(approximately 33 BC)
The life of Jesus is said to have begun at his birth. Jesus Christ is believed to have been born of virgin birth, coming from his mother Mary. When he was born it is said the three wise men from faraway lands saw a star that guided them to a stable in Bethlehem. These shepherds brought presents of incense, myrrh, gold, and other fine things such as linens. These wise men said that they had traveled far and wide to see the birth of the boy. In other varying denominations of Christianity it is said that angels came from the heavens and rejoiced with glory over the birth of the boy king in the stable.
Remember that the Hebrew word for angel is angele, which simply means messenger. So the testaments claim that the angels proclaimed glories from the heavens; this can be seen as true as the messengers and believers of God who were present in Bethlehem would be able to feel the presence of the 135
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boy and recognize the brilliance of the star shining in the East. This is the star that guided the wise men to find the boy in the manger. These angels or messengers were going to the people to speak to them and tell them that the king was coming, that something great had happened. His father Joseph and his mother Mary were forced to return to Bethlehem for a census ordered by Caesar Augustus, as Roman rule controlled Israel during the time of Jesus.
and It CaMe to Pass In those days that a deCree went out froM Caesar augustus that all the world should Be regIstered. thIs Census fIrst took PlaCe whIle quIrInIus was governIng syrIa. so all went to Be regIstered, everyone to hIs own CIty.
luKe 2:1–3 (NKJV)
Mary and Joseph could not find anywhere to stay as the numbers in Bethlehem were great, and people from all over the lands came for the census. Before Mary was with Joseph, she was a beautiful virgin and desired by all the men of the land. Remember that finding a virgin of “mature” age in modern day is hard; imagine finding one of such stature in a time period when women were married at the age of fourteen. Joseph was the father of Jesus and was believed to be a carpenter and mason of sorts; his skills were required throughout the land and work was easy to come by in times of high demand. This may be a reason for Jesus having later become a carpenter by trade later in his life.
Just prior to the wise men going to visit the young Jesus, they had visited King Herod, king of Judea. The wise men approached the king and began to ask questions of the newborn child. Since Herod had no knowledge of these things or the child, he received information from the wise men and called together his scribes and priests. Herod was troubled by what the wise men prophesied—visions of a king being born that would alter and change the course of humanity. Not simply any king however, but one who was also a prophet. Herod feared this prophecy as his priests and scribes agreed that the birthplace of the Christ was supposed to be in Bethlehem of Judea.
“But you, BethleheM eMPhrathah, though you are lIttle aMong the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall CoMe forth to Me the one to Be ruler In Israel, whose goIngs forth are froM of old, froM everlastIng.”
Micah 5:2 (NKJV)
The king, having been giving all his information and council, told the 136
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wise men to report back to him once they have found the boy. But once the wise men found the boy in the manger, with his parents, they had visions to not return to Herod. Joseph the father of Jesus also had visions to take his family away from Judea and into the land of Egypt. Once Herod found out that the wise men had left the lands and not reported back to him, he gathered the information he had received from them and ordered all male children two years and under to be put to death within Judea. Herod’s heart was cold with jealousy, envy, hate, and lust for power. He could not bear the thought of a messiah being born and given authority over him.
then herod, when he saw that he was deCeIved By the wIse Men, was exCeedIngly angry; and he sent forth and Put to death all the Male ChIldren who were In BethleheM and In all Its dIstrICts, froM two years old and under, aCCordIng to the tIMe whICh he had deterMIned froM the wIse Men.
Matthew 2:16 (NKJV)
There is little known about the childhood of Jesus Christ; it is believed he lived a fairly normal childhood and spent most of it in Egypt. The name Jesus was fairly common at the time, and his mother’s name Mary was even more common. It is believed that Jesus was inspired or gifted since he was a child. He is believed to have known his destiny since he was a young boy and spoke of many things and had great knowledge. His parents used to go into Jerusalem once a year to celebrate the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old he went missing in Jerusalem for a few days. His parents later found him studying and preaching in a temple; all the people around the boy were astonished at his knowledge and wisdom for his age. When his parents asked why he left without asking permission, he replied, and he saId to theM, “why dId you seek Me? dId you not know that I Must Be aBout My father’s BusIness?”
luKe 2:49 (NKJV)
This is one example of how Jesus was gifted from such a young age.
