The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot Read online

  25. Peter passed on this good news to the other disciples, and they in turn began to tell those around them that the long-awaited prophet, promised by Moses, was here present.

  26. Jesus’ miraculous gift of loaves and fishes, enough to feed all those assembled on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, gave hope to the many pious Jews who had been awaiting the fulfilment of Moses’ promise: And it came to pass at that selfsame time the treasury of manna shall again descend from on high, and they will eat of it during those years, because these are they who have come to the consummation of time.

  2 Baruch 29:8

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  27. Many who had come only in the hope of witnessing another miracle were beginning to believe that God’s promises were being fulfilled in Jesus.

  28. As the disciples passed on the message, a murmuring began to spread throughout the crowd that quickly grew into a loud acclamation as it was transferred from mouth to mouth, and then from group to group, for many believed: This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world. Let us support him, and make him our King.

  see

  John 6:14–15

  29. But as Judas witnessed each new acclamation, he became more and more fearful. He reminded his fellow disciples that the Romans had orders to kill anyone the people of Israel claimed was a prophet.

  30. He suggested that Jesus should tell the crowd to disperse, for he did not believe that this was either the time or the place for them to establish a messianic King.

  31. When such figures as Theudas had risen in Galilee, the Romans had killed the messianic pretender, along with many of his followers.

  see

  Acts 5:36–37

  32. But Jesus’ compassion appeared to be limitless, as was shown by his next command: Distribute the twelve baskets of food among the crowd, so that they may return to their homes without fear of feeling hunger or fainting whilst on the journey.

  see

  Mark 8:1–3;

  Matt 15:32

  33. After the disciples had carried out these orders, Peter advised the Master that the time had come for them to continue on their way.

  34. They travelled north but did not enter any towns as they feared that Jesus would attract large gatherings that would only impede his progress.

  35. As they walked along the dusty roads, the disciples talked among themselves about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, which Judas was convinced proved the fulfilment of God’s promises.

  36. Moreover, Peter and the other disciples now believed that they were the chosen ones, and the moment was upon them.

  37. But Jesus continued to tell his disciples not to address him as Master and never to refer to him as the Messiah.

  Chapter 11

  Who do people say that I am?

  1. While the disciples rested in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked Peter: Who do people say that I am?

  Mark 8:27,

  Matt 16:13;

  Luke 9:18

  2. Peter was not sure how he should respond. Many of the disciples considered Jesus to be the Messiah, although not all of them had reached that point of conviction.

  3. The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand and the many other signs they had witnessed were proof enough for some that Jesus had already fulfilled the hopes of those who had chosen to follow him.

  4. However, Peter reminded the other disciples that Jesus always insisted they should not think of him as the Messiah, so they remained uncertain how Peter should reply to Jesus’ question, especially given the political significance of being in Caesarea Philippi at that time.

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  5. Judas offered his counsel, suggesting that when Peter answered Jesus’ question: ‘Who do people say that I am?’, he should say: Some say that you are John the Baptist, while others claim that you are Elijah, who must be sent before the coming of the Messiah. Many believe that you are a prophet that Moses promised to us long ago.

  see

  Mark 8:28;

  Matt 16:14;

  Luke 9:19

  6. Judas reminded Peter that a close link between John the Baptist and the figure of Elijah had already been accepted by most Jews. John dressed, ate and lived like Elijah, and therefore Jesus could simply be fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi: Behold, I will send a prophet, Elijah, before the great and terrible day of the Lord.

  see

  Mal 4:5

  7. The other disciples agreed that this was the response Peter should give to Jesus when he asked: Who do people say that I am?, as none of them believed that either John the Baptist or Elijah was the Messiah.

  8. Judas also reminded them of the promise of the Torah: I will raise up a prophet from among you.

  Deut 18:18

  9. Although many disciples already believed that Jesus was the expected one, the Messiah, there were still those in Galilee, especially among the Elders, who refused even to accept that Jesus was a prophet.

  10. The Scribes and the Pharisees were still encouraging their followers to reject everything Jesus stood for, and had lately joined with the Herodians to plot his downfall.

  11. Despite the many miracles Jesus had performed, and his following among the people, even in his own ranks there were those who were still unwilling to believe that the humble son of a carpenter from Nazareth could possibly be the Messiah.

  12. Some continued to ask: Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

  John 1:46

  13. While others were heard to say: Search the scriptures and you will not find a prophet who will arise from Galilee.

  John 7:52

  14. Even more discouraging was that some of the Elders were circulating rumours that Jesus had been conceived in sin.

  15. The Pharisees, as well as the religious leaders of Israel, held to their traditional belief: We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, God alone.

  John 8:41

  16. Once Peter had answered the question: Who do people say that I am?, Jesus immediately asked: Who do you say that I am?

  17. Peter, a blunt and at times impatient man, could no longer hide his feelings, and responded with the words: We believe you are the Messiah.

  18. Do not express those beliefs, Jesus warned his disciples, even among yourselves.

  Mark 8:29–30

  Matt 16:15–20;

  Luke 9:20–21

  19. Judas was saddened by these words, but clung to the fact that Jesus did not deny that he was not the Messiah.

  20. However, none of them was prepared for Jesus’ next revelation: The Son of Man must suffer many things before he will finally be rejected by the Elders, the Pharisees and the High Priests.

  see

  Mark 8:31;

  Matt 16:21–22;

  Luke 9:22

  21. Judas could not understand why Jesus referred to himself as the ‘Son of Man’. He could not recall ever hearing the Master use these words when describing himself and it went against everything he had been brought up to believe.

  22. Judas then asked the other disciples if they had ever heard Jesus refer to himself as the ‘Son of Man’. Both Peter and James confirmed that he had used this term earlier in his ministry whenever he performed miracles, or when he explained with what power he forgave sins, and his authority over the Sabbath.

  see

  Mark 2:10, 28

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  23. Judas wrestled with the dilemma for some time before recalling the words of the Prophet Ezekiel, who had used the expression ‘Son of Man’ to emphasize the difference between the mortal prophet and God, who always makes allowance for the weakness of human beings.

  24. Judas decided that the Master must have been alluding to Ezekiel, who had maintained that the God of Israel had chosen him, a mere mortal, to bring about His reign on earth.

  25. And such was Judas’ knowledge of the scriptures that he was able to remind his fellow disciples of another relevant passage from the book of the Prophet Daniel.

  26. Daniel had had a dream in which many