Thaddeus

Walk in the footsteps of Thaddeus.  A dynamic journey with Jesus through his earthly ministry.

 Thaddeus is one of the least known of the twelve apostles. However the premise of the book is that Ezra Rasdale, a retired shoe salesman, receives a series of visions that reveal the life of Thaddeus and the time he spends with Christ during his earthly ministry. Each of the forty short pieces is dynamic and based on Biblical scripture. The manuscript is 130 pages and approximately 18,000 words.

Thaddeus an Apostle of the Christ in print is available from various sites such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. An E-book version is available from Kindle.

Excerpts from Thaddeus

20. Wind and Sea

           As mentioned previously, I grow up in Nazareth which is about a day’s long walk (15 miles) from the Sea of Galilee; really a large lake. As a farming family, we do not often go to that body of water, though occasionally we visit Tiberias; a fishing village on the lake where we sell our wheat and barley. Once I start following Jesus, I am with other disciples who make their living as fishermen. In the Sea of Galilee they catch tilapia, sardines and catfish. I’m glad I do not spend my life smelling of fish.

           After a long day of teaching and surrounded by large crowds, Jesus, that night, decides to take a boat with us apostles to the other side of the lake. These fishing boats don’t seem that sea worthy, and I get sick just thinking of being out on the water. The boat is about 18 cubits long and 5 cubits wide. It is made mostly of cedar planks, has a sail and four rowing ports. I’d rather be riding a donkey.

           When we are about half way across the lake, a fierce storm comes up. Big waves are everywhere, and we are afraid the boat will be swamped. The sail has been taken down, but even the fishermen among us, who should be used to such storms, seem terrified. I have never seen Simon Peter and John frightened like this. In the middle of the chaos, Jesus is in the stern asleep on a cushion. That’s right, though he is drenched, he is sleeping as if there is not a care in the world. Andrew shakes Jesus awake and says, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

           Now as I am shivering and deeply sorry I ever left the shore, I seriously wonder what Jesus can do. It’s one thing to heal people and cast out demons, quite another to stop a raging storm. However, Jesus stands in the battered boat, looks out over the waves, and says, “Quiet! Be still!” Suddenly the sea is completely calm as if we are floating on a mirror which reflects the stars. Then Jesus looks at all of us as we are dripping wet and still terrified from the experience. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

           Our faith must become greater if we are to truly follow a messiah who can make even the waves and wind obey him.

26. The Feeding

           Jesus has just learned of the beheading of John the Baptist. As he is grieving, the twelve of us return from proclaiming the Kingdom and from healing and casting out demons. Jesus, despite his sorrow, hears all we have seen and done and realizes that we are physically and emotionally exhausted. He says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” We take a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and set down in a natural amphitheater near the town of Bethsaida.

           Unfortunately our respite is short lived. Simon the Zealot audibly groans as crowds approach where we are resting. It seems that word has spread far and wide about Jesus’ ministry and of our part in it. Literally thousands of men, women and children seem to suddenly appear. Jesus takes the opportunity to teach them. Again, his voice lifts through the crowd in a way that all can hear.

           It is late in the day, and few of those here have brought food with them. Jesus looks at us and says, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip says that it would take a half year’s wages to even give each of these people a morsel. To me, even the idea of feeding thousands of people here is ludicrous. Andrew has listened to the conversation and brings forward a small boy, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

           Jesus should admit that the problem is unsolvable, but then he is no ordinary Messiah. I have seen Jesus heal others, cast out demons, even calm the sea, but to feed over five thousand hungry people? Then, everything changes. Jesus blesses the five barley loaves and two fish. Suddenly the loaves become hundreds as do the fish. Many hundreds. With multiple baskets for distribution. The disciples are tasked to distribute this bounty, and we spend the better part of two taxing hours making sure all are adequately fed. Thankfully there is a spring nearby to slake everyone’s thirst.

           At the end of the feeding, Jesus has us gather up the remains of the barley loaves into twelve baskets. The large crowd, so awed by what has just happened, proclaim that this prophet, Jesus, must be made king. I am troubled to where this could lead, and thankfully Jesus slips away on his own to pray and recuperate. We disciples could use a little alone time ourselves. Running an open air restaurant for five thousand plus is no picnic.