ALIVE: Chapter 130, The Fullest Day

The holy troupe continued their journey north leaving behind at Jacob’s well in Samaria a panoply of people: amazed new believers wondering how to learn more about the God of the Jews.  Many of the women, particularly Jezebel, and men spent the next few days clinging to the feelings that Jesus and His disciples left behind. There were also the skeptics who couldn’t help themselves shake off their doubts, but from time to time they would try, like constantly planting new seeds among thorns. But woe to the arrogant Samaritans who relished the superiority they felt in damning their neighbors and relatives. 

One more day on the rocky road took Jesus back to Nazareth. When roads diverged the disciples went their separate ways. Peter went on to Capernaum to be with his wife and his boats, and the others were sent to reconnoiter for new places they should visit. The plan was to meet again in Capernaum four days later.

Mary was thrilled when she opened her front door to see her beloved Son. She greeted him with a long enveloping hug.  After she reluctantly let go of Him, they went into the kitchen where she started a little fire to boil water and make tea. She still had some honey given to her by a friend the week before. At tea, Jesus told His mother about her renovated house in Jerusalem. 

For the next two days He helped her to prepare for the move. Mary relished being able to care for her Son, feed Him, and listen to the stories of His travels. She was particularly fascinated by the visit of the Pharisee Nicodemus in the night and of his baptism the following day. 

Being together, just the two of them was such a joy for Mary. The past year she had spent so little time with her Son. Jesus helped her pack. The second evening Joseph’s children came over for dinner and to discuss the move and what each could do for her. After all the arrangements were made, Jesus explained that He had to go off again. The people had much to learn about what God requires of them. There was so much illness, diseases and demon-possession to vanquish in this world. As God, Jesus abhorred illness and evil. He saw them as aberrations, corruption of the Father’s design. Jesus experienced pleasure in healing and in exorcisms. On a base level healing was like bathing after a day’s work in the fields, it was the cleaning of a messy space. It was restoration. It was a resurrection from being as dead.

Jesus talked to His mother about eternal life, the plan. He explained that in six days the world was made, and those days represent the time of life in nature in which mankind works. And on the seventh day God rested, and He commands His people to rest. This day represents the period of death, the time when all flesh must cease its labors and passions to rest. And then comes the eighth day, like the first day of a new world, true life as it was always meant to be, lived in oneness with God. Real life will be free from sickness and sorrow, He told her that someday there would actually be a new earth and a new heaven. Mary listened attentively, it all made so much sense. In fact, the plan was so beautiful that it wasn’t even shocking. As a Jew, she always believed in the Kingdom of God, but hearing her Son talk about it vivified eternal life.

But there was a lot for people to learn. The Law was the first step. For the Jews to be a distinct and separate people had been necessary. But He was now ready to bring all of humanity into relationship with Him. God’s promise to Abraham was going to be fulfilled, that He was to be the father of many nations. All the nations and peoples of the world would be grafted into the tree of Father Abraham This was another reason He went to Samaria. The Samaritans were the first foreigners to be pulled into the people of God.

He told her about His visit to Jacob’s well. Mary was a surprised that He would speak with that woman. But then again, at this point, after all she had experienced, she wondered how anything could surprise her. 

“But mama,” said Jesus, “that’s what I’m talking about. These days are coming to an end. My Father is inviting the world to become Jewish in a sense.” He continued, “While the Greeks were flattening the power structure with their philosophy about democracy and all men being created equal, God was preparing the world to accept Him as the King of kings and paupers. Some day mama, all men will learn what Moses taught us about the Creation of the world. All men will learn that they were made in the image and likeness of God, not just the Jews.

Mary’s eyes were wide open, this was the first time she heard or thought about this. It had a ring of familiarity louder than its absurdity. 

“It is time to teach, to teach the Jews the spirit of the Law. To take them to the next level. There is so much for humankind to learn, more than the laws, more than the customs.” Jesus deeply appreciated this time alone with His mother.

She was so proud of her Son. She trusted Him implicitly. Jesus stood up and gave His mother a kiss on the forehead, then said, “Good night, I’m going to sleep now.”

“Good night my love.” Mary stayed up a while longer contemplating what she had just heard.

