CHAPTER SIX
THE CONSPIRACY CONTINUES
Jesus did not do everything on His own. He had help and not just the help of the disciples either. There were others quietly assisting in the background. Some were hardly mentioned while others are openly discussed and take prominent roles.
After Jesus began His ministry many of John’s (the Baptist) followers aligned themselves to Jesus. This was especially evident after John’s death. Apart from the twelve disciples there were many others who followed, warned Jesus of danger, fed Jesus and the disciples, went ahead to other towns to announce the arrival of Jesus in those places and also donated money to the cause.
Many of these devotions were hidden from the scriptures although if you read the Gospels with open eyes they are easy enough to spot for instance when Jesus was required to pay taxes. He sent his disciples to find a FISH (a person) with coin.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. M't:17:27:
Of course Jesus is talking in the spiritual sense when he refers to the person as a fish. This is easy to explain in the ‘spirit of prophecy’ as he made the disciples “fishers of men”;
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. M't:4:19:
If they are ‘fishers of men’ and they catch men instead of fish then the men that they catch can be seen as ‘fish’. Another way of looking at it is that men are caught up in the nets of the fishers.
For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Ec:9:12:
This verse from Ecclesiastes tells us that men are as fish caught in a net or snare. This is reinforced by Jesus’s own words;
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: : Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
M't:13:47-48
So the kingdom of heaven which is made up of people is likened to that of a net which gathers every kind. If this is so then people are seen as fish caught in that net.
In Job we find another allusion to people as fish;
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes (people) of the sea (humanity) shall declare unto thee. Job:12:8:
In Ezekiel we learn;
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net. Eze:32:3:
Again people are caught in the net as fishes; men therefore are viewed in a spiritual sense (using the spirit of prophecy) as fish so it then becomes possible that the money for taxes comes from such a fish
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. M't:17:27:
Notice that the statement is qualified by the saying “when you have opened his mouth” this means to have a conversation with the person and not that you will find coin in his mouth. If Jesus wanted to say you will find a coin in his mouth He would have, instead He said “when you have opened his mouth” i.e. in conversation. The person described here as a fish was more than likely a compatriot who was willing to give the money for the taxes. Jesus was obviously aware of his presence and willingness to help.
The fish symbol was also widely used to denote followers of Christ just as it still is today found on bumper stickers on cars.
There are other aspects and members of the conspiracy that are more obvious. Nicodemus is one such character and Joseph of Arimathaea was another. These two men play a crucial role at Jesus’s death, but not by any coincidence the whole thing was planned.
For example, Moses and Elias supposedly visited Jesus on the Mountain, which is referred to as His transfiguration of course the truth is much more mundane. The account in Luke is the one that gives us most information for in it Luke says that they spoke of Jesus’s DECEASE which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
LUKE
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. Lu:9:28-35:
Of course it wasn’t Moses or Elias as both these men had been long dead by Jesus day. In fact it was more than likely Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea both of whom play an active role in recovering Jesus’s body after the crucifixion.
Nicodemus is first mentioned in John 3:1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh:3:1-3:
Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the Baptism on this first occasion. On the second encounter with Nicodemus we see Nicodemus speaking up on Jesus’s behalf to save him from a public lynching.
And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?
Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.
Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)
Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.
And every man went unto his own house. Joh:7:44-53:
The next time we meet Nicodemus, he has bought a mixture of Myrrh and aloes about a hundred pound weight in order to wrap the slain Jesus in swaddling and linen.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Joh:19:39-40:
This therefore fulfils the plan that was made by the two men on the Mountain all those months back to do with Jesus’s DECEASE. The second person was of course Joseph of Arimathaea. His participation is outlined below.
MATTHEW
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. M't:27:57-58:
MARK
And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. M'r:15:42-43:
LUKE
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Lu:23:50-52:
JOHN
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Joh:19:38-40:
Joseph was a secret assistant to Jesus who approached Pilate for the body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus were the ones who wrapped Jesus in linen and nursed him back to health.
