, the ground, then at each other, but no one said anything.
Why are you following Him if you don’t know who He is? This is a pass/fail question, guys. The rest of your careers depend on how you answer.
Jesus looked a little disappointed at the silence, when all of a sudden Peter gushed forth.
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Everyone including Jesus dropped a jaw. I don’t know that I’d ever witnessed anything that pleased or surprised Jesus as much as seeing Peter figure it out. He jumped up and gave the fisherman a hug and a pat on the back.
“This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood but by My Father in heaven. I announce to you that until now I have called you Peter because of your hard head, but from now on your confession will be the rock upon which I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”
Peter swelled with pride.
John looked annoyed and whispered to Thomas. “Now there will be no living with him.”
Matthew whispered to Mark, “What’s a church?”
“Never mind that. What are the gates of hell?”
Jesus was not done.
“Furthermore, Peter, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on the earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on the earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Peter nodded his head and smiled, but the fact he spoke no words told me he had nary a clue what Jesus meant. To be honest, neither did I.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” John murmured. “Peter doesn’t even know where his house key is.”
“If Peter is going to be in charge of the keys to heaven and the earth, I hope Jesus keeps a spare,” Thaddeus chuckled under his breath.
“Now listen to me, all of you,” Jesus said. “I need to share some things with you. My Father has revealed who I am to you, but it isn’t time for anyone else to know, so don’t talk about Me being the Son of God yet.”
“A lot of people already believe You’re the Messiah. It’s been all the news since the healings started,” Thomas answered.
“I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret,” James said. “I think I may have already told people You’re the one.”
“I’m sure I told the pig herders.”
“I know,” Jesus answered. “But don’t talk about it anymore. The religious leaders were expecting My Father to send a Messiah, but they were not expecting Him to send Me.”
“If they don’t already know, they’re bound to find out.”
“Yes, but it has to be my timing and not theirs. When we get to Jerusalem, the priests and teachers of the Law will try to have Me arrested.”
“For what?” Matthew asked. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Not if we tell them You’re the Messiah,” James interjected. “They’ll probably celebrate. They’ve been waiting for You for years.”
“You’re wrong, James. When they figure out who I really am, they will have Me killed.”
“What?”
“Why would they kill You?
“Look at all the good You’ve done.”
“The people love You.”
“They might try, but You won’t allow it to happen, will You?”
“If you search the Scriptures, you will understand that it has to be this way.”
“But, Lord, death is so…final. How could we go on?”
“This is just great.” Judas threw his hands up and kicked a rock. “All this has been for nothing.”
“Don’t be afraid. I will rise from the grave.”
Conversation stopped.
“Yes, well,” Thomas cleared his throat, “we know we’ll all be raised at the resurrection at the end of the age, but that doesn’t help us now if You die.”
“I will rise in three days.”
The blank look on their faces told me not a single one of them understood the enormity of what Jesus said.
“Peter.” Judas pulled him aside. “This cannot happen. You’re the leader; do something.”
“Right, give me a minute.” Peter strained at the effort to have a deep thought. Failing to do so, he answered Judas. “Look, if it’s only going to be three days, that’s not so bad.”
“You’re an idiot!” Judas stormed. “Dead people do not climb out of the grave in three days and come back to life. Do something!”
Since deep thinking hadn’t worked so well, Peter decided it was a good time to try out his new authority about binding and loosing. He walked over and put his hand on Jesus’ shoulder.
“Never, Lord, I can’t let You do this!” he said. “I forbid it. This shall never happen to You!”
Jesus stood up and Peter inched back.
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. You do not have in mind the concerns of God.” Then Jesus turned His back to him.
No one else, including me, dared say a word.
Fame is fleeting, Peter. One minute you’re a rock, and the next you’re a pea pebble.
“This must happen, and when it does, you must remember I told you in advance.” Jesus turned to face them. “You have to remain strong. Whoever of you wants to be My disciple must deny your fear and take up your own cross and follow Me.”
Gulp.
Sideways glances. Every eye on Peter.
“Cross?” Peter’s voice cracked. “People are crucified on crosses.”
“You don’t mean they’re going to try to kill You by crucifixion, do You?” asked Thaddeus.
“Of course He doesn’t mean that.” John jumped in, looking to Jesus for confirmation. “Rome only crucifies the worst criminals. That’s not what You mean, is it, Lord?”
“Look, you cannot be afraid.” Jesus tried to calm them and call them to purpose at the same time. “You have been chosen for a reason.”
“We have?” Peter asked.
“Certainly.” Jesus’ voice was encouraging. “I chose you myself. Besides, I don’t have time to train a new team. I promise that whoever among you wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses this life for Me will find it.”
“We’re dead,” said Judas. “We’ve come all this way, and now we’re dead.”
“Judas, shut up. You’re not helping.” Peter glared at him.
“Did you not hear what He just said?” Judas shot back. “He’s going to be crucified, and then what do you think will happen to us? The Sanhedrin already thinks we’re a cult.”
“Do you suppose they would come after us?”
“What for?”
“We haven’t done anything.”
“Guilt by association.”
“Maybe we should regroup and think this through some more.”
They continued arguing among themselves until Jesus held up His hand for quiet.
“Listen to Me, all of you. It’s too late for a change of heart. What good would it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?”
I shook my head and whispered in Jesus’ ear.
“Lord, look at what You’ve got here: fishermen, a tax collector, and a zealot. Do You think any one of them has ever given the slightest consideration to having a soul? They don’t know what this is about. They still think You’re here to set up a one-world government to overthrow Rome and appoint them as senators. If You want them to stick this out, You must cast a better vision than carrying a cross.”
Jesus sighed.
“All right.”
Did He hear me?
“Come here, men,” Jesus stretched His arms out to gather them in. “This is how it will be. At the end of the day, I will come in My Father’s glory with His angels, and then I will reward each of you according to what you have done. Truly I tell you, some of you who are standing here right now will not taste death before you see Me coming in My kingdom.”
The men brightened up immediately.
“Don’t worry, Lord. We’ll show them what we’re made of.”
“I’ll say.”
“Bring it on!”
“I’m in!”
But it seemed to me they forgot all about the cross.
I
WAS FASCINATED WHENEVER
Jesus talked about the kingdom that was coming, although I wished I understood its purpose or how it was going to happen. One day He said it was like a mustard seed. The next day it was a pearl, then a field, then a net, and then a king. Hard as I tried, I couldn’t figure out what the common denominator was. The disciples listened, nodded, and amen’d as if they knew all about it, even though they didn’t. That was one of their core problems. They did not know what they did not know, and they did not ask enough questions. Guess who was the worst.