On the third day, armed with a satchel filled with food and clean clothes Jesus hugged His mother goodbye, telling her that He would visit her again in Jerusalem and off He went to Capernaum. 

Miraculously, no one recognized Him walking on the road to Capernaum. He was glad for the time, with heightened awareness to walk on earth to smell the thick air, rich in minerals, laden with the smell of the sweat of wild animals, to feel the warmth of the sun on his pliable skin. A faint memory of the formation of the sun, the moon and stars on the third day flashed through His mind. 

As He walked Jesus perceived that He was feeling unusually comfortable in His body. He felt the strength of His legs and arms, and all the movements that His hands could make. He clenched His fist as He stretched His fingers, then He thought for a few moments about the things those hands could do. To be a man, even and maybe especially as God, gave Him such pleasure. He was so proud of creation. 

Words, as powerful and meaningful as they are, were as the sands of the desert, sedentary and inert, compared to His heightened perception of being human within nature. That solitary trek and the awareness that it evoked, devoid of the consciousness of time was a gift. He felt His Father’s pleasure in their oneness, in His humanity. The farther away from Nazareth He went the more isolated He was. It was as if He walked alone on the earth, no people, no houses, no large animals. The desert around Him was expansive and barren. There was great peace in that. It was this peace that He relished that day. 

The sun descending on His left cast long shadows of His form on the ground. It was time to stop before it was too dark to set up camp. He didn’t know how much farther He had to go to reach Capernaum. He just knew that the arch of the sun had made it’s journey around Him as He walked all day. It’s end was near, leaving Him in darkness. Jesus found a flat place surrounded by hearty shrubs where He set down His backpack and unrolled His blanket. He sat and ate some figs and the cheese and bread that His mother packed for Him. His muscular legs were glad for the rest. The dried figs tasted so sweet. It felt as if His whole mouth was laughing in delight. The crunchiness of the little seeds felt like tiny companions come to join Him as He invited them in to nourish His body. He enjoyed the hearty bread and cheese too, but not as much as the figs. 

After His meal, Jesus laid down and looked up at the starry sky. Then He noticed how cold it was getting, so He got up and reached into His satchel for a cloak that He had rolled up. Laying down again Jesus suddenly felt the weight of the day on Him as a heavy woolen blanket and quickly fell into a deep dream-filled sleep. 

Waking up before sunrise as was His custom, Jesus tidied Himself and faced East to pray to His Father asking for guidance for the day. An hour later, when the red streaked sky announced  the arrival of the sun He was ready. He rolled up his bed and packed His satchel and continued the trek to Capernaum.  

On the road that morning, as He was approaching Capernaum, He was no longer alone, others were also traveling, whether on foot, or in coaches, or by camel or donkey. Jesus was grateful that still, even with others around Him, He was not recognized. Whether it was by divine action or because He wasn’t surrounded by His disciples is unknown. But He relished the anonymity and thanked His Father, knowing that the next several weeks were going to be very busy. The closer He came to Capernaum the more crowded the road. 

Jesus arrived at Simon Peter’s home at dusk, just as Peter too was coming back from a day on the boat. It had been a productive day, a visit to his old life that Peter enjoyed. They had caught many fish and Simon Peter was glad for the earnings. 

Having been told of the date of the arrival of her guests, Peter’s wife was preparing a hearty meal. In ones and twos the disciples arrived. Jesus arrived at dusk. Peter and his family and a handful of the other disciples greeted Him with great joy. The disciples had so much to say about their findings. 

After a delicious supper everyone sat around the great room to talk about the next steps. Everyone was ready for what they knew was coming, an onslaught of needy people. The disciples took turns telling the group where they had been and what they accomplished. Phillip said, “The people are miserable; they seek relief. By now everyone from miles around, as far as Syria  has heard of Jesus and I heard that they are coming from far and wide to Galilee looking for Him.”

Indeed the next morning as the troupe walked from Peter’s house to the sea a great multitude from throughout Galilee, and even from Decapolis, Jerusalem and Judaea, from Tyre and Sidon and from behind the Jordan were asking where Jesus the healer was. 

As they saw the crowd approach and reaching Jesus and His disciples, His men went into full crowd-control mode. How did they find Him? Sick people with plagues of one kind or another kept pressing on him, just to touch Him. Unclean spirits caused a young man and an older one who worked their way through the crowd until they reached Jesus both fell to their knees; in a common chant they cried, “You are the Son of God.”

