GRM 77.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
I only want you to open your souls to Me that I may enlighten them.
Notes for this theme
Jesus Christ
Page 48 of 151
Reading comfort
Aa
GRM 77.4-5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
77.4 «There are some houses over there» says John, who is walking a few steps in front of the others.
«It’s Hebron. Between two rivers with its crest. See, Master? That house there, amidst all the green, a little higher up than the others? That’s Zacharias’ house.»
«Let us quicken our paces.»
They cover the last stretch of the road very rapidly and go into the village. The sheep’s little hooves sound like castanets on the uneven stones of the road, which is paved very roughly. They reach the house. People look at the group of men, who are so different by look, age and garments amongst the white sheep.
«Oh! It’s different! There was a gate here!» says Elias. Now instead of the gate there is a metal door which prevents one from seeing, and also the enclosure wall is higher than a man and thus nothing can be seen inside.
«Perhaps it will be open at the back.» They go round a large quadrilateral wall, it is rather a long rectangular one, but the wall is the same height all round.
«The wall was built not long ago» remarks John, examining it. «There is not a scratch on it and there is still lime rubble on the ground.»
«I cannot even see the sepulchre… It was near the wood. Now the wood is outside the wall and… and it seems to belong to everybody. They are gathering firewood in it.» Elias is puzzled.
77.5 A man, an old woodcutter, small but strong, who is watching the group, stops sawing a trunk he has cut down, and goes towards the group. «Whom are you looking for?»
«We wanted to go in, to pray on Zacharias’ tomb».
«There is no tomb any longer. Don’t you know? Who are you?»
«I am a friend of Samuel, the shepherd. This…»
«It is not necessary, Elias» says Jesus and Elias keeps quiet.
«Ah! Samuel!… I see! But since John, Zacharias’ son, was put into prison, the house is no longer his. And it is a misfortune, because he had all the profit of his property given to the poor people in Hebron. One morning a man came from Herod’s court, he threw Jowehel out, he affixed seals, then he came back with bricklayers and they started raising the wall… The sepulchre was over there, in the corner. He did not want it… and one morning we found it all spoiled and half destroyed… the poor bones were all scattered… We put them together again, as best we could… They are now in a sarcophagus… And in the house of the priest Zacharias, that filthy man keeps his lovers. Now there is a mime from Rome. That is why he raised the wall. He does not want people to see… The house of the priest a brothel! The house of the miracle and of the Precursor! For it is certainly him, if he is not the Messiah. And how much trouble we had because of the Baptist! But he is our great man! He is really great! Even when he was born there was a miracle. Elizabeth was as old as a withered thistle but she became as fruitful as an apple in Adar, and that was the first miracle. Then a cousin of hers came and She was a holy woman, and She served her and loosened the priest’s tongue. Her name was Mary. I remember Her, although we saw Her very rarely. How it happened I don’t know. They say that to make Elizabeth happy, She made Zacharias put his mute mouth against Her pregnant bosom or that She put Her fingers into his mouth. I don’t know. It is a fact that, after nine months’ silence, Zacharias spoke praising the Lord and saying that there was a Messiah. He did not explain more. But my wife was there on that day and she assured me that Zacharias, praising the Lord, said that his son would precede Him. Now I say: it is not what people believe. John is the Messiah and he goes before the Lord, as Abraham went before God. That’s what it is… Am I not right?»
«You are right with regards to the spirit of the Baptist, who always proceeds before God. But you are not right with regards to the Messiah».
«Well, the woman who said that She was the Mother of the Son of God — Samuel said so — was it not true that She was? Is She still living?»
«Yes, She was. The Messiah was born, preceded by him who raised his voice in the desert, as the Prophet said.»
«You are the first to say so. John, the last time that Jowehel took him a sheepskin, which he did every year at the beginning of winter, although he was questioned about the Messiah, did not say: “The Messiah is here”. When he will say so…»
«Man, I was a disciple of John and I heard him say: “Here is the Lamb of God” pointing to…» says John.
«No, no. He is the Lamb. A true Lamb who grew up by himself, almost without the need of a father and mother. As soon as he became a son of the Law, he lived isolated in the mountain caves overlooking the desert, and he grew up there conversing with God. Elizabeth and Zacharias died, and he did not come. God only was his father and mother. There is no holy man greater than he is. You can ask everyone in Hebron. Samuel used to say so, but the people in Bethlehem must have been right. John is the holy man of God.»
«If someone said to you: “I am the Messiah”, what would you say?» asks Jesus.