There are not many more accounts of the life of Jesus at childhood; however, he must have been quite the child. In fact much of the record of Jesus’ life only account for his adult life, when he began his ministry with his apostles. Once Jesus was around the age of twelve, his parents decided to move back to the land of Israel. His father Joseph had a dream of an angel telling him that it was now safe to return to Israel.
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For not long after the order of executions did King Herod fall ill and die; the throne was later handed over to his son.
now when herod was dead, Behold, an angel of the lord aPPeared In a dreaM to JosePh In egyPt, sayIng, “arIse, take the young ChIld and hIs Mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young ChIld’s lIfe are dead.” Matthew 2:19–20 (NKJV)
When Joseph was getting close to Judea he decided to turn toward the Galilee region and settle there. Once hearing that the son of Herod held the throne of Judea, Joseph felt that it would be best if he still steered clear of Judea. It is here that Jesus spent most of his childhood growing up and living a pretty average Jewish life. Jesus learned the trades of his father and began to do carpentry and construction. While learning these trades, he was interested in religion and philosophy, and began to theorize and preach to the people. Remember that since a very young age Jesus was said to be gifted and inspired by God.
As an adolescent, Jesus began to study various religions and was believed to be involved with a group called the Essenes. This group is an ancient Hebrew/Jewish sect that shared a different belief of Judaism than was common to the majority of the people at the time; the Essenes were fewer in number than the Pharisees and Sadducees. In fact archaeological evidence of their existence was found at the historical site of Qum’ran. The site of Qum’ran is a historical site found in the northeastern part of Israel, located by the Galilee region and Nazareth. This may have been the same group that John the Baptist was a part of; they preached the word of the Old Testament, and claimed to know secrets of the lineages and bloodlines of Israel.
Many of them also abstained from having wives and advocated a life free of sin. They focused on puritanical lifestyle and advocated the repentance of sins; this is very common and similar to the teachings of John the Baptist. Focusing on such abstinence from materialism and fleshly desire was not common to the Pharisees and Sadducees at the time. The Essenes often helped the poor people of Israel, and their favor among the people was scorned upon by the Pharisees and Sadducees as they believed in different scripture. Jesus became involved 138
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with this group and eventually took to wandering the lands and became known as Christ, messiah, Nazarene, and truth seeker.
The Essenes were the group trusted with the Dead Sea Scrolls that contain other writings of the Old Testament not mentioned in the modern Bible. These works are compiled of unknown authors, although they do in fact know which time periods the scrolls refer to. Whether or not Jesus was involved with the Essenes is debatable; however, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls within the possession of Essenes is a historical fact. The Essenes were located near the homes of both John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth during their lifetimes. The Dead Sea Scrolls contained other parts of the ancient Hebrew Bible that were not included and recognized by the other sects (Pharisees, Sadducees).
Along his path Jesus met various people whom he preached to and loved very much; these people later became known as disciples and apostles in his later years. Jesus worked as a tradesmen or carpenter in his twenties, traveling from land to land. He later became shunned in his trade as many people became envious and jealous of his skill with people and the trade. He was seen as competition by many people, and because of his poor status was the recipient of much ridicule and persecution. Along with the struggles in daily life, he also preached and faced the spiritual pressures of becoming the man to lead civilizations to a path of salvation and world peace.
During his time in the Galilee and while studying with the Essenes, Jesus found the longing to seek and wonder the lands, learning the ways of strange people and their beliefs along his path. It is believed that he traveled the tin and frankincense routes into Rome, India, Asia, and other foreign lands. As he traveled the lands, he began to gain notoriety and people began to speak of him as a great spiritual leader and teacher. He was a young man of a great knowledge and wisdom and began to teach and create his own scripture and teachings. His disciples and apostles varied from all ages and walks of life, and became known throughout all the land. They varied from rich tax collectors and nobles to prostitutes and criminals; this was one reason why Jesus was so persecuted among members of religious orders, such as the Sanhedrin (Supreme Jewish Council).
