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Places in The Gospel as it was revealed to me

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GRM 207

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: In Bethlehem, Mary recalls the birth of Jesus.

Date of vision: Tuesday, July 3, 1945.

Calendar: Thursday, April 6, 28 (Nissan 24, 3788)

Location (map): Bethlehem

Cycle: Apostolate in Judea

Summary: The apostolic group goes to Bethlehem with the women disciples. Peter reveals his desire to go to the grotto of the Nativity with Mary. It is quickly agreed that the Virgin will tell them her memories of Jesus' birth, which she does with great emotion. The Mother of the Lord recounted where they had stopped, and the state she and Joseph were in. Joseph was worried, but the All-Pure One was burning with love for God. They stopped by Rachel's tomb before setting off again. They met Elijah, who advised them where to stay, and then arrived in Bethlehem itself. The Virgin recounts her impressions of the town before heading for the grotto. She explains how a sleep fell over the Righteous One, and how she felt at Christ's birth. She was in ecstasy, and when she held Jesus close to her heart, she adored him, offered him to the Father, wrapped him in swaddling clothes and cared for him with Joseph. Mary tells of the arrival of the shepherds, and when asked what she did the next day, she explains that it was all very simple: she took care of her baby like any other mother. Mary of Alphaeus then pointed out that the Holy Family could have left later, for Les Encénies, but Mary knew that Jesus would be born there, and there was no question of waiting. What's more, for Joseph, it was a way of washing away every last trace of the suspicion he'd had against her, since the Scriptures had come true.

Peter is pleased with this account and explains that he will revere her as a Queen and be her slave. Jesus then intervenes, and after stating the Trinity, he explains that his Pontiff will have power where Mary will have love. He must always treat her as Queen, but without being a slave. The group then pauses, and while Mary speaks with the women, the apostles wonder if verses from the Song of Songs announce the promised Virgin. Christ then confirms that she has been spoken of since the beginning of the Book, and will continue to be spoken of in the books to come.

Judas then declares that the Word could not have humiliated Himself by subjecting Himself to the miseries of infancy. He could have come down to earth in flesh that was already adult, and had an adoptive mother like his putative father. The Master then declares that his real Incarnation was a just thing, and that heresies about his Incarnation will circulate. But he confirms that he is real flesh and that Mary is really the Mother of the Word made flesh. What's more, he confirms that he is eternally One with the Father and united with God as Flesh, for Love can do all things. His Incarnation is intended to make amends for all man's errors.

Chapter contents: 207.1: Mary recalls the past. 207.2: How Mary felt during the journey. 207.3: Rachel's tomb and the encounter with Elijah. 207.4: How the city of Bethlehem appeared to her. 207.5: Settling into the grotto. 207.6: The ecstasy of the birth. 207.7 : The visit of the shepherds. 207.8 : The next day, woman and adorer. 207.9: Peter and Mary: power and love. 207.10: Mary, the tree of redemptive fruit. 207.11: Judas would have liked a different birth. Discourse on the carnal reality of Jesus.

Previous edition: Volume 3, chapter 69

GRM 207.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Simon of Jonah comes forward, he reaches Jesus’ group and asks: «Is this the road to Bethlehem? John says that the last time You took another road.»

«That is true» replies Jesus. «But that was because we were coming from Jerusalem. This one is shorter. At Rachel’s sepulchre, which the women wish to see, we will part, as you decided some time ago. We will meet later at Bethzur, where My Mother wishes to stop.»

Annotation

Are we going from here to Bethlehem? John says you took a different route last time. Journey of Jesus, John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. Cf. EMV 70 to EMV 74.

We'll meet again at Bet-çur: BET-ÇUR: (the watchman's house). Betsur (pronounced Betsour) in Maria Valtorta's original. Translated by Béthsur (1985) and Bet-Çur (2016) in French editions. Other spellings encountered: Bethsur, Beth-Tsur, Beth-Zur, Bethsour. Today Beit Sur, 6 km north of Hebron.

Where my Mother wishes to stop: To meet a friend from the Temple: Élise. See EMV 208 below.

