Which One Are You?
A Story of One of the Unknown Disciples of Jesus
by Catherine Valentine
Caleb sat on the seaside tending a fire, the crash of the waves soothed his nerves. The persecution of Jesus’s followers was heating up. He was living his life on the run. Common sense would tell him to hide, but he already did that when Jesus went to the cross. Never again. That shame felt like a heavy weight sometimes, and it would have crushed him if he hadn’t seen the forgiveness and grace in his Lord’s eyes when He came to them after He arose. Then when Jesus ascended into heaven — a scene Caleb was still trying to wrap his mind around — and gave them their mission, he knew there was no turning back.
He was still afraid, but he wanted to honor His Lord and bring His saving power to the lost. He gazed into the fire and remembered the day fire danced above their heads. That day, the disciples gathered after Jesus rose from the dead, and a mighty rush of wind blew through, and the fire was lit, not only above their heads, but inside them, and the Holy Spirit made His presence known. A boldness like never before bloomed in Caleb’s heart. A boldness that was stronger than fear. A boldness he only felt when Jesus was near.
So he sat at the seaside in hostile territory to meet some locals and tell them about Jesus. He looked up and saw them coming; he mentally began to prepare himself for the common question: Which one are you?
Matthew they knew, James, the brother of Jesus of course, and everyone knew of Peter … whether they wanted to or not. But Caleb? Five men and three women came to him and sat in a circle.
“Are you one of His twelve followers?” one of the women asked. That didn’t take long, so much for pleasantries.
“No, just one of the seventy. A devout follower and student of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.” He inwardly cringed at the word “devout,” but knew he was forgiven, and he wouldn’t let shame stop his message.
They looked slightly disappointed, but seemed ready to listen anyway. He began with the prophecies of old and how Jesus was the promised Messiah and how He fulfilled every one. They eagerly listened, and the passion of the message rose within him, and there was no fear. He mentioned Isaiah and Daniel and came all the way to the last one, John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah. The sun that was sinking as he lit the fire had long since set. They’re faces were lit by the fire alone as the moon rose and its light reflected off the water.
“Now you have heard all. Do you believe?”
They sat there silently, some staring into the fire while others sat fidgeting. Conviction and pride battled within them when one of the men looked up, and his thoughtful face turned into panic and fear.
“Torches! The whole town has heard that one of Jesus’s followers was coming to teach His blasphemous ways. They’re coming to get you! Get up! Go!”
The Jews were stirred up with Saul leading the campaign against the church. The martyrdom of Stephen and James seemed to add fuel to the fire, both for the church and those who opposed it.
“We’ll make them think the fire is ours,” one of the women said. “Now go! Run!”
Caleb leapt to his feet and grabbed his meager belongings, but he turned back, reluctant to leave.
“But do you believe?” His eagerness and passion could be seen on his face from the light of the fire.
“I don’t know,” said the man who had spotted the torches, “Now go! You’re a good man, I don’t want to see you shamed and put in prison.” They were anxiously watching the torches and arranging themselves to look like they were cooking a meal having brought their supper with them.
Caleb felt defeated, but just then the older woman of the group grabbed his arm and stood close to him so others wouldn’t hear, and with a soft smile said, “I believe.”
“Then repent and all your sins will be forgiven.”
“I have many sins.” She looked down, lost in anxious thought.
“All, daughter, He paid for all.”
A tear slid down her cheek.
The man who had spoken shoved him forward, “Go!”
The torches were close enough now that you could see the men. Caleb was in a full run down the beach, being thankful for the cover of darkness and the natural vegetation that shielded him from view. He prayed for the protection of the people at the fire, but most especially for the new believer. May there be many, many more.
Caleb did not care if he was not one of the well-known disciples or if his name would ever be recorded. He was known by Jesus Himself, learned from Him, and watched Him stir up trouble. His life was about Jesus, the Son of God, and the mission of the gospel. Whether or not he was ever recorded in history.
About the Author
Catherine is a published writer, poet, and content creator. You can find out more on her website www.hope-filledpen.com. She currently lives in a tiny house with her dog, Lucy, in Indiana.
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