Commandments

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.

At Belle-Eau, the apostles are restless, for Herod's brother-in-law, Manahen, has arrived to listen to the Master. But Jesus isn't there yet, and the Twelve are troubled by the lack of instructions from the Lord. An argument soon breaks out between Peter and Judas: Simon of Jonah doesn't want the Iscariot to approach Aglaia, and ends up telling Judas the truth. The other apostles intervene, as all this arguing is tiring Jesus, and both Jude and Philip report two episodes in which they caught Jesus crying. The future betrayer bursts into tears, and the Savior arrives in the meantime. Peter blames himself for being too hard on Judas, but Judas also admits he's no good. Jesus calms things down, assures them that Manahen wants to see him without any bad intentions, then sends the others away and talks to Judas. Jesus wants his disciple to examine himself and speak with his soul, the better to discern his faults, and Judas finally confesses that Christ is not righteous. In fact, the man from Keroth is jealous and Jesus puts the church back in the middle of the village. He reminds them that he has constantly defended them to the other apostles, and then Jesus takes his leave, as it is time for him to go and see the crowd waiting for him.

The Master gives a speech to La Belle-Eau on the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain". He returns to Israel's error, believing that pagans blaspheme when they pronounce the Name of God. But pagans have the right to seek the Lord. Jesus adds that even those who believe pronounce God's name in vain when their souls are unrepentant or hypocritical. We might then think that only little children have the right to call upon the Most High, but sinners can (and must) invoke Him when they want to be healed of their faults. Finally, Jesus concludes: "God's name is spoken 'in vain' if we do not try to change for the better".

There are no sick people, and when Christ realizes that Manahen is about to leave, after hesitating for a moment, he asks him if he has a place to sleep and if he has any food. The future disciple reveals that he doesn't, and Jesus invites him to La Belle-Eau.

At Belle-Eau, John comes to Jesus to tell him that Judas is trying to be good and wants to stay with the son of Zebedee. Jesus allows John to stay with Judas as long as no trouble enters his heart. Then he instructs Peter to help Judas become good. He heals a mentally handicapped child by having him repeat the Name of Jesus, which is salvation. Christ then speaks to the apostles about sickness, entered into the world by Satan, and the power of his Name. There is a brief mention of John the Baptist. Finally, the Master gives a discourse on the Commandment: "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother". He talks about the family, parents and children. Then he grants a distraught mother the conversion of her wicked son.