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oppressed groups throughout history. There was a code found in which appears to have been their own betrothal feast. documentation passed between the later Jews in Germany in the The Gospels tell a story that although not always in agreement 1930s and 1940s. from Gospel to Gospel is actually followable outside the Bible. Through our knowledge of this scribal cryptology we cannow —‘ The ounts of Jesus' activities right up to the time of the determine dates and locations with very great accuracy. We can Crucifixion can be found in various records of the era. In the offi- uncover many of the hidden meanings in the Gospels to the extent cial annals of Imperial Rome, the trial by Pilate and the that the miracles themselves take on a whole new context. In Crucifixion are mentioned. We can determine precisely from this doing so, this does not in any way decry the fact that a man like chronological diary of the Roman governors that the Crucifixion Jesus, and, in fact, specifically Jesus, was obviously a very special took place at the March Passover of AD 33. The Bethany second person with enormously special powers, but the Gospels laid marriage anointing was in the week prior to that. We know that at down certain stories which have since become described as "mira- that stage Mary Magdalene had to have been three months preg- cles". These were not put down because they were really miracu- nant, by law—which means she should have given birth in lous supernatural events; they were put down because in the then- September of AD 33. That, we'll come back to. current political arena they were actually quite unprecedented actions which successfully flouted the law. f the Gospels are read as they are written, Jesus appears as a We now know other things. We now know why the Gospels [ies dynast, endeavouring to unite the people of the era are often not in agreement with each other. For example, Mark against the oppression of the Roman Empire. Judaea at the says that Jesus was crucified at the third hour, whereas John says time was just like France under German occupation in World War he was crucified at the sixth hour. This does not, on the face of it, II. The authorities were controlled by the military occupational look too important, but, as we shall force; resistance movements were com- see, this three-hour time difference mon. was crucial to the events that fol- While the Dead Sea Scrolls Jesus was awaited, expected, and by lowed. i i i the end of the story had become an identify the Messiah of Israel as anointed Messiah. in the first century | et's look at the water and wine the Supreme Military Commander Antiquities of the Jews, Jesus is called at Cana, following the story ni "a wise man", "a teacher" and "the through what the Bible actual- of Israel, it is no secret the King". There is nothing there about ly tells us, as against what we think apostles were armed. divinity. While the Dead Sea Scrolls identify the Messiah of Israel as the Supreme Military Commander of Israel, it is no secret the apostles were armed. From the time of recruitment, Jesus checked important to the Church as a mira- that they all had swords. At the very cle, why is it not in the other three end of the story, Peter drew his sword Gospels? It does not say (as is so often said from pulpits): "They against Malchus. Jesus said, "I come not to send peace but a ran out of wine." It doesn't say that. It says: "When they wanted sword." wine, the mother of Jesus said, 'They have no wine." Many of the high-ranking Jews in Jerusalem were quite content The Gospel tells us that the person in charge was the ruler of __ to hold positions of power backed by a foreign military regime. the feast. This specifically defines it not as a wedding ceremony Apart from that, the Hebrew groups themselves were sectarian; as such, but a pre-wedding betrothal feast. The wine taken at they did not want to share their God Jehovah with anybody else, we know. What was avery straight | Fron the time of recruitment, forward event is now dubbed with supernatural overtones. The Cana Jesus checked that they wedding, out of four Gospels, is all had swords described only in John. If it was so etrothal feasts was only available to priests and celibate Jews, specifically unclean Gentiles. To the Pharisees and Sadducees, not to married men, novices or any others who were regarded as the Jews were God's chosen people: He belonged to them, they eing unsanctified. They were allowed only water—a purifica- belonged to Him. But there were other Jews—there were the tion ritual, as stated in John. Nazarenes, there were the Essenes—who were influenced by a When the time came for this ritual, Mary, clearly not happy more liberal, western doctrine. In the event, Jesus' mission failed; about the discrimination and directing Jesus' attention to the the rift was insurmountable. Gentiles, in modern-day language, unsanctified guests, said: "They have no wine." Having not yet are simply the non-Jewish Arab races—and the rift is still there een anointed to Messiah status, Jesus responded: "Mine hour is today. not yet come." At this, Mary forced the issue and Jesus then The sentencing of Jesus was by the Roman Governor Pontius flouted convention, abandoning water altogether. Wine for every- Pilate, but Jesus was actually condemned and excommunicated one! The ruler of the feast made no comment whatsoever about _ prior to that by the Sanhedrin Council. It was decided to contrive any miracle; he simply expressed his amazement that the wine a punishment, whereby Jesus would be sentenced by the Roman ad turned up at that stage of the proceedings. Governor who was already trying other prisoners for leading It's been suggested often that the wedding at Cana was Jesus' insurrections against himself. own wedding ceremony because he and his mother displayed a As confirmed by the Supreme Judge and Attorney-General of right of command that would not be associated with ordinary Israel even today, it was quite illegal for the Sanhedrin Council to guests. However, this feast can be dated to the summer of AD 30, sit at night or to sit and operate during the Passover, so the timing in the month equivalent to June. First weddings were always held was perfect. They had an ideal opportunity, and a reason to say: in the month of Atonement (September), and betrothal feasts were "Sorry, we can't do this ourselves. You, the Roman Governor, held three months before that. In this instance, we find that the have to do this." first marital anointing of Jesus by Mary Magdalene was at the As for Jesus’ death on the Cross, it is perfectly plain this was Atonement of AD 30, three months after the Cana ceremony spiritual death, not physical death, as determined by the three-day which appears to have been their own betrothal feast. The Gospels tell a story that although not always in agreement from Gospel to Gospel is actually followable outside the Bible. The accounts of Jesus' activities right up to the time of the Crucifixion can be found in various records of the era. In the offi- cial annals of Imperial Rome, the trial by Pilate and the Crucifixion are mentioned. We can determine precisely from this chronological diary of the Roman governors that the Crucifixion took place at the March Passover of AD 33. The Bethany second marriage anointing was in the week prior to that. We know that at that stage Mary Magdalene had to have been three months preg- nant, by law—which means she should have given birth in September of AD 33. That, we'll come back to. APRIL - MAY 1998 NEXUS 25 While the Dead Sea Scrolls identify the Messiah of Israel as Jesus checked that they all had swords.