Angry, Jesus demanded, “Please stop saying that!” Nevertheless, out of compassion Jesus stretched out his arms to person after person, to heal them, with a touch of the palms of his hands. Knowing full well that by doing so, He would be bombarded even more.

When the crowd became too unmanageable even for Peter the hulk and his brother Andrew and the others; He realized that He needed order and calm, and the people needed wisdom more than a quick physical healing. Jesus knew that unless the person repented, understood the meaning of the commandments, and the image of God in them, their ailments would return. 

It was as if thousands of hands were reaching out to touch Him. What was most remarkable to Thomas and Judas, was to see how many people were actually being healed.  The more healings that occurred, the more the crowd grew delirious with joy. Their expectations were instantly fulfilled. 

Overwhelmed by the aggressive crowd, Jesus shouted to Peter, “Get me a boat! Quick!” Jesus and the disciples surrounding Him, with Bartholomew at the lead winded their way through the crowd to get to the sea so they wouldn’t throng Him on every side. When they arrived at the shore, the disciples formed a wall as Peter pulled one of his dinghies onto the shore. Jesus stepped in and John after Him. John rowed out to sea. The crowd watched while the wall of disciples maintained their positions so no one would swim out to Him. They had never seen so many ill and desperate people in one place. From the rocking boat, looking at the crowd with compassion, Jesus assessed the situation and decided to lead the people up to a nearby grassy mount. Giving Himself time to think and plan, He then told John to row back to shore. Meanwhile, the people watched Jesus in the boat with intense longing and curiosity, wondering what He would do, if He would row away from them. 

John rowed back to shore and Peter and Andrew met them there. John threw the rope to Peter who reeled the boat in. Jesus and John disembarked from the dinghy. Jesus told the brothers to tell the other disciples who had formed a tighter wall with outstretched arms to keep the crowd at bay, that they were to steer the crowd up to that grassy mount that He pointed to. He would lead them there, but hold them until He got into position to lead. 

Having the loudest voice, James shouted for silence so he could speak.

“Quiet! Silence!” shouted James several times until it became easier to be heard. Then he announced, “The Master will take care of you. We are going up this mount, and then sit down. He wants to speak to you and He will heal you. But you must be patient and calm and cooperate with us. First, I ask you to stand still and when I say, you may start to follow us.” 

The crowd, seeing that cooperation would get them what they yearned for, and growing hot, tired, and hungry did indeed calm down. 

Jesus, flanked by Peter and John walked up along the shore until the bulk of the crowd was behind them, and then they headed in and walked up to the mount. The crowd followed like a herd of sheep. The disciples maintained their barrier between Jesus and the crowd. About an hour later, they arrived at a grassy spot whose terrain was so perfect for the event it was as if God landscaped it at the beginning of time, on the third day billions of years earlier when the earth and trees and vegetation were created. 

Ever since the word got out about that woman who was healed just by touching Jesus, everyone wanted to touch Him. This was a problem. That woman had suffered for twelve long and painful years. Her desperation fed her faith. The others attempted to piggyback onto her faith. It wasn’t the same. They had to be kept at bay and take small steps to reach the level that she reached. They had much to learn first. 

Because only Jesus knew exactly where He was leading the crowd, the layer of disciples, followed by the ill, and in the far distance, the lame, who were most desperate and faithful formed the strata of starving humanity come to Jesus that day from so far away to meet Him, learn from Him and receive from Him, whatever each person in his or her own heart yearned for. For the most part, their journeys had been long and difficult, but they arrived at their destination. 

The perfect spot where they stopped had a large exposed rock or ledge that served as a podium for Jesus. The disciples penetrated the crowd shouting for order and silence and for the people to sit down. Thousands of people obeyed, knowing that if they didn’t they would never find relief. 

As the people were getting situated so everyone could see, Jesus gazed at the magnitude of the crowd that was the largest to date.

There was chatter at first, especially among the families with children, but for the people who weren’t talking all eyes were fixed on Jesus standing alone watching them. They looked at Him wondering who He was and what He would say to them. They looked for relief from one malady or another. 