«I would call him a “blasphemer” and I would drive him away, throwing stones at him.»
«And if he performed a miracle to prove that he was the Messiah?»
«I would say that he was “possessed”. The Messiah will come when John reveals himself in his true nature. The very hatred of Herod is the proof. Cunning as he is, he knows that John is the Messiah.»
«He was not born in Bethlehem.»
«But when he is freed, after announcing by himself his impending oncoming, he will reveal himself in Bethlehem. Also Bethlehem is waiting for that. Whilst… Oh! Go, if you have plenty of guts, and talk to the Bethlehemites of another Messiah… and you will see…»
«Have you a synagogue?»
«Yes, about two hundred steps straight ahead. You cannot go wrong. Near it there is the sarcophagus with the violated remains.»
«Goodbye, may God enlighten you.»
They go away. They turn around onto the front of the house.
GRM 77.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«How much trouble we had because of the Baptist! But he is our great man! He is really great! Even when he was born there was a miracle. Elizabeth was as old as a withered thistle but she became as fruitful as an apple in Adar, and that was the first miracle. Then a cousin of hers came and She was a holy woman, and She served her and loosened the priest’s tongue. Her name was Mary. I remember Her, although we saw Her very rarely. How it happened I don’t know. They say that to make Elizabeth happy, She made Zacharias put his mute mouth against Her pregnant bosom or that She put Her fingers into his mouth. I don’t know. It is a fact that, after nine months’ silence, Zacharias spoke praising the Lord and saying that there was a Messiah. He did not explain more. But my wife was there on that day and she assured me that Zacharias, praising the Lord, said that his son would precede Him. Now I say: it is not what people believe. John is the Messiah and he goes before the Lord, as Abraham went before God. That’s what it is… Am I not right?»
«You are right with regards to the spirit of the Baptist, who always proceeds before God. But you are not right with regards to the Messiah».
«Well, the woman who said that She was the Mother of the Son of God — Samuel said so — was it not true that She was? Is She still living?»
«Yes, She was. The Messiah was born, preceded by him who raised his voice in the desert, as the Prophet[1] said.»
«You are the first to say so. John, the last time that Jowehel took him a sheepskin, which he did every year at the beginning of winter, although he was questioned about the Messiah, did not say: “The Messiah is here”. When he will say so…»
«Man, I was a disciple of John and I heard him say: “Here is the Lamb of God” pointing to…» says John.
«No, no. He is the Lamb. A true Lamb who grew up by himself, almost without the need of a father and mother. As soon as he became a son of the Law, he lived isolated in the mountain caves overlooking the desert, and he grew up there conversing with God. Elizabeth and Zacharias died, and he did not come. God only was his father and mother. There is no holy man greater than he is. You can ask everyone in Hebron. Samuel used to say so, but the people in Bethlehem must have been right. John is the holy man of God.»
«If someone said to you: “I am the Messiah”, what would you say?» asks Jesus.
«I would call him a “blasphemer” and I would drive him away, throwing stones at him.»
«And if he performed a miracle to prove that he was the Messiah?»
«I would say that he was “possessed”. The Messiah will come when John reveals himself in his true nature. The very hatred of Herod is the proof. Cunning as he is, he knows that John is the Messiah.»
«He was not born in Bethlehem.»
«But when he is freed, after announcing by himself his impending oncoming, he will reveal himself in Bethlehem. Also Bethlehem is waiting for that. Whilst… Oh! Go, if you have plenty of guts, and talk to the Bethlehemites of another Messiah… and you will see…»
«Have you a synagogue?»
«Yes, about two hundred steps straight ahead. You cannot go wrong. Near it there is the sarcophagus with the violated remains.»
«Goodbye, may God enlighten you.»
Detail
A woodcutter from Hebron talks with Jesus, John, Judas and the shepherd Elijah. He declares:
GRM 77.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Man, I was a disciple of John and I heard him say: “Here is the Lamb of God” pointing to…» says John.
Detail
A woodcutter from Hebron considers John the Baptist to be the Messiah and the Lamb of God. John intervenes to give his testimony of baptism.
GRM 77.7
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«How do You save? And whom?»
«Those who are anxious to be saved. I save by teaching to be pure, to prefer sorrow to honour, to desire good at all costs.»
GRM 77.7
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«My Lord!»
«Woman.»
«Your Name, my Lord.»
«Jesus.»
«I never heard it. I am a Roman: a mime and dancer. I am an expert only in lust. What is the meaning of Your name? My name is Aglae and.. and it means: vice.»
