The Fisherman by Larry Huntsperger

Author:Larry Huntsperger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Our attempted escape was well intended but futile. I think we realized that even before we pushed off from the shore. Thirteen men quietly attempting to slip away unnoticed was a joke. We had to step over sleeping pilgrims just to get to the road. By the time we untied the rope and pushed out to sea, there was no small congregation gathered on the beach, watching our departure. Before we were out of earshot I heard several voices on the shore calling out, “They’re heading north! They’re heading north!”

We planned to sail to a secluded spot a few miles up the coast from Bethsaida. We knew that section of the coastline well and felt confident we could make our escape before our pursuers found boats in which to follow us. It wasn’t long before we were out of sight with no one in pursuit.

It was a beautiful morning—warm, with just the slightest breeze pushing us along. Progress was slow, but we already had what we were looking for; the absence of clamoring crowds was like heaven. I don’t think anyone spoke more than a dozen words the whole trip. It was so wonderful just to curl up on deck, soaking up the warmth of the sun, dozing off and on, knowing no needy human being could get to us.

It was midmorning before we reached our destination. As we turned toward shore, I wondered what that noise was coming from the beach. I knew this section of land was uninhabited, several miles from any houses. And yet there was definitely some sort of movement on the shore and a noise I couldn’t quite place. Then suddenly it hit me—it was voices, hundreds and hundreds of human voices. The beach was packed with people, all pointing and waving at our little boat. That mob we left behind at Capernaum had run along the shore, picking up more and more people along the way, arriving at our destination ahead of us.

As soon as I saw them, I started to turn the boat around and head back out to sea. Jesus saw what I was doing, smiled at me, shook his head, and nodded toward the shore. So many desperate, hurting people . . . he said they were just like sheep without a shepherd. And so ended our great escape.

The rest of the afternoon was like so many other mornings and afternoons and evenings with the Master. Jesus healed those who were sick, answered the questions people asked, and taught until late afternoon. There were several thousand on the beach when we first arrived, but the crowd kept growing throughout the day until some of those next to the shore were being pushed into the sea. The whole scene became unmanageable, and Jesus finally led the mob away from the beach and up onto a grassy hillside a short distance inland from where our boat was beached. The crowd grew until there must have been at least five thousand men, most of them with their families, spread out across the grassy slope.

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