The older Pharisee frowned and then flushed red. The muscles in his neck tightened as he looked at Jesus. "You dare to say such things!" he burst out. "You do not belong to us. You are an enemy of G.o.d!"
All the way back to Capernaum the disciples talked about what had happened in the wheat field. "They just keep watching us to see if we do anything wrong!" protested James.
"Personally, I don"t think they even understand what we are doing,"
ventured Andrew. "They never listen to what we say. They act as though they knew everything about religion."
"Yes, their kind of religion," remarked James indignantly. "They won"t even speak to a leper! Who is going to go out among the people of our towns and let them know that G.o.d cares for them? Their religion is just for themselves!"
"Jesus is the only one who cares about the outcasts," said Simon earnestly. "No one else does."
Symeon hoped that Jesus would do something that would prove to everyone that he did not believe in G.o.d. The thought that Jesus might win the people over to himself struck panic into Symeon"s heart. If that should happen, something desperate might have to be done. Meanwhile, however, he and a few others who knew how dangerous Jesus was had decided to wait.
On the next Sabbath Day, the whole matter came out into the open. As usual, most of the Jews in Capernaum--common people and Pharisees, along with Jesus and the disciples--came to the synagogue at the hour of worship. The moment Simon and Andrew entered they saw that there would be trouble: there was a man present with an arm made lame from dropsy--and they knew Jesus would surely heal him if he asked. The synagogue was crowded. The people bowed respectfully as Symeon and the leading men of the town entered, but they smiled when they had pa.s.sed: Jesus was there, and they too had seen the man with the lame arm.
"Do you think he would dare to heal him?" one of the Pharisees whispered to Symeon.
"I hardly believe he will," replied Symeon. "To break the Sabbath law right in the synagogue would be a direct attack on religion."
At that moment the lame man went to where Jesus sat. Instantly the room was quiet. Everyone knew the charge against Jesus: that he broke the Law of G.o.d deliberately.
Jesus looked at the man and said, "Will you come with me?" He led the man to the front of the synagogue where he could speak to the elders and Pharisees.
"I ask you," demanded Jesus, "is it right to help or to hurt on the Sabbath Day? Should one save a life?" The men said nothing.
"Is there a single one of you that would leave a sheep in a ditch all day long if it fell in on Sabbath morning?" Everyone knew the rule: A farmer was permitted to save a sheep on the Sabbath.
"Well, isn"t a man worth more than a sheep?"
The question was clear to every listener: Which was more important, the Sabbath rule or this man"s need? Simon smiled, but the Pharisees felt differently. Symeon could hardly contain himself. He wanted to rise up and cry out to everyone that these were trick questions; that this bold Nazarene was trying to tear down the sacred Law of G.o.d himself; that religion itself would be destroyed if he succeeded. But he sat still and said nothing.
Jesus turned to the man. "Stretch out your arm," he said gently.
The instant the man obeyed, his withered arm became as strong as the other. A murmur of awe went over the congregation. Symeon rose and strode out of the synagogue, followed by the religious officials of Capernaum. Outside, Symeon turned to the others and declared firmly: "We must save our holy religion at all costs. He has won over the people with his trickery, but G.o.d is on our side! We must go to King Herod and ask him to help us put this man out of the way!"
[Ill.u.s.tration]
7. MISSIONARIES OF THE KINGDOM
It took less than a week for the report that Jesus had defied the Pharisees to spread throughout all Galilee. Those who most welcomed the news were the Zealots. For a long time, they had been plotting to rebel against the Romans, but so far had found no plan that promised to be successful. They believed that Jesus was the leader for whom they had been waiting so long. He was brave. He stood up to the officials. He was popular with the common people. One of their leaders decided to find out what Jesus intended to do. His name was Simon. Well known in Galilee for his courage, everyone called him "the Zealot." He made a special trip to Capernaum that same week and came to Simon"s home. Before the week was past he became a follower of Jesus. But there were many things he found it hard to understand.
"Tell me," he asked Simon and James privately, "does the Rabbi intend to set up the new kingdom now?"
Simon was cautious. "The Master has said nothing about that."
The Zealot glanced about to make sure that the door and shutters were tightly closed. "Do you not know that he could easily persuade the people to revolt against Herod?"
James was alarmed. "But we"re not ready for that yet."
Simon gave him a warning glance. He still mistrusted this man. "We plan to tell everyone in this country our message," he said guardedly.
"If you are going to establish a free Jewish nation, you must do more than talk," declared the Zealot. "You should organize!"
The fishermen looked at each other, doubting how much they should say.
Finally James said vaguely, "We think it won"t be much longer."
"Why can"t we do something definite about it?" said the Zealot.
"Do you really think he could be king of the Jews?" asked James.
"I"m certain of it!" replied the Zealot. "My people would follow him to a man!"
James looked inquiringly at Simon. "I think most of the people would be favorable, don"t you?"
Simon shook his head doubtfully. "We ought to see what the Master thinks. King Herod has many Roman soldiers under his command!"
"Listen, Simon," argued James. "The Master has spent plenty of time teaching already. Everyone in Galilee has heard about the kingdom."
Simon didn"t reply. "He intends to fight eventually," continued James.
"Didn"t he say he came to bring conflict and not peace? I think it is about time to stop talking and get to work!"
Simon stared at the ground. "Well, one thing is sure," he admitted. "The Pharisees are all against us. They will keep us out of the synagogues."
"That is exactly why I think Jesus should openly declare himself king,"
affirmed the Zealot strongly. "It is time to go forward!"
Jesus had told the disciples to wait for him in Capernaum and had gone to the hills for prayer. He knew his work had reached a turning point.
For several days he remained alone, praying and seeking wisdom from G.o.d.
When he returned to Capernaum, he called the disciples together.
"My followers," he said gravely, when they were gathered about him, "many times I have told you that the Kingdom of G.o.d cannot come without suffering. Men who hate truth hate anyone who speaks the truth." The men knew Jesus had made a decision. "The Kingdom of G.o.d has been proclaimed only in Galilee," he continued. "The time has now come to carry the news to all Palestine!"
_That means Judea!_ thought James and John at the same time. In Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were strongest.
"Rulers will show us no mercy," said Jesus. "G.o.d is our only Source of strength. We must tell the gospel in every village and countryside. We must not miss a single Jew. You are to be my missionaries to this nation!"
The men stirred and glanced at one another. The Zealot vigorously nodded his approval. No hiding in the hills for them; they were going forward!
Fear mixed with eagerness sent chills through them.
Jesus rose and stood facing Simon, who went to his knees before him.
Jesus laid his hand on Simon"s head and, lifting up his eyes, prayed for him. He asked the Heavenly Father to strengthen him and to give him the wisdom and courage he would need for the important task he was about to undertake. One by one, Jesus blessed each of the twelve men. He knew them better than they knew themselves and he prayed simply and frankly for each one. Awe filled them as they listened. The work was so great, and they were so weak! They were to teach and heal as Jesus himself had been doing! A new spirit gripped them.
"Shall we too be able to drive out demons and raise the dead, Master?"
asked Simon.
"The power of the Kingdom is yours," declared Jesus. "You have both the right and the power to destroy evil wherever you find it--whether demons, sickness, or spiritual blindness."