ALIVE: Chapter 142, No Signs and No Wonder

Time and space eventually carried Jesus and His men from Tyre into Judaea in the rhythm of their daily schedule. Jesus always woke up before the sunrise, quietly left camp while the others were sleeping and went to a secluded place that He had scouted for when He first arrived. When He returned, He gathered His disciples for prayer as a group, then each man pulled out of his satchel whatever food he had for breakfast, fruit or bread, or smoked fish. 

Then, typically they would go into the town or village to preach or heal whoever came and asked. Every day was an adventure, similar, but nevertheless always including a surprise for someone, either a disciple or a stranger. 

Jesus’ power over nature and His wisdom transformed the world of the disciples, but because of years of insensitivity to the spirit world, and the strong pull of their five physical senses, they often lapsed. Yet, the miracles were undeniable, they came to realize that laws of nature such as weather, gravity, time, and even illness were strangely not caste in stone. Out of the corners of their mind’s eye they saw glimpses of the spirit world of angels and demons that were as real as any man or tree. Some of the disciples, I can’t tell you who, were more perceptive than others, but they all were transformed by experiencing in many ways the full spectrum of earth and air teaming with life and wonders that Jesus showed them with His words and with His actions. 

The disciples repeatedly were amazed at how Jesus could read their minds and predict the future as the ancient prophets did, how He was more keen than Isaiah, than Elijah or even Elisha. Closer to God than Moses, more faithful than Abraham. Being vagabonds, it was fascinating for them to see how in so many ways their need for food and shelter were always met. 

Repeatedly, they encountered certain people at the perfect time. The disciples never knew what the day would bring or what Jesus would ask of them. They simply floated through time following Him, listening, guarding, and helping their Master, the Son of God however He needed them.

In some towns they had befriended wealthy women, typically widows, with large homes who hosted them. Jesus was always grateful to His Father Who always provided for Him and His men. The pure trust that Jesus had in His Father God usually, but not always, conveyed to the disciples. The habit of worry formed during former days, when they even had professions and houses was hard to shake, so despite all, from time to time, each one of the disciples fretted over one thing or another to the great consternation of their Master. 

Although outwardly they were insecure as they wandered from place to place, not always  knowing in the morning where they would sleep that night, or what they would eat that day. After the first weeks and months of traveling with Jesus each disciple fought within himself to accept that he should not bother to think about his physical needs. Pleasure, the sense of it and desire for it fought to move from physical comfort to spiritual growth, as his perception of the entire spectrum of life expanded.  

For example, there was that day when they took the boat from Tiberius to the other side of the Galilee. 

Thomas said, “Who brought the bread?” He looked first at Peter who looked over at Andrew and then scanned the group. Man after man shrugged his shoulders and looked at Jesus. 

Jesus enigmatically said to them, “Be careful and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Judas said, “What does that mean? We just realized that we have no bread.”

Frustrated, looking straight at Judas, Jesus added, “After all this time with me, how can you show such little faith?  Why do you look inside your bag and fret because you don’t see bread there?” Then Jesus scanned His men who were milling around in a loose group to let them know it wasn’t only Judas who showed such little faith, but most if not all of them. 

“Can’t you perceive, or even remember? Don’t you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Are your hearts so hardened? Remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets YOU took up?! Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand people, and how many baskets full of bread YOU collected after that? Have you all been asleep this whole time?”  

He was angry. He was frustrated. Jesus could not accept that His closest friends, His bodyguards, His disciples continued to doubt the providence of His Father, and more, that they couldn’t see the world as He did, but rather limited themselves to the physical plane, like a deep layer of fog that blurred reality from their perception. It was like they were all blind, and only He had sight. Such a concept not only angered Him, but it alienated Him from them and that made Him feel lonely. It was inconceivable to Jesus how they could have such little trust?

Calming Himself, Jesus said slowly, “Can you see that I’m not talking about food, but that more importantly you must be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew spoke up. “But we ARE talking about food! What do the Pharisees and Sadducee’s have to do with bread? I’m hungry.”

Jesus replied, “What is more important, your soul, your spirit or your stomach? Yes, your stomach is growling. You are looking for bread and have none. Consider that it is better to let your stomachs be empty and hungry, than to accept the deadly ingredient of false and ignorant teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees and the leaven of Herod. Your hunger will pass when eventually you will be nourished with food, but the other, the yeast that turns the false teachings (read: social and political pressures) into poisonous food for your minds may destroy you as you go forth in those teachings to disappoint and anger God.

Be hungry. So WHAT!? It’s only your stomach and God can easily provide bread, simply ask Him to. But be careful not to consume false teachings.”

Calming himself Jesus looked at the confused and remorseful facial expressions of His chosen men, Peter, James, then over to Bartholomew who was standing next to Thomas and Matthew. Then He said, “Now does anyone have some bread, look again in your satchels and bring it to me and we will all be filled.”

When John looked in his satchel he found a half a loaf he hadn’t seen before. Surprised, he took it out and walked up to Jesus and handed it to Him. Jesus passed it around and every one of the hungry disciples ate until he was full. 

James was still chewing when he saw three Pharisees walking toward them. “Now what?” he thought.

The three Pharisees walked up to Jesus who was waiting for everyone to finish eating. The tallest Pharisee stepped directly in front of Him who was shorter than he and arrogantly looked down at Jesus and said, “Who are you really? I heard that you’re from Nazareth. How can anything good come from that hole? If you are so special, show us a sign from heaven.” The two shorter, bearded Pharisees standing behind him emitting a stench of perspiration nodded to confirm the demand.

Jesus, knowing that these men were intentionally insulting Him sighed deeply with a loud hum, then said, “No. I know why you want a sign. I will not give you a sign. Excuse us. Come on men, let’s go.”  

Without saying another word, the group of disciples followed Jesus who walked toward the dock. 

The three Pharisees were stunned at how they had been treated and watched Jesus and His disciples leave mumbling egotistical sentiments to themselves and each other to restore their self-importance. 

Meanwhile, when Jesus’ troupe reached the dock; they found a boat about to leave for the other side of the lake. They climbed aboard, paid the fare and sat waiting for the boat to be filled with passengers and depart.