Judea region

The apostolic group advances over the Emmaus mountains. They move on merrily and are on their way to Galilee. Judas, in good spirits, asks if they can return to Kerioth later, and John asks if he can take James of Zebedee and Andrew to Bethlehem. The Iscariot then asks Jesus for advice about his soul, and Jesus does so charitably, saying that his mind is disordered and everything falls apart at the slightest sign of wind. He advises her to act with order and stay with the good ones to fight temptation. Peter arrives in the meantime and wants to know what they're talking about. Jesus speaks of order and holiness, evoking the image of the right on a plane. Peter praises André, but Jesus assures him that the Twelve are working to become good and better.

Cleophas of Emmaus, an old man who has come to Belle-Eau, welcomes Jesus into his home. He's an old man, but he's very willing. On this occasion, Jesus meets a certain Timon and Hermas, true Israelites who ask him to present his doctrine. Jesus replies that we must follow the Decalogue, and practice love and mercy. The Lord says that Mercy has now taken precedence over Justice, but he also points out that it was always present, from the Beginning. Now, it has come to reconcile man with his Father. Next, Cleophas presents a case of incest, which is being tried by the Pharisaic authorities. In this case, the case of incest is unfortunate: the brother and sister really didn't know they were from the same lineage. To follow the Law, the man repudiated her (with a broken heart) and the woman died of grief. Now the man, named Joseph, is condemned and ostracized from Israel. He's out. Jesus declares that this was materially an involuntary fault, but that there had been no will to sin. As soon as he learns that he is in the street, he goes out and lets him know that he is Mercy. He invites him to follow him and absolves him of his involuntary fault, he who is the spotless Lamb and divine Judge.

The apostolic group, accompanied by Joseph of Emmaus, who has been ostracized by Israel, heads for Arimathea. Joseph needs to be detoxified from the hatred he has received. So Jesus asks the apostles to be very careful about intransigence: in fact, he makes a fine speech about the lost soul returning to its Lord. Finally, he declares that he will give Isaac of Yutta to Joseph to help train him in his way.

Note:

• EMV 141 is the beginning of volume 3 of the old edition.
• It marks the beginning of the second year of Jesus' public life.

Jesus arrives at Jeanne de Kouza's house. She comes running when she hears that the Master is there. There are her Roman friends: Lydia, Valeria and Plautina. The latter seems to be the most respected; Valeria is the one whose child Jesus saved in Caesarea. In any case, they all want to listen to him, to make up their own minds about this philosopher. Jeanne fears that Jesus won't get on with his guests, but Christ reassures her, and when they meet up again with the Romans, he starts from the subject of flowers - which these three women love very much - and begins to talk about immortality and the eternal life of the soul.

After Jesus takes care of little Fausta himself, the conversation continues on the philosophers currently living in Rome, who don't follow their teachings. Jesus then declares that they are not pagans, they are atheists, for they no longer even have gods in their hearts. However, other pagan philosophers had a great elevation of life, and always sought the Good at all costs.

When the Roman ladies ask Jesus if he is God, Christ replies that he is the Son of the true God, and the Savior criticizes Olympus, created by man's imagination, at length. He also speaks of the altar dedicated to the unknown god, which the wise and true philosophers have intuited. Jesus goes on to talk about Creation and the soul in particular, and encourages Lydia, Valeria and Plautina to ask questions. They do so - the subject remains fairly focused on the theme of immortality, the soul and the Master's divinity - and then, when they fear reprisals from their gods, Jesus reassures them that they don't exist.

Finally, he leaves, and Jeanne accompanies him home. She confides in him that Kouza wants her to return to Jerusalem, and the Messiah encourages her to obey, as this will make it easier for her to follow him.