The
Book of Emet
by Martin Vesole
Copyright © 2011 by Martin Vesole
Smashwords Edition
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Table of Contents
Chapter Two: The Ministry Begins
Chapter Four: Parables and Healings
Chapter Five: No Rest for the Weary
Chapter Six: The Sermon on the Mount
Chapter Seven: More Healings and Teachings
Chapter Eight: Toward the Kingdom of God
Chapter Nine: To Jerusalem for Passover
This is the English translation of the Book of Emet, found in a cave outside of Nazareth in present-day Israel. The book dates from 30 to 40 years after the death of Jesus of Nazareth. It was originally written in Aramaic, the language used at that time in the land of Judea.
The author of the Book of Emet is Jesus’ best friend from childhood, Emet son of Chaim. The book tells a significantly different story of the life and death of Jesus than is found in the gospels of the New Testament. Scholars are currently debating its authenticity. In the meantime, it is for you, the reader, to form your own opinion of this book’s veracity.
I have added a short introduction at the beginning of each chapter of the Book of Emet to point out the highlights of that chapter. I have also added New Testament citations where appropriate so the studious reader can make comparisons between the gospels of the New Testament and the Book of Emet. [Mt is Matthew; Mk is Mark; Lk is Luke; and Jn is John.]
The full story of the discovery of the Book of Emet and subsequent events will be coming out soon in my book, Sleeping Truth.
Special thanks to my friend Sebria Diane Yocco, my therapist Dr. Elizabeth Feldman and my publicist Deborah Lanore, who were incredibly instrumental in the creation of this book.
[If you want to be notified when Sleeping Truth is available, please submit your email address to my website at http://www.martinvesole.com.]
–– Martin Vesole, August 2011
Introduction
This chapter relates the story of the birth of Jesus, his childhood, and his being called to the service of God.
Mary was without child and prayed to the Lord to grant her a child, and if her prayer was granted, she promised to dedicate the child to the Lord’s service. Her prayer was answered and she became pregnant with Jesus, and she kept her promise. Jesus knew from a young age that he was promised to the Lord’s service.
The strong personality of Jesus became evident at an early age. He was kind and gentle and very spiritual. He was charismatic and a natural leader, but also a bit of a loner. When he was about 30, he went to be baptized by John the Baptist, who many believed to be the Messiah in his day. After being baptized, Jesus had a spiritual experience that convinced him that he should help propagate the belief of John that the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.
The Birth of Jesus
Mt 1:18
1:1 Joseph and Mary (Miriam) lived in the city of Nazareth in the district of Galilee in the nation of Judea.
1:2 And Mary was without child and prayed to the Lord that she may have a child and promised to dedicate him to the Lord’s service.
1:3 And the Lord heard Mary’s prayers and opened her womb and gave to Mary and Joseph the child who was named Jesus (Jesse) after the father of Joseph’s ancestor, King David.
1:4 And Mary raised Jesus to know that he was promised to the Lord’s service and Jesus believed it was so.
1:5 When Mary saw that she was with child, she sang a song to the Lord.
1:6 “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:7 for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant
1:8 for the Lord has done great things for me and holy is His Name.
1:9 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
1:10 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm,
1:11 He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
1:12 He has brought down the mighty and has exalted the humble.
1:13 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his promise to Abraham our father.”
1:14 My name is Emet son of Chaim, and I was Jesus’ best friend from the age of three until his death, and I saw or was told about all the things I have written herein.
The Early Years
1:15 It came to pass that Jesus grew up to be a kind and gentle lad who was sensitive to the pain and troubles of others.
1:16 He was interested in the world around him and had a strong spiritual nature. He meditated on the words of the Lord night and day.
1:17 Mary and Joseph sent him to the best schools and Jesus loved to learn about the laws and customs of his people.
1:18 While yet a boy, he went to the discussions held by the sages in the city of Nazareth, and all the elders were amazed at how wise and mature he was.
1:19 Before long he was asked to help teach the younger children. He often taught by story-telling, which helped the children understand better.
1:20 He was a natural leader and the other children were drawn to him, but he often preferred to be alone.
1:21 He had a close relationship with God that he valued more than human friendships.
1:22 The friends he did have were working people like himself, the sons of fishermen, carpenters, farmers, shepherds, even one who was the son of a tax collector.