Genesis 35:18-19 - Rachel, Laban's youngest daughter. She was very beautiful. Jacob met her at the well where she was watering her flock, near Haran in Mesopotamia. As soon as he saw her, he loved her. Jacob, who had no property of his own, could not pay the sum that every suitor would give to the parents of a young girl. So he served his father-in-law for 7 years, in order to obtain Rachel. At the same time, Jacob, isolated and fugitive, was happy to be attached to a patriarchal group. He entered into a contract, and was given a wife from the clan. From then on, he could not leave and take his wife and children without permission, even at the end of the contract. At the end of the first 7 years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, his eldest daughter, who was apparently much less attractive. Isaac's son served another 7 years to get the youngest, the only one he loved. Rachel became his wife(Genesis 29:1-30), the mother of Joseph(Genesis 30:22-25), then of Benjamin; she died when Benjamin was born(Genesis 35:16-20; 48:7). Jacob buried her a little north of Ephrata, better known as Bethlehem. The tomb was in a place that travelers passing through on their way from Bethel to Bethlehem (source BibleOnLine).

Book of Genesis 35, 16-19

Gn 35, 16-19 : They set out from Bethel. There was still some distance to go before they reached Ephrathah, when Rachel gave birth, and her labor was painful. During the pains of childbirth, the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you are about to have another son." As her soul departed - for she was dying - she named him Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin. Rachel died, and was buried on the road to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem. 20Jacob erected a monument over her grave; this is the monument of Rachel's Tomb, which still stands today.

GRM 207.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They proceed westwards, along the cool valley. The road then bends lightly to the north along a protruding hill and they thus reach the road which takes from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, near a cube-shaped building surmounted with a small dome, which is Rachel’s tomb. They all go near it and pray reverently.

«Joseph and I stopped here… Everything is exactly the same as then. Only the season is different. It was a cold day in the month of Chislev. It had rained and the roads were muddy, then an ice-cold wind began to blow and perhaps during the night there was frost. The roads had hardened, but furrowed by cart-wheels and crowded with people, they were like a sea crowded with boats and My little donkey had difficulty in proceeding…»

«And did You not, Mother?»

«Oh! I had You!…» and She looks at Him with a tender blissful face. She then resumes speaking: «It was getting dark and Joseph was very worried… a biting cold wind was blowing stronger and stronger… People were rushing towards Bethlehem, pushing one another and many took to abusing My little donkey because it was going so slowly in an effort to find suitable places for its hooves… It seemed to be aware that You were there… and that You were sleeping for the last time in the cradle of My bosom. It was cold… But I was warm. I could feel You coming… Coming? You could say: “Mother, I had been there nine months”. Yes. But now it was as if You were coming from Heaven. Heaven was bending down over Me and I could see its brightness… I could see God inflamed with joy for Your oncoming birth and those flames pierced Me, burned Me, abstracted Me from everything… Cold… wind… crowds… it was all… nothing! I saw God… Now and again, with an effort, I would succeed in bringing My spirit back to the earth and I would smile at Joseph, who was afraid I might be cold and tired, and he led the little donkey lest it should stumble and he wrapped Me in a blanket lest I should get cold… But nothing could have happened to Me. I felt no jolts. I seemed to be moving along a starry path, among snow-white clouds, supported by angels… And I smiled… First at You… I looked at You, through the barrier of the flesh, while You were sleeping, with Your little fists closed, in Your cradle of living roses, My lily-bud… Then I smiled at My spouse, who was so distressed, to encourage him… And then at the people who were not aware that they were already breathing the air of the Saviour…

We stopped near Rachel’s tomb to let the donkey rest for a moment and to eat a little bread and some olives, the provisions of poor people. But I was not hungry. I could not be hungry… I was nourished with My joy…

GRM 207.4 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

There is Bethlehem! Oh! Dear land of My fathers, you gave Me the first kiss of My Son! You opened your door, as good and fragrant as the bread of which you bear the name[1], to give the True Bread to the world dying of starvation! Like a mother, in whom there is still Rachel’s maternal love, you embraced Me, o holy land of David’s Bethlehem, first temple of the Saviour, of the morning Star born of Jacob to show Mankind the road to Heaven! Look how beautiful she is now in springtime! But she was also beautiful then, although fields and vineyards were bare! A thin veil of frost was sparkling on the bare branches, which looked as if they were covered with diamond dust, wrapped in a heavenly impalpable veil. The chimney of every house was smoking while supper was being prepared and the smoke, rising from terrace to terrace up to this brow, made the town look veiled as well… Everything was chaste, intimate, waiting… For You, Son! The earth perceived Your arrival… And also the people of Bethlehem would have perceived You, because they are not bad, even if you do not believe so. They could not give us hospitality… The good honest homes in Bethlehem were crowded with insensitive proud people, who are always arrogant, and are so nowadays as well, and they could not perceive You… How many Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, scribes, Essenes there were! Oh! Their being dull at present is a consequence of their being hard-hearted then. They closed their hearts to love for their poor sister that night… and they remained and still are in darkness. They rejected God then, by rejecting love for their neighbour.

