The Gospel of Tarcisius

[The Way of the Eternal Dove]

The Gospel of Tarcisius

Do you think there is a resurrection in the future, Nicodemus asked Jesus one day. Jesus looked at the Rabbi. Some say I am the Christ. I descend from Zerubbabel, who built the second temple. Surely my bloodline is messianic. What do you think? Nicodemus considered that. It is true. Zerubbabel has been considered a messianic figure. Art thou of the House of Christ, then? Jesus replied, It could well be. In my deeds and actions I follow the exmple of the prophets in their utterances. I attempt to be Christ-Like, and follow the figure the Son of God truly should. This has been the purpose of my Gospel ministry in many ways. A son of Israel, with God, who is our heavenly father, as Malachi the prophet teaches. If King David, as the psalm recalls, can be called the firstborn Son of God, should not I, Jesus of Nazareth, with a comprehensive ministry of Gospel truth, should not I, descendant of David, descendant of Zerubbabel, attempt to be Christ, if such a thing were available. I can not say with absolute truth that I am Christ, but I know my disciples often think this, and at times I do not disuade them from that, as I do like the glory of the idea. Who wouldn't? A Christ could be born in every generation, couldn't he? Jeremiah taught that there would always be available to the House of Israel someone to sit on the throne of King David, and for Levitical priests to offer sacrifices. I am attempting that idea – to be the Levitical Priest and Christ of David, and offer my own life in sacrifice. Is that noble? Or is it vanity? And the sacrifice I offer is my own life, and my own ministry, and my heart, flesh, blood and soul. I offer it for my followers, a dear bride to me, for such is my love and affection for them. It is birthed, these truths, in scriptural principles. In ideas of the Holy Torah. It may not be the purpose of the Torah in every way, but it has been a source of inspiration for these ideas none the less, even if in my own way and own understanding which I do pray is acceptable to God, as I pray the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart always will be. These words I say to you, they are inspired from the Covenant of God, the Rainbow itself is a heart of my words in my own way, for even in Holy Noah do I find inspiration and words of truth. But what can I say? Maybe I am a heretic, Nicodemus. A poor fool. A Christ complex perhaps, and nothing more. But, if in my foolishness I can draw men to God, and give them life and meaning, and be a holy way to the Father, perhaps such a fool I should become? How do you say? Nicodemus looked at him. Can we not all be holy fools at time, dear Jesus of Nazareth. We are only human, aren't we? Only human. Jesus stood there. A resurrection is a possibility. I can not say with absolute certainty, for the scriptures are the true word of God, but I sometimes ask how Isaiah came to his words, and whether his own heart had much of a say in the making of things. Perhaps resurrections of the dead in a future kingdom of Glory can not really, truly be. And life, this thing called life, just rolls on and on, through time, world without end. Amen. But maybe, just maybe, in the dim and distant future, at the end of the Age, maybe then there will be a resurrection of the dead. Maybe I will be received in glory that day, when God Almighty judges mankind, and the trumpet rings out and the holy angels call God's own chosen people home, who have served him throughout the age. It is something I shall teach, a second coming if you like, to my followers, and I think I shall, for I shall defend what the scriptures say, regardless, for verily they must be kosher, mustn't they? But of the truth of things, well, what is truth? What is truth? And they sat, and watched the Jordan flow on by, and were at peace in the heart of the Kingdom of God.