«Mine means: Saviour.»
«How do You save? And whom?»
«Those who are anxious to be saved. I save by teaching to be pure, to prefer sorrow to honour, to desire good at all costs.» Jesus speaks without bitterness, without even turning towards the woman.
«I am lost…»
«I am the One seeking who is lost.»
«I am dead.»
«I am the One who gives Life.»
«I am filth and falsehood.»
«I am Purity and Truth.»
«You are also Bounty, You do not look at me. You do not touch me, You do not tread on me. Have mercy on me…»
«First, you must have mercy on yourself. On your soul.»
«What is the soul?»
«It is what makes a god of man and not an animal. Vice and sin kill it, and once it is killed, man becomes a repulsive animal.»
«Will it be possible for me to see You again?»
«Who looks for Me, finds Me.»
«Where do You live?»
«Where hearts need doctors and medicines to become honest again.»
«In that case… I will not see You again… I live where no doctor, medicine or honesty is wanted.»
«Nothing prevents you from coming to where I am. My name will be shouted in the streets and will reach you. Goodbye.»
«Goodbye, my Lord. Allow me to call You “Jesus”. Oh! Not out of familiarity!… But that a little of salvation may come to me. I am Aglae, remember me.»
«I will. Goodbye.»
Detail
Dialogue between Aglaia, a prostitute, and Jesus.
GRM 77.8
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
77.8 Jesus goes straight along the road. He knocks at the synagogue.
A resentful old man looks out. He does not even give Jesus time to speak. «The synagogue is forbidden, in this holy place, to those who deal with prostitutes. Go away.»
Jesus turns away without replying and continues walking along the road. His disciples follow Him. They begin to speak when they are outside Hebron.
«You asked for trouble, Master» says Judas. «A prostitute, of all people!»
«Judas, I solemnly tell you that she will surpass you. And now, since you are reproaching Me, what do you say of the Judaeans? In the most holy places in Judaea we have been scoffed at and driven away… That is the truth. The day will come when Samaria and the Gentiles will worship the true God, and the people of the Lord will be soiled with blood and a crime… a crime in comparison with which the sins of prostitutes, who sell their bodies and their souls, will be a very small thing. I was not able to pray on the tomb of My cousins and of the just Samuel. It does not matter. Rest, holy bones, rejoice, souls, that dwelt in them. The first resurrection is near. Then the day will come when you will be shown to the angels as the souls of the servants of the Lord.»
Jesus stops speaking and the vision ends.
Detail
Jesus has just spoken with a prostitute. He didn't look at her once, but he inspired her to conversion (see EMV 77.7). Then he returns to the synagogue. He is rejected, and in the face of Judas's remarks, he predicts the future.
GRM 78
The Gospel as revealed to me
Detail
Jesus, John, Judas and Simon the Zealot arrive in Keroth. The shepherds are gone. Judas is really agitated and can't hold it together. He asks the Master to tell him, and Simon points out to the Master that this man doesn't understand him. Jesus sighs, but says nothing.
They arrive in Keroth, and are greeted by Judas' mother. She greets him with great respect, offers him something to refresh himself and gives him sandals and a cloak. Jesus initially says nothing, but thinks nothing of it; then, when Mary declares that she knows nothing of the ways of kings, he asks to speak to his apostle alone. There, he rebukes him severely, saying that he is putting obstacles in the way of his mission, for Israel is subject to Rome, and Christ is in no way a King of the earth.
He really encourages Judas to withdraw, to leave the group. Then he describes his kingship and when he will be crowned king: on the wood of the cross, with an infamous sign and under the booing of his people. Jesus thus predicts his atrocious death.
Judas is mortified, but he implores the Master to keep him, that he will become good. He asks for forgiveness and Jesus, tired, forgives him. However, the Iscariot asks to stay and go to his town, as Judas has told everyone that the Lord is coming. So Jesus decides to go along with what Judas has planned, not for himself, but for his mother.
So Jesus goes to Keroth on a chariot, and the synagogue leader welcomes him and asks him to go to their place of prayer. Jesus accepts and preaches to the people. He declares that he is the Word of God, but reminds them that his kingship is primarily spiritual. He then confirms this to the notables of Keroth.
Old Saul intervenes and speaks of the Nativity of Christ, whom he has come to adore. Jesus confirms that it was him, and the old man has a vision of the Lord's kingship. He sees him transfigured, then with his Wounds and Blood. He dies after bearing witness to Jesus' heart, so the group must purify themselves to comply with the Law.
