| This is an fictional diary of Conaniah, a Priest in the days of Jesus. He came from a long line of Levites and other religious leaders. One of his ancestors served as chief Levite. Another had control of the tithes and other offerings at the temple. Originally he seems open to Jesus. Eventually his diary reflects a fierce opposition to Jesus and his message. The calendar attempts to incorporate some of the events that happened around the time of Jesus. The calendar uses dates from the Jewish calendar. Our own calendar is a few years off. According to this calendar Jesus was born in the year 6 BC. The year 1 AD in the calendar is the year 3761. The months are months from the Jewish calendar. 11 AB 3772 We have a great need for renewal. We are not reaching large numbers of our people. So many of the Pharisees are just too strict. 23 AB 3772 Ben Sophius has become even stricter. I suspect secretly he is a member of the Zealot party. When in the presence of the Romans, however, he is quite docile. Many of the people know his real views. That is one reason some persons have turned away from the temple. We are not honest. Need to talk to Ben. 15 TISHRI 3773 Can see there is no point in talking to Ben. 6 CHISLEV 3773 Many religious groups are forming in the desert. My confreres are very critical of them. But I have the feeling they know little or nothing about any of them. 1 VEADAR 3773 We have an extra month this year. Think I'll use it to visit some of the hermit groups. 13 VEADAR 3773 Definite pattern to many of the groups. They live alone in caves. They share meals in common, pray together, and spend a lot of time in copying the writings of the prophets. 19 VEADAR 3773 Found a group out at Qumran near the Dead Sea. Met a young man from Nazareth. He referred me to his cousin, a man they called the baptist. The baptist had thought of entering the Qumran group but found they were not "strict" enough. 23 VEADAR 3773 The baptist turned out to be the son of Zachary. This man had been a big disappointment to Zachary in his last days. Zachary had assumed that his son John would follow him as a priest. 1 NISAN 3773 New religious year begins today even though it is the seventh month of the civil year. Have a feeling this will be a very important year for me. For one thing, I will need to make some decisions. 12 NISAN 3773 Came two days early to Jerusalem for Passover. I want to observe what others are saying about some of the new movements. 20 NISAN 3773 Never realized there were so many different movements going on. Religiously we are not healthy. Very few of my confreres are willing to admit that or willing to change. Nicodemus was only one willing to admit that publicly. Five or six agreed privately but were not willing to express their views publicly. 16 AB 3773 Put my diary aside for a few months. Have tried to forgot the problem. But it won't go away!!! 8 HESHVAN 3774 Yom Kippur was a very difficult time for me. People seem very willing to atone for the sins of the past but are unwilling to acknowledge any sins in the present. 22 HESHVAN 3774 Heard again and again that spirit of Nehemiah and Ezra needs to be restored. We are not allowed to marry outside our people. Somehow can't help but feel that we need to bring people closer together not drive wedges between us. 28 CHISLEV 3774 Several interesting debates at Hannakuh. Most religious leaders want to restore original spirit of Hannakuh. We need to go out and recapture our land. When not arguing about the recapturing of Jerusalem, they argued about the baptist. He is becoming more and more vocal. 13 TEBETH 3774 The baptist starting to attack Herod for living with his brother's wife. 1 SHEBAT 3774 Hear that Roman officials are not happy about the baptist attacking Herod. 17 NISAN 3774 At Passover most priests and pharisees secretly expressed great delight at the baptist attacking Herod. However, no one was willing to say so publicly. 5 IYAR 3774 The baptist has been arrested. 11 IYAR 3774 Obvious now that the largest desert group was that led by the baptist. 22 IYAR 3774 Group led by the baptist is badly splintered by his imprisonment. 24 IYAR 3774 Heard rumor today that some of the Zealots would try to spring the baptist from prison. 10 SIVAN 3774 Heard that some followers of the baptist approached Jesus, a young man from Nazareth and asked him to lead them. Jesus is the one who impressed us all as a young man. 7 AB 3774 Jesus has agreed to lead the followers of the baptist. 12 AB 3774 Many followers of the baptist have rejected Jesus. They say he is not aggressive enough. 13 TISHRI 3775 Met Jesus at Yom Kippur. Doesn't appear to be as critical as the baptist. 2 HESHVAN 3775 Jesus attracting large crowds 25 HESHVAN 3775 Jesus healing many 15 CHISLEV 3775 Didn't hear much about Jesus at Hannakuh 1 TEBETH 3775 Heard that Jesus has found a mountain hideout 13 SHEBAT 3775 Apparently no one has found Jesus' mountain hideout. 2 ADAR 3775 Hear that hideout has been found. 8 ADAR 3775 Huge crowds showing up on mountaintop. Creating quite a problem for the shepherds. 13 ADAR 3775 Local officials receiving many complaints about Jesus and his sessions: grazing land for sheep being trampled, garbage and human waste problems, people camping on land of others. 16 NISAN 3775 Saw Jesus at Passover. He was very low key. Kept himself well hidden. 3 IYAR 3775 Apparently Jesus has returned to the mountains. Seems that he has worked out a compromise. He will not stay in any one region for more than two days. He will travel more. Has organized several pick up crews to make sure the place is clean when he leaves. 