Johann Quisumbing

An Adventure Story of Yeshua bar Yosef by JQuisumbing

Shimon ben Yonah was a big man. He’s taller than most and has broad shoulders from lifting heavy nets out from the water, Yeshua surmised.  Andraus’ older brother reminded him of Saul¹ before he became king of Israel back in the days of Judges. He was smiling to himself because the memory that popped up was of Saul hiding among the baggage² when he was newly chosen to be king. The things that came into his mind, his head was shaking humorously. When they were introduced much skepticism was written all over his face. There was no doubt what Andraus revealed to him about who he was and obviously didn’t believe. But still, Yeshua liked what he saw. He saw that there was much to chip here and there but all in all, he seemed as solid as a rock. 

That was a week ago.

“Rabbi, I was told that the boats are returning,” Mariam said, bringing him a plate of food. 

“Much thanks, Mariam,” Yeshua offered a silent prayer then ate. “I can hear voices outside.”

“Oh, yes. A crowd had gathered outside. Zebedee said that they started assembling at the gates of the village even before the sun rose. Hila had said that many have come from the outlying farms of Bethsaida.”

Zebedee entered. “Shalom, Yeshua of Nazareth. I pray you slept well, carpenter.”

“As best as any, I would presume,” Yeshua chuckled. “Shalom to you, mender of nets.”

“Well, your talk in our humble meeting place has stirred up interest. There must be two dozen of them waiting to hear more.”

“I hope you and Hila are not put off by this.”

“Well…” Zebedee snickered, “Hila is a little worried about how she is going to feed all of them.”

“Tell Hila not to worry, I will be going soon and I am sure they will follow me wherever I go. Meanwhile, Zebedee, is there anyone among that crowd that you know?” 

“I know most of them.”

“Is there one or two you trust?”

Zebedee went to the narrow window to look down at the crowd. “Ah, yes!” He quickly left the room. It was not long that Zebedee came back with two men in tow. “These are Doron and Philippos. I know their parents very well.”

Like a bell tinging in his head, Yeshua saw something in Philippos. “Would you both please encourage the people to wait for me at the western gate near the Jordan?³ Mariam, you go with them.”

When they left, Yeshua asked Zebedee, “Tell me about Philippos.”

---

Yeshua had been talking to the crowd as he led them from the village to the shore of the great lake. There, they approached where several of the boats were already halfway out of the water. When Zebedee saw his sons working on their boat, he went straight to them. 

Yeshua, however, was looking up and down at the other boats. Then he saw what he was looking for. He walked towards the last boat on the line. As they approached, one of them who was on the boat bringing down the mast, looked up from his task to watch the crowd approaching. It was Andraus. There was someone else on the other side of the boat. Andraus recognized him and was excitedly signaling the person behind the boat. Then Shimon’s head popped up behind the gunwale to see what was going on and then looking somewhat annoyed, he dropped back down. Andraus leapt out of the boat and dashed to him.

“Well met, Andraus, shalom.”

“Shalom, rabbi.”

Yeshua looked at the boat and the various gear on the beach. “I take it that fishing did not go well for you.”

“Yes, rabbi. I am afraid my brother may not be too… ah… welcoming.”

“I will take that risk.”

Yeshua walked to the other side of the boat to find Shimon rigorously washing nets. 

“Shalom, Shimon.” He shrugged his shoulders and continued to wash the nets. Yeshua smiled to his amusement then looked at the prow of the boat. It stood about a little over five feet above the pebbled beach. Without waiting, he lifted himself onto the boat. Then looking down at an even more annoyed face, Yeshua smiled and asked, “My friend, would you push the boat out a little so I may address those who were having a hard time hearing me?”

The tall fisherman was about to protest, but then he resignedly motioned for Andraus to help him shove the boat back into the water. Then he shortened the anchor line that was tied on a big rock on the shore. As the boat floated, its stern swung to the shore, pushed by the waves. Andraus, who climbed in, took the stern anchor and tossed it into the sea. The boat’s length was now floating parallel to the shore. Yeshua sat on the bow’s gunwale and called the people to come closer. Those on the front rows sat so that those behind could see and hear. Yeshua noticed that Mariam and Philippos were standing at the edge.

“Now, some of you have asked, how would the Kingdom of Adonai come about and who will take part?” He saw not too far away a farmer sowing seed. He pointed over there and said, “Do you see that man in the field? Do you see how he walks up and down the furrows of his field? What is he doing?”

Most answered that the farmer was planting seed. “What seeds is he planting?” They all responded, “Wheat!”

“Well, listen closely. The kingdom of heaven is like that man who is sowing good seed in his field… to grow a field of wheat. But then while he and his workers were asleep, an enemy of his came and let fly among the wheat the seeds of tares after which that enemy left like a thief in the night. As time passed by and as expected, the seed sprouted and was growing to maturity. The farmer’s worker went out to the field to check the crops. The wheat stalks they inspected showed promise of the desired grain but then they were noticing too many stalks that were bare. They looked as healthy as the other stalks but as they inspected closely, to their dismay they found tares among the wheat. They reported their findings to the farmer. The farmer knew that the seed he sowed was good. He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ So, they asked, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No! Let the field be, for now. For as you gather up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will instruct the reapers to first gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to be burned and bring the wheat into my barn.’ ”⁴

Yeshua was watching the faces closely. There was a murmur among them as they attempted to find the meaning behind the story. He was pleased. There was still confusion but they were hashing it out. Even Shimon had paused in his chores to ponder his words. After a little while, he shook his head and looked up with an even bigger question written on his face. Their eyes met. Yeshua smiled and nodded.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like Shimon’s dragnet,” Yeshua said, pointing at the net that Shimon was holding. “He would cast that net into the sea. The bottom of that net, which is weighted down, would be dragged on the seafloor gathering everything… fish of every kind in its wake. He and his partners would then pull the heavy laden nets to the shore. There they would separate the catch. The fish that they desired, they kept in baskets. As for all of the rejected fish, they would be thrown away.” Yeshua then stood up from his perch, then said, “Truly, all you who have ears… Listen and heed my word!”

The crowd understood that this meeting was over. Those that were sitting on the beach stood and they all started to disperse, clusters of them left discussing what they just heard. Yeshua instructed Mariam, Philippos and a few others to wait on the shore. 

“Come, Shimon ben Yonah, let us put out into deep water and go fish.”

Shimon looked up at him again, disbelieving what he just heard. He responded, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing…” Yeshua gave him a knowing smile and Shimon, with his mouth still open, could not complete what he wanted to say. He turned his gaze to his brother, who Yeshua saw by his peripherals, was gesturing an affirmative. 

Shimon shook his head in resignation. He proceeded to untie the bowline from the rock on the shore. Then he pushed on the bow of the boat out and climbed aboard. He took his position where the oars were and started to row out. Then he asked Yeshua, “What do you hope for this?”

“For you to have a fish-of-a-tale to tell.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Footnotes: [1] 1 Samuel 9:1-2; [2] 10:20-24; [3] The Jordan in Bethsaida is the northern river tributary that flows into the Sea of Galilee; [4] Matthew 13:24-30; [5] 13:47-52; [6] Luke 5:1-5 

Character names: Adonai [God]; Yeshua [Jesus]; Yohanen [John]; Iacob [James]; Shimon ben Yonah [Simon son of Jonah]; Andraus [Andrew]; Mariam [Mary]; Philippos of Bethsaida [Philipp]

Characters: Zebedee (father to Iacob & Yohanen); Hila (wife to Zebedee) 

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