Jerusalem, 34 AD
The city was all a-buzz, with everyone out in the streets to see the famous Christ go by, carrying his enormous wooden cross through the city. Not far from the narrow streets of Jerusalem, a man called Joseph, a native of Arimathaea, was heading towards Calvary, the place where Jesus was to be crucified. The sun was shining and the heat was almost unbearable; but when Joseph was least expecting it, the sky began to get overcast, the rays of the sun gave way to darkness, and from where he sat on his camel Joseph could see a great light in the sky which lit up the part of the desert where he was travelling. little by little the light got brighter and the sands of the desert started to rise, forming a sandstorm. Then the bright light settled over the head of Joseph, and slowly an angel began to take shape. Gradually the sand started to settle. Joseph started slapping his own face, sure that he was dreaming: he had never in his life seen anything so beautiful and so magnificent. It was then that the angel, clothed in gold and silver robes, put his feet on the desert sand. Josephś 13
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camel was perfectly calm; Joseph was trembling and frightened.
He slipped off the camel to take shelter, and as his feet touched the sand a voice rang out:
‘Be not afraid, Joseph. I am the messenger of the Lord. He has a most important task for you.’
‘I cannot believe my eyes! Are you real?’ asked Joseph, falling on his knees on the hot sand.
‘As you can well see, I am not a figment of your imagination!’
‘i am at the lordś command. Whatever you ask i shall do without delay.’
‘Joseph, take good heed of my words. Take this flask and fill it with the blood of Jesus. As soon as the blood is in it, close it and it will seal itself. hide the flask and protect it with your life.
After Jesus is risen, take Mary Magdalene with you and flee to Marseilles, for you will need to flee - she carries in her womb the seed of Jesus. This flask must remain with the descendants of the true blood of Jesus until he is born again, which will come to pass through the blood which you shall save. When the proper time is nigh, the flask will emit a sound, and then only a descendant of Jesus will have the power to open it, and only a woman of the blood of Jesus will be able to carry the Master in her womb and give new birth to him; for this reason it is all-important that the flask remains with the descendants of Christ. so the destiny of humankind is in your hands.’
The angel gave Joseph a golden cylinder with silver workings and some small inscriptions, about four inches long and a little over one inch in circumference. one end was rounded and open, ready for the blood of Christ. The angel spoke again: 14
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‘Go, fetch the blood of Jesus and guard his body for three days so that it shall not be desecrated. on the third day, flee from Jerusalem with Mary Magdalene, for men will seek you out.’
The angel began to rise up again towards the light, and the sand of the desert began to blow in circles, forming a whirlwind around Joseph. In a few seconds the light began to go up, and up, until it became just one more star in the sky.
Joseph still couldn´t believe that an angel had spoken to him and entrusted the fate of humanity to him. When he came to himself, he urged the camel on to carry him as fast as it could. he galloped over the desert sands. When he reached Calvary, where Jesus was being crucified, he was amazed at the great crowd of people surrounding him, and from a distance he saw the bloody body of Jesus nailed to a wooden cross. At the foot of the cross, Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene were weeping and crying out for the life of Christ.
Joseph got nearer and started pushing his way through the crowd, to get close to Jesus. he was carrying the chalice that Jesus had used at the Last Supper. As he got closer he could see Jesus better, and he could not believe that so much violence had been done to a holy man, the son of God; and he wondered why God had allowed this to happen, and whether there was some purpose in it.
Jesus’ body no longer moved. After a few minutes a centurion of the Roman guard took a lance and stuck it into his side, leaving a gash between his ribs, to make sure that he was dead.
