The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot

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Chapter 16

Go your way and do likewise

1. They could hear him long before they could see him.

2. Blind Bartimaeus sat begging on the same street corner every day, from the moment the sun rose until it fell.

3. As Jesus left Jericho that morning Bartimaeus’ cry differed from the one he had always uttered in the past, and Judas assumed that the Master would reject him: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.

4. Peter ran ahead of Jesus, aware that the Master had instructed the disciples not to allow anyone to call him: Son of David.

5. He ordered the beggar to hold his tongue.

6. But Bartimaeus, aware that Jesus must therefore be close at hand, cried even louder: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.

7. When Jesus heard these words, he said: Call him.

8. Andrew came to Bartimaeus’ side, helped him up and led the blind man to Jesus. Bartimaeus fell on his knees.

9. Jesus looked down at the blind man and said with compassion, What do you expect of me?

10. Bartimaeus raised his head and said: Lord, let me have my sight.

11. Jesus touched his tongue and then rubbed the spittle on Bartimaeus’ eyes, saying: Go your way, your faith has healed you.

see

Mark 20:30–32;

Mark 10:47–52;

Luke 18:38–42

12. Judas’ heart was filled with renewed expectation. A blind beggar had called Jesus Son of David and the Master had not denied his words.

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13. Was this at last the sign that Jesus now accepted, a short time before they would enter the Holy City, that he was the Messiah and would make YHWH absolute ruler and King?

14. A devout Scribe from Jerusalem left the Holy City to seek out Jesus, for he had heard some say that the son of a carpenter from Nazareth was the expected one, the Messiah.

15. The Scribe travelled for a day and a night before he came across a large group of people who were following a man as he continued on his way from Jericho to Jerusalem.

16. The Scribe approached Jesus and said: Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

17. Jesus smiled at the Scribe and said: What does the letter of the law demand?

18

. The lawyer said: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbour as yourself.

19. Jesus said: Then do so, and you shall live.

20. But who is my neighbour? said the lawyer, thinking he might trap him.

21. Jesus sat down on the side of the dusty road and in answer to the Scribe said: A merchant, who was travelling on this road, was set upon by a gang of thieves, who robbed him and left him for dead.