Jesus was reading them. He read their cares and their hopes, their pain and their desperation. With compassion, Jesus stood quietly fixed on them, while stubborn thick silence soon prevailed over the chatter, like the turtle that beat the hare. Even children as young as five sensed the allure of silence.

Finally Jesus spoke. 

He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

It was the 9th hour. The thin air enveloped each person with its warmth. 

Standing on the rock and leaning on His staff, Jesus began to give each person hope to nurture his or her faith. He said in a loud clear voice that travelled easily, even to those in the periphery of the crowd, so well they could have been listening through earbuds. It was a miracle that no one noticed through their attentiveness to the words. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Between each sentence, Jesus paused to allow time for the wisdom to penetrate their souls and become rooted there.

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

He stopped and scanned the crowd of people on whose faces distress soften into curiosity. He saw glimmers of hope and peace. He continued. 

‘Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.


‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. 

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

And He looked at His disciples, and said, “Blessed are you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Then up to the ends of the crowd, He said, “Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. 

“Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.

“Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 

Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers despise the prophets.”

He concluded by telling them that their journey to perfect health and peace had just begun. 

Jesus bowed His head. Everyone in the crowd followed without being asked. A gaggle of birds flying over the scene saw thousands of faceless hairy heads. He prayed to His Father God to teach all of these people from the youngest babe to the toothless old man, to teach each one to accept their frailties and lowliness for the lessons they bring, for the faith that suffering nurtures like seeds in rich soil. A strong warm breeze travelled through the crowd on its way down to the sea.

The day was drawing to a close. Peter was the first to approach Jesus. He said, “Lord, let’s send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” Peter said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish. How can we go and buy food for all these people?” 

Andrew, standing behind Peter added, “There are about five thousand men here!”

Jesus replied, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each. Collect a large basket from each group and bring them to Me here.”

Peter turned and saw that all the disciples were hovering behind him and had heard what Jesus told them. He sent each man to a quadrant to spread the people out into groups of 50 and collect the baskets. Some groups had no such basket, while others had more than one. 

The disciples brought as many baskets as they could carry up to Jesus and went back to form more groups. 

Hungry and curious everyone cooperated. There was plenty of room for everyone. The whole procedure took over an hour but as each group was formed they introduced themselves to each other, happy and hungry they anticipated a miracle. 

When the last group was formed, everyone was ready. All eyes were on Jesus. A large pile of 100 baskets were piled to the left and right of Jesus. The basket of five loaves and two fish was in His hands. 

Jesus’ eyes looked up to heaven. He prayed while holding the basket up. When He finished praying He asked John to hold the basket of food in front of Him, and told each of the other disciples to form a line to His right holding an empty basket. 

As Jesus divided the fish and loaves to fill each basket the disciple would take it to the farthest group, and come back to grab another basket and get in line. The process took a while, no one minded. The people with food ate it merrily, like a big family gathering, those who hadn’t been served yet waited patiently looking around, some people hoping there would be enough left for them. The smoked fish was delicious and the bread was still warm as fresh out of the oven.

Finally all the groups were either eating or talking. It was loud! The disciples and Jesus also were also eating and talking.

When everyone was finished, the disciples being the last to eat, Jesus asked them to collect the leftovers. Everyone was full. 

The disciples consolidated the leftover food into 12 full baskets and brought them back to Jesus. 

Jesus stood up and everyone clapped enthusiastically from the five year old boy to the hunched over old lady in black. 

Jesus said, “All glory, honor and worship to our God. Now please set up camp here tonight and tomorrow go back to your towns and villages and tell them what God has done for you today. Tell them what I told you earlier. Tell them to prepare for heaven.” 

The people were satisfied both physically and spiritually. Everyone quietly and reverently set up camp. The rolling hills became an ad hoc village. 

Jesus and His disciples slipped away, back to Capernaum and Peter’s house for privacy and rest.

Jesus had never looked so exhausted, so drained. John looked at Him, and said to himself. ‘I hear what they say, but He is a man after all.’ He approached Jesus and said, “Can I fetch you some water my Lord?”

“Yes, please. Thank you John.”

As John was walking over fill his pouch with water, he thought to himself, “Imagine, that He also wants and needs my help. My life is so amazing.”