Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre

Guest (Female): Benjamin! What are you doing?

Benjamin: What does it look like? I'm sweeping my floor.

Guest (Female): But I heard you were ill. I brought you some broth.

Benjamin: Thank you, Dinah.

Dinah: I don't understand. Abigail said you were in bed with a fever.

Benjamin: I was! But I don't have the time to be ill now. I have a guest coming to Capernaum.

Dinah: You do?

Benjamin: Yes, a very special friend.

Dinah: Do I know him? What's his name?

Benjamin: I don't know. But he's coming all the same, from a long way off. He's on a very important mission and he wants to talk to me.

Dinah: How do you know? Did you get a message?

Benjamin: Well, of a sort.

Dinah: Benjamin, you haven't had another of your visions, have you?

Benjamin: You know better than to ask me that. You're never happy when I answer truthfully.

Dinah: I'm just going to leave my broth with you and go home.

Benjamin: Dinah, why do you doubt? You of all people should believe. All of Capernaum should proclaim the wonders it has seen.

Dinah: I think you should go back to bed and try to rest and recover.

Benjamin: How can I when I have a guest?

Dinah: No one is coming!

Guest (Male): Hello? Is anyone here?

Benjamin: Yes! I am here!

Guest (Male): Are you Benjamin?

Benjamin: I am indeed.

Luke: You don't know me, but my name is Luke. I've just come from Jerusalem. I was told you may be able to help me.

Benjamin: I am honored, Luke. Come in, please. Peace be on your house. Greetings, good lady.

Luke: Greetings, good lady.

Benjamin: This is Dinah.

Dinah: I am your servant, sir.

Luke: It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?

Benjamin: No, not at all. We were just discussing your arrival.

Luke: But I didn't know I was coming myself until yesterday.

Dave Arnold: Hello, I'm Dave Arnold, producer for Focus on the Family Radio Theatre. Over the years, historians and avid readers alike have agreed that one of the most eloquent books in the Bible is the Gospel written by Luke, a man we know as a physician and companion to the apostle Paul.

In our drama, The Luke Reports, we're following Luke as he travels throughout Palestine, searching for witnesses to the life and works of Jesus, all in the hope of saving the life of his imprisoned friend Paul back in Rome.

His journey so far has been difficult and dangerous, taking him from the beaches of the Mediterranean to the heart of Jerusalem, where he's encountered corrupt Romans, violent zealots, and suspicious villagers. And now, he'll find himself caught in an unusual battle in an unlikely place, a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee. Join us in a moment as Focus on the Family Radio Theatre presents chapter three of The Luke Reports: The Hearts of Men.

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Benjamin: More bread?

Luke: No thank you, I'm contented.

Benjamin: Then we may speak. How did you come to me?

Luke: I was traveling with a caravan from Jerusalem and met a trader named Samuel.

Benjamin: Ah, he is a merchant of linens and fabrics.

Luke: Yes.

Benjamin: He comes through Capernaum quite a bit on his travels to Damascus. I wouldn't pay half for what he charges for his horse blankets, though.

Luke: When I felt confident that he was trustworthy, I told him about my purpose for being in this country.

Benjamin: And that purpose is?

Luke: To save the life of a friend of mine by chronicling the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Benjamin: That is a strange endeavor. Have you had much success?

Luke: Some. I have met witnesses who knew Jesus personally, but every path to more stories seems littered with traps and obstacles.

Benjamin: Oh yes, of course. There are forces in this world that would want you stopped, just as they tried to stop Jesus.

Luke: Are you a believer?

Benjamin: I am. And I see trouble ahead for you, Luke. Your journey will only get harder.

Luke: Are you a prophet?

Benjamin: Not at all. But ever since I met Jesus, I have had a gift.

Luke: What sort of gift?

Benjamin: Spiritual insight, I suppose you could say. God sometimes allows me to be able to see what is happening spiritually behind what is obvious to the human eye. I suspect it's due to the circumstances behind my first encounter with our Messiah.

Luke: I would be grateful if you'd give me the details.

Benjamin: As if you could make me hold my tongue. It was years ago, you must understand. Very early in the ministry of this new young teacher. He was here in Capernaum, teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Oh, you should have heard him! So eloquent. So full of the authority of God.

Jesus: Tell me something. What good is it when one blind person leads another? The first one will fall into a pit and the other will follow. A pupil isn't greater than the teacher. But the pupil who works hard will become like that teacher.