22 IYAR 3775 More and more people looking for Jesus. He is harder and harder to find. 4 SIVAN 3775 Have suddenly become aware that most of my diary is about Jesus. If I take the party line of the priests I have to be against him. Yet I still feel an attraction for his message and for him as a person. 8 SIVAN 3775 Need to reconcile my doubts. Want to go looking for Jesus. He is hard to find. 13 SIVAN 3775 Many others were also looking for Jesus. Found him surrounded by a huge crowd at the top of the mountain. The crowd was entranced. His entire message was opposed to the way most of us think. Yet Jesus presented this message in so attractive a way. Asks us to be poor, to be meek, to be lowly, sorrowful, merciful. Everything he asks us is a quality which leaves us in need. How are we ever to be fulfilled in life? Not sure I want to follow this man. 15 SIVAN 3775 Am really confused by Jesus' message. Seemed completely turned off by the message but find myself constantly arguing about it with others. Why am I bothered by it? Why can't I simply write it off? 16 SIVAN 3775 One of Jesus' followers explained the sermon like this: if we are complete and fulfilled we will not go looking for God. We will be content and satisfied. That sounds too churchy. 13 SIVAN 3775 A week later I am still struggling with Jesus' words on the mountain. 19 SIVAN 3775 Tried to forget Jesus' message but I cannot do so. WHY? 23 SIVAN 3775 Realize that I do not want to accept the teaching of Jesus. 3 AB 3775 The teaching of Jesus keeps coming back. Have made a deliberate and conscious attempt to forget it. Everywhere I go I am reminded of that teaching. I wish I had never made an effort to find him. 6 ELUL 3775 Met a group of poor people today. They asked me to pray for them and to remember them as I offer one of the sacrifices this week. Realized that it was the first time I had ever really encountered poor people. They had so little and yet seemed more content and more human than any of us priests. God seemed so much more real to them than to us. Wasn't that what Jesus said? 15 ELUL 3775 Realized during my week of offering the sacrifices at the temple that I could not simply reject the teaching of Jesus. 1 TISHRI 3776 New Civil year begins today. Over three years since I began this diary. Almost a year since I met Jesus. I am more confused now than when I started. 21 TISHRI 3776 Yom Kippur took on a much different meaning for me this year. I see sin not so much as a violation of the law. I see it as a violation of people. 2 HESHVAN 3776 It is harder and harder to write this diary. Jesus is a real radical. He is asking us to rethink everything we stand for, everything we believe in. I don't know if I can do that. 1 TAMMUZ 3776 It's been eight months since I wrote in this diary. We had an extra month(VEADAR)this year. I thought maybe if I didn't write about Jesus, I could forget about him. It didn't work. 4 TAMMUZ 3776 All these years I have felt fulfilled by offering sacrifices for the sins of the people. It is like the people need me. Even God needs me. I have never asked; Do I need God? 5 TAMMUZ 3776 Was rereading my past entries in the diary. On 16 SIVAN 3775 I wrote: "One of Jesus' followers explained the sermon like this: if we are complete and fulfilled we will not go looking for God. We will be content and satisfied. That sounds too churchy." Then yesterday I admitted that in being fulfilled I never asked if I needed God. The words of Jesus just keep coming back to haunt me. 9 TAMMUZ 3776 Talked with Nicodemus this morning. He is a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. He has become a follower of Jesus. He has to do so secretly. He goes at night to visit with Jesus. He invited me to go with him. 12 TAMMUZ 3776 Turned down Nicodemus' invitation. Was afraid I would be detected. When I go to his public gatherings I can always pretend I go as a spy. Can't say that if I go with Nicodemus. 16 TAMMUZ 3776 Nicodemus told me that Jesus said that his role was not to condemn the world but to save the world. If the world is not condemned by sin, why do we have to offer sacrifice? If Jesus has saved the world, why are we needed? Back to that idea of Jesus that we must be poor. 20 TAMMUZ 3776 Jesus told Nicodemus that we are condemned when we reject the light. That is something far more profound than the violation of a law. How do we recognize the light? Where does the light come from? Jesus raises far more questions than he answers. 22 TAMMUZ 3776 Cannot understand how Nicodemus continues to see Jesus at night. Jesus goes against everything Nicodemus and I stand for. Nicodemus is supposed to give answers, Jesus raises questions. I am supposed to offer sacrifice in atonement for sin. Jesus forgives sins. I am beginning to like Jesus less and less. 17 ELUL 3776 Civil year almost over. I am no closer to a decision or an understanding of Jesus. I wish I had never met him. 1 TISHRI 3777 A new civil year begins today. Every year I expect to get some answers during the year. All I get are more questions. If Jesus is who he claims to be why does he not give us more answers? 17 TISHRI 3777 Yom Kippur gets harder each year. I need to totally reject Jesus' message. But I've said that before. 21 TISHRI 3777 Nicodemus tells me Jesus is talking about baptism. So he intends to carry on the work of the baptist. Some priests are not really happy with the idea of baptism. What is Jesus trying to prove? Baptism was administered to converts to our church. Is Jesus intending to start a new church? 