John of Zebedee (apostle) in “Main and secondary characters” (page 21/26)

GRM 188.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus and the apostles have passed Mount Tabor and left it behind them. They are now walking on a plain lying between that mountain and another one facing it, talking of the climb made by them all, although at the beginning the elder ones had not been too keen. But now they are happy they had gone up to the top. The journey is now easy because they are on a main road which is quite comfortable for walking. It is early in the morning because I am under the impression that they have spent the night on the slopes of the Tabor.
«That is Endor» says Jesus pointing to a poor village built on the first heights of the other mountain. «Do you really want to go there?»
«If You wish to make me happy…» responds the Iscariot.
«Let us go, then.»
«But is it a long way?» asks Bartholomew, who, because of his age, is not very keen on walking tours.
«Oh! no! But if you wish to stay…» says Jesus.
«Yes! You may stay. I will go with the Master» says Judas of Kerioth immediately.
«Listen, before making up my mind, I would like to know what there is to be seen… From the top of Mount Tabor we saw the sea and after the boy’s speech I must admit that I saw it properly for the first time and I saw it as You see: with my heart. Here… I would like to know whether there is anything to learn, because in that case I will come even if it is tiresome…» says Peter.
«Do you hear that? You have not yet said what you intend doing. Be kind to your companions and tell us now» says Jesus invitingly.
«Did Saul not go to Endor[1] to consult the necromancer?»
«Yes, he did. So?»
«Well, Master, I would like to go there and hear You speak of Saul.»
«In that case I will come, too!» exclaims Peter full of enthusiasm.
«Let us go then.»
They walk fast along the last stretch of the main road, which they leave to follow a secondary road, which takes straight to Endor.

Detail

Emphasis on Bartholomew, Judas, Philip and Simon Peter. The other apostles are present.

Keywords

GRM 188.5 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The man does not say anything and remains where he was, while Jesus with His apostles, passing over large stones which must have been part of very strong walls, upsetting green lizards and other ugly looking insects, enters a large smoky grotto, on the walls of which there are still graffiti signs of the zodiac and similar things. In a corner blackened by smoke there is a niche and under it a hole which looks like a gully-hole for water. Bats hanging in disgusting bunches decorate the ceiling and an owl, upset by the light of a branch which James has lit to ensure they do not tread on scorpions or asps, complains by flapping its wadded wings and closing its ugly eyes which cannot bear the light. It is perched in the niche, and the foul smell of dead mice, of weasels and birds in decomposition at its feet is mixed with the stench of dung and of the damp soil.
«It is really a lovely place!» says Peter. «Your Tabor and your sea were much better, my boy!» And then addressing Jesus: «Master, satisfy Judas at once because this is not… Antipa’s royal hall!»
«Certainly. What is it that you want to know?» He asks Judas of Kerioth.

Detail

Judas wanted to go to En-Dor, where Saul consulted a sorceress in the book of Samuel.

Keywords

GRM 188.7 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They come out of the ruins and they begin to descend the path they had walked up previously. The man blind in one eye is still there.
«Are you still here?» asks Jesus pretending that He does not notice that his face is flushed because of the many tears he has shed.
«Yes, I am still here. I will follow You if You allow me. I have something to tell you…»
«Come with Me, then. What do you want to tell Me?»
«Jesus… I find that to have the strength to speak and to work the holy magic of changing myself, of conjuring up my dead soul as the necromancer evoked Samuel for Saul, I must pronounce Your Name, which is as sweet as Your eyes, and as holy as Your voice. You have given me a new life, but it lacks form and energy, like the life of a new-born baby after a difficult birth. It still struggles in the grip of wicked old habits. Help me to come out of my death.»
«Yes, My friend.»
«I… I have realised that there is still a little humanity in my heart. I am not entirely a beast, and I can still love and be loved, forgive and be forgiven. Your love, which is forgiveness, has taught me. Is it not so?»
«Yes, My friend.»
«Then… take me with You. I was Felix! What irony! But give me a new name. That my past may be really dead. I will follow You like a stray dog, which finally finds a master. I will be Your slave, if You wish so. But do not leave me alone…»
«Yes, My friend.»
«What name will You give me?»
«A name dear to Me: John. Because you are grace granted by God.»
«Will You take me with You?»
«Yes, for the time being. Later you will follow Me with My disciples. But what about your house?»
«I have no house any longer. I will leave what I have to the poor. Just give me love and bread.»
«Come.» Jesus turns around and calls His apostles. «I thank you, My friends, and you in particular, Judas. Through you, Judas, through you all, a soul is coming to God. Here is a new disciple. He is coming with us until we can entrust him to our brother disciples. Be happy because you have found a heart and bless God with Me.»
But the Twelve do not really look very happy. But out of obedience and kindness they welcome him.
«If You do not mind I will go ahead. You will find me at the door of my house.»
«Yes, go.»
The man runs away. He seems another man.
«And now that we are by ourselves I order you, and this is an order, to be kind to him and not to mention his past to anybody. I will immediately reject anyone who should speak or be uncharitable to our redeemed brother. Is that clear? And see how good the Lord is! We came here for a human purpose and He allowed us to go away after achieving a supernatural deed. Oh! I rejoice because of the joy now in Heaven for the new convert.»