Benjamin: Then suddenly, a man burst into the meeting.

Guest (Male): Leave this place! Leave this place!

Benjamin: He was known by all who lived here, and it was commonly understood that he suffered from a demon. He was under a demon's control. The demon had come upon him suddenly in his youth.

Some said he had invited the demon to make a home in his heart because of his disregard of authority and the traditions of his people. Perhaps they were right. Others thought it was because of a terrible accident. A friend of his who had been crippled by a fall and the young man felt responsible for it.

Whatever the reasons, the man threw himself at the feet of Jesus and the demon shouted.

Demon: Why have you come to bother us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are the holy one sent from God!

Jesus: Be quiet! Now, come out of him!

Benjamin: The demon came out of him and the young man arose completely cleansed, as if nothing had happened. All who witnessed the scene were amazed. It was the talk of the whole region.

Guest (Male): What authority and power he has! He even commands the unclean spirits to come out and they do!

Luke: But what did all this have to do with you?

Benjamin: I was the demon possessed man. I followed Jesus after that. Well, I followed him for as long as he remained in the area. When he traveled south, I stayed behind with my family. I was a potter by trade and was their only means of support.

Luke: I see.

Benjamin: I would have followed him otherwise. To this day, I wish I had. I should have.

Luke: Tell me about your gift.

Benjamin: It was Jesus who first mentioned it to me. You see, I had had a dream about him and I found it troubling.

Luke: A dream?

Benjamin: I dreamt Jesus was in the wilderness, walking for days on end. The desert stretched out, never-ending before him. He was weak and weary. And I saw a great demon rise up to engulf him. It was terrible and I woke up in a cold sweat, you can be sure.

Luke: How terrifying.

Benjamin: Not long after that, I was with Jesus at a dinner and mentioned the dream. It was so peculiar that I wondered if it had any meaning. Jesus smiled at me knowingly and turned away. I was puzzled and spoke with one of his followers, Levi, the one also called Matthew.

Matthew confirmed that what I had dreamt had actually happened to Jesus, though he'd only told his closest disciples about it.

Luke: Did they tell you what happened?

Benjamin: After his baptism, Jesus had gone into the desert where he fasted for 40 days. That's when Jesus was approached.

Luke: Approached in the middle of the desert? By whom?

Benjamin: Satan himself.

Satan: If you are the son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.

Jesus: The scriptures say, man does not live by bread alone.

Satan: Then come with me. Look, the great kingdoms of the world. They're mine to do with as I please. I'm willing to give them all to you. Do you see? These kingdoms with their power and their glory can be yours. And all you have to do is worship me!

Jesus: The scriptures also say, worship the Lord your God and serve only him.

Satan: The scriptures say? If it's scriptures you want, then... Here is a place you know. The pinnacle of the great temple itself.

If you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For the scriptures say, he will command his angels concerning you to protect you. On their hands they will bear you up so that you will not dash your foot against a stone. Well, go on. Are the scriptures true or not?

Jesus: The scriptures also say, do not put the Lord your God to the test.

Satan: We are not finished!

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Ishmael: Benjamin! We want to talk to you.

Benjamin: Do come in, Ishmael. Why bother to knock first?

Ishmael: Keep your wit to yourself, you old magician.

Benjamin: Is there something wrong?

Ishmael: You know perfectly well there is. You were teaching the children in the marketplace again.

Benjamin: Is it not right for the oldest amongst us to pass on knowledge and tradition to our youngest members?

Ishmael: Knowledge and tradition we accept. But you were telling them about Jesus again, which we have repeatedly warned you not to do. We're sick to the teeth with it.

Benjamin: Why do you persist with warning me when you know full well I will continue? How can I stop? How can you ask me to?

Ishmael: We have tried to be reasonable.

Benjamin: Reasonable? There's nothing reasonable about ignoring the truth. Every one of you knows what Jesus said and did. He lived here. We were his people.

Ishmael: He may have lived here but he was not one of us. He was thrown out of Nazareth and came here with that ridiculous teaching of his. And then took away some of our best workers: Simon, Andrew, the sons of Zebedee. All who followed him. And for what? So they could follow him to Jerusalem and to destruction! You should have gone with them rather than stay here and annoy us.

Benjamin: It's true, I should have.

Ishmael: Listen to me, conjurer. Our parents tolerated your ways. But we're a new generation and we won't have our children taught rubbish. If it happens again, there'll be trouble.

