Jesus Christ

Jesus is in Bethlehem with John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. They go into the town itself, as Christ wants to show them where the three kings greeted him. Then Judas shows his practicality and uses trickery to obtain information about Anne of Bethlehem, who had given shelter to the Holy Family. He passes off the apostolic group as Judeans from Jerusalem, and the innkeeper, a man named Hezekiah, tells them about the massacre of the Innocents and the death of Anne. Jesus goes to visit the ruins, then speaks to the people of Bethlehem. But when he speaks of his Mother and the Messiah, they become openly hostile. The crowd becomes agitated and throws stones, but Jesus is unable to appease them or comfort their pain. In a heroic gesture, Judas protects Jesus and the group withdraws. So the Savior doesn't insist, and decides to go and meet the shepherds at the Nativity.

Elijah describes Jesus as a child in his own words,

Elijah, Levi, Joseph, Jesus, John, Simon the Zealot and Judas approach Yutta. Christ intends to go to Hebron, to pray over the bones of Samuel and Zechariah, but he gives priority to Isaac first, because we must always take care of those who suffer. Praying for our deceased is also important, but they are already at peace if they have been righteous.

After talking about the difference between man and animal, the communion of saints, and the link between the dead and the living, Jesus and his friends arrive at Yutta. Elijah goes ahead to see Isaac, telling him that Jesus wants to see him and tells him to come. The shepherd, who is crippled and paralyzed, is immediately healed and goes to see the Savior as quickly as possible.

There, he adores him, and takes him to a family in Yutta who have taken good care of him. They are a couple with four children: their names are Mary, Joseph, Emmanuel and the last has yet to be named. The little family believes in the Messiah and invites him to circumcise their newborn son. Jesus decides to name him Jesai. The priest who comes to perform the ceremony pays little attention to the Lord, and their guests are mortified, but he reassures and consoles them. He invites John to show the sheep to Joseph and Emmanuel. Little Mary stays close to Jesus, and he invites her to be as good as her Mother. The child immediately agrees and speaks to him with familiarity. Taken in by Judas, Jesus tells her to let it go, for the innocent are his joy, and only they can speak his name as purely as his Mother.

The apostolic group heads for Hebron. Judas is nervous and irritated that they didn't go to Kerioth first, as it would have been shorter. Jesus assures him, however, that he always keeps his promises. If he goes to Hebron beforehand, it's because Samuel, who has passed away, has suffered a great deal for him, and has never betrayed the memory of the Child Jesus. He remained faithful even though he didn't know he was alive, and so this man deserves to be honored and prayed for by Christ.

The Iscariot then points out that the shepherds were righteous, holy, and yet they were mistreated. Anne of Bethlehem even died as a result... And so he concludes, incidentally, that love for Jesus brings him bad luck. The Master prevents John and Simon from intervening, saying that he prefers Judas always to speak his mind. And he replies that, even if the shepherds have received much, it would not be right for them to have received a special privilege because they have received this or that gift, including that of being present at the Nativity. Simon, moreover, declares that we shouldn't put earthly things where heavenly things are.

Judas then ironizes directly, pointing out that, having been healed so soon, the Zealot has recovered all his possessions, and is therefore not living on spirit alone. But Lazarus' friend replies that he has given specific orders and is free of everything to follow Jesus.

Judas finally grumbles, because he's wrong again, and John tries to console him by saying that he's practical, but that he'll soon change in Jesus' presence.

The latter deftly changes the conversation when Judas continues to grumble, and he gives instructions to Levi and Elijah: they will lead him to Jonah, and Joseph will stay with the group as far as Jericho.

Finally, they arrive in Hebron, near Zechariah's house. But the house is surrounded by a wall, which wasn't there before. A man tells them that a Herodian has taken possession of the house, and that he has a prostitute with him. He talks for a long time about John - whom he sees as the Messiah, despite the dialogue with Jesus and John - and the Master does not insist when the man is stubborn and believes he has the truth.

On their way to the synagogue, they go round the house and meet Aglaia. Jesus enters Zechariah's house and engages in a very sincere conversation with the courtesan. She begins a journey of redemption, but after leaving him, Jesus is rejected by the synagogue. Prostitutes are not to be spoken to, and when Judas remarks on him once he's out on the town, the Lord declares that Aglaia will surpass him, and that the time will soon come when pagans will worship the true God, rather than the chosen people who should receive the Messiah.

Ultimately, he was unable to honor the remains of Samuel and Zechariah, but he tells them to rejoice, for the first resurrection is at hand.

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.

Jesus walks with his disciples towards Hebron. John, Judas and Simon the Zealot are present. His goal is to reach the shepherds, especially Levi and Isaac. Judas grumbles about the incident at Kerioth, where Saul died against Jesus' heart, but the Lord rebukes him. He also affirms that we must be faithful to the Law and set an example. The apostolic group meets up with the shepherds again, and Elijah relates that Aglaia gave him her jewels in Hebron. They discuss what to do with them, but Christ gives no orders for the moment. He gives a short parable about Aglaia and the souls who repent like them. The apostles would like to turn back and go back to her, but Jesus doesn't want them to and decides that they should leave right away for the Temptation Mountain.

Jesus arrives at the Temptation Site, accompanied by John, Judas and Simon the Zealot. It's a desolate place. Judas thinks he's only been there a few hours, but the Lord disabuses him. He explained that he had come there to prepare for his Mission. The Iscariot thought he'd been with a few teachers and rabbis, but who could teach the Word of God anything?

Jesus goes on to explain that men have a destiny and must choose between the Friend or Satan. Finally, he suggested that the apostles stay here for a few days, to teach them the power of penance. John and Simon the Zealot readily accept. Judas is less enthusiastic, but doesn't dare leave.

After a few days, Maria's vision continues. Jesus explains that his stay in the desert lasted forty days and took place during winter. He explains his baptism, given by John, and the Temptation by the Devil. In particular, he talks about his God-man nature, and also answers Judas' question as to whether or not he could have been tempted. At the end of his speech, he asks the disciples not to tell Mary about the world's hostility to Jesus. She would suffer too much...

Jesus meets the shepherds Simeon, Matthias and John for the first time. He is also accompanied by the shepherd Joseph, Simon the Zealot, and John. Intimidated at first, the shepherds are soon put at ease and tell of John's imprisonment. They could free him with a sufficient sum of money. But the group has Aglaia's jewels. Judas is sent to sell them with John. Simon the Zealot confesses his discomfort with the Iscariot.

Jesus is in Jericho. He teaches children to be kind to animals and not to be unkind to them. Next, Judas returns with John from his meeting with Diomedes, the buyer of Aglaia's jewels. He tells of his ruse, how he made John look like a young fiancé, how he made him believe he wanted to buy jewelry similar to Aglaia's so that the merchant would give his price. Then he told her he didn't want to buy, but to sell, and he managed to get twelve talents, which is considerable. But the apostle lied... Jesus warned him not to do it again, and gave all the money to John the Baptist's disciples.

Jesus is in the countryside. He is talking to a peasant who confides the good he gets from listening to Jesus (it's exactly the same for us who read the Work). Jesus talks about God's blessing, and about suffering, about how it is atonement and grace. Then John leaves, and Judas asks to go to Jerusalem to meet a friend. Jesus is disheartened by Judas, and weeps quietly in a bushy grove. He prays. Finally, he is joined by Simon the Zealot, who guesses his pain. They talk about Judas... And Simon also expresses his desire for him to meet Lazarus.