Jesus Christ

Jesus gives a sermon on Peter's boat, speaking of the spring harvest. He applies his lesson to souls, saying that comes the drought of Satan, the icy wind of the world, the gusts of passions, as well as disgust. In all this, vigilance and constancy are needed. Pointing to a fig tree in Peter's garden, he explains that the tree has done everything to survive and obey God's will, and that we must do the same, since we are children of the Lord.

Christ encourages us to seek Strength, Life, Light, and therefore to come to Christ, and he enjoins us to follow the Commandments, especially to love.

Having finished preaching, Jesus goes out onto the lake to fish. Peter is doubtful, but obeys. The miraculous catch takes place, and Simon of Jonah exclaims that he is a sinful man. Jesus urges him to follow. Peter abandons everything with Andrew, James and John.

Jesus is alone. Judas comes to join him. The man from Keroth wants to follow him, and Jesus is truly saddened. Knowing his state of mind, Jesus reveals to him that his Kingdom is not of this world, that his Kingship is not earthly. He even tells him that Christ will be betrayed, and Judas assures him that he will never do such a thing. He says this on his honor, but the Savior points out that nothing could be more fragile. Jesus then insists that he is gentle, poor and peaceful: that he will get nothing earthly by following him. But whatever his arguments, Judas wants to follow him. He even says that Jesus must take him if he's a sinner on his way to being lost. Jesus accepts, and the vision ends there.

Jesus is alone. He meets two men who are quarrelling and trying to stab each other. Christ intervenes again, warning them to stop; then, when they don't listen, he works a miracle and the blades break.

As soldiers from Rome arrive, Jesus gives a brief sermon for the men of Israel, and then also for the pagans present, enjoining them to love, and also pointing out that it is not through violence that one is victorious, but through holiness. Anger is a sin that can cut us off from God's blessing; yet the Lord's children must be kind to one another and love one another.

Having finished his speech, he is asked if he is the Messiah, and Jesus does not deny it. He is asked again if he performs miracles, and he doesn't deny it either, even performing them when the sick are presented to him. The crowd rejoices and Jesus blesses.

Then Judas arrives, inquiring about what has happened. He asks if he's going to stay in Jerusalem, but Jesus tells him he's going to travel to Judea, promising to go to Keroth. Finally, they both speak of John the Baptist, whom Herod has arrested. If Jesus is Goodness, the Forerunner is Penitence. The vision ends there.

Jesus leaves the Temple with Judas. Judas wants to go with him, but Jesus tells him that he needs to pray with the Father. He affirms that the spirit must always take precedence over the flesh, and that the flesh must almost be killed in favor of supernatural life. Judas then asks how we can be unconcerned about the flesh, and evokes the commandment "Thou shalt not kill". Jesus replies that we must eat with continence, without poisoning ourselves or overeating, as this flatters the taste. He then returned to the subject of suicide, and spoke about it at length. Christ declares that he who commits suicide sins through pride. Judas points out that people commit suicide out of despair, but Jesus says that despair is nothing other than pride: for we believe that we have no help anywhere, not even from God, who is a Father and can reach out to us. Judas points out that all those who committed suicide in Scripture before his coming sinned, but the Master declares that they will have been able to receive God's Mercy, even if it is never permitted to do violence, to oneself or to others. After the coming of the Word, on the other hand, the sin of suicide will always be severely condemned by God's Justice if the sinner commits suicide, declaring that he is forever separated from God and cannot receive God's forgiveness. Since life is a gift from God, we must love it, and use it to gain eternity.

Judas understands Christ's thought, but finds it hard to apply. They talk about Christ's temptation, then Jesus talks about angels (pure spirits) and man, king of creation, whom Jesus has come to rehabilitate.

About to leave Jesus, Judas asks him if he can't take him somewhere other than the olive grove, to make him "better considered". But while Jesus thanks him for his consideration, he likes to stay in this humble environment. He will come for all, for the little ones as well as for the great, but will remain above all where humility is to be found. Finally, the two men part shortly afterwards.

Jesus arrives at Jonah's house in the olive grove of Gethsemane. Jonas tells him that John has come, and Jesus immediately goes to meet him. They meet again, and the young disciple is happy. He informs him that he has left Docco with Simon, who has gone to find Lazarus in Bethany. John thinks that Simon is very competent, but the Master tells him that he too acts very well.

They arrive at the house and have a meal with their host. Then they go out into the olive grove, where they see Jerusalem, and Jesus comments on the Temple, which is no longer the Holy Place it should be. John then proposes to go and see Hanne and Caiaphas and a rich fish merchant to talk about Jesus and to make him less weary, but the Lord declines the invitation and speaks of that of Judas, who had made him a similar proposal to "be better regarded". John believes that Judas will be better than them because he is better educated, but Jesus teaches him that this is not the case, and that it is often the hearts that are untouched by knowledge that know how to love the most. That said, he asks him to be a friend to Judas, to help him become a better man.

Meanwhile, John mentions Simon Peter and the purse he received from a stranger (Matthew). He gives him the money and Jesus says he'll distribute it to the poor, so Judas will find out about their habits. John understands who it is and is surprised, but gives news of Thomas, who has gone to meet Philip and Bartholomew. Jesus then tells him that he wants the Twelve to love each other without preference, like a holy family.

Finally, he declares that he is going to pray, and John wants to stay with him, but he soon falls asleep, and Jesus continues the prayer in silence, while his apostle rests on his heart.

Finally, Jesus gives a dictation comparing Judas and John. The former keeps his way of thinking and seeing, the latter strips himself of all self to be "the disciple". He is the model for all apostles, while Judas is the very type of all failed apostles.

Jesus speaks to Judas. They are waiting for Simon the Zealot and John of Zebedee, who are to join him. Jesus reveals that John is his first disciple, and Judas is hurt, but he says nothing to the Master. The Master, who knows the heart, asks the Iscariot why he doesn't tell him what he thinks. Then he asks him if his father loved him, and Judas speaks of his sire with emotion. The Lord then assures him that, if his father raised him as Judas tells him, he was certainly a righteous man, and that he will rejoice to know him a disciple of the Messiah. But Judas must see in Jesus the father he had lost, and hide nothing from him. Judas declares that he will become good if Christ loves him that much. He confesses that he was hurt not to have been the first disciple, but Jesus assures him that He makes no difference in His heart between the first and the last.

Simon and John arrive in the meantime. The former leper greets his Savior with a shout of joy, and Jesus blesses him for the evangelistic work he has already accomplished. Simon takes the opportunity to mention Lazarus, and Jesus promises to visit him. Then the introductions between the disciples take place. Jesus sends John with Judas, and he asks Simon to be lenient with this man, whom Simon-Peter and others will not appreciate. Simon agrees, and with these words they go off to evangelize the people at the Temple.

Simon the Zealot talks to Judas.

A Bethlehem woman welcomes Jesus into her home.