Although Jesus appeared to be dead, He was not. Joseph applied to Pilate for the body as soon as he could. This was done on the eve of the Sabbath, the Sabbath being a high day, so it was granted that Jesus was taken down from the cross early. John tells us that because of this high day the legs of those who were crucified with Him should be broken but Jesus was spared this too. The breaking of legs was to hurry death. John tells us that instead, a soldier speared Jesus in the side with a spear, and there came out blood and water. We know today that a corpse will not bleed, if the heart is stopped there is no pump to pump blood and thus cause bleeding. So the blood in Jesus’ case might indicate life not death.
Jesus’ body was then taken down from the cross and Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus treated Jesus’ wounds with “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight” then “took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury”. After these things were done they took Jesus to Joseph’s tomb
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. M't:27:60:
It is not surprising to learn that Joseph also owned the tomb into which Jesus was placed. Joseph is the key figure in the whole crucifixion event although Nicodemus obviously played just as important a role. Could it be that these two figures were the two men on the mountain that the disciples mistook for Moses and Elias when Jesus foretold the manner of His death? They were plotting this event way back then.
These facts all describe a conspiracy. It took many associates some in high places to have it completed the way it was. It doesn’t end there however for Jesus is yet to rise again. Now the confusion about His resurrection comes into play. We know that to be baptized signifies resurrection.
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Ro:6:4-5:
Jesus had already been resurrected after the manner of the baptism but in order to complete the pathos of His death on the cross, He needs to be resurrected from this death also. The stage is set therefore for the final play. Jesus is in the tomb owned by Joseph. We already know that at least Joseph and Nicodemus are associates but were there others?
Jesus’ resurrection came about in this manner according to the four accounts of the disciples.
In Matthew;
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee (the circle); there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. M't:28:2-7:
In Mark;
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee (the circle): there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. M'r:16:1-7:
The account of Luke;
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee (the circle), Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words,
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. Lu:24:2-10:
In John;
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Joh:20:1-18:
Four stories all different, what do we make of them? In Matthew’s account the angel of the Lord rolled back the stone and spoke to the women. In Mark’s account this becomes “a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment”. Luke writes “behold, two men stood by them in shining garments” and finally in John we have “two angels in white sitting” and Jesus himself standing.
We know that angels don’t exist or at least are mortal like the rest of humanity. Two out of the four disciples do not describe angels anyway. They at least say that they were men. Two accounts say there was one person while the other two claim that two people were seen. In John we read that Jesus himself was standing there. No account claims that he was dead. Three accounts say He has risen but John says “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended”. So what is the truth?
It seems likely that Joseph and Nicodemus played an important role in reviving Jesus with the “mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight”. It’s not too hard to imagine that these two men attended the not too dead Jesus by staying with Him for the three days it took Him to recover enough to stand on His feet and deliver His reply to Mary whom also brought a supply of sweet spices for healing Christ.
The story does not end there. Jesus still must appear before the apostles to prove that He survived the crucifixion. The following accounts record how Jesus accomplished this in person.
The resurrection according to Matthew;
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee (the circle), and there shall they see me. M't:28:8-10:
In Mark the claim is as follows;
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. M'r:16:9-15:
In Luke;
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Lu:24:36-44:
In John;
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee (the circle), and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. Joh:21:1-14:
All these accounts speak of Jesus appearing in the flesh. We have in Mark’s account that the apostles heard that He (Jesus) was alive and Jesus himself says in Luke’s testimony “it is I myself” and also “for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”. John’s testimony gives us insight into the way the new church should be built. His instruction to “Cast the net on the right side of the ship” indicates they should use the prophetic language or at least the spirit of prophecy in order to catch men. We know that this is such a reference because “he (Peter) girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea”.
Joh:21:7: Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
The communion, which follows demonstrates how Jesus reinforced the ritual of communion no doubt with the one hundred and fifty three fishes (indoctrinated people). The fact that Peter was naked (spiritually naked) reminds us of our studies on nakedness.
So we see how the circle of associates works. Those few who know the truth behind all the jargon know that its very nature is heretical to theology. They bear the burden of it because they reason that common people deserve the comfort that the church and a belief in god, affords.
So why did the Jews hate Jesus so much? It was because He expounded these truths to the general public sometimes in parables and other times openly and plainly as when he healed the blind. Jesus held the ultimate truth, but not alone, John the Baptist, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathaea; are only a few of the associates that He included in His ‘Circle’.