Detail

The Virgin speaks of the Nativity of her Son.

Annotation

You are open, good and fragrant, like the bread whose name you bear, because Bethlehem means "the house of bread".

The people of Bethlehem may have smelled you too, for they are not evil, despite what you may think. Cf. the poor reception given by the Bethlehemites in EMV 73 and EMV 74.

GRM 207.5-7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Come. Let us go to the Grotto. It is useless to enter the town. The best friends of My Child are no longer there. Friendly Nature is quite sufficient to make a fire, with its stones, its stream, its wood. Nature perceived the coming of its Lord… There… come without hesitating… We go round here… There, over there are the ruins of David’s Tower. Oh! it is dearer to Me than a royal palace! Blessed ruins! Blessed stream! Blessed tree because, as if by miracle, you allowed the wind to pull down so many of your branches so that we might find firewood and light a fire!»

Mary descends quickly towards the Grotto, She crosses the little stream on a board acting as a bridge, She runs in the open space before the ruins and falls on Her knees at the entrance of the Grotto, She bends and kisses the ground. All the others follow Her. They are touched… The boy, who has not left Her one moment, seems to be listening to a wonderful story and his little dark eyes drink in Mary’s words and gestures without missing a single one.

Mary stands up and goes in saying: «Everything is exactly as then!… But then it was night… Joseph lit a lamp when I entered. Only then, dismounting from the little donkey I realised how tired and cold I was… An ox greeted us, I went near it, to feel its warmth and lean against the hay… Joseph laid the hay out here, where I am, to make a bed for Me, and he dried the hay for Me and for You, Son, at the fire he had lit in that corner… because he was as good as a father in his love of an angelical spouse… And holding each other’s hand, like brother and sister lost in the darkness of night, we ate our bread and cheese, then he went over there to kindle the fire and he took off his mantle to close the entrance… In actual fact he put a veil before the glory of God descending from Heaven. You, My Jesus… and I lay on the hay, in the warmth of the two animals, wrapped in My mantle and covered with a woollen blanket… My dear spouse!… In that hour of anxiety when I was all alone before the mystery of My first maternity, an hour full of uncertainty for every woman, and in My case, in My only maternity, it was also full of the mystery of what it would be to see the Son of God emerge from mortal flesh, he, Joseph, was like a mother, an angel to Me… he was My comfort then and always afterwards…

207.6

Then silence and sleep wrapped the Just man… so that he might not see what for Me was God’s daily kiss…

And with regards to Me, after the interval of human necessities, there came immeasurable waves of ecstasy from a heavenly sea and they raised Me higher and higher on their bright crests carrying Me up with them into an ocean of light, of joy, of peace, of love, until I was lost in the sea of God, of God’s bosom… A voice from the earth whispered: “Are You sleeping, Mary?”. Oh! it was so far away!… An echo, a remembrance of the earth!… And so faint it was that My soul did not stir, and I do not know how I replied, while I rose, I rose even higher into the depth of fire, of infinite beatitude of foreknowledge of God… up to Him… Oh! were You born of Me that night, or was I born of the Triune brightness? Did I give You or did You absorb Me to generate Me? I do not know… And then the descent, from choir to choir, from star to star, from cloud to cloud, a sweet, slow, blissful, placid descent, like a flower carried high in the sky by an eagle and then dropped, descending slowly, on the wings of the air, made more beautiful by a drop of rain, by a tiny piece of rainbow stolen in the sky… alights on its native soil… My diadem: You! You on My heart…

Sitting here, after adoring You on My knees, I loved You. At last I could love You without the barrier of the flesh, and I moved from here to take You to the love of him, who, like Me, was worthy of being one of the first to love You. And here, between these two rustic columns, I offered You to the Father. And here You rested for the first time on Joseph’s heart… Then I swaddled You and together we laid You here… And I lulled You while Joseph was drying hay at the fire and when it was warm he placed it on Your chest and then we both adored You, bending over You, as I am doing now, to inhale Your breath, contemplating the humiliation to which love can lead and shedding tears which are certainly shed also in Heaven for the unexhausted joy of seeing God.»

