Messages 2002

The return to Kpar Nahum.

February 5th, 2002

Received by H.

Cuenca, Ecuador.

My dear brother H___,

Yesterday we ended our story with Jesus’ return to the lake after his baptism. I have said that this event was very important, because as a consequence the first disciples would follow the Master. It is true that although Nathanael was impressed and thoughtful about what Jesus had explained to him, he stayed at home, and Jesus went away alone. But now, things were about to change.

Jesus did not return alone from his meeting with his cousin. As I have said, there were a few pupils who were willing to assume the same rigorous life as John had imposed on himself. And so there was a constant movement, a flow of pilgrims coming and going.

I could say that the person who was closest to Jesus during the walk back to Kpar Nahum was a short, stout man, with beard and baldness, but you already know that he was Andrew. He had listened to what John had said, that Jesus was the Messiah, and naturally, a conversation started soon after with the Master. Andrew was not a loquacious type, but as you say: Who has a full heart, his mouth flows over.

Andrew, in his direct way, asked Jesus if he was really the Messiah longed for by the Jews, and the Master affirmed it. And then, Andrew told him that he had many friends, sympathizers of the zealots, anxious to expel the hateful Romans and keen to establish the Kingdom of Israel once again, a theocracy where the Messiah would govern with justice and wisdom, and where the power of Israel would extend over the entire face of earth.

Jesus tried to explain to him that this conception of the Messiah was not really the correct one, but it was in vain. Oh, this Andrew! I remember that sometimes weeks passed without him opening his mouth, but once he started to speak, it was impossible to stop him. And it seems that the opening up of the mouth covered the ears, because he didn’t care what Jesus told him. Andrew went on and on, without paying the least attention. Therefore, if I said that Andrew started a discussion, I did not express myself accurately. He launched a monologue lasting many kilometers, from John the Baptist’s camp right up to their arrival at Kpar Nahum. Mentally he was getting ready for the “holy war.”

Andrew was impressed. It was not the way that Jesus explained things to him. As I already said, he didn’t pay the least attention, but it was rather Jesus’ personality. You know very well that at times you meet people who have “something special” that attracts you, and Jesus had charisma, my God, he had very much of that.

When they reached the village, Andrew led Jesus toward Peter’s boat, beached near the house, where the brothers lived with their families. It was the first encounter of the future head of the Christian movement with the Master. However, of that, we will speak next time.

Today you read in a book [“The Pilgrimage” by Paulo Coelho] of the three forms of love, which the Greeks called “eros,” “philos” and “agape.” I also saw that the author’s explanation did not satisfy you, especially what he wrote on the relationship of “enthusiasm” with love.

There is some truth in his words, but there are also some mistakes. Soon I will dedicate a message to this subject, the forms of love, their bad translation in many versions of the Bible, and the transformation of love. Nevertheless, with all its deficiencies, it is worthwhile continuing reading that book.

“When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire surroundings. We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illness and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat - disappointment and defeat – becomes the only legacy of our cowardice. And one beautiful day, the dead, spoiled dreams make the air difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death, death that shall free us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons.”

This is what the Padgett messages call “to rest in the assurance that beliefs provide.” The author has understood that, and therefore he encourages his readers to dream, to fight, and to question, in short, that they be themselves and not what others expect them to be.

It is a profound truth. We have to say to each and everyone: Follow your way, listen to your inner voice, be faithful to yourself, and do whatever you deem correct, without fear. If you do all this in love, you definitely have found your safe route.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

So the Bible expresses it.

God bless you,

Judas