From FOR US, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR THE WORLD...this is the sequel to Breakfast on the Beach. This scene takes place after the murder of Stephen and the persecution of believers in Jerusalem, spearheaded by Saul.
“It is because we neglected to move out from Jerusalem into Samaria and to the ends of the earth…that is why God has sent us persecution.”
“How can you say such a thing, Thomas?” Peter was clearly shocked.
“Didn’t Jesus tell us that we were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth?”
“Yes, but…”
“But what? We have been disobedient…and now we are paying the price.”
“Thomas! Our brothers and sisters are being tortured as we speak. To suggest that this is the will of our Lord is unkind…unkind to them and unkind to us. Jesus told us we would be persecuted. This is no punishment…this is the consequence of our preaching.”
“Besides, the word has gone out to the ends of the earth.” Philip added. “Many of those who were added to our community on the day of Pentecost took the message with them when they returned home. There are small communities getting together in many places…like the one in Damascus. I have heard reports about a certain disciple by the name of Ananias who holds regular meetings in his home.”
“But it us, Philip…we are the sent ones, remember? Jesus called us apostles. But I have not been sent anywhere. Since Pentecost, I have not been outside the walls of Jerusalem. There are people to the East of us who have never heard the truth. Alexander did not conquer the world by staying in Greece. And look at the Romans now. Their empire is expanding because they keep moving outwards, further and further. They could have stayed in Italy, but they did not. We will not disciple the nations by staying in Jerusalem either.”
“Thomas…” the apostles all rose as Mary walked in. She had heard the discussion as she approached the room. “Thomas, do you not remember that Jesus said that they would do to us what they did to him? If they persecuted him, they will persecute those who follow him. It is the hatred of the truth that has brought upon us this horror. Since the day my son…since the day Jesus was born, he never punished anyone for tardiness…think back on the years you walked with him. He disciplined you, yes…he even corrected me at times when I clearly misunderstood his mission…but did he ever hurt anyone of you…or anyone else, for that matter?”
“Forgive me, Mary…I…”
“You are distraught…like the rest of us,” she interrupted. “But this is not the time for us to be divided…this is the time for us to be united and to stand together…to face this together. Remember, Jesus taught us that a divided kingdom will not stand. The enemy wants to divide us so that his servants might defeat us…we must not give him so much a fingerhold in our midst.”
“Forgive me…you are right.” Thomas stammered. “I am distraught. On my here, I witnessed the temple guards dragging a few of our brethren to the prison…but I could do nothing…I am so angry…I…I…”
“We have all seen things we could not have imagined, Thomas,” Peter said putting his arm around his friend.
“We all hear the cries of those they torture…” Andrew added.
“It is the times of silence that disturbs me most,” John said. “These men can be so very cruel…when there is silence, I wonder what they are doing to our brethren.”
“But in one sense, Thomas is right,” James said. “He is right in saying that we do need to be more mindful of the needs of those who were not represented here at Pentecost. Perhaps it is time for us to begin planning on taking the message of deliverance to those who are in total darkness.”
“Yes,” Peter said letting go of Thomas and sitting down. He was very aware of the heavy burden laid on his shoulders. How could he direct people to do that which might very well lead them into danger? “We need to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit…he is the one who must lead us. It is not for us to make such decisions on our own.”
“But we dare not move at present,” Andrew began to say.
“And so we must spend our time in prayer and preparation,” James added.
“But we must continue to teach our own disciples here…we must not neglect them.” Peter reminded them. “We need to do with them what Jesus did with us. We must tell them what he did…what he taught us…we must train them, equip them…so that they may be enabled to do what we do. We need to duplicate ourselves…multiply ourselves.”
“That’s the first command ever given by God to humanity.” Andrew said excitedly.
“I don’t follow,” Peter said, looking up at his brother.
“Don’t you remember. After God created Adam and Eve, he told them to be fruitful and to multiply…”
“Yes…yes, in many ways what Jesus commanded us to do is the same as what God told Adam and Eve to do…to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth….we are to make disciples of all the nations, even to the ends of the earth.” Peter replied.
“But we must also remember that Jesus chose twelve of us out of the crowds…he taught them all, yes…but he took us and taught us more…he took us deeper.” John said.
“And out of the twelve, he went even deeper with you three…” Andrew said, pointing at John, James, and Peter.
“Yes, and he expected us to tell you what we had seen and heard…what we had learned…” James added.
“So, what are you all saying?” Peter asked.
“I think…if I may sum up what everyone has said,” Andrew replied, “…what everyone is saying is that yes, we must get the word out to the ends of the earth…the crowds, in Jesus’ case…but we must do so by equipping others to do the work of the ministry…to spread the word and to do the others things necessary, like feed the poor and take care of the needy. If we can duplicate ourselves in others…”
“That’s what Jesus meant when he said we would do greater things than he did…he was only one person and could only be in one place at a time.” James added.
“But then he multiplied himself in us…in the twelve and the women too.” John said.
“And then after the resurrection, we were one hundred and twenty…” Andrew added.
“And now…now the word has gone out to so many places through those we discipled after Pentecost…” Peter said.
“And continues to go out through those scattered because of the persecution…” Thomas said. “I think I am beginning to understand.”
“And that is why we cannot neglect to teach and to train our disciples well…few is more…” Peter concluded.
“Peter,” Matthew interjected. “In the light of everything we have spoken about, I believe we need to write down what we learned…if this persecution has taught me anything, it is that our lives hang in the balance every day. If we do not commit to writing what we know, it may all be lost for posterity. We may not be alive to teach anyone…”
“I have been writing everything Peter teaches us…”
“Mark!” Peter smiled. “Come inside…don’t stand there in the doorway.”
“I…I did not wish to intrude…” Mark stammered, “but mother sent me to call you for refreshments.”
“A faithful messenger and a faithful scribe!” Matthew said, ruffling his hair.
“Please…don’t…” Mark pleaded, retreating.
“Have you been taking notes?” Peter enquired.
“Yes, and I have been copying them out at night…they are not very neat…I scribble.”
“But that is a wonderful start!” Matthew said. “May I see your notes?”
“Of course…but they are Peter’s sermons…”
“Peter?” Matthew looked at him enquiringly. “May I…?”
“Of course…but I think we all need to discuss what we can remember…” Peter said.
“So that we don’t leave anything important unwritten…” John added.
“Exactly,” Matthew said.
“I think Mary will be waiting for us,” Mary reminded them. “Shall we?”
The apostles made their way to the door. Mary had started serving them in the courtyard since they were using the upper room for their meetings.
“I didn’t know you were writing down my sermons,” Peter said coming alongside Mark.
“Are you angry…?”
“Angry? No! On the contrary…I only wish that others had been as industrious. You thought about doing something we have only begun to discuss now. Your notes will be very helpful to others…if you don’t mind sharing them?”
“I’d be honoured…but I do want them back.”
Peter was about to ruffle his hair, but then remembered that the young man did not appreciate it, so he resisted.
“Thank you for not ruffling my hair,” Mark said, smiling.
“Unfortunately, you have very ruffleable hair…”
They both laughed.
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