Since Rome had control of Jerusalem, the soldiers often caused much grief and strife for the common people. Jesus was a man of jus-139
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tice and honor and would not stand for any crimes such as rape, murder, and robbery from the guards. These encounters with the Roman guards resulted in him being wanted in Rome for acts or crimes against the guards. At the time, Israel was being controlled by Roman rule. The Essenes were also zealots, who were a group or sect against the oppression of Rome in Israel. This term is often associated with extremism; however, these groups of men wanted a united and free Israel. As Jesus began to become more popular among his own countrymen, Rome began to view him and his followers as a threat to their occupation of the area.
The Jewish Revolt which occurred in 66 AD is a direct result of the actions of these early groups that began to lay the foundations of a zealot revolt. Remember that the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Sadducees where subservient to the Roman Empire. Their jealousy and envy of Jesus was even greater than that of the Roman governors. Jesus was beginning to be a religious leader as well as a political leader to his countrymen. The Pharisees and Sadducees began to lose influence over the people and did not like Jesus and his followers. Later on in Jesus’
life these groups rallied for extreme persecution against Jesus and his followers. In fact, Saul of Tarsus, after the death of Jesus, carried out execution orders against followers of Christianity for the Sanhedrin.
Christ was known across the land as a zealot (one who admires God).
This group was led by Jesus and had plans to overthrow the Romans from ruling the lands of Israel. In the year 66 AD the Jewish zealots or rebels staged a rebellion that went horribly. This rebellion was supposed to be led by Jesus; however, his crucifixion and death delayed the timing of the revolt. As a result the rebels were poorly trained and armed, and were crushed by the experienced Roman centurions. It is said that the early groups of zealots were formed of “robbers and bandits” who would attack the rule of Herod. Remember that Herod’s forces were the ones who executed the children under two years, attempting to kill Jesus at a young age. Were these “robbers and bandits” as recorded in history, or were they rebels soldiers fighting oppression?
Many people do not believe that Jesus was part of such a movement or act of war; however, remember that the crucifixion of Jesus was a Roman order. Many people do not believe that Jesus and his apostles would be men of war; however, there is recorded evidence of them in fact being so.
Upon the arrest of Jesus later in the story; Simon Peter draws a sword and strikes a servant of a high priest.
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then sIMon Peter, havIng a sword, drew It and struCk the hIgh PrIest’s servant, and Cut off hIs rIght ear. the servant’s naMe was MalChus.
JohN 18:10 (NKJV)
As Jesus gained fame and notoriety among the land, he also gained some unwanted attention from those who where covetous of him, as to betray him. He returned from the lands afar and went back to his homeland to see his family and friends. He began to be known in Jerusalem for his wisdom and insight also. He began to preach to the people, both poor and rich, as well as donating the funds he collected from doing work and preaching. Often when Jesus would be asked to teach to those of wealth, he asked for a fee so he could distribute the wealth among the less fortunate. Many may not believe that Jesus would do so; however, it is recorded that Jesus and the apostles distributed such wealth among the people.
now Jesus sat oPPosIte the treasury and saw how PeoPle Put Money Into the treasury. and Many who were rICh Put In MuCh.
MarK 12:41 (NKJV)
It is also said that he began to perform miracles such as healing and other feats of wonder. He began to travel to Qum’ran and share knowledge that he discovered with those that helped guide him and theorize with him. As Jesus became more famous and recognized throughout the land, he began to be viewed as a threat to Rome and especially the Sanhedrin.
The greater man that Jesus became, the more and more he was envied and despised.
His generosity and sincerity in his words and manner, and his charis-matic nature were cause for much jealousy and envy, which would eventually led to his betrayal. Jesus was wise enough to understand this and tried to get his apostles and disciples to not fight amongst themselves and be honest with each other and their emotions, to be GENUINE with each other.
As Jesus was traveling the lands, there was a man by the name of John the Baptist who was preaching the word of God and baptizing people in the name of the Holy Spirit and God.
