I’ve been living here for as long as I can remember. It’s a pretty peaceful place, where everyone gets along, at least most of the time. I’m content with it, and even though this place is quite simple, even primitive, you might say, I’ve no aspirations to go elsewhere.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,  according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

I knew Jesus as a boy. In fact, we were, by all accounts, best friends. Growing up together in the small village of Nazareth, we did almost everything together. We played, did chores, roamed the hillsides, shared secrets and together, we learned the traditions of our Jewish faith. And also, the stories of our long Jewish heritage, the history of Israel.

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’

We Samaritans have few visitors. Especially Jewish visitors. Very few. I won’t go into all of the reasons why. But just understand that it goes back centuries. Many centuries. Even though we are cousins of a sort, they consider us as half-breeds.

I knew I would get in trouble. But I had to do what I did. Well, I guess I didn’t actually have to, but at the time, it seemed like the thing to do. Let’s just say that I felt a strong urge to come forward and offer what I had, even though it wasn’t actually mine to give.

Hello. Do you remember me? The little boy? Remember, I provided the loaves and fishes that Jesus used to feed a multitude. Surely, you remember, right?

The last you heard from me was when Jesus asked me why I hadn’t eaten, and I replied that it didn’t matter, since anyway, I would be killed when I got home! Do you remember that?

Yes, I was the boy who offered his loaves and fishes to Jesus, and then watched as he multiplied them to feed a crowd of thousands.

This story is about navigation. I’m sure it will be familiar to you, because it can be found in all four of the Gospels. You’ll find some differences in the accounts, but don’t worry about that. 

Just to recap: after the first of two miracles when he fed a multitude, Jesus commanded his apostles to row back across the Sea of Galilee. It was night, and pitch dark.

I was in the boat with the others. And I saw what the others saw. And like the others, I had a hard time believing it, even though we were all witnesses to it. I still do have a hard time believing it, in fact. Overall, this was one of the strangest nights I can remember.

“Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ 

You could call me an “accountant.” In my day, of course, we had no such term. Still, even in the first century, there was a need for good financial record-keeping. And that was my job. My employer? No one less than Herod, also known as Herod Antipas or Herod the Tetrarch.

Here I am again, the “accountant.” I put that label in quotes because, as I have previously written, we had no such term in what you call the first century. And, as you remember from my earlier message, my employer is none other than Herod. Yes, the infamous Herod the Tetrarch!

“When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.’ 

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,  and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.”

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.  Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’  Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.  Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’

The life and ministry of Jesus frequently raised questions. And Jesus, always desiring to speak the truth, answered them as directly as possible. With one exception, he did not duck any question, even when he knew that his answer would not sit well with the questioner.

I went with my friend to see Jesus. Yes, I did. Why? Because he worried me, that’s why. I had not seen him like that, ever, and I was concerned for him. I still am. He seemed troubled, as if something was not right, and I wanted to be there with him when he met Jesus.