1:23 His father tried to train Jesus to be a carpenter like himself, but Jesus soon discovered that was not where his talent lie.
1:24 As he grew older, he spent less time working and more time studying with the wise men of Nazareth.
1:25 He came to be very troubled by the problems and worries of the poor and downtrodden, and began to speak out about them.
1:26 He discovered as a youth that he had special healing powers which he said came from God.
1:27 As a descendant of King David, and having been promised to the Lord, he came to feel he was special,
1:28 and he grew to hope that, with God on his side, he would do something very important in the world.
1:29 He yearned for the day when he would be called by the Lord and he prepared himself for service. He became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
1:30 His gentle soul grieved greatly over the cruel and merciless world he saw around him and he became convinced that God felt the same way
1:31 and was about to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven when all things would be set right.
1:32 He hoped and expected that, as a son of David, he would play an important role when that great day arrived.
1:33 He became concerned that those around him were not ready for the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven
1:34 and he believed he needed to warn them to prepare themselves, lest they miss being included in the Kingdom and having eternal life.
John the Baptist
Lk 3:1-20; Mt 3:1-12
1:35 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, the word of God came to John the Baptist in the desert.
1:36 1:49 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
1:37 He went into all the country around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance and the forgiveness of sins and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
1:38 “As is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
1:39 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked shall be made straight, the rough ways made smooth.
1:40 And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’”
1:41 John said to the multitude that came forth to be baptized by him, “O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
1:42 Repent! Do not excuse yourselves saying, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
1:43 The ax is ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the fire.”
1:44 And the people asked him “What should we do then?”
1:45 And he said to them, “He who has two coats should share with him who has none, and the one who has meat should do likewise.”
1:46 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him. “Master, what shall we do?”
1:47 And he said to them. “Do not collect any more than you are supposed to.”
1:48 And the soldiers came to him and asked, “And what shall we do?”
1:49 He said to them, “Do violence to no man, nor accuse him falsely, and be content with your wages.”
1:50 And the people who heard him believed John was the Messiah they had been waiting for.
1:51 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
1:52 Confessing their sins, they were cleansed and had their sins washed away by him in the Jordan River, as John the Baptist proclaimed:
1:53 “I baptize you on behalf of the Lord with the water of atonement for your repentance.”
1:54 And the people felt cleansed of their sins and renewed in their spirit.
1:55 And the Romans became concerned about John’s following and plotted against him.
1:56 And when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod locked John up in prison.
The Baptism of Jesus
Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:31-34
1:57 When Jesus was about 30 years of age, he came from Galilee to the Jordan to learn from John and he was greatly inspired by his teachings.
1:58 And when he felt ready, he asked John to baptize him, and John baptized him.
1:59 As soon as Jesus was baptized, and he went up out of the water, he saw heaven open, and felt the Spirit of God descend like a dove upon him.
1:60 And from that time forth, Jesus knew he was called by the Lord to continue the work of John the Baptist, and to prepare the people for the imminent coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Chapter Two: The Ministry Begins
Introduction
Unlike John the Baptist, who worked alone, Jesus called 12 disciples to teach them so they could help spread the word that the Kingdom of Heaven was about to come in their own day and that the people should prepare. It appears that though they were extremely loyal for the most part, they quite often did not “get” Jesus.
Jesus initially became known as a healer and exorcist and it was in that capacity that he began to achieve a following, and people flocked to him wherever he went. As his popularity began to grow he started to teach them the unique things he had to say. His primary message was that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand (meaning the Messiah would come) and that they would see it in their own lifetimes.
Jesus Heals the Sick
Mt 4-23-25; 8:14-16; Mk 1:29-34; Lk 4:38-41
2:1 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, and healing diseases and sicknesses among the people.
2:2 And his fame spread throughout the area and people brought to him those who were sick with various diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
2:3 People came to him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan.
2:4 When Jesus went into Peter’s house, he saw his Peter’s mother lying in bed with a high fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to be hostess unto them.
2:5 At sunrise, the people brought to Jesus those who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.
2:6 When evening came, those who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the evil spirits from them.
Jesus and Beelzebub
Mt 12:25-29; Mk 3:23-27; Lk 11:17-28
2:7 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.
2:8 And the onlookers were astonished and said, “Could this man be the Messiah we’ve been waiting for?”
2:9 But others said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
2:10 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
2:11 If a Kingdom is divided against itself, that Kingdom cannot stand.
