Simon knew he would never succeed in sending them away. Andrew came out
of the house.

"Do you think we could find him?" asked Simon.

"We can try," answered Andrew, smiling wryly. Without explaining their
plan to the people, they set out toward the hills. Some of the people
tried to follow, but Simon gruffly sent them back.

The two men followed a faint path toward the top of the hill. For about
a mile they walked, searching the slopes on both sides of them. "We may
not find him at all," remarked Simon. At that moment Andrew caught sight
of a patch of white ahead of them.

"Is he up there?"

Simon began to run. Jesus was kneeling in prayer. Andrew had seen a
corner of his woolen robe against the dark bushes.

"Rabbi!" panted Simon. "Everyone is looking for you!"

He had interrupted Jesus' prayer, but Jesus was not offended. "I am not
going back to Capernaum."

"But, Rabbi," protested Simon, "hundreds of people need you. They are in
pain. What will they do without you?"

"I must go to the other villages of Galilee and preach the news of the
Kingdom there too," replied Jesus.

"But, Master, your word is the only help these people have ever had." He
realized that Jesus had fully made up his mind to go. "Think of the
blind and the crippled!" he cried desperately. "What will become of
them?"

Jesus answered with firm conviction. "Simon, they have heard the news
that God has come to them. I have a greater work than healing the sick
bodies--my work is to proclaim to everyone the message which gives them
a whole new life! This is why God has sent me! I must go on to the
cities of Galilee!"

Simon and Andrew knew they could not change their Rabbi's mind, so at
his command they returned to Capernaum and prepared for a trip through
Galilee. At noon the disciples left Capernaum, carrying only a small
amount of food, and met Jesus outside the city. Jesus knew it was hard
for Simon to leave his wife and children.

By late afternoon they had reached Tarichaea, a town smaller than
Capernaum, about six miles south on the shore of the Lake of Galilee.
Here lived many rich men who owned the fertile farms on which all
Galilee depended for wheat. There was also a large fish business,
because in Tarichaea fish were salted and sold to men who came to buy
food for the Roman army.

The market place was busy when Jesus arrived with the disciples, and a
group of people quickly gathered to hear him teach. A young man in fine