Messages 2002

The attitude of Jesus’ family in the year 26.

March 15th, 2002

Received by H.

Cuenca, Ecuador.

My dear H___, now we are going to focus on the year 26.

When I spoke of important events, I was referring to events in Jesus’ family environment and on the political level. First we will analyze what happened in the Master’s family.

It is not necessary to repeat the whole history of Jesus’ family, from their exit from Nazareth to their stay in Egypt and the events that lead to the separation of the Master from his parents and brothers, but I want to explain everything in the correct perspective.

The events in Bethlehem, that is to say, the declarations of the astrologers from Sippar and Herod’s violent reaction ordering the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem, did not leave place for the least doubt in Joseph that his son would be the Messiah. But throughout all his vain intentions of educating his son according to his own ideas and rules those doubts did arise… and fears, because although the fact of declaring oneself to be the Messiah was not considered a crime, everybody in Palestine knew that God would punish such arrogance - and the punishment would be death.

Joseph suffered hellish tortures because he thought that if Jesus actually was not the Messiah, and that all that had happened many years ago in Bethlehem was nothing else but some fatal coincidence, then part of the blame also fell on him, because he had tried to educate his son as the Messiah.

And now, when he had almost lost the hope that the Savior of the Jews had been born of his family, his son declared openly that he was the Messiah, but he did so in such an incomprehensible way that Joseph feared the worst. He was confused, and his cry that his son was a “lunatic” really reflected what he thought at that moment: a crazy son, an impossible Messiah, and the great danger that God would punish him using His people as the instrument of execution.

Joseph loved his son Jesus, but that conflict, the product of his education, his incomprehension, and his fixed ideas lasted until the Master’s death. Jesus described this situation very clearly in a message to Dr. Samuels. Include it here.

“I also wish to state that my father, Joseph, was present at this unfair trial and watched me buffeted and condemned, and he was sick at heart at the treatment I received and at the confirmation of his worst fears. And his eyes were opened to the stagnant state of the Sanhedrin at the time, and he realized that what they considered religion was merely farce. And his eyes were opened to the enormous gulf between what was the religion as practiced by its most august body and what I proposed in its place, to not only restore its pristine authority and purity but to impart to it its culminating sublimity and grandeur. And, from this shame and humiliation which he suffered at seeing his first-born son condemned and executed as a criminal, was born the conviction of his son’s innocence and the righteousness of his cause, and the truth of his mission. (Revelation 25: Jesus throws more light on his trial and crucifixion and supplies additional truths about his birth)”

…. what they considered as religion was merely a farce. That is, what he considered it to be too, was merely a farce. Do you understand me? Very soon we will speak about how Joseph achieved his entrance into the exclusive circle of Pharisee masters of “Beth Hillel” (the House of Hillel), and how this school of thought could not even be compared with the depth of Jesus’ teachings, although both classes of teachings had much in common.

However, with the miracle of Naym, where Jesus “raised” Taddi “from the dead,” things would change substantially.

Back again in Kpar Nahum, Jesus’ brothers returned home. Of course the news of Jesus’ recent prowess had spread also to Nazareth, and people were no longer so willing to make fun of him. And when Joseph and his family heard James and Judas’ story, as eyewitnesses of the event, they kept their silence and became thoughtful.

James and Judas stayed two weeks with their parents and brothers. Then they returned to Jesus. However, when they prepared to leave Nazareth, their other brothers also wanted to accompany them to Kpar Nahum. A heated debate ensued. There was nothing left of the mockery with which they had treated their elder brother when he still lived under the same roof with them. Mockery had become respect, admiration and curiosity. Joseph approved of his children leaving. However one of them had to stay with him, managing their business. But who?

Finally, they agreed that the brother who bore his father’s name, Joseph, called Joses in the Bible, would stay, but they also agreed that all, together with Jesus and the other disciples, would go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast there. They would leave their workshop under the surveillance of a hired administrator. Passover was just a few weeks away. And so it happened.

I mention all this so that you may understand that at the beginning of the year 26 the rejection and mockery of Jesus’ family had transformed into support, open support on the side of his brothers, and into his father’s acquiescence and fearful silence.

And their mother? Mary understood him more than she understood Joseph. But she could only give him moral support. Decisions were men’s dominion. Women did not have a voice in the Jewish society of the first century. And his sisters, seeing their father’s caution and reserve, had many doubts regarding their big brother’s attitude.

From the time of the return of his disciples until the beginning of the trip to Jerusalem, Jesus did not move far away from Kpar Nahum. He stayed there and in its surroundings, working and preaching.

So, my dear brother, next time we will speak of this trip to Jerusalem and of the great importance that it would have for Jesus’ mission. See you soon. I leave you now with my blessings, and tomorrow, if God permits us, I will inform you about something completely new that you will surely find surprising.

God bless you,

Judas