Manahen

Jesus, John, Simon the Zealot and Judas are walking towards Hebron. They hear the sound of bells and discover that there are shepherds nearby. Jesus then goes to Elijah, Levi and Joseph (son of the shepherd Joseph from the Nativity). He questions them, and when he reveals that he is from Nazareth, the shepherds ask if he has heard of Mary, Joseph and Jesus of Nazareth. They tell him about their persecutions, the Gloria they heard, the prayers and their behavior throughout their lives. When they declare that they are looking for the Savior, Jesus reveals himself to them, and the shepherds instantly believe: they are happy to find the Child they worshipped in the manger. Jesus sits down beside them and takes news of the twelve shepherds. Two are dead (Samuel and Joseph), but the other eight - Jonah, Jonathas, Benjamin, Isaac, Daniel, Simeon, John, Tobias (now Matthias) - are still alive.

They eat together, and the shepherds ask the Master about Mary, Joseph, the flight to Egypt, the return... Until they ask what they can do to serve him. The Lord tells them that he's going to tour Judea, that the disciples will keep them informed and that they can come later. In the meantime, they can accompany him to Yutta to see Isaac and to Hebron to gather at Samuel's tomb.

Elijah asks if they can serve him for the rest of their lives, and Jesus predicts that they will serve him for the rest of his. When the shepherd replies that he will die before Christ, the Lord disabuses him: Elijah will be one of the last eyes he sees when he dies, but the old man will see his triumph, after which he will await death, which will be synonymous with an eternal encounter with his Jesus.

At Belle-Eau, the apostles are restless, for Herod's brother-in-law, Manahen, has arrived to listen to the Master. But Jesus isn't there yet, and the Twelve are troubled by the lack of instructions from the Lord. An argument soon breaks out between Peter and Judas: Simon of Jonah doesn't want the Iscariot to approach Aglaia, and ends up telling Judas the truth. The other apostles intervene, as all this arguing is tiring Jesus, and both Jude and Philip report two episodes in which they caught Jesus crying. The future betrayer bursts into tears, and the Savior arrives in the meantime. Peter blames himself for being too hard on Judas, but Judas also admits he's no good. Jesus calms things down, assures them that Manahen wants to see him without any bad intentions, then sends the others away and talks to Judas. Jesus wants his disciple to examine himself and speak with his soul, the better to discern his faults, and Judas finally confesses that Christ is not righteous. In fact, the man from Keroth is jealous and Jesus puts the church back in the middle of the village. He reminds them that he has constantly defended them to the other apostles, and then Jesus takes his leave, as it is time for him to go and see the crowd waiting for him.

The Master gives a speech to La Belle-Eau on the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain". He returns to Israel's error, believing that pagans blaspheme when they pronounce the Name of God. But pagans have the right to seek the Lord. Jesus adds that even those who believe pronounce God's name in vain when their souls are unrepentant or hypocritical. We might then think that only little children have the right to call upon the Most High, but sinners can (and must) invoke Him when they want to be healed of their faults. Finally, Jesus concludes: "God's name is spoken 'in vain' if we do not try to change for the better".

There are no sick people, and when Christ realizes that Manahen is about to leave, after hesitating for a moment, he asks him if he has a place to sleep and if he has any food. The future disciple reveals that he doesn't, and Jesus invites him to La Belle-Eau.