Jesus Navigates Challenges with Family and Foes 

Jesus and his family missed seeing each other in May of 29 CE when Jesus was forced to depart in haste lest he be arrested by the Pharisees and their agents. And now, in August of the same year, arrangements had again been made that would bring Jesus together with his earth family for a visit. Jesus planned to meet Mary and his siblings at Zebedee’s boatshop on Sunday, August 7. He and his apostles were in Kheresa, across the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum, and he, Andrew, and Peter rowed across the lake to see everyone at the boatshop. But before they could meet, a group of Pharisees visited Mary’s home; they knew that Jesus was across the lake, out of their jurisdiction, and suspected that he might try to visit his family, where they could arrest him.

Mary and the rest of the family were quite upset and tense when the Pharisees arrived, and their nervousness alerted the agents that Jesus was probably expected at any time. So, these intruders sent for additional help and made themselves at home and waited. Naturally, this turn of events prevented the family from keeping their appointment with Jesus. Jude and Ruth attempted to send word to Jesus several times during the day, but their efforts to evade the Pharisees failed.

Early that afternoon, David’s messengers were able to let Jesus know that the authorities were camped out on Mary’s doorstep, and so they again were unable to make contact.

While Jesus, Andrew, and Peter were waiting near the boatshop for word about Mary and the family, a temple tax collector recognized Jesus and called to Peter. He said: "Does not your Master pay the temple tax?" Peter could see by the look on the tax collector’s face that this was no time for argument; he assumed that this man had come to try and trap Jesus in the act of refusing to pay the half-shekel to support the temple services. So, Peter answered: "Why, of course, the Master pays the temple tax. You wait by the gate, and I will presently return with the tax."

Peter suddenly realized that they had brought no money with them. They could not go into town because the Pharisees were on the lookout for Jesus, so Peter told Jesus about his dilemma. Jesus said to Peter: "If you have promised, then should you pay. But how will you redeem your promise? Will you again become a fisherman that you may honor your word? Nevertheless, Peter, it is well in the circumstances that we pay the tax. Let us give these men no occasion for offense at our attitude. We will wait here while you go with the boat and cast for the fish, and when you have sold them at yonder market, pay the collector for all three of us."

And he added, in jest: "Strange that the sons of the king must pay tribute; usually it is the stranger who is taxed for the upkeep of the court, but it behooves us to afford no stumbling block for the authorities. Go hence! Maybe you will catch the fish with the shekel in its mouth."

Fortunately, one of David’s secret messengers was nearby and had overheard everything. He motioned to one of his associates, who was fishing near the shore, to come in. And when he did, he met Peter, who was preparing to go out on the boat, and gave him several baskets of fish. The two men took the fish to the merchant nearby, and the merchant purchased the catch. This payment, along with an extra amount from the secret messenger, was sufficient to pay the tax for the three to the tax collector.

This episode turned into a story in the Bible about Peter catching a fish with a shekel in its mouth, but it is not surprising. In those days, there were many stories about finding treasures in the mouths of fish; such tales of near miracles were commonplace.

Because Jesus said to Peter, "Maybe you will catch the fish with the shekel in its mouth," and because Peter appeared with the temple tax in such a short time, this episode was later expanded into a miracle as recorded by Isador, the writer of Matthew’s Gospel.

Jesus, Peter, and Andrew waited by the boatshop until it was almost sundown when they got word from David’s messengers that Mary’s house was still occupied by the Pharisees and their agents. So, as it got dark, the three men rowed slowly back across the Sea of Galilee toward the eastern shore.

The next day, while Jesus and the apostles were camped out in Magadan Park, a large group of believers rowed over from Capernaum for a conference. Some of the Pharisees came, too, after learning that Jesus was there. Before Jesus and his followers went into a private meeting, there was a public meeting where some of these Pharisees took the opportunity to harass him and generally disrupt the peace. One of them asked Jesus: "Teacher, we would like you to give us a sign of your authority to teach, and then when the same shall come to pass, all men will know that you have been sent by God."

Jesus answered them: "When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, for the heaven is red; in the morning, it will be foul weather, for the heaven is red and lowering. When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say showers will come; when the wind blows from the south, you say scorching heat will come. How is it that you so well know how to discern the face of the heavens but are so utterly unable to discern the signs of the times? To those who would know the truth, a sign has already been given, but to an evil-minded and hypocritical generation, no sign shall be given."

Then Jesus and his followers went into a private meeting that had to do with organizing a mission to the Decapolis. As the meeting came to a close, Jesus warned and encouraged the group. He said:

"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Be not deceived by their show of much learning and by their profound loyalty to the forms of religion. Be only concerned with the spirit of living truth and the power of true religion. It is not the fear of a dead religion that will save you but rather your faith in a living experience in the spiritual realities of the kingdom."

He went on to advise them that they should never allow prejudice to blind them or fear to hold them back; neither should they allow reverence for tradition to cloud their perceptions of truth.

He ended by saying: "And there can be no peace in the heart or progress in the mind unless you fall wholeheartedly in love with truth, the ideals of eternal realities. The issues of life and death are being set before you—the sinful pleasures of time against the righteous realities of eternity. Even now, you should begin to find deliverance from the bondage of fear and doubt as you enter upon the living of the new life of faith and hope. And when the feelings of service for your fellow men arise within your soul, do not stifle them; when the emotions of love for your neighbor well up within your heart, give expression to such urges of affection in intelligent ministry to the real needs of your fellows."