And Peter stayed many days in Joppa…
Acts 9:43
“I cannot believe that story.” Chloe strapped a sandal on her foot.
Judah laughed. “Which one?” He steadied the old woman while she put on the other sandal. “The one where he walked on water? Or when his boat almost capsized with the load of fish? Or the one when he saw Moses and Elijah on the mountain with Jesus?”
Chloe slapped at him, gently, of course. “None of those.” She found her balance and he let go. “Of course all those are true! The God of Creation performed all those miracles and more.”
“I am confused old woman.” Judah put on his own sandals. “Then what don’t you believe?”
The two disciples thanked their host, waved a goodbye to all who were hovered around Peter the Apostle, and then headed outside. The air was crisp and clean. Chloe took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Are you alright, Chloe?” A tone of concern wrapped Judah’s words.
“Yes, yes!” She waved a hand in the air. “I simply cannot imagine Peter denying our Lord.” She took another deep breath and let out a long sigh. “If he, having walked and talked with Jesus, could do such a thing…”
“Ah, that is what you are worried about.”
“Why, yes! Aren’t you?”
“Well, I…” Judah fidgeted with his cloak. “I guess…” His voice trailed off.
They walked in silence for a while. Chloe worried she had placed her friend in an awkward position to have to answer, though she desperately hoped for his answer. If Peter could be placed in such a situation and fail so miserably, what hope had any of them to stand strong in the face of even the smallest persecution? She thought to say something to ease any tension between them, but the wisdom of years prevailed and she remained quiet.
It was not long before they stood at the door of her one room home at the back of a bakery. Judah opened the door for her. The smell of bread burst through and instinctively, they both inhaled. She nodded her thank you and then stepped inside. He also nodded and then stepped back around the corner of the building. Chloe started to close the door, a little sad that they could not bring themselves to discuss the topic.
“Wait!” Judah’s big foot stepped between the door and the post. “We cannot focus on his failure. That is not the reason Peter shared that story.”
Chloe opened the door. “But if he cannot resist?”
“But the Spirit had not yet come.” His eyes pleaded that he be right. “Peter was fighting such a temptation on his own. He was separated from Jesus. Now we and…” He swept his arms wide. “…all of us, we have the Spirit. We will never be separated from our Savior.”
“Judah! That is it!” Chloe clapped her hands. “That is the hope we have!”
“This is the way you understand it?” His eyes continued to plead.
“Of course!” She smiled broadly. “It is so simple.”
Judah relaxed and smiled, too. “It is simple.”
“You go now.” Chloe pushed him out the door.
“But we have so much to talk about.”
“Not now,” the old woman scolded. “Now is the time to catch some fish.”
One Another Living 