Caiaphas spoke to Nicodemus. This Jesus. He is not the Christ. He is a charlatan, parading his Israelite status as God's son with us, as if he was in Egypt itself under the wrath of Pharaoh. Nicodemus responded, yet, I think, Malachi and his teaching is true enough in our generation. Each generation does not always follow faithfully the righteousness of that before it, but at times we learn new ideas and our own truths. Perhaps this Gospelator, Perhaps this Gospelarian, this Jesus, has ideas which might suit us in time. Caiaphas shrugged. What of it? A man from Nazareth is hardly schooled in the wisdom of Jerusalem. Nicodemus replied, yet all Israel has its Torah and all Israel can learn the ways of the Mighty one upon high. Caiaphas said again, He is not Christ. He is a troublemaker, and we will make a sure end of him. Nicodemus replied, something tells me he is already aware of that, and provokes you to do as such. He fancies himself a sacrifice for sins, or an example of serving God for salvation of others to the very giving up of your own life, such being the dedication. Caiaphas thought on that. An interesting idea. Human sacrifice is not quite what God is looking for, but if the fool wishes to parade in front of Israel with his congregation for the next thousand years, then such will he do, I suppose. Nicodemus replied, it will go on? This Church? Caiaphas replied, we shall not be rid of his Gospel or message or followers any time soon at all. He has dug in deep. He has affected souls. He has taught his message with authority and power, and they shan't forget him any time soon. Nicodemus looked at Caiaphas. You don't like the man. Caiaphas replied, he is not to my taste of things. I find him arrogant. Conceited. He rubukes us pharisees and scribes as if he is the apple of God's eye. As if he is the font of all Torah knowledge, the Logos of God, I think they call him at times. Philo's message. If he had a bone of humility he would end his charade, repent, follow Torah, and leave the wisdom of God to Solomon and others properly trained. Nicodemus replied, so you say Caiaphas. So you say. Caiaphas spoke up. When this Prodigal Son of Israel finally acknowledges the wisdom of Torah, and gets over thinking he must be the one to set a new standard from his gospel, verily he doth say, to enter the Kingdom of God, then he will find his grounding and his truth. The Torah is the wisdom and stability of God in a world full of idolatry and hedonism. When our child Jesus finally realizes this truth, and abandons his vision of a Kingdom Divine, he will find his salvation. Nicodemus considered that. We have teachers, yet, who speak wisdom also in our generation, and the Torah can grow and can be enriched. Maybe Yeshua has something to say to us. A wine which is new really needs to be matured for many years, and it may take two thousand years or so before this gospel wine finally has enough wisdom to be understood by our community. Or it may take two thousand more. Maybe he shall be Christ in Glory, or fool supreme. But I will give the lad a chance to prove himself, and when I part this world, I will watch for any second coming of the glorious Jesus of Nazareth. Caiaphas smiled. Pigs will fly in the heavens before such occurs, I am sure. Nicodemus chuckled. So you say Rabbi. The Prodigal Son of Israel may be wasting his Gospel without refining it, if he doth verily face the cross of his fantasy, for if he had the patience to mature and wait till a greater age, say 40 or so, when deeper wisdom can be learned, and had children, he would be more revered than the miracle worker that he is known as. Yet, in the end, one day I think he will be one of us, and his Church will be with us in one way or the other, and then we may perchance drink of this spiritual wine of the Gospel, and verily find if there is wisdom indeed within. Caiaphas grinned. Getting drunk on the wine of Nazareth is not my style either, I will declare. In Judea they grow the best grapes, for who would drink from the vine of Galilee? Only a fool I tell you. Nicodemus replied, Yet we are one people, one Israel, with one God and father over us all. Even Nazareth must speak its mind on what it thinks wisdom divine. Even Nazareth must. Caiaphas poured himself a drink of wine and looked at Nicodemus. If you say so, Nicodemus. If you say so.

Jesus spoke with Peter. A rock is hard, Cephas. Don't let Satan delude you. Be hard. Be rock. Peter replied, I've served you this far. If I need to the foundation stone of your church itself, I will do the work, if that is what you want of me. But what do you want of me? Jesus replied, holiness. Purity. Goodness. Teaching modesty of behaviour to the church, for a husband to respect his wife, and a wife to serve her husband as Eve served Adam, in all godly humility. I do not say to you do not kill. I say this to you, why should you be so proud in yourself that you have refrained from murder. It is a rather basic code to boast I haven't killed anyone. Surely you can do better than that. Not, not only do not murder or kill somebody, but give them a break and forgive them, and help them in life. Be hospitable to them. It is a hard saying, charity, and it costs us of ourselves. And I want perfection, for God is perfect, perfect in his love, and perfect in his charity. I know, in my heart, you will be lukewarm at times, and I really should spit you out of my mouth because of it. But you know, when you ask for forgiveness I will give it to you. How can I not. You will feed my sheep, you will shepherd them, you will be faithful to them, and even in your cold and hard and dead times, one thing I do know, they will not kill very much at all. It shall be rare in the church. I know we will have a decent code of holiness in the end, and that the church will keep faith in truth and God and holiness, and not descend to sodomite behaviour, and refrain from murder and violence. Yet I know their humanity also, as God knew those destroyed in the flood. But shepherd them I say to you and when you teach them not to kill, teach them to love also, for that is the heart of the Gospel. It is the only rule, in many ways. Love. For it covers a multitude of sins. And those who love deeply and truly will not kill, and they would not covet and steal others cherished belongings, because they love them, and in the church we are family and we are one, and we share things because of that love. And if the church does sin I will pray to the Father to forgive you, for you are but sons of men, and not divine sons of God. And ensure you teach abstinence of things offered to idols, for we serve the true God, and not a dumb piece of wood or stone. And of blood, we should not partake of creatures strangled, and eating the blood of animals can not be good, for the heart of the covenant of Noah forbids such things. Do not abuse a man, and take him from his place in life, where God has his stationed with his family and his love, his work in life in serving the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, for kidnapping is no lawful or holy behaviour, and how can a man who is my follower ever think that I, in the standards of holiness I desire, how can he ever think I would allow such a vile thing as kidnapping, or other lawless behaviours. You and I know truly the law is holy and good, and there is so much wisdom therein, so much to be trusted and followed and a life built upon. And we should always study the scriptures and learn from them, and in loving God and your Neighbour, the very way you cherish your own soul, so much of the heart of the Torah is taught. And that is the new commandment I give you Peter. That you shall love others as I have loved you. Strive for the church, for salvation comes from Israel, and I send you into the world, with the commission of the gospel, to teach mankind and the fallen gentiles the way of God, and the light which God placed in Israel. For we proselytise and we missionize and we seek out the lost sheep of all the children of Adam and Eve, to build the Kingdom Divine, the Everlasting Kingdom of God, for the glory of Jehovah, for the glory of his love, and for the glory of everlasting life. Peter replied, I shall not fail you.