207.7

Mary, Who has been pacing to and fro while recalling the past, pointing out the places, panting with love, with bright tears shining in Her blue eyes and a smile of joy on Her lips, bends over Her Jesus, Who is sitting on a huge stone listening to Her recollection, and kisses His head, weeping, adoring as She did then…

«And then the shepherds… they were in here, adoring with their good souls and with the deep sigh of the earth which entered with them, with their scent of humanity, of herds and hay; and outside there were the angels, everywhere, who adored with their love, with their songs which no human creature can repeat, and with the love of Heaven, with the air of Heaven which came in with them, which they brought in, in all their brightness… Your birth, Blessed Son!…»

Mary has knelt down beside Her Son and weeps emotionally with Her head resting on His knees. No one dare speak for some time. More or less moved they all look around as if they expected to see the scene painted among the cobwebs and rough stones…

Mary collects Herself and says: «Now, I told you of the infinitely simple and infinitely great birth of My Son. With My woman’s heart, not with the wisdom of a master. There is nothing else, because it was the greatest thing on the earth, concealed under very ordinary appearances.»

Detail

The Virgin Mary recounts the Nativity of her Son to the apostles, Marziam and a few women-disciples.

GRM 207.10 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Come out here, now, near the stream, in the shade of the good tree, which, if it were later in summer, would give you its apples in addition to its shade; come. We shall eat before going… Where, Son?»

«To Jala. It is near. And tomorrow we shall go to Bethzur.»

Detail

The Virgin Mary speaks.

Annotation

In Jala: Beit Jala (the house of grassland). The name of this village does not appear in the Bible, nor in any current ancient source. It can therefore be considered a "rare acquaintance of Maria Valtorta" (Jean-François Lavère, Dictionnaire géographique de l'Évangile, after Maria Valtorta).

GRM 208

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: Mary sees shepherd Elijah again and goes to Elise of Bet-Çur (Bethsur).

Date of vision: Wednesday, July 4, 1945

Calendar: Friday, April 7, 28 (Nissan 24, 3788)

Location (map): Towards Bet-çur

Cycle: Journey to await Pentecost

Summary: Jesus sends the apostles ahead to look for Elijah and the shepherds of the Nativity. Marziam stays with him, along with the Virgin Mary, Mary of Alphaeus and Mary Salome. The child wants to learn more about the shepherds and is surprised that they have been treated badly. The Virgin and Marziam then talk about the massacre of the Innocents and Limbo, and Mary assures him that he won't be going to Sheol, since Jesus will have already opened the gates of Heaven when he dies. The young boy finally asks how we can be with God if the Father is in Heaven, and Jesus' Mother explains that God is omnipresent and loves us. The fact that the Lord can even love Doras disturbs the child, and when Mary suggests he pray for repentance, Marziam replies spiritedly that he would rather pray for the Pharisee to die. Everyone laughs at his repartee, and Mary later corrects him, saying that God cannot approve of such an attitude. But Marziam has suffered too much because of Doras, and after recounting some of his memories, he cries, screams and writhes in pain. Jesus intervenes and instructs him not to hate anyone, under any circumstances, and to ask the Father himself to think about what he wants. Peace is restored to the child's heart, and the group continues on its way.

Chapter contents: 208.1: Jesus sends the apostles to find the shepherds. 208.2: Mary tells Marziam about the Holy Innocents, Limbo and Heaven. 208.3: She tells him about forgiving even Doras, who has made him suffer so much, but Marziam can't help hating him. 208.4: Jesus convinces him not to hate, but to pray. 208.5: We arrive at Solomon's Pools, where his splendid gardens were located. 208.6: On the way to Bet-Çur. 208.7: In Bet-çur, Mary greets Elijah, who brings her bad news from Elise. 208.8: Mary and Jesus manage to enter her home. 208.9: Faced with Elise's grief, Mary tells her that her dead son brings her the Christ he was looking for. 208.10: Jesus confirms to her that his people live forever. 208.11: Tomorrow he will speak near her house. Mary remains at home. Faced with Elise's change of heart, the servant girl cries out for a miracle.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 70

