Peter-Sometimes We Need To Be Alone

By Mary Vee
Mark 1

From Peter's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Remains of the synagogue in Capernaum
The area has several rooms and is quite large.

My name is Peter. I am a disciple of Jesus.  I am here in Capernaum with several disciples. You may know some, they are James and John the sons of Zebedee, Matthew, Mark, Luke and others.

Last time I wrote, Jesus wanted to go to my house. I was very thankful because while he was there he healed my mother-in-law. 

In my time, whole families lived under the same roof. They had different sections of the large home, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, but everyone lived in the same place. When someone married, a new wall with rooms were built on to the end. Not only is Israel a small country, but our way of life has taught us to keep families together, especially while we are ruled by other empires.

My mother-in-law was deathly ill when Jesus arrived. I didn't know she was sick, it was a fever that came on suddenly. Jesus went to her room and healed her. Right away, without needing time to rest, she got up from her sick bed and made food for us! 

We had a good time listening to Jesus talk at my home the rest of the day. When the evening came, it was after the sunset, the word had spread what Jesus had done for my mother-in-law and the man at the synagogue.

People came to our door. They brought their sick and demon-possessed family and friends. The crowd became so great, surely the entire town had gathered outside our door wanting Jesus to heal their loved one. 

And he did. He was so kind to them. Never getting angry at the huge number of people that seemed to keep coming then leave once their loved one was healed. 

Earlier that day, in the synagogue, there was a man whom a demon had possessed. The demon spoke to Jesus, actually he shouted a few words. Jesus told it to leave. This evening, no demon was allowed to speak a single word, because they knew who he was. 

The demons knew he was the Son of God yet they did not believe or have faith in Him. At that time, I didn't fully understand who Jesus was. I knew he was special. That I wanted to hear more of what he said. But in truth, I did not fully understand at that time that Jesus was and is God, the only one who could save me from eternal death.

Early the next morning, before the sun had risen I got up and noticed Jesus was not there. I walked through the city looking for him and found him by himself. He'd found a place to be alone to pray. To have time alone with His Father in Heaven.

Photo by Mary Vee
The remains of one home in Capernaum possibly Peter's
Many branches of a family shared one big dwelling.
Rooms were walled off with their own exterior entrance.

"Jesus," I said, "Everyone is looking for you."

He knew why. And if he'd come back to my home he'd be there for years, healing every person who travelled miles to see him.

"Let's go somewhere else," Jesus said. "To a nearby village, so I can preach there also." 

I began to see that his healing people was very important, but he also needed to take time to pray and teach. Like I said, the more I am with Jesus, the more I learn.

Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.