John CaMe BaPtIzIng In the wIlderness and PreaChIng a BaPtIsM of rePentanCe for the reMIssIons of sIns.
MarK 1: 4 (NKJV)
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During this time the Pharisees and Sadducees challenged John and often tried to ridicule him. As they were with Jesus, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to grow envious and jealous of John’s rising influence over the people. Many people came to John and his baptisms to remit sins and establish a spiritual connection with God and each other (Holy Spirit). Many times the Pharisees and Sadducees sat and watched these events and later reported to the Sanhedrin about the blasphemies being committed by John and his followers.
But when he saw Many of the PharIsees and sadduCees CoMIng to hIs BaPtIsM, he saId to theM, “Brood of vIPers! who warned you to flee froM the wrath to CoMe?”
Matthew 3:7 (NKJV)
As John the Baptist preached and baptized people, Jesus one day approached him and asked to be baptized. Jesus knew John and wanted to meet him and share the discoveries and knowledge gained over the years. Remember that John the Baptist was the prophesied messenger to be sent to the people, preparing the way for the teachings of Jesus.
John’s father was a priest named Zacharias and who had a vision sent to him of John’s birth occurring.
But the angel saId to hIM, “do not Be afraId, zaCharIas, for your Prayer Is heard; and your wIfe elIzaBeth wIll Bear you a son, and you shall Call hIs naMe John. and you wIll have Joy and gladness, and Many wIll reJoICe at hIs BIrth. for he wIll Be great In the sIght of the lord, and shall drInk neIther wIne nor strong drInk.
he wIll also Be fIlled wIth the holy sPIrIt, even froM hIs Mother’s woMB. and he wIll turn Many of the ChIldren of Israel to the lord theIr god.”
luKe 1: 13–16 (NKJV)
It is written that the mother of Jesus, Mary, knew John’s mother Elizabeth. In fact she was with Elizabeth when revelation had been given to her about the coming birth of John. Since Mary and Elizabeth knew each other (were cousins) it would be proper to assume that John and Jesus would also know each other from a young age. The difference in age between John and Jesus was only a few years, and when Jesus moved back to Israel from Egypt, it is highly plausible that Jesus and John would meet and share their stories.
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As Jesus came before John and asked to be baptized, a sign from the heavens was said to have been sent down. A sign in the form of a dove appeared before John the Baptist as he acknowledged Jesus and heard him speak. After lengthy conversation John the Baptist acknowledged him and his word and joined the causes that Jesus sought (peace, equality, love). Their cause began to grow even more when the fellow-ship of John the Baptist joined the movement of Jesus Christ. Christ’s influence now extended over much of the Roman ruled lands and posed much political chaos and tension within the territories of Israel. The Pharisees and Sadducees considered John the Baptist and Jesus Christ outlaws, rebels, and blasphemers; this created much political and social tension among those supporting John and Jesus, and those supporting the Sanhedrin.
As Jesus’ fame and notoriety spread across the land, he established a safe heaven and refuge in Gethsemane. This later became the famous garden of Gethsemane where the Last Supper was believed to have taken place. Gethsemane is a wooded area at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Israel; naturally the garden was filled with olive trees. Jesus would gather here and often pray and dine, to be alone and medi-tate and teach those close to him that wanted to learn. He drank wine and socialized with his dearest and closest friends and apostles. Gethsemane of the Bible is an historic site today and can be viewed by the public. This historical preservation helps illustrate the accuracy of the Bible; if the places in the Bible are accurate, the accounts mentioned in the Bible must be accurate also. The accounts of Jesus’ life may not be precise; however, they are proven to be accurate.
