first posted June 2021 under Mark 4

one of the disciples who hadn’t been a fisherman reflects:

Ok, Ok – I can see it in your eyes! But please do me a favour and don’t ask! Just, don’t ask!

Yes, I am supposed to be away on holiday.

And yes, it was only yesterday that we left.

And no, I hadn’t expected to be back so soon.

And no – No I definitely do NOT want to talk about it.

So just don’t ask, OK!

Just leave me alone and let me get on with my own business, will you?

I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have snapped like that.  It’s just that I’m rather tired …It’s been a long day and quite a night.  Humph!  Some holiday that turned out to be!

It’s not that I don’t want to talk about it.  It’s more that I don’t really know what to say and think.  Oh, of course, I am disappointed – but I am also confused.

I have seen some incredible things – some really incredible things….

Do you know, I really longed for that holiday?

All that pushing and shoving and the Master being in constant demand was draining.

Oh, it’s nice to be in the limelight for a little while. Every one loves their five minutes of fame (even if it is reflected glory, for it was Jesus they really came to see).  Yes, it was fun for a while.  But then it began to wear rather thin.  You can have enough of crowds; enough of the attention; enough of the demands and people’s hopes and need.   I for one am glad to get away from it all when I can.  So, when Jesus said ‘Come on lads, let’s get the boat out and go the other side of the lake for a while’, you can just imagine how I felt.  My heart was sailing before we’d even left the shore!

For the first few hours, it was wonderful! 

Andrew, James and John were in their element and Peter joked around, teasing them for ‘sloppy seamanship’, as he naturally took control. 

Jesus left them to it.  Wise man.  This was their territory, and no-one should try and compete with a fisherman at sea. 

What’s more, Jesus was exhausted.  He sat for a while like the rest of us, watching the waves lap gently at the bow, breathing the cool sea air, absorbed in the sunset as it slowly turned the mountains a perfect mixture of purple and gold.  Awesome!

Some playful banter from one of the other boats finally broke the spell, and Jesus moved to the back of the boat, pulled up a pillow, and was out like a light.  Sleeping so deeply that you’d think nothing would ever wake him.

And it didn’t, either – the storm.

Blew up just like that, it did.  Cold mountain air sweeping down, funnelled through the deep river gorges – it hit us with such sudden and incredible force.  I’d heard the others talk about things like this, but never really believed it could happen.  I can tell you now; it does! And it’s scary (to say the least!)

I took one look at Peter’s face, and knew I was right to be worried.   There was more than a trace of fear in that experienced seaman’s expression – so I found no comfort there.  Not that I blame him. The sea was bubbling like it was about to boil over – so churned up it was.  The boat was being thrown this way and then that, as Peter and Andrew struggled together to get the sail down.  And then James and John exploded like the thunder they’re named after – the one going at the other for some mistake or other as rising panic was expressed in shouting and argument.

And all the while, Jesus, in the back, slept on!

I have never been so terrified in my life, but Jesus, in the back, slept on!

Although, not for long.

The effect of the rising panic was contagious.  We struggled with everything we had got to keep the boat upright, fighting for our very lives – and he slept on!   How could he?!  I looked down at his sleeping form, and the fear that filled me turned to rage.  We were about to die, and he had not lifted even a finger to help!  What did he think he was playing at?  This was no time for sleeping!  “Wake up, Lord, don’t you care?”  “Wake up, Lord, don’t you care?”

The moment we woke him, he stood and faced the storm.  With a voice that could command legions, he ordered the sea and the storm to be still and …..

I sat down terrified.  The boat still, the sea perfectly calm – just like that!

Had I fallen asleep and dreamt up the whole thing – the storm, the fear and the panic a horrible nightmare?  Surely not!  Our skin was soaked and our muscles ached.  This had really happened! 

There was a shout from one of the other vessels, but in our boat, there was silence.  We sat dumbstruck, staring at Jesus.  What had he just done?  Who was he, that even the winds and the waves obey him?