GRM 78.1
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
You already are aware that I do not mind the humbleness of the place that gives Me hospitality.
GRM 78.2-4
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
78.2 Judas comes out with a woman who is about fifty years old. She is rather tall, but not so tall as her son, who has her same dark eyes and curly hair. But her eyes are kind and rather sad, whereas those of Judas are imperious and shrewd.
«I greet You, King of Israel» she says prostrating herself in a real salutation of a subject. «Allow Your servant to give You hospitality.»
«Peace to you, woman. And may God be with you and your creature.»
«Oh! yes! With my creature.» It sounds more like a sigh than a reply.
«Stand up, mother. I have a Mother, too, and I cannot allow you to kiss My feet. I kiss you, woman, in My Mother’s name. She is a sister of yours… in love and in the painful destiny of the mother of those who are marked.»
«What do You mean, Messiah?» asks Judas somewhat worried.
But Jesus does not reply. He is embracing the woman, whom He has kindly raised up from the ground and is now kissing her cheeks. And, holding her hand, He walks toward the house.
They go into a cool room, which is shaded by light striped curtains. Cold drinks and fresh fruit are already laid out. But first of all Judas’ mother calls a maidservant who brings in water and the landlady would like to take off Jesus’ sandals and wash His dusty feet. But Jesus objects. «No, mother. A mother is too holy a person, particularly when she is honest and good, as you are, to be allowed to take an the attitude of a slave…»
The mother looks at Judas… an unusual look. She then goes away. Jesus has refreshed Himself. When He is about to put on His sandals, the woman comes back with a new pair. «Here, Messiah. I think I have done the right thing… as Judas wanted… He said to me: “A little longer than mine, but the same width”.»
«But why, Judas?»
«Will You not let me offer You a gift? Are You not my King and my God?»
«Yes, Judas. But you must not give so much trouble to your mother. You know what I am like…»
«I know. You are holy. But You must appear as a holy King. That is how one imposes oneself. In the world, where nine tenths of the folk are foolish people, we must impose ourselves with our appearance. Trust me.»
Jesus has fastened the red leather open straps of the new sandals, which reach up to His ankles. They are much nicer than His plain sandals of a workman, and they resemble Judas’ sandals, which are like shoes with open parts showing of his feet.
«Also the tunic, my King. I prepared it for Judas… But he makes a present of it to You. It’s a linen one: cool and new. Allow a mother to put it on You… as if You were her son.»
Jesus looks at Judas once again… but does not speak. He unties the lace of His tunic round His neck, and lets His wide tunic fall onto the floor and thus is left with only His short under-tunic. The woman puts the lovely new garment on Him. She offers Him a belt, which is richly embroidered braid, from which a cord hangs down, decorated with very thick tassels. Jesus must feel comfortable in the cool clean clothes, but He does not seem very happy. In the meantime the others have cleaned themselves.
«Come, Master. They come from my poor orchard. And this is honeyed water, prepared by my mother. Perhaps, Simon, you would prefer this white wine. Have some. It is the wine of my vineyard. And what about you, John? Will you have the same as the Master?» Judas is overjoyed at pouring the drinks into beautiful silver cups, thus showing his wealth.
His mother is not very talkative. She looks… looks… at Judas, and even more at Jesus, and when Jesus, before eating, offers her the nicest fruit (possibly very big apricots, they are yellow red fruits, certainly not apples) and He says to her: «First of all to mother, always», her eyes well with tears.
«Mother, is the rest ready?» asks Judas.
«Yes, son. I think I have done everything well. But I was brought up here and I have always lived here and I do not know… I do not know the habits of kings.»
«Which habits, woman? Which kings? What have you done, Judas?»
«Are You not the promised King of Israel? It is time that the world should salute You as such, and that must happen for the first time here, in my town, in my house. I revere You as such. For my sake, and for the respect due to Your names of Messiah, Christ, King, which the Prophets gave You by Yahweh’s command, do not give me the lie.»
78.3 «Woman, friends, please. I must speak to Judas. I have precise instructions to give him.»
The mother and the disciples withdraw.