Detail

Jean d'En-Dor converts and Jesus introduces him to the Twelve, who are less than thrilled. Jesus gives special thanks here to Judas, for it was because of him that they came to this village and got to know him.

Annotation

I command you to be kind to him and not to speak of his past to anyone. Judas Iscariot did just that, however, when he denounced the presence of a galley slave (John of Gold) and a runaway slave (Syntica) to the Sanhedrin. This led to their exile to Antioch in Syria. Cf. EMV 314 ff.

Keywords

GRM 189.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Nain must have been a town of some importance in the days of Jesus. It is not a large town, but is well built, surrounded by its walls, lying on a low pleasant hill, an off shoot of the Little Hermon, commanding a very fertile plain which stretches towards the north-east.
One arrives here coming from Endor, after crossing a little river, which flows into the Jordan. But neither the Jordan nor its valley can be seen any longer, because they are concealed by hills which form an arch shaped like a question mark in the east.
Jesus follows a main road which links the lake region to the Hermon and its villages. Many inhabitants of Endor walk behind Him talking to one another animatedly.
Only a short distance separates the group of the apostles from the walls: about two hundred yards, at the most. And as the main road runs straight to one of the town gates, which is wide open because it is broad daylight, it is possible to see what is happening in the inner side of the walls. Thus Jesus, Who is speaking to the apostles and the new convert, sees a funeral coming towards them, with a great noise of weepers and similar eastern displays.
«Shall we go and see, Master?» ask many. And many of the inhabitants of Endor are already rushing to see.
«Yes, let us go» says Jesus condescendingly.
«Oh! It must be a boy. See how many flowers and ribbons there are on the stretcher» says Judas of Kerioth to John.
«Or it is probably a virgin» replies John.
«No, it is certainly a young man, because of the shades they have used. And there is no myrtle either…» says Bartholomew.
The funeral comes out from the other side of the walls. It is not possible to see what there is on the stretcher, which is carried shoulder high by the bearers. One understands that there is a corpse, wrapped in bandages and covered by a sheet, only because of its outline and that it is the body of a fully grown person, because it is as long as the stretcher.
A veiled woman is walking beside it, weeping, supported by relatives or friends. The only sincere tears in all that farce of mourners. And when a bearer trips on a stone or heap in the ground or stumbles and causes the stretcher to shake, the mother moans: «Oh! No! Be careful! My boy has suffered so much!» and she raises her trembling hand to caress the edge of the stretcher. And as she is unable to do anything else, she kisses the veils and the ribbons, which blown by a gentle breeze lightly touch the immobile corpse.
Peter, sympathetic, his good keen eyes welling up with tears whispers: «She is the mother.» But he is not the only one whose eyes are shining with tears at the sight. Also the Zealot, Andrew, John, and even the ever merry Thomas have tears in their eyes. They are all deeply moved. Judas Iscariot whispers: «If it were I! Oh! Poor mother of mine…»

Detail

The two James, Matthew, Philip and Jude are not mentioned in this passage, but they are present. They go to Naim.

Annotation

- Oh, it must be a child, because you see how many flowers and ribbons are on the litter? says Judas to John.

- Or maybe it's a virgin," replies Jean.

- No, it must be a young boy, because of the colors they've used, and there are no myrtles..." says Barthélemy.

So many indications of the funeral rites in use at the time. Judas of Judea and Bartholomew of Galilee identify them similarly.

Keywords

GRM 190

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Simon Peter, Andrew and Simon the Zealot are the only ones named in this chapter, but the rest of the apostolic group is present. John of Endor also follows them.