When he turned to face us, the expression on Jesus’ face was not at all calming.  It was hard and firm.  Our question ‘Lord, don’t you care?’  had obviously angered him. “Why were you frightened?” he demanded “Do you still have so little faith?”

Of course, we had no answer.  Our heads hung in shame.

It was as though he was saying ‘I was there, can’t you see?  Is not my presence enough to see you through any storm?  Do I always have to be doing things to prove to you that I care?’

We sailed on in silence, each of us to our own thoughts, until dawn.

At the first breaking of the sun over the horizon, we pulled to shore near a small village; Gerasa or Gedara, I think they said.  Something like that.  I don’t know – I’ve never been to those foreign parts before.  And neither, I believe, will I ever again.  Not after what we just experienced; I tell you.

As soon as we stepped onto dry land, another storm blew up. 

It came sweeping down from the hills, loud and vicious, setting an evil chill deep inside.  We were tired and still on edge, and now more terrified than ever at the fury that bore down upon us. From a graveyard, can you believe it?!  Once again, I was sure I was going to die.

Sense would have told us to run, but Jesus simply stood his ground, facing the incoming onslaught.  What sounded like a thousand voices boomed out: “Jesus, Son of the Most High God…” (Did you hear what the mad-man called him?!) “Jesus, son of the Most High God, what do you want with me?  I beg you not to punish me!” 

Legion – that’s what he called himself; tormented by so many demons, I guess.  Anyway, as he ranted and raved, Jesus stood calmly facing him. Then, with that same voice of authority with which he addressed the storm at sea, Jesus spoke to this raging soul: “Evil Spirit, come out of him”.

It was not so sudden this time.  Yet, (and I know I’ve used the word a lot already) it was more terrifying still!  I mean, have you ever heard an angry pig squeal, or seen a whole herd of swine stampede?  Here there must have been a thousand of them, maybe two – all maddened to a point of frenzy as they raced so close past us.  I’ll never forget the sound of their torment, nor the sight of the sea bubbling again as they hurled themselves into it.  The turmoil continued for quite a while, only gradually calming until, at last, the last poor creature gave up its struggle and drowned.  Stunned silence filled the air once again.

We all turned and looked at ‘Legion’, now standing quietly by himself, equally stunned by the spectacle.  When he eventually tore his eyes away from the dreadful sight and turned to face us, we could tell that the storm was over.  The madness was gone.  There would be no more need for ropes or chains, no more violent fits, no more torrents of abuse or attempts at cutting and self-harm.  The man was free.  The invaders had left.  Peace had come.

For a second time in just a few short hours, we sat quietly in the silence after the storm. And yet, once again, the calm did not last. 

Within minutes another storm blew up. This time in the form of angry pig-owners and local residents who didn’t like their peace disturbed.  (Huh!  Tell me about it!) 

Can you believe it; they kicked us out!  We were actually deported!  On the first day of our holiday, too!  And after all that we had been through to get there!  Sent straight back home!  And here we are.  Some holiday that, huh?!

Oh, the man?  Well, he wanted to come with us, but Jesus sent him straight back home to tell his folks what had happened, just as I am back home telling my tale to you. 

I wonder what kind of reaction he’ll be getting?  If not a storm, then he’ll certainly be creating quite a stir!  And, they may not like it, but they’ll not be able to deny the change that has come over him.

Hmph!  They say ‘a change is as good as a rest’, don’t they?  Well, right now, I’m not so sure.  After all that, I really need a holiday!  A few hours’ sleep will do for starters.  Then I need time to think: Who is he, that even the wind and the waves obey him?

 “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” the madman said, “what do you want with me?”  That’s quite a question, isn’t it?  And I’m off to find a quiet spot think about it – as far away from the sea and the storms as I can get, if you don’t mind!

So, there you go – Some holiday that, alright! 

Or, maybe, it’s better as they used to say it: Some Holy Day that!