«Judas: what have you done? Have you understood so little of Me so far? Why lower Me to the extent of making Me only a mighty man of the world, and what is more: a man intriguing to become mighty? And do you not understand that that is an offence, even an obstacle to My mission? Yes. Do not deny it. It is an obstacle. Israel is subjected to Rome. You know what happened when they raised against Rome someone who seemed a mob-leader and aroused the suspicion of creating an insurrection. Only a few days ago you heard how pitiless they were against a Child because they were afraid He might be a king according to the world. And yet you!…
Oh! Judas! What do you expect from the sovereignty of the flesh? What do you expect? I gave you time to think and decide. I spoke to you very clearly from the very first time. I also sent you away because I knew… because I know, I read and see what is in you. Why do you want to follow Me, if you do not want to be as I want you? Go away, Judas. Do not harm yourself and do not harm Me… Go away. It is better for you. You are not a suitable worker for this task. It is by far too much above you. In you there is pride, there is greed and all its three branches, there is arrogance… even your mother must be afraid of you… you are inclined to falsehood… No, My follower must not be like that. Judas, I do not hate you, I do not curse you. I only say to you, and I am saying it with the grief of one who knows he cannot change the person he loves, I only say to you: go your way, make your way in the world, since that is what you want, but do not stay with Me.
My life!… My royal palace! How small and mean they are! Do you know where I will be a King? When I will be proclaimed King? When I will be raised up, upon an ill-famed piece of wood and My own blood will be purple, and My crown will be a wreath of thorns and My insignia a mocking poster and the curses of all the people, of My people, will be the trumpets, the tambourines, the organs, the citherns saluting the proclamation of the King. And do you know by whose deed all this will happen? By the deed of one who did not understand Me. One who will have understood nothing. One, whose heart was a hollow piece of bronze, that pride, sensuality and avarice had filled with their humours, which will generate coils of snakes that will be used to chain Me and… and to curse him. The others are not so well aware of My destiny. Please do not tell them. Let us keep this to ourselves. In any case it is a reproach… and you will keep quiet to avoid saying: “I was reproached”… Is that clear, Judas?»
78.4 Judas has blushed so much, that he looks purple. He is standing before Jesus, mortified, his head lowered… He kneels down and he cries with his head on Jesus’ knees: «I love you, Master, Don’t reject me. Yes, I am proud and foolish, but don’t send me away. No. Master. I will never do it again. You are right. It was thoughtless of me. But there is some love in my mistake. I wanted to honour You… and I wanted the others to honour You as well… because I love You. You said so three days ago: “When you make a mistake without malice, out of ignorance, it is not an error, but an incorrect judgement: like the error of children, and I am here to make adults of you”. Here I am, here against Your knees… You said You would be a father to me… and I am here against Your knees as if they were my father’s, and I ask You to forgive me, and to make an “adult” of me, a holy adult… Don’t send me away, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus… Not everything is wicked in me. You know: I left everything for you and I have come. You are much more than the honours and victories I got serving other people. You are indeed the love of poor unhappy Judas who would like to give You nothing but joy, and is instead the cause of pain for You…»
«That is all right, Judas. I forgive you once again…» Jesus looks tired… «I forgive you, hoping… hoping that in future you will understand Me.»
«Yes, Master. But, now, do not give me the lie, otherwise I will be laughed at. Everybody in Kerioth knows that I was coming with David’s Descendant, the King of Israel… and the town has made preparations to welcome You… I thought I was doing a good thing… showing You what one must do to be respected and obeyed… and I also wanted to show John and Simon, and through them, all the others who love You but treat You as their equal… My mother too would be mocked at, as the mother of a mad liar. For her sake, my Lord,… And I swear that I…»
«Do not swear to Me. Swear to yourself, if you can, that You will not commit such a sin again. For the sake of your mother and your fellow citizens I will not shame you by going away without stopping here. Stand up.»
«What will You tell the others?»
«The truth…»
«No, don’t.»
«The truth: that I gave you instructions for today. It is always possible to tell the truth in a charitable way. Let us go. Call your mother and the others.»
Jesus is rather severe. He smiles again only when Judas comes back with his mother and the disciples. The woman gazes at Jesus, but she gains confidence when she sees His kind disposition. I get the impression she is in great distress.
«Shall we go to Kerioth? I have rested and I wish to thank you, mother, for all your kindness. May Heaven reward you and grant rest and peace to your late husband for all your charity to Me.»
The woman tries to kiss His hand, but Jesus caresses her head and thus prevents her from doing so.
Detail
Judas prepared his city and his mother to receive Jesus as King of Israel (EMV 78.2). But this is not to the Savior's liking. He receives new sandals, a very comfortable garment and the opportunity to freshen up, but he is not happy with all these favors. When he hears Judas' mother say that she doesn't know the ways of kings, he asks to speak to Judas alone, and their discussion begins in earnest (EMV 78.3).