This is an excerpt from my sequel to my book, Breakfast on the Beach: The Development of Simon Peter. The sequel is entitled "For Us - For Our Children - For the World: The Multiplication of Simon Peter. This excerpt is a fictional discussion between Peter and his wife after the beheading of James and just prior to Peter's own imprisonment.
“There was nothing you could have done to prevent this, Peter,” Perpetua said, gently rubbing his temples.
“John is shattered. The two of them were so close…the sons of thunder, Jesus called them. You know, even as boys they were inseparable. They were more like best friends than brothers…not unlike Andrew and me…”
“Has John left for Capernaum yet?”
“Yes. I can’t even think of how Zebedee and Salome will react to this news…it will be such a shock. Imagine if it was our Petronilla who had been executed…or even Andrew…”
“I know. I’ve been thinking about that all day. Perhaps I should have gone with John.”
“I had considered that…but more for your safety, I must confess.”
“My safety…? You don’t think…”
“I do. This may be the beginning of another wave of persecution.”
“I saw you glance at Saul earlier. He looked rather uncomfortable.”
“Yes, that was unfortunate. I did not mean to…”
“I remember when he returned from Damascus after three year. Three years…and still no one trusted him.”
“Yes. Yes, I remember that too. I still feel a bit guilty about that. You know, if it wasn’t for Barnabas, it would have taken a lot longer for us to make contact with him. Not that I blame Nicanor or Procurus or anyone else, for that matter. They not only witnessed the stoning of Stephen, but their families suffered terribly too. Fear often leads to an inability to trust. But…something tells me that there is a difference between the two persecutions. I think that what happened today is a civil persecution more than a religious one. Herod just wants to win favour with the Jews.”
“But why now…during the Feast of Unleavened Bread? What can he possibly seek to gain by killing James?”
“Many of our countrymen want us dead, Perpetua…you know that. They rejected Jesus…they had him executed unlawfully…and we are a constant reminder of that to them. We are an irritant.”
“Not only that, but they do not like to be constantly reminded that unless they change their ways, Jesus said he would come again to judge them…to destroy Jerusalem and this Temple. That’s what you all repeat often in your sermons…and I think that’s why they stoned Stephen.”
“From what I’ve been told, in his defence before the Sanhedrin, Stephen did more than that. By selectively taking them through the Scriptures, he compared our current leaders to our forefathers who hated the prophets for the same reasons they hate Jesus and us. Their religion is empty…they have a form, but no content. You know, I’ve never understood what makes people hold to institutional systems and customs while rejecting the reality behind the forms. How can they even call themselves Jews while they play these political games with the Romans? In the name of the Law, they break the Law.”
“It’s not about God anymore, Peter. You know that. It is all about power and status.”
“And power and status corrupt even the best of us.”
“Oh, Peter, may God spare us from that! It will be a sad day when power and status rear their ugly heads in our community.”
“Yes. That is why it is imperative for us to instil the character of Jesus in every one of our disciples. He stayed humble…even though he was among us as the Son of God…our Master and our Lord…he never abused his power. He was always first and foremost a servant.”
“That is because he always sought to do God’s will above all else…”
“Yes, even to death on the cross…never a thought for himself.”
“Do you really think so? You don’t think he struggled with being obedient through suffering?”
“I think he struggled with many things…remember, in his flesh, he was a human just like us, and he was surely tempted in every way we are tempted…but, I think that where the difference comes in, is that his mind was so set on doing the will of the Father that, even during the times of struggle, he would immediately submit to that will.” Peter sighed. He was thinking about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden…that night when none of them…Peter, John…yes, and James himself…none of them could stay awake to pray with Jesus, even though they all knew he was in such distress. There was an intense struggle going on in his heart that night…Jesus knew what he was about to suffer…but in spite of the horror, he surrendered to what he knew was right. For the sake of them, and all those who would believe, he chose to endure the shame and pain of the cross. What would he have done now, if he was in Peter’s place? Would he hide?
“Peter…?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Promise me you won’t go looking for trouble.”
Peter sighed again. She always seemed to have the uncanny ability to read his thoughts. “I will not go looking for it, Perpetua, but if comes my way, I will face it. We cannot hide forever. We have the light…we need to shine it in their darkness…”
“Even if it means…”
“Even if it means being executed…yes.”
Perpetua was silent for moment. Then she said, “You are right. We cannot hide forever…we cannot hide the light from the world. It is our privilege and our duty to share it. It would be shameful for us to hide the light. But, remember, Jesus said we must be wise as serpents…”
“Do not think that I desire persecution, Perpetua. I do not. I am not brave…”
“Peter…”
“Nor am I reckless…”
“No…and you are not stupid, either. I only ask that you exercise caution. You are perceived to be a pillar of our community…you will be a target.”