.

Simon came over to where Philip was standing. "Do you now see how
powerful his word is, Philip?" he asked. "Do you see why I follow him?"

"Never in all my life have I known such a man," said Philip, almost
speaking to himself. He could not understand what was happening within
him. He did not feel excited; his mind was clear and cool--but Philip
knew that some strange power was at work. Everything had somehow
changed. Jesus turned to him.

"Philip," asked the Master simply, "will you follow me?"

Jesus' words were like the turning of a key. Philip wanted to speak only
words of obedience: "Master! I will go with you anywhere!"

[Illustration]

4. GOD IS NOW KING!

Before nightfall, all Capernaum was talking about the Teacher from
Nazareth who had power to overcome demons. What strange person had
arrived in their midst? He had even dared to break the Sabbath law, for
healing on the day of rest was strictly forbidden. Some believed he was
planning to start a rebellion to set the nation free from Roman rule;
but to the sick and lame of Capernaum, the news meant just one thing:
someone had come to help them.

Curious eyes had seen Jesus leave the synagogue with Simon. No sooner
had the sun set, marking the end of the Sabbath, than hundreds of
crippled and diseased persons crowded to the street where Simon lived.
Jesus would not refuse them. In the cool twilight he taught and healed
all who asked.

As it grew darker, the disciples began to marvel that the people kept
coming. They knew everyone was very superstitious and hardly anyone ever
went out at night for fear of evil spirits. But as the hours passed,
Simon noticed many people who were not sick or crippled. They came for
another kind of help; they knew Jesus could give more than healing for
the body.

In the babble of voices Simon suddenly heard a man cry out sharply. The
pain in the man's voice cut into Simon's heart like a knife. Simon
scanned the crowd, but in the darkness could not see him. No one moved
to let him through.

Jesus looked toward the man. "Do you cry out to me?" he asked, raising
his voice above the noisy crowd around him. "Come and I will help you."
Unwillingly, the people made way and the man crawled toward Jesus.
Something was wrong with his legs. A hush settled over the crowd when
Jesus spoke. "Your greatest need is not to be free from pain--it is to
be rid of sin. Repent and turn back to God. Believe my word and you
shall