Summary of EMV

Jesus is at the Jordan ford: they're looking for John the Baptist, but he's not here. Instead, they meet Solomon, who is a disciple of John and has brought souls to him without asking for money to cross the Jordan. He is a righteous man. Christ greets him and they continue on their way to Jericho. The Lord then gives them a parable about the fields being tilled by the farmer: so it is with souls who allow themselves to be more or less tilled by the Lord. Then they talk indirectly about the Passion. Jesus says that even if legions of angels came to defend him, they could do nothing, for Justice must be done. They also speak of the present cup, the second cup, and the third cup that will be drunk at the end of the world. Simon the Zealot understands the words of the Book and guesses that the Redeemer will have to suffer enormously. Jesus confirms his vision of things, and Peter comes to ask Simon for an explanation. He wants to defend his Master, but the Zealot, being a wise man, guesses that the apostles' courage will melt like snow in the sun. They continue talking until Peter, who sees how sad Jesus is, goes off to the Savior and tells him not to be so sad anymore. This passage is a fine example of Peter's spontaneity.

The apostolic group is in Jericho. Zacchaeus, still a tax collector, receives an offering from Aglaia (who is anonymous in this chapter) and Judas, who is not far away, investigates her. But Zacchaeus won't tell him anything, and the Iscariot leaves in a huff. That's when he runs into the rest of his companions, who thought he'd gone to Keroth to help his mother. Peter is rather... ironic, and there's a spat between the two apostles. Jesus cuts the conversation short, and no doubt seeing that Judas is about to lie in order to apologize, begs him to be quiet and ask him if he'll see them off again. Judas agrees. Jesus divides the group into three. Peter, Jude Thaddeus, James of Alphaeus, Matthew will go to Bethlehem and meet Isaac and the shepherds on the way. Judas, Thomas, Andrew, James of Zebedee will go to Gethsemane to prepare for the Feast of Tabernacles. John, Simon the Zealot, Philip and Bartholomew stay with Christ in Bethany, at the home of Lazarus. When they arrive near the home of Theophilus' son, Judas excuses himself, but keeps his eyes on Lazarus' house. No doubt he hopes for a change of group, but Jesus maintains his decision. He goes to see Lazarus, who introduces him to Martha for the first time. Then they talk about Jonah (Jesus announces his death) and he reveals that he knows he has seen Mary Magdalene. Lazarus is devastated, even though Jesus assures him that he has pity for her. Respectful of his grief, Jesus leaves him alone for a moment and speaks with Martha. She tells him that Doras and Judas had been insinuating things to her brother, and that he had lost his peace. The conversation then turns to Mary Magdalene, and Jesus encourages them to forgive, as their forgiveness may help his conversion. The importance of brotherly and family forgiveness.

Jesus returns to Bethany after the Feast of Tabernacles. He talks to Lazarus, who tells him about Joseph of Arimathea, as well as Nicodemus. The former wants to see him, and says that anyone who performs miracles has God with him. The second criticizes the presence of Judas in the apostolic group, because he's a chameleon. So the two friends discuss Iscariot, and then the vision ends.

Jesus goes to a banquet given by Joseph of Arimathea. Lazarus, Gamaliel, Felix, John, Simon and Cornelius (Pharisees) are present. Jesus, for his part, has taken Thomas and Nicodemus with him. The guests talk about John the Baptist, whose holiness is indisputable, and how miracles do not necessarily prove holiness. They deviate to Aaron and Moses, talking in particular about the pontificate and the high priest, Caiaphas. Jesus gives a definition of a pontiff, but Felix is angry and leaves. Jesus then asks Gamaliel if he too wants a miracle, and Gamaliel only wants the sign the Child has promised him.

Jesus is in the Temple in Jerusalem. He is praying. But Alexander, the Roman soldier he has met before, appears. His horse has wounded a child, who is in agony, so he comes looking for the Master, who he is sure can save this innocent. His arrival causes a scandal, because a pagan in the Temple is very serious in the eyes of the Pharisees. So Jesus goes straight to him and heals the boy. The doctors of the Law then reproached him for all the commotion he was causing in the holy place...

Jesus is with his disciples in the olive grove of Gethsemane. The apostolic group talks about the Gentiles who are interested in Jesus, which creates misgivings among some Israelites. The discussion then turns to the idolatry of the Romans, but also to the idolatries in everyone's hearts. Later, everyone withdraws, except John, Simon the Zealot and Jesus. The Master has kept his two apostles close to him because Nicodemus wants to see him, and while John goes to fetch him, Christ confides to Simon that he will be leaving Jerusalem for a while. Nicodemus then arrives and tells them that he and Joseph of Arimathea are his disciples in secret, the better to know what the Sanhedrin wants to do against him. The Sanhedrin is hostile to him, and Jesus lets him know that he will be moving away from Jerusalem. This devastates Nicodemus, who thinks he's done the wrong thing by talking to him, and Simon the Zealot confirms to the old man that Jesus was already planning to leave the Holy City, even before their meeting.

Lazarus gives the Savior a house to stay in for a while. Then the Pharisee comes along, grieving that he doesn't believe as simply as John and Simon, and Jesus confides in him that they have been spiritually reborn. He confirms that there is no such thing as reincarnation, and gives his speech as found in John 3:1-21: "Amen, amen, I say to you: no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit", and so on.

Jesus goes to Bethany to face the hostility of the Pharisees. Lazarus gives him the land of Belle-Eau. In this chapter, we discover that the son of Theophilus intervened a great deal in secret, on behalf of Jesus and his friend Simon. The Lord speaks of his friend's spiritual goodness and promises that the Father has a great reward in store for him. He speaks of his future sanctification in Heaven, and by extension of the saints and blessed who will be there.

The apostolic group has arrived at Belle-Eau. Judas is in a foul mood. The other disciples are busy repairing the house: Thomas is cooking, James and Jude of Alphaeus are repairing shutters with John of Zebedee, Peter is repairing the well... There is a brief altercation between the man from Keroth, Simon of Jonah and the sons of Alphaeus. Later, Jesus arrives and Peter reacts impulsively, showing his love for the Master. The first pilgrims arrive and Jesus gives a sermon on life and death: death being the true life, and life on earth being the preparation for our eternity, in Heaven or Hell.

In EMV 119, people talk about John the Baptist and the Nativity. A man with gangrene is healed by Jesus, who gives him baptism. Another, a homicidal man, repents and is forgiven. Finally, Jesus gives a lesson on the Commandment "I am the Lord your God". He says that the disciples will baptize from now on, and that they are not yet ready to pray the Lord's Prayer, or to perform miracles, for that matter.

In EMV 120, Jesus preaches on the Commandment: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me". He talks about the presence of God, who is with man all the time, encouraging him to do good deeds all the time; this also discourages his children from doing evil. Then Jesus speaks of the Lord's holy jealousy, who wants us for himself, for an eternity of delight, in his endless Heaven. Finally, he speaks of idolatry, for we all have secret altars in our hearts; then the Savior emphasizes the mercy of the Most High, and invites us to act well, to make of our hearts a Heaven that welcomes God.

When the preaching is over, Jesus performs miracles on sick people. Then he sends the Twelve to baptize, while Judas and Simon give alms.