The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot Read online

  Isa 61:1

  23. Jesus looked up to find that all those present were staring at him in silence. Some had been told of the curing of the man possessed of demons, while others had heard about the healing of the sick woman, and even more had learned about the cleansing of the leper.

  24. The leader of the Synagogue asked Jesus to explain the passage he had just read. Jesus’ response was simple: Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

  Luke 4:21

  25. One or two of the Pharisees murmured among themselves: Is this not Joseph’s son?

  26. Jesus answered: A prophet is never without fame, except in his own country.

  see

  Luke 4:22–24;

  Matt 13:57;

  Mark 6:4

  27. Others, who still wanted to believe, continued to ask: Who is this man?

  Chapter 5

  Are you he who is to come?

  1. Jesus came to the river Jordan to be baptized by John, who had prophesied: I myself did not know who he would be, and for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.

  John 1:31

  2. After he had baptized Jesus, John proclaimed: I saw the spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it stayed with him. I had not been made aware that he was the one until God, who had sent me to baptize with water, said, ‘This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’

  see

  John 1:32–34;

  Mark 1:11;

  Matt 3:17;

  Luke 3:22

  3. From that moment, John was convinced that his days as a prophet of the Lord were numbered, and he told Andrew, one of his disciples: I am not the Christ, I have been sent before him.

  John 3:28

  4. Pointing to Jesus, he said: Here is a man of God; it is time for me to stand aside and allow him to carry out God’s will.

  see

  John 1:29,

  34; 3:30

  5. On hearing these words, Andrew left his Master and ran after Jesus. Aware that he was being followed, Jesus turned and asked: What are you searching for?

  John 1:38

  6. Andrew fell to his knees and answered: The authoritative teacher of the Torah prophesied by John the Baptist as a man of God.

  see

  John 1:35–36

  7. From that time, many of the disciples of John the Baptist became followers of Jesus.

  8. Although John’s days as a prophet were coming to an end, this did not prevent him from speaking with conviction whenever he taught the traditional beliefs of Israel.

  9. He even dared to challenge the legality of Herod’s marriage to Herodias, who had previously been betrothed to Philip, Herod’s brother.

  10. John proclaimed, for all to hear, that it was an adulterous union for Herod to marry the wife of his brother, even though the marriage had taken place after Philip’s death.

  11. These words, often repeated, angered Herod and, for his courage and faith, John was arrested and thrown into prison.

  12. Despite having witnessed what had taken place when Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan, John remained unsure what God intended for Jesus of Nazareth.

  13. While he was locked away in prison, John gave orders that two of his disciples should seek out Jesus, and when they found him ask: Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?

  Luke 7:19;

  Matt 11:3

  14. One of those disciples was Judas Iscariot.

  15. And when they found Jesus, he did not immediately answer John the Baptist’s question.

  16. But in the same hour Jesus cured many infirmities and plagues and cast out evil spirits, and to many that were blind, he gave sight.

  17. And finally, turning to Judas, he said: Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard.

  Luke 7:22;

  Matt 11:4

  18. When John the Baptist heard these words, he looked up to heaven and proclaimed: This is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

  John 1:29

  19. After this proclamation by John, Judas quickly retraced his steps to Galilee and sought out Jesus.

  20. Once he had found him, he committed himself to his ministry.

  21. Judas was inspired by his new Master, who taught with knowledge and authority. He was unlike the Scribes and Pharisees, who preferred to walk about the town in their long robes, and expected reverence when they took the most prominent places in the Synagogue, following which they made a pretence of making long prayers.

  see

  Mark 12:38–40;

  Matt 23:2–7;

  Luke 20:46–47

  [ix]

  22. Judas was moved by Jesus’ words and his interpretation of Israel’s sacred texts.

  23. After Judas had been told all that Simon, Andrew, James and John had experienced, and what they had given up to follow Jesus, he too wanted to become a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.

  24. Judas’ faith in his new Master became so passionate, that he told everyone whom he encountered: We have found the long-awaited Messiah.

  25. One of those to whom Judas passed on the good news was Philip, who was so moved by Judas’ words that he also gave up everything to follow Jesus.

  26. He in turn told his friend Nathanael: We have found the Messiah, as foretold by Moses: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

  27. However, Nathanael, a pious and cautious man, was not immediately convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. He reminded his friend Philip that Nazareth was a village with no biblical tradition, and that there was no evidence to be found in the Torah that suggested the Messiah would come from Galilee.

  28. Nathanael proclaimed: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

  29. Philip responded: Come and see.

  30. When Jesus first saw Nathanael walking towards him, he said: Behold a genuine Israelite who is without guile.

  31. Nathanael was amazed, and asked Jesus: How can you know me?

  [x]

  32. Jesus responded with the words: Before Philip called upon you, I saw you sitting under a fig tree.

  33. Nathanael bowed his head and declared: Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the King of Israel.

  [xi]

  34. Nathanael also gave up all his worldly goods to follow Jesus, and because of his pious reputation, many others joined him and became followers.

  35. They all began to spread the good news, telling everyone of the coming of a new kingdom for Israel that would no longer be occupied by the pagans from Rome.

  36. Jesus did not openly acknowledge Nathanael’s declaration that he must be the expected one, the Messiah, and therefore the fulfilment of the Davidic promise.

  37. When they were alone, Jesus said to Nathanael: Because I said I saw you under a fig tree, do you therefore believe that I am Rabbi, son of God and King of Israel? Much more will be made known to you, and far more will be required of you before God’s promises are fulfilled. For the moment, follow me.

  see

  John 1:35–51

  38. Jesus made it clear to all his disciples that should anyone suggest that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected one, the Messiah, they were to be ignored, even denied.

  see

  Mark 7:36;

  8:30 etc

  39. Judas could not understand why his Master would deny his sacred calling.

  40. He, like his fellow disciples, therefore continued to ask: Who is this man?

  Chapter 6

  Your sins are forgiven

  1. Jesus, accompanied by his disciples, left Nazareth to return to Capernaum.

  2. As he entered the lakeside town, vast crowds gathered around him, despite having told his followers not to talk about his good deeds.

  3. Jesus set foot in the Synagogue where he had cured the man possessed of demons, and found another large gathering awaiting him.

  4. The building became so crowded with people who wanted to hear Jesus speak that he could hardly move. Many believed that sim