PHASE TWO

THE RESURRECTION, OF JOHN

Section I--The Acts of John

ND this is the testimony of John's Beloved, when an emissary was sent from Jerusalem, priests and pharisees, to ask John to bless the marriage of Herod. For the people of Jerusalem were in a tumult, and Herod knew not what to do.

02 And upon hearing from Herod's messengers, John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have a second wife, nor is it lawful for thee to take thy brother's wife; for what God hath joined together, let no man blaspheme, not even a king.

03 And when he did not bless Herod, answering, he who was ordained on the tenth day of January, said to John: Thou art truly a prophet among prophets. For is it not written: 'The Lord thy God will raise up for thee a PROPHET of they nation and of thy brethren like unto Moses: Him thou shalt obey'. And if you are willing now to receive Mark's testimony: John was the incarnation of Moses.

04 Therefore John said to him: "Because thou hast acknowledged my Levitical priesthood and have recognized me as the King of Righteousness, thou shalt no longer be called a scribe of the Ancients, but thou shalt be called the high priest of the Lord. For it is written: 'The Lord thy God hath chosen him to stand and to minister to the name of the Lord, him and his beloved apostle for ever'."

05 And giving answer, John said to Herod's messengers: "Go back to Jerusalem, and tell Herod what you have witnessed and what you now hear: The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised again, the poor have the Gospel of Love preached to them, and supremely blest is the Lord's Messenger who has called me a humble prophet. For this is he of whom it was written: 'Behold I send my Messenger before thy face, who shall prepare the way before me'."

06 And when the emissary went their way, they began to question among themselves saying: What shall we tell Herod? But the Lord's Messenger said to the priests and pharisees concerning John: What went you out to the desert to see? a camel shaken by the wind? Truly I say to you: There has not been born of woman a Holy One greater than John the Baptist.

07 And upon hearing from the Sadducees, Herod at first feared him to be king David, the lamp of Israel, the just and Holy One from the rod of Jesse, a contender to his Sauline throne:

08 But when he heard from the Pharisees that he did many wondrous things, like Elias the Jebusite, he abandoned the belief that he was the lamp of Israel, and kept him safe.

09 Now at that time, Herodias feared John as Naboath, the owner of a vineyard, and for calling her an adulteress. For she dreaded the thought of becoming a castaway. And like queen Jezebel was desirous to take away John's inheritance and put him to death, and at that time, could not: For the Lord's Messenger acting as an ambassador of good will, delivered John's message to Herod. And him he heard willingly. But with the help of her advisors, (that is to say, the Herodians) our wicked queen laid a trap for him behind Ahab's back.

Section II--The Acts of Herod
(A Convenient Day)

10 And the following month, when a Convenient-day was come, [that is to say, in the English, a Sunday, or a day to convene], upon the advise of his adulterous wife, Herod made a lasting banquet in honour of John's birthright; Herodias having invited by written letter, the courtiers and officials; and all the chief men of Jerusalem.

11 And on Sunday even, [which is, according to the Greek solar calendar, the time of day from the third hour until the sixth hour], the twenty-seventh day of February, when Philip's beguiling and seductive daughter had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod's wanton eyes, and them that were eating at table with him, the evil king committing a further abomination against king Philip, proposed to his niece, saying: Sarah the princess, ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And out of naked lust he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me tomorrow even, I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.

12 Who when she was gone out, said to her deceitful mother: What shall I ask of him? And she out of jealousy and spite toward her incestuous husband said to Sarah the princess: Ask him for the head of the Anointed One: Lest I become childless, and he take away your birthright.

13 And having received her mother's warning, on Monday even, the twenty-eighth day of February, Sarah came in with haste to the king, and asked, saying: In honor of John's birthday, I will that on the forthcoming night, thou give me in a dish, the head of our Lord's Anointed.

14 And being caught by surprise, the king was struck dumb with the palsy. Yet because of Sunday's oath and his foolish pride, and because of them that were drinking with him at table, he would not displease them: For they were Herodians at heart, (that is to say, secret admirers of queen Herodias).

15 But instead of being an honoured guest, sending some slaughterers to apprehend John, he foolishly commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. And like a lamb brought to the slaughter, he had him beheaded in the dungeons of Macherus.

16 And Tuesday night, at about the ninth hour, the twenty-ninth day of February, they brought his head in a dish: And he gave it to his illegal step-daughter, and she in turn gave it to her mother, who took his head and placed it on a lamp-stand for all to behold. Because Herod said: He was the lamp of Israel.

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