GRM 208.5-6 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

There are three large basins excavated in the rocky mountain, a really grand work, and the surface of the most limpid water sparkles as well as the waterfall that from the first basin falls into the second larger one and then into the third one, which is really a little lake. Pipelines convey the water to distant towns. The whole mountain, from the spring to the basins and from the basins to the ground is most beautiful and fertile, thanks to the humidity of the soil in this area, and flowers more composite than wild ones, together with rare scented herbs, make the green sides of the mountain a most pleasant and brilliant sight. One would think that man has planted garden flowers here together with scented herbs, which, in the heat of the sun, diffuse in the air their aromas of cinnamon, camphor, clove, lavander and other pleasantly pungent, fragrant, strong, sweet smells, in a wonderful blend of the finest earthly perfumes. I would say that it is a harmonious conglomeration of smells because it is really a poem of herbs and flowers in hues and fragrance.

All the apostles are sitting in the shade of a tree covered with large white flowers, the name of which I do not know. They are huge pendulous bell-shaped flowers, of a white enamel hue, which dangle at the least breath of wind, diffusing their fragrance at each undulation. I do not know the name of this tree. Its flowers remind me of a shrub that grows in Calabria, which the locals call «bottaro», but the trunk is quite different, as this is a tall tree, with a robust trunk, and not a shrub. Jesus calls them and they hasten towards Him.

«We found Joseph almost at once, he was coming back from a market. They will all be at Bethzur this evening. We gathered together, by shouting to one another, and we remained here in the cool shade» explains Peter.

«What a lovely place! It looks like a garden! We were discussing whether it is natural or not, and some insist it is, some that it isn’t» says Thomas.

«The land of Judaea has such marvels» states the Iscariot, who is inevitably inclined to grow proud by everything, also by flowers and herbs.

«Yes, but… I think that if Johanna’s garden at Tiberias were abandoned and it became wild, also Galilee would have the marvel of wonderful roses among ruins» retorts James of Zebedee.

«You are not wrong. This is the area where Solomon’s gardens were, and they were famous, like his palaces, throughout the world of those days. Perhaps it was here that he dreamt of the Song of Songs, and he ascribed to the Holy City all the beautiful flowers that he had grown here» says Jesus.

«So I was right!» exclaims Thaddeus.

«Yes, you were. Do You know, Master? He was quoting Ecclesiastes, joining the idea of the gardens to the idea of the basins and he concluded by saying[1]: “But he realised that everything is vanity and nothing lasts under the sun, except the Word of My Jesus” » says James, the other brother.

«I thank you. But let us thank also Solomon, whether the orginal flowers are his or not. The basins that nourish herbs and men are certainly his. May he be blessed for them. Now let us go over to that big ruffled rose-bush, which has formed a flowery tunnel from tree to tree. We will stop there. We are almost half way…»

208.6 … And they take to the road again about the ninth hour, when every tree casts a long shadow in this area, which is very well cultivated in every part. One has the impression of walking through a botanic garden because all kinds of trees are represented: forest trees, fruit and ornamental ones. There are people working the land everywhere but they show no interest in the group passing by. On the other hand, it is not the only one. Other groups of Israelites are on their way back from the Passover celebration. The road is quite good although it is cut along the mountains, and the continuously varying landscape relieves travellers of the monotony of the journey. Streams and torrents form liquid silver commas and write words which they then sing their many intersecting meanderings, which flow through forests or hide under caves from which they come out more beautiful. They seem to be playing with plants and stones like happy children.

GRM 209

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: The fruitfulness of suffering in Jesus' discourse near Elise's house in Bet-Çur.

Date of vision: Thursday, July 5, 1945.

Calendar: Friday, April 7, 28 (Nissan 25, 3788)

Location (map): Bet-Çur

Cycle: Apostolate in Judea

Summary: The people of Bet-Çur learn that Elise has recovered from her illness, and they wish to see her, both out of friendship and curiosity. Jesus gently restrains them, as only he can, and then goes to see his Mother and Elise. The two women are both in the garden, but it is now neglected, and the Virgin promises that they will restore it to its former glory. So she gets to stay with her friend for a few days. Christ then goes to see the shepherds and tells them that he wishes to have them as disciples, but to do so, they must leave their present jobs. Since it wouldn't be right to leave everything just like that, they agree with Jesus to continue caring for their flocks until their employer knows how to take on new shepherds.