Keywords

GRM 191.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

«Give Micah enough money so that tomorrow he may pay for what he borrowed today from the peasants of this area» says Jesus to the Iscariot, who usually handles the… common possessions. Then Jesus calls Andrew and John and sends them to two spots from which it is possible to see the road or the roads coming from Jezreel. He calls also Peter and Simon and sends them to meet the men of Doras with instructions to stop them at the boundary between the two estates. He then says to James and Judas: «Take the foodstuffs and come with Me.»

Keywords

GRM 191.9 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

The unhappy men rise with tears in their eyes and go back to their cross. Jesus blesses them once again and then, holding the boy by the hand and with the man from Endor on the other side, He goes back to Micah’s house along the same way He came.
Andrew and John join Him and the disciples after their watch.

Detail

Jesus leaves the peasants of Doras and Yokhanan.

Keywords

GRM 192

The Gospel as revealed to me

Detail

Apart from James of Alphaeus, Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot, the other apostles are not named, but they did travel with Jesus.

Keywords

GRM 193.1 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

Jesus goes on His way towards Jerusalem along roads which are more and more crowded with pilgrims. A heavy shower during the night has made the road somewhat muddy, but, on the other hand, it has removed dust and made the air clearer. The fields look like gardens diligently tended by skilled men.
They all walk fast because they are well rested after a night’s sleep, and because the boy, with his new sandals, no longer suffers when walking: on the contrary, as he becomes more and more familiar, he chatters with this one and that one, and confidentially informs John that his father’s name was also John and his mother’s Mary, and that he therefore is very fond of John as well. «But» he concludes, «I love you all, and in the Temple I will pray so much for you and for the Lord Jesus.»
It is moving to see how this group of men, most of whom have no children, are so paternal and full of attention for the youngest of Jesus’ disciples. Even the countenance of the man from Endor softens when he forces the little one to swallow a beaten egg, or when he climbs up among the woods, which make the hills as well as the higher mountains green, to pick acidulous branches of shrubs or scented stems of wild fennel, which he takes to the boy to quench his thirst, without overburdening his stomach with water. He also draws his attention to the different aspects and sights of the country, which is split here by large valleys at the bottom of which run main roads, to take his mind off the length of the journey.
The old teacher of Cintium, ruined by human wickedness, revives because of this boy, a wretch like himself, and the wrinkles of misfortune and bitterness smooth into a gentle smile. Jabez is already less shabby looking, because of his new sandals, and his face is not so sad, because I do not know which hand of an apostle has erased every trace of the wild life the boy led for so many months, sorting his hair so far ruffled and dusty and now made soft and tidy by a good wash. The man from Endor is quite different too. He is still somewhat puzzled when he hears anyone call him John, but then he shakes his head and smiles pitying his bad memory. Day by day his countenance loses its habitual hardness and gains a gravity, which is quite serene. Of course these two wretched people, who are reviving through Jesus’ kindness, gravitate towards the Master in their love. Their companions are dear, but Jesus… When He looks at them or speaks just to them, the expression on their faces is a most happy one.

Detail

The relationship between the Twelve and Jean d'Endor and the child Marziam.

Keywords

GRM 193.2 · Volume 3

The Gospel as revealed to me

Quotation

They stop for a meal and then resume the journey towards Jerusalem. But it must have rained heavily or the area is rich in underground water, because the meadows look like a marsh owing to the water that glitters among the thick grass and rises lapping on the banked road, which, however, is still very muddy. The adults pull their tunics up to prevent them from becoming soiled with mud, and Judas Thaddeus puts the boy on his shoulders to let him rest and to cross more quickly the flooded and perhaps unhealthy area.
Daylight is beginning to fade when, after walking along the edge of other hills and crossing a dry rocky valley, they enter a village situated on a raised rocky embankment. They push their way through the crowd of pilgrims and look for accommodation in a very rural type hotel: a large shed under which is spread much straw and nothing else. Small lamps lit here and there shed a glow on the supper of the pilgrim families, poor families, like the apostolic one, because most of the rich people have put up tents outside the village, disdaining contact with either the local people or the poor pilgrims.
Night and silence fall… The first to fall asleep is the boy, who, tired as he is, lays his head on the lap of Peter, who lays him on the straw and covers him carefully.
Jesus gathers the adults in prayer and then each throws himself on the straw to rest after the long journey.