2:12 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
2:13 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his Kingdom stand?
2:14 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
2:15 But if I drive out demons by the spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come unto you.
2:16 When a strong man guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
2:17 But if someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
2:18 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but the blasphemy against God will not be forgiven.
2:19 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit.
2:20 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
2:21 But I say to you that men will have to give account for every evil word they have spoken on the day of judgment.
2:22 For by your words you shall be absolved, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
2:23 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
2:24 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
Lk 18:35-43; Mt 20:29-34; Mk 10:46-52
2:25 As Jesus was on the way to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
2:26 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
2:27 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
2:28 He called out, “O Jesus, great healer, have mercy on me!”
2:29 Those who went before Jesus rebuked him and told him to hold his peace, but he cried all the more, “Master, have mercy on me!”
2:30 Jesus stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
2:31 “What do you want me to do to you?” And the blind man asked to have his sight restored.
2:32 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
2:33 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. When all the people saw it, they also gave praise to God.
The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man
Mk 7:31-37
2:34 Then Jesus went down to the Sea of Galilee.
2:35 And the people brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they beseeched him to place his hand on the man.
2:36 And Jesus took him aside from the crowd and put his fingers into the man’s ears, and then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.
2:37 He looked up to heaven and sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
2:38 And straightaway, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak plainly.
2:39 The people were astonished, saying. “He makes both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.”
A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman
Mk 5:21-43; Lk 8:40-56; Mt 9:18-26
2:40 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a group was waiting for him and gathered around him.
2:41 Then one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, saw Jesus and fell at his feet and pleaded with him,
2:42 “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and she will live.”
2:43 So Jesus went with him and many people followed him and thronged around him.
2:44 And a woman was there who had an issue with bleeding for twelve years.
2:45 She had suffered many things with many physicians, and although she had spent all she had, instead of getting better she grew worse.
2:46 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment, for she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
2:47 And straightaway the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
2:48 And Jesus immediately realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
2:49 And his disciples answered “You see the people crowding against you and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.
2:50 Then the woman, trembling with fear, came and fell down before him and told him the truth.
2:51 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your plague.”
2:52 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said to him. “Why bother the teacher any more?”
2:53 Then Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Be not afraid, only believe, and she will be healed.”
2:54 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
2:55 And he went into the house of the synagogue ruler, and he saw a tumult, with people weeping and wailing loudly.
2:56 He went in and said to them, “Why all this ado and weeping? The child is not dead but is sleeping.”
2:57 And they laughed at him scornfully. But he put them all out, and then he took the little girl’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where she was laying.
2:58 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cumi!” (which means, “Young lady, arise!”).
2:59 Her spirit immediately returned and she stood up and walked around. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. And those who had laughed at him were greatly astonished.
The Calling of the First Disciples
Mt 4:18-22; 9:9-13; Mk 1:16-20; 2:14-17; Lk 5:2-11, 37-32; Jn 1:35-42
2:60 One day as Jesus was standing by the Sea of Galilee with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,
2:61 he saw two boats standing by the lake, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
2:62 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, also called Peter, and his brother Andrew, and asked them to put out a little from shore.
2:63 Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
2:64 When he had finished speaking, he said to Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
2:65 Peter answered, “Master, we have toiled all night and have caught nothing. Nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the nets.”
2:66 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets broke.
2:67 So they called their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
2:68 When Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from me, Master, for I am a sinful man!”
2:69 For he and all his companions were astonished at the quantity of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Peter’s partners.
2:70 Then Jesus said to Peter, “Fear not; from now on you will catch men.”
2:71 When they pulled their boats up to the shore, they forsook all and followed him.
2:72 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a tax collector named Levi, also called Matthew, sitting at the custom house. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
2:73 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.
2:74 A local rabbi asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
2:75 On hearing this, Jesus said, “They that are healthy do not need a physician, but they that are sick.
2:76 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.”
Appointing the Twelve Apostles
Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:13-19; Lk 6:12-16
2:77 Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed all night, and in the morning he called to him those he wanted as disciples, and they came to him.
2:78 And he chose twelve of them as apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach the Kingdom of God
2:79 and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2:80 These are the names of the twelve apostles: Simon (who is also called Peter) and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
2:81 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Levi (who is also called Matthew) the tax collector; James son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.