With this point settled, the Lord gives a discourse near Elise's house, in a place where she can hear him without being seen by the villagers. After discreetly mentioning Marziam's orphan sorrow and Elise's sad widowhood, He promises to call many men to follow Him, for He is no longer sufficient to meet the infinite needs of His brothers, and He must console them by bringing them the exact knowledge of God. He thus invites souls to come, through his disciples and apostles, to find comfort in their suffering.

Jesus then evokes the Book of Ruth and the grief of Naomi, who had lost her husband and children. Ruth, her daughter-in-law, refused to leave her, because she understood that her pain as a young widow was less burdensome than Naomi's pain at the loss of her children. Suffering is thus a cross, "but it is also a wing", and the Redeemer particularly insists on the value of charity, on stepping out of oneself, out of one's darkness, out of one's selfishness. He encourages us to reach out to the orphans, the sick, the isolated, and to forget ourselves in the midst of those who are forgotten. In this way, those who had nothing left will one day be able to bless the Lord thanks to these people who will have brought them out of their misfortune, their loneliness and their suffering.

Jesus concludes with the consequences of kindness, which can "provoke such a tide of love". He concludes his speech there, while Elise weeps, and he lets no one into the garden where she is.

Chapter contents: 209.1: Elise's healing arouses the curiosity of the people of Bet-Çur. 209.2: Respect Elise's convalescence. 209.3: Jesus enters Elise's garden. Mary will stay with her for a few days. 209.4: Jesus invites the three shepherds to follow him. 209.5: God alone relieves suffering. Come to me through my disciples. 209.6: Meditate on Naomi's pain and Ruth's love. 209.7: Pain is a cross and a wing. The unsuspected effects of kindness. Jesus protects Elise.

Previous edition: Tome 3, chapter 71

GRM 210

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Chapter title: On the road to Hebron, the worries of Judas Iscariot.

Date of vision: Friday, June 6, 1945.

Calendar: Sunday, April 9, 28 (27 Nissan 3788)

Location (map): Towards Hebron

Cycle: Apostolate in Judea

Summary: Judas is in a bad mood and asks Mary of Alphaeus and Mary Salome if they intend to visit all the places in Israel. The man is impatient, as he wants to go to Keroth with the Master, and is already annoyed at the idea that Mary, who is currently in Bet-Çur, is not accompanying them. He laments the fact that Jesus no longer performs brilliant miracles, and feels that they are doing a poor job of it. Even Andrew rebukes him, pointing out that it is he who has imposed himself on the group of apostles without Jesus choosing him. Thomas then jokingly intervenes, but when Judas reproaches the Master for having done nothing, his colleague reminds him of the healing of the lepers - an episode during which the Iscariot was not present, through his own fault. Thomas then gives the young man some wise advice, encouraging him to change, not to be disappointed, not to take himself for the Master's master.

The conversation returns to Israel's holy places, and as Judas grumbles that these are the usual legends, Thomas points out that his friend wanted to go to Endor, which doesn't shine for its purity, whereas women go where there are saints. The subject of John of Endor is brought up, and their stormy conversation continues, Judas criticizing about everything. Jesus supposedly doesn't talk to them anymore, he's too busy with Marziam, he chooses the wrong disciples with people like old John... and everything is a pretext for grumbling. Soon, Marie d'Alphée and Marie-Salomé slip away with André. Thomas and Judas don't even notice the silent arrival of Jesus, who intervenes at just the right moment and calms Judas' worries. The Master assures them that his Mother will indeed come to Kerioth, and justifies all his choices, including leaving Simon the Zealot with the Virgin, because he is old, knows how to keep quiet, and respects Elise's pain. Judas was therefore worried about chimeras, and he is struck by Christ's kindness and the way he reassures him. Finally, the conversation turns lighter, with references to the historical sites of Israel and the way Simon-Pierre behaved in class... Which makes everyone laugh.

Chapter contents: 210.1: Judas would like Jesus to perform more miracles. 210.2: The women and Andrew are shocked, Thomas intervenes. 210.3: He lectures Judas. 210.4: Who is jealous of the place taken by Marziam and John of En-Dor. 210.5: Jesus explains his decision to Judas. 210.6: He almost brings him to tears. 210.7: Peter admires Jesus' pedagogy.

Former edition: Volume 3, chapter 72.