Throughout the course of Jesus’ life he continued to give, preach, and extend the values of his cause and belief. It is said that he continued to perform miracles of all kinds throughout the land. To learn of these miracles one must read about them; however, here are a few examples of some of the said miracles:
- stIllIng the storM (Matthew 8:23, Mark 4:35, luke 8:22)
- feedIng the fIve thousand (Matthew 14:13, Mark 6:30, luke 9:10, John 6:1)
- feedIng the four thousand (Matthew 15:32, Mark 8:1)
- healIng two BlInd Men (Matthew 20:30, Mark 10:46, luke 18:35)
- turnIng water to wIne (John 2:1)
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As time went on, controversy and betrayal began to occur. The political tensions grew and eventually John the Baptist was arrested by King Herod of Antipas, another son of King Herod the Great (mentioned at the beginning of the story). King Herod married the wife of his brother, a woman by the name of Herodias. John the Baptist did not approve of the union and was arrested as a result. Since John was a respected and reputed member of society, his opinion in matters of holy ceremonies was highly regarded.
Although those in charge did not have affection for John and Jesus; the love for John and Jesus among the people of Israel was very great.
Often times John, Jesus, and the apostles were able to preach and roam free, for those who wanted to arrest them feared the retribution of the people. On this occasion however, King Herod decided to personally arrest John to teach him a lesson on not blessing his marriage.
for herod hIMself had sent and laId hold of John, and Bound hIM
In PrIson for the sake of herodIas, hIs Brother PhIllIP’s wIfe; for he had MarrIed her.
MarK 6:17 (NKJV)
Along with being upset about John not sanctifying his relationship with Herodias, Herod was nervous about the detainment of John. John had a great many followers, and Jesus was also a fan and supporter of John. Jesus had great influence among the people and Herod knew that John’s detainment could cause unrest and upheaval in his lands. Jesus knew that eventually the guards would find cause to arrest him also. The Sanhedrin (Jewish council) was putting a great deal of pressure on the Roman officials to have Jesus and his followers arrested. John while being imprisoned often asked about his beloved friend Jesus and sent messengers to deliver correspondence between both of them in the form of letters.
and thIs rePort aBout hIM went throughout all Judea and all the surroundIng regIon. then the dIsCIPles of John rePorted to hIM
ConCernIng all these thIngs. and John, CallIng two hIs dIsCIPles to hIM sent theM to Jesus, sayIng, “are you the CoMIng one, or do we look for another?” when the Men had CoMe to hIM, they saId,
“John the BaPtIst has sent us to you, sayIng, ‘are you the CoMIng one, or do we look for another?’” and that very hour he Cured Many of InfIrMItIes, afflICtIons, and evIl sPIrIts; and to Many 144
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BlInd he gave sIght. Jesus answered and saId to theM, “go and tell John the thIngs you have seen and heard: that the BlInd see, the laMe walk, the lePers are Cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raIsed, the Poor have the gosPel PreaChed to theM. and Blessed Is he who Is not offended BeCause of Me.”
luKe 7:17–23 (NKJV)
The apostles of John reported these things back to him and spoke of all the miracles that were occurring and the answers Jesus gave to them. News of John’s arrest made its way over all the land and people from all walks of life were talking about it. During this time King Herod’s birthday arrived and he had a feast and celebration. During the celebration his wife Herodias had her daughter dance for the king and his guests. Her dancing pleased everyone that was there and King Herod, wanting to show his power, offered her anything in his kingdom she desired.
he also swore to her, “whatever you ask Me, I wIll gIve you, uP to half My kIngdoM.”
MarK 6:23 (NKJV)
Herodias, being covetous and angry with John the Baptist, sought to have him killed. She knew that the death of John would bring great news and a sense of fame to the land. She was insulted that John would not bless her adulterous ways and knew that the Sanhedrin would not object or interject to the execution of John the Baptist. After her daughter was done dancing she ran to see her mother Herodias to tell her what the king offered her. Herodias, having great influence over her daughter, told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter as an example to question her authority and character.
so she went out and saId to her Mother, “what shall I ask?” and she saId, “the head of John the BaPtIst!” MarK 6:24 (NKJV)
Once the execution was complete, news of the death of John spread throughout all the land quickly. Jesus heard the news and became extremely depressed and saddened at having lost his dear friend. Jesus decided to travel by boat to somewhere deserted to lament the death of John with his close friends and the disciples of John. People however 145
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saw them leaving and a great “multitude” of people followed them to the deserted place. It is said that Jesus was not angered at this and decided to heal the sick and help the poor among them. Jesus knew that the controversy surrounding him would continue to grow and his death was coming soon also.
