Men Called Him Master | Page 9

boat at the northern tip of the Lake of
Galilee. The Jordan River emptied into the lake at this point, and there
were often large fish to be caught. Spawned and fattened in the many
tiny streams that flowed into the upper Jordan, they came down the
river to feed on the weeds that grew thickly in the swamps at the river
mouth.
Philip glanced up at the sun. It was well past noon, time to be leaving.
Philip drew his net into the boat, set the oars into their crude notches,
and rowed steadily toward Bethsaida, about a mile distant. He would
have just enough time, he reflected, to clean up, get back to the boat,
and row across the lake before the Sabbath Day commenced at sunset.
Philip landed and drew his boat a short distance up on the beach.
"Say, Philip! Why don't you pull it up farther?" Philip looked around
and saw a friend cleaning a net. Without pausing he replied, "I am
going to use it again."
"Are you going far?" But the question was not answered; Philip was
already hastening up the narrow street toward his home. An hour later,
he returned. Anxiously he glanced toward the sun, now nearing the
horizon.
"Where are you going?" asked the fisherman. Philip kept his back
turned to the curious man. After he had launched the rowboat and was
pulling away, he called out, "Across the lake." He knew the man had
asked only to find out if he would be back before the Sabbath started.
Nevertheless, Philip rowed hard for Capernaum; he was conscientious
and did not want to break the Sabbath if he could help it. The white
walls and small domed houses of Capernaum were only a quarter of a
mile away when Philip heard a sound that told him he had left
Bethsaida too late.

The minister of the synagogue at Capernaum had blown his trumpet.
Philip twisted around and saw that the mellow note had come just as
the red sun sank behind the hills west of the lake. There were two more
long blasts. From this moment, the Sabbath rest began.
The minister laid the trumpet down on the flat roof of his house. No
Jew worked after this signal. The women had already brought a full
day's supply of water into their houses and were forbidden to carry any
more. Fishermen were not supposed to clean nets or row. The market
place was silent, for no buying or selling was permitted. The minister
did not even carry his trumpet into the house. He would wait until
sunset on Saturday when the Sabbath ended and then he would put it
away.
He lighted the great synagogue lamp. This was part of Sabbath worship
and did not count as work. This shining light, hanging where Philip
could plainly see it as he drew his boat up on the beach in front of
Capernaum, made him feel a little guilty. Hurriedly he stored the oars
under the seats and set out for the home of Simon, his friend in the city.
Simon's house was in a high part of Capernaum, set back against the
hills. It was not a long walk for Philip through the streets that led up
from the lake front. Leaving the street of hard-packed dirt, Philip went
under an arch into a square courtyard, open to the sky. The house was
built on four sides, and doors led from a narrow porch into the rooms.
Philip hesitated a moment and then knocked at one of the doors.
"Philip!" Simon stood in the doorway, smiling at his friend. His broad
shoulders and short neck made him seem burly. "Come in, my friend!"
Simon called across the courtyard to his wife: "Bring some food! Philip
has come."
Inside, oil lamps were lighted and Simon's children were playing on the
floor in a corner of the room. Philip was very fond of them. He ran his
fingers through the hair of the oldest, a black-haired lad of seven. The
child gave him a friendly smile.
"What brings you to us on the Sabbath, Philip?" inquired Simon, half

teasing, half reproving.
"I did not leave the river mouth until about three o'clock," explained
Philip, a bit ashamed. "I was very eager to come to Capernaum."
Simon was immediately curious. "What made you come?"
"Everyone in Bethsaida is talking about the new Rabbi who is teaching
here," answered Philip. "They say that he talks of a new kingdom."
Philip was a little surprised to see how intently Simon was listening to
his words, but he did not pause. "I thought you could tell me more
about him. I hear that he comes from Nazareth. When did you first find
out about him?"
"A couple of months