Why do you say you are wiser than Solomon? Asked Nicodemus to Jesus. Jesus replied, Solomon was a ninny. He was faithless. He knew the Lord, and his glory, yet went astray later in life. The proverbs of Israel are great wisdom, which can never be doubted, and all righteous Israelites do well to study and base their life on such truths of human nature and human society, but I know in the heart of my heart, I shan't stray from God this life. Torah is in me and Gospel has enriched me, and I know I serve the Father from heaven itself, and am truly one with him, for I seek the lost as God sends the prophets to seek the lost, and the Gospel has a heart for the poor and lost and downtrodden souls. These are the riches of love, and those who love God are known by God and know the riches of God's mercy and the riches of God's love, for God is love. And I have surrendered to this Gospel, and made my life empty of glory, abasing myself in humility, to teach those of Israel who hear my voice the Love of God, and search the heart of mankind for all who want and desire this love. And on this the Church will be built, and will endure, and the gates of hell shall not conquer it, for it is wiser than the wisdom of Solomon, even though his truths are equally as eternal. Nicodemus again asked, The Torah, the Law. Should we not obey this? Jesus replied, if you must observe all rules in legalism, then that is what you shall do, but I know the frailties of every heart, for who can ever say they have not sinned? Nay, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So strive for every rule, and obey every jot and tittle, and eternally justify yourself on this legalism if that is what ye must do, but have a perspective at least. You are not God, and you are not perfect Nicodemus, so which is easier to say, death to that soul for that sabbath violation, or I forgive you, and go and sin no more? Which is wiser to teach, I ask you? Nicodemus replied, I see your point, Jesus. I understand your teaching on this issue. Jesus replied, God desired mercy more than sacrifice, he did teach the prophets. Who am I to dispute the will of God? Are they not the very words of Jehovah himself. So why do the scribes and pharisees condemn me for teaching the heart of what God himself teaches? I charge them with hypocrisy time and time again for the miss so many of the points of the Torah, to justify their own legal codes, and their own legalistic ways of doing things, and they make their boast therein. The Church shall be truer to the Torah in the end, that is what my heart and soul and mind tell me, and what I attempt to justify. Nicodemus replied, And if you fail? Jesus looked at him. Well, I am only human, aren't I? I guess that God shall verily have to forgive me then, as I forgive others. But I see the heart of his will, which I serve, and the Kingdom of God will grow through the church on this truth.

Andrew was speaking with Thomas. You know, Andrew, Jesus is hard to believe. I think he really thinks he's the Christ. Andrew smiled. Well, isn't he Thomas? Thomas replied. I doubt it. Unless I saw some sort of sign, some irrefutable proof, I just would not believe it in the end. He calls me doubting Thomas, which is his quirky humor. I have been following him a while now, and still the Son of Man mocks me, and calls me little of faith. Andrew grinned, O ye of little faith Thomas. You'll work it out. Thomas replied. He took me aside, once. Last year. For a week. And he taught me a whole Gospel full of ideas. I will have that one day. The Gospel of Thomas, teaching the wisdom of Jesus. You other apostles will obviously reject it, for Jesus told me as such, but it also will go on forever, for heaven and earth may pass away, but the words of Jesus will never pass away. Andrew looked at him. The Gospel of Thomas? I doubt ye even call him Christ. Thomas replied, and maybe I shall not. He may end up the very Lord and God of my heart and faith, but he may never really be Christ to me regardless. To me, blessed are the solitary and the elect, for they are the ones who have their hearts in the Kingdom of God, like Jeremiah formed in the womb, and they shall return to it. My own dear Assembly, the Assembly of the Gospel of Thomas. That is our heart and spirit. Andrew replied, wise indeed. Almost as if they are verily predestined for such glory. Thomas replied, and perhaps they were, and perhaps God knows the end from the beginning, as the Prophet teaches, and perhaps Jesus knows that, for through my own studies I certainly do. Andrew replied, Jeremiah was called to plant Kingdoms and uproot Kingdoms, through the ministry of the Word of God, taught through the Holy Spirit. And Jehovah used Jeremiah to do as such in wisdom and truth, and I delight in studying that prophets words, as the Church likewise should always rejoice in studying, but I ask you, Thomas, will you plant Kingdoms and overthrow Kingdoms through your mighty Gospel? At first I doubt it, but maybe one day you shall. Maybe one day. Thomas smiled in response. Maybe one day, dear brother in the Lord. Maybe one day.

 

The End