The blood spurted and began to run out of the wound. some blood splashed on the face of the centurion, who had problems with his sight, and he fell to his knees on the ground, feeling that his eyes were burning. When he finished wiping his eyes he 15
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found that his sight was no longer clouded. A strong feeling of guilt overwhelmed the centurion, who stayed on the ground and started weeping with remorse for what he had done to Jesus.
it was a miracle. While Joseph of Arimethaea was watching the scene of the repentant centurion, he raised the chalice used by Jesus at the supper, pressed it against Jesus’ leg and collected the blood that was running down his body. seconds later the sky filled with darkness, great black clouds began to form, an earthquake shook the ground. in desperation the people threw themselves to the earth. A brilliant light shone through the clouds and lit up the body of the dead Christ. The sky began to hurl down thunderbolts and great flashes of lightning, the earth under Jerusalem began to shake even more violently, and the people began to cry out and run around. Many of the people who had been calling for Jesus’ death now repented, for they saw what Jesus did and that he was truly the Messiah.
After a time the earth stopped shaking. Joseph took the blood of Jesus and poured it into the flask the angel had given him. The blood started running over Josephś hands. But little by little he managed to fill the flask. he pressed the end to close the mouth of the flask, and it gave out a bright green light and made a sound.
The cylinder with the blood of Jesus was sealed. Joseph put it inside the chalice, which he placed in a bag tied around his waist.
He took Mary and Mary Magdalene by the arm and they made their way from that place, before the ground which the earthquake had opened should swallow them up. As they got further away, the clouds and the light in the sky slowly disappeared. Now there was no one left, apart from some soldiers lying on the ground, 16
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terrified at what they had witnessed. The multitude had gone, the sky began to lighten and the sun came out again.
once Joseph had left the women in a safe place, he went towards Pilate’s palace. Joseph was a noble and influential merchant from Brittany, and he was well regarded by the noblemen in the province of Judaea. When he got to the palace he asked for an audience with Pilate, which was granted.
‘My Lord, Jesus is dead. I ask you to release the body to me so that we can prepare a fitting funeral.’
‘Joseph of Arimathaea, I release the body of your king. Go and take it up before the robbers take it or the crows devour it. Take two of my men with you to protect you while you prepare everything. i trust that God will recognize my kindness and goodwill.’
‘Thank you, my Lord.’
Joseph went to the hiding-place where he had left Mary and Mary Magdalene, as well as some of the disciples. When he got there he spoke to the group:
‘Pilate has allowed me to take the body of Jesus, so that we can give it a proper funeral. We will place it in a tomb which belongs to my family. We must protect it until the day of resurrection. Pilate has given us two guards to watch the entrance to the tomb and to make sure that no one steals the body. Mary said:
‘God bless you, Joseph, for what you are doing for my son.’
But Joseph addressed himself to the other woman:
‘Mary Magdalene, I need a minute with you alone, I must speak with you.’
‘Tell me, sir,’ she answered, as she and Joseph moved a short distance away from the house where they were.
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‘When Jesus has risen again, get together a few people that you trust and then we will go to Gaul. An angel of the Lord told me that we must protect the seed of Jesus which is growing in your womb.
We will be pursued.’
‘In my womb? I am with child by Jesus? How wonderful! Are you sure, Joseph?’ replied Mary Magdalene, confused at the news, putting her hands on her stomach.
‘There is no doubt: the angel himself told me quite clearly. When we reach Gaul I will reveal another thing to you, something much more important even than the fact that you are with child. But we shall have to speak calmly. Now let us go and take Jesus from that terrible place.’
Joseph, the women and some more of the disciples went again to Calvary. They gently took the body down from the cross and laid it on a white shroud. They made for the tomb where Jesus would be laid. When they got there they washed the body and the wounds, and wrapped it in a new shroud. They prayed to God to protect his Son, then they left the tomb and with the help of the guards they dragged up a great round stone to close the entrance to the tomb.
The soldiers remained on guard and the others went to a hiding-place nearby. After three days, in the early morning, a light arose in the sky. The trees around the tomb began to shake violently. The guards, who were sleeping, awoke terrified of the light that was coming towards them. And then an angel appeared out of the bright light and settled on a rock that was part of the tomb where Jesus lay. The guards were amazed at the sight and began to run and to hide; but they could not run properly because of the bright lights and the strong winds, and they fell to the ground. Mary and Mary 18
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Magdalene were approaching the sepulcher when they caught sight of the angel, which saw them coming and said:
‘Be not afraid. I know that you have come for Jesus who lately was crucified. But he is no more here. He has risen again, as he foretold to you. enter and see the place where the lord was lying.’
