Revealed Memory

Lara Al Khouli

Professor Stacey Dewolfe

603-HSD-VA

24 March 2019

Revealed
Memory*

As we are familiar with, children have to go with their fathers to learn, as much as possible, their craft or trade, to continue on with it. I was raised up with this beautiful habit. My father had worked as a fisherman. Fishing is not something easy at all, but it attracted me, and I really enjoyed it. I used to go with my brother to help our affectionate father in fishing. As an attempt to take advantage of what he was doing, when we were working together, I used to watch, carefully, how his strong hands were repairing the nets. He would throw the net to one side of the ship to catch what is captured within it. He had to repeat this process many times to earn our daily income. One day, while we were, as usual, deeply engaged in our work, an unusual voice emerged: “Come, follow me. I will send you out to fish for people.”[1] When I turned toward the source of the voice, I saw that man’s confident eyes were fixed on me. I didn’t remember anything except how I, along with my brother, left everything in our hands and we went after him without any hesitation. I didn’t know what my father’s reaction was; maybe he was glad, because he had some background about this interesting figure and the miracles he had done. Or perhaps he was upset because he didn’t know where we might live, and neither did we. However, we embarked on our journey with him, though he had nowhere to lay his head. During the day, he was roving, teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God; his unseen kingdom, which will soon be seen.[2] He was a mysterious person. A person whom no eye had seen, nor ear had ever heard. His words had an authority no one had, not even Caesar himself. His presence was indescribable, something surpassing the human mind. His favorite thing to do was gathering us around him closely, accompanying us to a quiet place, away from hustle and bustle of the cities. When he opened his mouth to speak, a spring of water would flow out; waters that quenched my deep thirst, and cleansed what was in me.

Once, I and the eleven were sitting together, as was our daily habit. As always, the teacher started teaching. While we were listening to him, he went and brought a towel and a bucket. He willed to wash our feet! [3] I was not able to hold myself when confronted with this scene. The teacher came closer to me. I said to myself that I will not let him wash my feet at all. This should not happen.

“No!” I said. “you shall never wash my feet.” [4]

“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” He answered; the response that I will never ever forget. That is why I, then, asked him to wash me wholly. [5]

He is an extraordinary person. If he approaches a city, hundreds of people congregate

around him. I saw with my own eyes, how the lame, after encountering this figure, went

out jumping with joy…

The blind saw his bright light…

The deaf heard the words of grace and wisdom that were spoken by him…

The dumb chanted and rejoiced…

Those inhabited with unclean spirit, sat close to him sanely…

The leper was healed completely [6] …

What was manifested clearly by him, is that, before he changed anyone’s physical condition, he first touched the heart, washed the heart, and then ruled over the heart. I remember that day, when he left us in the ship. Heavy and fierce winds were against us. Our hearts melted as wax. Our hands were feeble, and all our knees were as weak as water. In the fourth watch of the night, something was walking towards us. We became even more frightened.

Then, straightway, a voice came up saying: “It is I; be not afraid.” I know the voice very well. It is he.

I yielded unto him: “Oh Lord! If it is you, let me walk, on the water, towards you.”

“Come.” He said.

I got out of the ship. I walked up to that beloved person! It was indescribable: I was walking over water, Just like him!

After I took many steps, as I was in the middle between him and the ship, I realized that the winds were still as they were. I lost heart, and began to sink.[7]

“Save me, oh Lord!” I cried.

Instantly, my Lord stretched forth his hand and held me tightly.

“Why you doubted in your heart, Peter?” he said. “Did you not know? Have you not seen who I Am?” [8]

I did not dare to say even one word. Indeed, I was shocked by his power and amazing love.

After many days had passed, I remember when a small crowd, bearing sticks and swords, have came to the place where we were staying that night, and arrested him.

“What offense did he do?” everyone asked.

“He is a blasphemer; while he is a human-being, he makes himself a god.” they answered.

They took him to the mount of Calvary and crucified him. The healer of all, my Lord and my beloved was hung on a tree. This is the scene that pierced my soul.

I was deeply saddened with a painful grief because of his death.

After a couple of days, the Magdalene came in a hurry to the place where we, the twelve and Mary, his mother, were gathered together to tell us that our beloved was not in his tomb. His tomb was empty!

They did not believe her, but I took John with me and went to check if what she was saying was true. When I entered the tomb, my eyes were opened. Everything, from the beginning, became clearly revealed before me. Now I have the answer to his question: who He is.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” [9] I whispered.

“What are you saying, Peter?” John said. “what about the Lord? Where do you think he is?”

“How foolish I am!” I wondered. “The chapter from Isaiah, the Prophet, that I memorized since I was a kid, and heard it tens of times when I used to go to the synagogue with my father, was talking about him, John. Yes, it is He.”

“Peter, that is amazing!” John said, “the One whom we were well-taught about when we were kids, we walked with him during the last three years without knowing.”

Indeed, when our memories are overloaded with many valuable and precious pieces of information, it doesn’t mean that our memory is useful and valuable. If we don’t apply our long-term memory to understand what is passing through the short-term memory, then it become worthless, diluting the importance of information stored in it.

* The story is about the St. Peter, taken from the Bible with some modifications at the end of the story; the invented conversation between Peter and John, in order to convey the full meaning to fit the size of the story. It is worthy to mention that the narrator is Peter himself.

__________________________________________________________________________

[1] Jesus’ speech (Matthew 4:19.)

[2] (Matthew 4:23.)

[3] Washing the disciples feet event by the Lord, Jesus(John 13:1-17.)

[4] Peter’s speech (John 13:8.)

[5] Jesus’ response (John 13:8.)

[6] Describing of Luke 7:22.

[7] Peter’s walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33.)

[8] Jesus speech (Matthew 14:31.)

[9] From the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6.)

Works Cited:

“BibleGateway.” John 13:1-17 NIV – – Bible Gateway, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John 13:1-17&version=NIV.

“BibleGateway.” Luke 7:22 NIV – – Bible Gateway, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke 7:22&version=NIV.

“BibleGateway.” Matthew 14:22-33 NIV – – Bible Gateway, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 14:22-33&version=NIV.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto Us a Child Is Born, unto Us a Son Is given, and the Government Will Be upon His Shoulders. And He Will Be Called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace., biblehub.com/isaiah/9-6.htm.

John 5:18 Because of This, the Jews Tried All the Harder to Kill Him. Not Only Was He Breaking the Sabbath, but He Was Even Calling God His Own Father, Making Himself Equal with God., biblehub.com/john/5-18.htm.

John 6:20 But Jesus Spoke up: “It Is I; Do Not Be Afraid.”, biblehub.com/john/6-20.htm.

John 13:8 “Never Shall You Wash My Feet!” Peter Told Him. Jesus Answered, “Unless I Wash You, You Have No Part with Me.”, biblehub.com/john/13-8.htm.

Matthew 4:19 “Come, Follow Me,” Jesus Said, “and I Will Make You Fishers of Men.”, biblehub.com/matthew/4-19.htm.

Matthew 4:23 Jesus Went throughout Galilee, Teaching in Their Synagogues, Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and Healing Every Disease and Sickness among the People., biblehub.com/matthew/4-23.htm.

Matthew 14:30 But When He Saw the Strength of the Wind, He Was Afraid, and Beginning to Sink, Cried out, “Lord, Save Me!”, biblehub.com/matthew/14-30.htm.

Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus Reached out His Hand and Took Hold of Peter. “You of Little Faith,” He Said, “Why Did You Doubt?”, biblehub.com/matthew/14-31.htm.