On This Rock was inspired by reading the story in the gospels where Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother in law. It made me think about Simon Peter as an ordinary family man with a wife and children. I wondered what his life was like before meeting Jesus, and how becoming a disciple impacted his family. I created a family for him and explored his childhood and how his hopes and dreams as a young Jewish boy were fulfilled by meeting Jesus. I wanted to take Simon Peter on a journey of discovery; a gradual awareness that Jesus was and IS the Messiah.

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Here is the first part of chapter one of the book. A taster for you.

Bethsaida Galilee; AD 13

The buzzard flew high, soaring over the hilltops of Northern Galilee as it searched for prey. The sun was hot; it was summer, the sea glistened below, causing reflections and flashes of movement that made the buzzard swirl and turn. It swooped low as if to scout out a possible meal. There was plenty down there. It continued to circle, using the thermals to take the strain, saving energy in case a meal was not forthcoming.

Far below the boy squinted, raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and stared at the buzzard. He spat, feebly trying to hit the bird, even though it soared hundreds of feet above him. He was ten years old, he sat on a rock by the shore watching his father mend nets. The boat was old, the nets worn, there was no money for new.

“Simon, don’t spit like that, you know what your Mother thinks of that.” His father spoke harshly but with tongue in cheek at the same time.

“But it’s a buzzard, they are an abomination. It says so in scripture, I heard the Rabbi read it.”

“Don’t waste your spit on things you can’t reach. Make sure your target is at least in range.”  Jonah turned with a twinkle in his eye and stared at the Roman Soldiers gathered up the beach.

“But if you do, make sure you can run fast, and don’t lead them back to our house! Bethsaida is not a big place to lose them!”

Simon cracked a smile, he loved it when his father joked with him. He loved his parents, his mother, so strict, yet with a centre so soft she would melt if he was cheeky enough. Jonah, his father, tall, rugged and brave. He was a fisherman who worked the northern shores of Galilee. He had even been to Jerusalem, to the festivals, he must be so important. Simon dreamed of going to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, his parents said he was too young and must wait until he had taken his seat in synagogue. However, what he loved the most about his father was his hatred of Romans.

In his short life so far, Simon had learned three key lessons:

He was a Jew, part of God’s chosen family and therefore loved by God more than Gentiles were.

 The Romans were invaders, also Gentiles, thus unclean; godless pagans, to be rejected and hated. They were the uninvited in Israel, worse than the ancient enemy, the Philistines. They had plundered, ravaged and robbed the nation of its sovereignty, reduced the people to all but slaves and to cap it all they mocked the Lord, preferring multiple gods and goddesses who did nothing discernible in life.

 Finally, he had learned from listening in to his father’s conversations whilst out on Galilee, that God would one-day rescue Israel. The Messiah would come, destroy the Romans, set Israel free and be their king.  Simon felt pride and excitement when he thought of this, his face flushed and the hair on the back of his neck tingled.

“Here, grab this” Jonah called, and held out the corner of one of the old nets. Simon bounced up from his seat on the rock and took the old, worn twine. It really did need replacing, but the Roman taxes left little spare money to buy new, and it took so long to make your own.  “Walk that way, stretch it out, I need to fix the torn section.” Simon walked backward up the beach until the net was laid out flat. Other men and children were doing the same; making good, tidying up, surviving. It was a busy scene, almost idyllic except for the dark cloud, that was Rome. Soldiers patrolled in groups, their arrogance displayed in their gait and speech. Some taunted, others took without a care. Simon stared, the rage and fury growing in his small frame.

 “Simon, not now, one day.”  Jonah stood; a stern look covered his weary face. “Now is not the time to make trouble. Darkness hides our battles with Caesar’s men.”   Simon let out his breath, his heart was racing. He breathed deeply and let the soldiers pass unmolested.