News spread throughout all the land and among the Essenes. (Remember that Jesus and John are thought to have been involved with this group.) During the time of Jesus and John, the Essenes began to grow in number and were found in parts of Palestine, Syria, and outside of the cities in Judea. The spread of their existence into Persia shows how the influence of the religion stretched across and encompassed the beliefs of many cultures.
Many people began to protest the death of John the Baptist and talk of rebellion began to occur among the land. Remember that Jesus was known across many lands and even into the heart of Rome, since John was a great follower of Jesus, unrest was beginning to occur in many places.
Jesus continued with his mission, preaching and performing miracles as he went along the way. He eventually made his way into Jerusalem for the Passover where his arrival was celebrated by the multitudes in the street; it was said that many people laid clothes and palms down for him to walk on. This is the fabled incident that is recorded of Jesus coming to Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey. The people celebrated his arrival and the Sadducees and Pharisees grew envious and jealous of the attention Jesus was receiving. Now that John the Baptist was dead, the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Sadducees wanted Jesus dead more than anything. With Jesus dead, they believed the movement and support he gained would perish with him. In fact much like John the Baptist, the Sanhedrin planned to arrest Jesus and have him put in jail.
and the ChIef PrIests and the sCrIBes sought how they MIght take hIM By trICkery and Put hIM to death. But they saId, “not durIng the feast, lest there Be an uProar of the PeoPle.” MarK 14: 1–2 (NKJV)
Since unrest occurred with the death of John the Baptist, the Sanhedrin feared potential rebellion with the arrest of Jesus. Jesus knew his betrayal was coming and decided to go to the garden of Gethsemane to feast with his closest friends and apostles. In tradition this later became known as the “last supper”; the depiction in the well known painting by Leonardo 146
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de Vinci of Jesus at a table feasting with his apostles. Jesus shared his revelation with his apostles and told them how he was going to be betrayed and arrested. Since the death of John the Baptist, Jesus knew his time was soon coming. He was faced with the choice to either launch full-scale rebellion and war against the oppressing state, or to give himself as a martyr to the people. Jesus thought that by sacrificing himself for the people, he would avoid causing the deaths of many of the people he loved.
Upon hearing the revelation given by Jesus, many of the apostles did not want to accept the message they were given. Jesus spoke of some denying his name, some betraying and scorning him, and eventually his death as a result of it all. Perhaps one of the most famous quotes from this revelation is the betrayal of Christ from the apostle Peter, for Jesus said that even Peter who was said to have loved him greatly would deny knowing him before the day was done.
then Jesus saId to theM, “all of you wIll Be Made to stuMBle BeCause of Me thIs nIght, for It Is wrItten: ‘I wIll strIke the shePherd, and then the sheeP wIll Be sCattered.’ “But after I have Been raIsed, I wIll go Before you to galIlee.” Peter saId to hIM, “even If all are Made to stuMBle, yet I wIll not Be.” Jesus saId to hIM, “assuredly, I say to you that today, even thIs nIght, Before the rooster Crows twICe, you wIll deny Me three tIMes.”
MarK 14:27–30 (NKJV)
After Jesus shared his revelation and had a word with those he felt compelled to speak with the guards and priests soon showed up to the garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. There are many different versions of how Jesus was betrayed. Some say Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for so many shekels of silver, that he led the guards to the garden and then gave them a sign to point out Jesus amongst the crowd. This is the infamous Judas “kiss” that is spoken of in the Bible. The sign that Judas said he would give is a kiss to Jesus, pointing him out amongst the crowd.
now hIs Betrayer had gIven theM a sIgnal, sayIng, “whoMever I kIss, he Is the one; seIze hIM and lead hIM away safely.” as soon as he had CoMe, IMMedIately he went uP to hIM and saId to hIM, “raBBI, raBBI!” and kIssed hIM.
MarK 14: 44–45 (NKJV)
There is also other accounts in Nag Hammadi texts found in Egypt such as the Gospel of Judas (dated the sa