Benjamin: Then I suppose you should begin to think now what kind of trouble you're planning. I won't stop talking about Jesus.

Ishmael: If that's how you want it. But consider yourself warned. You and your friend.

Luke: I've heard every word.

Ishmael: Good. Because if you're smart, you'll keep your distance from this lunatic. Let's go.

Benjamin: It's always a pleasure to have you visit, Ishmael.

Luke: It's a friendly place you have here.

Benjamin: They're afraid of what they don't understand. Come, Luke. I want to show you more welcoming parts of our town. Capernaum is a beautiful town really. Filled with simple people, mostly fishermen and their families. Ah, there, Luke. Do you see that house?

Luke: Yes. What about it?

Benjamin: It's where Simon Peter lived. Jesus lived there for a while too, teaching and healing. Did you know he healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law of a fever?

Luke: Did he?

Benjamin: Yes! He rebuked her illness and she got up immediately and made a meal. If a house could be blessed, then this one was. Oh, I could tell you so many stories. The diseases he cured and the demons he drove out.

Luke: I want to hear them.

Benjamin: You will, my friend. I would take you inside but the people there are not friendly.

Luke: What do you mean?

Benjamin: Simon Peter's nephew Reuben now lives there and he wants nothing to do with his uncle's faith. Now, let's go down to the shore. This is the sea of Galilee.

Luke: It's beautiful.

Benjamin: Imagine for a moment the crowds lining the shore, pressing in to hear what Jesus would say next, what miracle he might perform. And just like today, the fishermen were over there washing their nets. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon Peter as it turned out. And asked him to go out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he finished teaching, the strangest thing happened. He turned to Peter and said.

Jesus: Go out into the deepest part of the lake and let down your nets for a catch.

Simon Peter: Master, with all due respect, we spent the entire night fishing and didn't catch anything. All right, if you say so. We'll go out now and let down the nets again. All right, boys! Cast off! Cast off over there! Go with the current!

Benjamin: So they went out and they caught so many fish that their nets nearly broke. I was on the shore when they signaled the other boats to come and help them bring in the catch. I went out in Zephaniah's boat and I promise you, the boats nearly sank from all the fish.

Luke: Wow.

Benjamin: Once we were all safely on shore again, Simon Peter did a remarkable thing. Something few of us ever expected to see. He fell on his knees in front of Jesus.

Simon Peter: Leave me, Lord. I'm too sinful to be worthy of your help or your company.

Jesus: Do not be afraid, Simon. From now on you will become a fisher of men.

Benjamin: Peter and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, followed Jesus from that day forward.

Guest (Female): What are you chattering about, Benjamin? Why aren't you working like the rest of us?

Benjamin: Ah, Naomi! But I am working. I'm telling my friend about Jesus.

Naomi: In broad daylight like the fool you are? You should be at home. Where are the water pots you promised me?

Benjamin: I promised you would have them in a week and you shall. Have I ever made a promise I didn't keep?

Naomi: If you continue to talk about Jesus in the open, then Ishmael will see to it that the promise isn't kept. And I'll never see my water pots.

Benjamin: Naomi, this is Luke. He is writing an account of the life of our Lord. You must tell him what you know.

Luke: I would be honored if you would take the time to tell me.

Naomi: Forget your honor, young man. I've nothing to say out here with so many eyes upon us. I came only to tell you, Benjamin, that you're pushing things too far.

Benjamin: How far is too far, Naomi?

Naomi: They'll drive you out of Capernaum if you aren't more discreet.

Benjamin: Well, they may try. Will you speak with Luke?

Naomi: Tonight, after my husband and son have gone to fish. And take care not to be seen, especially by my son. You know how he feels.

Benjamin: Yes, I know. Thank you, Naomi. We will see you tonight.

Naomi: I first saw Jesus on the hillside just outside of town. He often went there alone to pray. I'd heard about him, of course, but hadn't any particular desire to know him any better. But I was walking and found him sitting in the shade of a large tree. He only said hello to me. That was all. But it was enough.

I'm not a sentimental woman, but there was something about him, something that made me want to hear what he had to say. It was through him that I met my husband.

Luke: Jesus played the matchmaker?

Naomi: No, no. But he made my marriage possible. My husband Caleb was covered with leprosy. This was before I knew him, I should say. He'd heard about Jesus, about all the healing, so he sought Jesus out on the hillside so that he wouldn't offend the crowds who chased after Jesus everywhere else. And when he did, he bowed his face to the ground and begged Jesus.