The two women went into the tomb and saw that there was no one. The body was no longer there, just some pieces of cloth stained with blood, thrown on the floor. And then the angel spoke to them again:
‘Go now and give the news to the disciples of Jesus. Tell them that the Christ has risen again. He will meet them in Galilee.’
The two of them ran to where the disciples were. Their hearts were heavy, because Jesus would leave them again, but at the same time they were full of joy knowing that he had returned. When they were approaching the house where the disciples were hidden, Jesus came out from behind a great tree and appeared miraculously to them. They both fell at his feet.
Jesus said to Mary:
‘Woman, be not afraid. Get my disciples together and they will meet me in Galilee.’
‘Jesus! Thank God that you are alive!’ exclaimed his mother.
‘I always was alive, woman. Did I not tell you that I would return on the third day? Did you not believe my word?’
‘of course we did. But only after all that we witnessed.’
‘Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him that I am expecting a child of yours,’ said Mary Magdalene.
‘Yes, it will be a girl. Take good care of her.’
‘But now that you are alive, why will you not go with us?’
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‘I cannot, woman. My father needs me. But I will return soon, do not fear. Now go, and take the news to the others.’
All of them set off for Galilee and there they met Jesus, who gave the disciples his last instructions. Some time later, at nightfall, a great wind arose and grew ever stronger. Dust mingled with sticks and leaves was lifted into the air and blew around the place where they were. Then a great light appeared in the sky, and from the light there came angels of God. Jesus stayed where he was, unmoving.
The others, afraid at what was happening, began to draw away little by little. Moments later, the light settled over the body of Jesus, which began to float and to be slowly lifted up towards the centre of the light. As he went up, now Jesus looked upwards and now he looked down at his disciples, who were looking up at him, frightened and amazed. soon Jesus disappeared in the midst of the light and the angels, who were forming a sort of celestial escort, began to fly into the centre of the light, one by one. The light dimmed and the wind began to drop. The light disappeared into the horizon and turned into one more star in the sky. All those that were present on the hillside began to weep and to speak of the ascension of Jesus.
‘I hope he will come back one day,’ thought Mary Magdalene, putting her hands on her stomach.
The next day, Joseph of Arimathaea spoke to Mary Magdalene:
‘Pack your bags, take only the essentials, and call on the people you trust. We shall leave at once.’
The group of travelers consisted of Mary of Cleopas, Martha Lazarus, Estropius, Sidonius, Sara the black woman, Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathaea. They all set off for Gaul, and when they arrived they were received by Philip.
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on the night they arrived, Joseph went to talk to Mary Magdalene.
‘Lady, mark well my words. The same angel who told me that you are with child asked me to keep the blood of Jesus. he told me that Jesus would be born again on earth by means of this blood that i have kept; however only his descendants will be able to open the flask that contains the blessed blood. You must tell this story to the daughter of Jesus, and she will pass it on to her children, and so on down the generations, until the moment of rebirth arrives. When the moment comes, this sacred flask will emit a sound. When the sound is heard, it will mean the time has come. I have made a hole in this wooden chalice which Jesus used at the last supper and i have hidden the cylinder in the stem. if we lose the chalice no one will know what is really kept in it. As far as anyone else is concerned, it will simply be the chalice in which I collected the blood of the King at his death. I will stay close to protect you and your descendants, and my descendants will do the same until the time comes; for the angel said that Jesus will be reborn through this blood, and that he shall be carried in the womb of a woman of his lineage.’
‘Joseph, I thank you for what you are doing for me, for Jesus and for our daughter. May your name and your deeds be remembered for all eternity.’
‘It is I who must thank you, for giving me this great and divine honor.’
Time passed. The day of the birth of Jesus’ daughter arrived. On a night full of stars, Mary Magdalene gave birth to a baby girl and gave her the name of sarah. high above the house where the baby was born, brightly colored lights shone. Godś angels were there to make sure that the daughter of Jesus should be born in perfect safety.
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