Virtues and human characteristics of Jesus Christ

47.6 The value of purity is such that, as you have seen, the first thing Satan was anxious about, was to deceive Me about impurity. He Knows very well that sensual sins dismantle the soul and make it an easy prey to other sins. Satan’s efforts aimed at this capital point, in order to defeat Me.

Bread, hunger, are the material forms for the allegory of appetite, of the appetites that Satan takes advantage of for his own purpose. The food he offered Me to make Me fall intoxicated at his feet is quite a different thing! Greed would have followed, then avarice, power, idolatry, blasphemy and the abjuration of the divine Law. But that was the first step to catch Me. Exactly as he did to injure Adam.

• Adam and Eve
• Chair
• Defense of the Work
• Impurity
• Jesus Christ - God-Man
• Original sin
• Sensuality - Pleasure of the senses - Enjoyment
• Temptations of Jesus Christ
• The Fall

47.9 Jesus also says:

«I did not want you to speak about the sensual temptation of your Jesus. Even if your internal voice had made you understand Satan’s motive in attracting Me towards sensuality, I preferred to speak of it Myself. Think no more about it. It was necessary to mention it. Go on now. Leave Satan’s flower on its sands.»

• Temptations of Jesus Christ

We are poor and ignorant? Well, He says that He has come to announce the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, of the Kingdom of peace, to the poor, humble and little ones before the great ones. He said: “The great ones already have their delights. They are not enviable delights when compared with the ones I have come to bring you. The great ones are already capable of understanding by means of their culture. But I have come to the ‘little’ ones of Israel and of the world, to those who weep and hope, to those who seek Light and are hungry for the real Manna, to whom learned men do not give light and food, but only burdens, darkness, chains, contempt. And I call the ‘little ones’. I have come to turn the world upside down. Because I will lower what is now held high, and I will raise what is now held in contempt. Let those who want truth and peace, who want eternal life, come to Me. Those who love Light, let them come to Me. I am the Light of the world”.

• Apostolate of Jesus Christ
• Good News
• Ignorance
• Kingdom of God - Kingdom of Heaven
• Material wealth
• Sensuality - Pleasure of the senses - Enjoyment
• The powerful man
• The rich man
• Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

«You must have seen that He is not like us… He must have something compelling!…»

«Oh! Yes.» John says. «His face! His eyes! What beautiful eyes, aren’t they, James?! And His voice!… Oh! What a voice! When He speaks, you seem to be dreaming of Heaven.

• Jesus Christ

48.7 «Speak, speak of Him, while we are going. Where is He?»

«In a poor house; they must be His friends»

«Is He poor?»

«A workman from Nazareth. So He said.»

«And how does He live now, if He does not work any longer?»

«We did not ask Him. Perhaps His relatives help Him.»

«It would have been better if we had brought some fish, some bread and fruit…, something. We are going to consult a rabbi, because He is like… He is more than a rabbi, and we are going empty-handed! Our rabbis don’t like that…»

«But He does. We had but twenty pennies between us, James and I, and we offered Him them, as is customary with rabbis. He did not want them. But since we insisted so much, He said: “May God reward you with the blessings of the poor. Come with Me” and He gave them to some poor people: He knew where they lived. And when we asked Him: “Master, are You not keeping anything for Yourself?” He replied: “The joy of doing the will of God and serving His glory”. We also said: “You are calling us, Master. But we are all poor. What shall we bring You?”, He replied with a smile which made us enjoy the delights of Paradise: “I want a great treasure from you”, and we said: “But we have nothing”. And He answered: “A treasure with seven names, which even the poorest may have, while the rich may not possess it. You have it, and I want it. Listen to the names: charity, faith, goodwill, right intention, continence, sincerity, spirit of sacrifice. That is what I want from My followers, only that, and You have it. It is dormant, like a seed under a winter clod, but the spring sunshine will make it sprout into a sevenfold spike”. That is what He said.»

«Ah! Now I feel that He is the true Rabboni, the promised Messiah! He is not harsh with the poor, He does not ask for money… It is enough to call Him the Holy Man of God. We can go safely.»

• Habits and customs at EMV
• Jesus Christ
• Lessons and Teachings for the Apostles
• Silver

«And the day I should die…»

«No! You are young, Master… Why die?»

«Because the Messiah has come to preach the Law in its truthfulness and to accomplish Redemption. And the world loathes the Law and does not want redemption. Therefore they persecute God’s messengers.»

«Oh! Let that never be! Do not mention that prediction of death to him who loves You!… But if You should die, I would still love You. Allow me to love You.» John’s look is an imploring one. He has bowed his head lower than ever, as he walks beside Jesus and seems to be begging for love.

Jesus stops. He looks at him, scrutinises him with His deep, penetrating eyes, and then lays His hand on his bowed head. «I want you to love Me.»

«Oh! Master!» John is happy. Although his eyes shine with tears, his well shaped young mouth smiles. He takes the divine hand, kisses it on its back, and presses it to his heart.

• Death of Jesus Christ
• Doctrine
• Good News
• Messiah
• Persecution
• Prophet
• Redemption
• Word of God - Law of God

Every man is My brother, and I have come for everybody.

• Apostolate - Evangelism
• Incarnation
• Jesus Christ
• Redeemer
• Sauveur
• Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself

• Jesus Christ
• Locations - Bethsaida
• Locations - House of Peter in Bethsaida
• Pierre's mother-in-law
• Places - Capharnaüm
• Summary of EMV

«Master, do You want to rest? My room is here and Andrew’s is over there. Take Your choice. We will not make any noise while You are resting.»

«Have you got a terrace?»

«Yes, and the vine, although it is still almost bare, gives a little shade.»

«Then take Me up there. I prefer to rest there. I will think and pray.»

«As You wish. Come.»

A little staircase rises from the kitchen garden up to the roof, which is a terrace surrounded by a low wall. Even there, there are nets and ropes. But how much bright light, and what a beautiful view of the blue lake!

Jesus sits on a stool, leaning His back against the little wall. Peter bustles with a sail that he spreads over and on the side of the vine to make a shield against the sun. There is a breeze and silence. Jesus is visibly happy.

«I am going, Master.»

«Go. Go with John and tell people that I will be speaking here at sunset.»

Jesus remains alone and prays for a long time. With the exception of two pairs of doves that come and go from their nests, and the twittering of sparrows, there is no noise or living being near Jesus praying. The hours pass peacefully and quietly.

• Prayer of Jesus Christ

«We will now pray and then each of us will go and perform his duties.»

«What will You do, Master?»

«I will continue to pray. I am the Light of the world, but I am also the Son of man. I must, therefore, draw from the Light, to become the Man Who redeems man. Let us pray.»

• Jesus Christ - God-Man
• Jesus Christ - Son of Man
• Light of the world
• Redeemer
• Sauveur