Caleb: Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.

Jesus: I do choose. Be made clean. Tell no one what has happened to you. Instead, go show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded. That will serve as a testimony to them.

Luke: I'm curious about one thing. Why do you suppose Jesus told your husband not to tell anyone?

Naomi: We've all wondered about that from time to time. I believe he knew the hearts of men, that they would try to make him a king and it would interfere with his greater plan. Or maybe he knew how little the people around here like his new ideas.

Luke: What do you mean?

Naomi: You've met Ishmael, I believe. He's typical of most of the men around here. Thick gold and stubborn, subject to extremes. When they aren't trying to turn our prophets into kings, they're killing them. That's why we must be very careful. Not all of us care to be beaten or driven out of our homes.

Luke: And how does Ishmael get away with it?

Naomi: Most of the leaders agree with him. They don't care for the followers of Jesus nor the challenge Jesus presented to their laws and ideas. And they are a very powerful group.

Benjamin: How can they be more powerful than the one we believe?

Naomi: Don't be so naive, Benjamin. It's no different now than it was in the days of Jesus. He put up with his share of trouble for his teachings.

Luke: I know the kinds of trouble he experienced in Jerusalem, but what happened here?

Naomi: Our synagogue leaders took issue with everything Jesus said and did. I remember their complaints about his disciples.

Scribe: The disciples of John the Baptist frequently fast and pray, like good Pharisees. But your disciples eat and drink. What do you say to that?

Jesus: The wedding guests aren't expected to fast while the bridegroom is with them, are they? When the bridegroom is taken away, then they will fast.

Naomi: It's not as if our leaders limited their complaints to small, nitpicky incidents. Benjamin, you should tell Luke about Baruch. Do you remember?

Benjamin: Oh, yes. It was the Sabbath and we were in the synagogue where Jesus was teaching. Baruch came in. He was a man whose right hand was withered. Some thought Baruch had been sent by the scribes and Pharisees to trick Jesus, and I don't believe that, though. I think Baruch knew that Jesus could heal his hand. But the scribes and Pharisees were watching closely, you can count on that. And Jesus knew they were watching. He called Baruch forward.

Jesus: Come and stand here.

Baruch: Yes, Master.

Jesus: Listen, everyone! Let me put a question to you. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm? Is it better to save life or to destroy it? Stretch out your hand, my friend.

Baruch: As you wish, Master.

Benjamin: Baruch's hand was fully restored. Everyone saw it. There was no trick. And how did they react? Did they praise God for his mercy? Did they wonder at the miracle Jesus had just performed? No!

Scribe: The audacity of the man! Did you see? He works on the Sabbath! He defies the laws! What are we to do with him? This cannot continue!

Naomi: So, you see what we're up against. Ishmael and his friends are the children of those very same people. And in many ways, they're less tolerant, less willing to believe. But they're more willing to take action to silence those who do believe. This is why we nag Benjamin so. He's reckless.

Benjamin: I won't hide from them, Naomi. I won't cower. It's bad enough that I did not follow Jesus to... Well, it's enough to say that I'm determined not to be bullied.

Luke: What was that?

Naomi: Nothing. Perhaps we should leave.

Luke: Yes. We'll have other opportunities to speak.

Benjamin: Both of you astound me. An odd noise, a barking dog, and we hide under our tables.

Luke: I don't want to be the cause of anyone's suffering. And besides, it's late and I must find accommodation.

Benjamin: Accommodation, my friend? I am your accommodation. You must stay with me, unless you're afraid.

Luke: I am very happy to accept your hospitality. Thank you. Naomi, if you think of anything else about Jesus, please let me know.

Naomi: There's much more to be said, but not now. Go, and God be with you.

Dave Arnold: Next time on Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, The Luke Reports continues.

Guest (Male): So the old fellow is gone, is he?

Guest (Male): Not gone. Disappeared.

Guest (Male): I didn't follow him because I was afraid.

Guest (Male): Why do you want her? It's not your business no matter how many times you push me.

Guest (Male): It is my business. Stop where you are.

Guest (Male): I knew it would come to this. I've been expecting it for years.

Luke: What is your name?

Guest (Male): Legion! For we are many.

Dave Arnold: The Luke Reports: The Hearts of Men is a production of Focus on the Family. For Focus on the Family Radio Theatre, I'm Dave Arnold. Thanks for listening.