The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
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17. Judas was aware of the time-honoured custom of the sectarians of Qumran, and began to organize the crowd as Jesus had commanded.
18. Once the task had been carried out, Jesus picked up the loaves and, raising his eyes to heaven, gave thanks.
19. He then instructed his disciples to take the loaves and distribute them among the multitude.
20. As Judas and his fellow disciples passed through the ordered lines, everyone was fed according to their needs, and when they returned to distribute the fish, no one was left hungry.
21. When they had all eaten, Jesus instructed Peter: Have the disciples gather up the fragments that are left over.
see
John 6:12;
Mark 6:43; 8:8;
Luke 9:17
22. The disciples carried out his order, and between them filled twelve baskets.
23. Judas counted the baskets a second time, because he could not believe they had fed five thousand people and still had so much left over.
24. While the disciples continued to collect the food, Judas reminded Peter of an ancient promise God had made to Moses: I will raise up a prophet from among you.
Deut 18:18
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;