3 HESHVAN 3777 Baptism is practised in many synagogues. It is a symbol of purification. We are really developing two religions. There is the religion of Jerusalem which centers around our sacrifices. Then there is the religion of the small towns which centers on the written scriptures and the various rituals that are developing in the local synagogues. We are losing touch with our people. Maybe that is why the baptist, the group at Qumran, and Jesus are attracting so many people. 9 HESHVAN 3777 Jesus has been in touch with the group at Qumran. He is really a radical. Jesus is going to cause us trouble before too long. 12 HESHVAN 3777 A group of priests and pharisees approached me asking about Jesus. They are interested in his work and know I am familar with it. Jesus can be very insidious. We need to watch him 3 CHISLEV 3777 Visited Qumran. They live like hermits.One of their aims is to preserve the writings of Isaiah and Jeremiah. This group was probably one of the originators of baptism. The baptist may have learned of the practise from them. They seem to have completely shut themselves off from the rest of society. There are really some strange groups around these days. 6 CHISLEV 3777 The Qumran group does not see baptism as affecting anything. It is simply a gesture which expresses a sincere inner desire to repent. Seems to be just one more attempt to subvert the value of our sacrifices and rituals. 15 CHISLEV 3777 Have a strange feeling about the Qumran group. But even a stranger feeling against Jesus. I have made a conscious decision to reject Jesus but still find myself thinking about him. I still find myself probing into his work, I have to stop probing. 28 CHISLEV 3777 Decided to give Jesus one more try. Went to hear him preach. He humiliated several religious leaders. They brought a woman to him who had been caught in the act of adultery. Instead of upholding the law Jesus said that she could not have commited adultery all alone. If she was caught in the very act, why did they not bring in the man also? Then Jesus questioned their integrity. He said: "If anyone of you has never sinned, he may cast the first stone." And then he let the woman go free. 29 TEBETH 3777 Jesus is attracting large crowds of adulterers and sinners. He is undermining our entire legal system. This man is even more dangerous than the baptist. The baptist was so outspoken and harsh. He turned off more people than he attracted. Jesus is so gentle, and therefore, even more dangerous. 6 SHEBAT 3777 Talked to Vahnai, one of my confreres. He also is upset with Jesus. Vahnai suggested that I use my diary as a means of documenting the acts of Jesus. He told me there is talk of bringing Jesus to trial and killing him. 14 SHEBAT 3777 Haven't been able to find any eyewitnesses but heard of a story where Jesus forgave a woman who had five husbands and was living with a sixth. Where does he get his authority? 17 SHEBAT 3777 Still haven't found any eyewitnesses. However, the story is getting better. This woman was a Samaritan. Jesus struck up a conversation with her. Then at her invitation spent two days teaching in her town. 2 ADAR 3777 One of Jesus' closest followers is a prostitute. Does he know no bounds? 27 ADAR 3777 Now he has chosen a tax collector as one of his aides. He eats with them. He visits with them. Why doesn't he just become one of them. 5 NISAN 3777 He has been known to take meals in the home of several different tax collectors. Is he planning a coup? Does he want the Romans to completely take over our land. 24 NISAN 3777 Saw Jesus at Passover. I confronted him with his consorting with tax collectors who are agents of the Roman government. You know what his response was? "Well, the high priest is also an appointee of the Roman government." What's that supposed to mean? 2 TAMMUZ 3777 Harder and harder to find out anything on Jesus. He seems to be staying more and more under cover. 5 TISHNA 3778 Jesus picked twelve of his followers and sent them out to prepare for his coming. 9 TISHNA 3778 Did an evaluation of the twelve Jesus sent out. Am told that the number is symbolic. It represents the twelve sons of Israel. About half of them are former disciples of the baptist. About a third of them are Zealots. One is a tax collector. Doesn't look like we will be able to reach any one of them. 16 HESHVAN 3778 Jesus sent out another group of followers to preach. This time he sent out seventy two. Where does he get all his followers? How does he train them? 23 HESHVAN 3778 He even sent out some women to preach his message. 1 CHISLEV 3778 Heard two of his people preach. They have a very simple message: "The kingdom of God is at hand." What is that supposed to mean? 7 CHISLEV 3778 Have the impression that Jesus is sending out so many teachers because he doesn't expect to be around much longer. The opposition toward him is growing. He wants to get the message out as widely as possible. I don't think it will do much good. When he goes there won't be that much left to carry on. 12 CHISLEV 3778 Took a good look at Jesus' followers. Can see only two who might be able to lead the group once we get rid of Jesus. Only Levi and Judas seem qualified to lead. 14 CHISLEV 3778 Am surprised at myself. Didn't realize that I had become so negative toward Jesus. Am now beginning to assume he will be killed. 15 CHISLEV 3778 Was rereading my diary. It has been a year and a half since I have really looked at any of the teachings of Jesus. I really do not like him. More and more obvious I want to get rid of him. 9 TEBETH 3778 Went again to hear Jesus. Apparent why he has to go. He told a story he called the prodigal son.Inheritance is an important part of our tradition. It is not to be treated lightly. This Jesus makes a hero out of someone who squanders his father's money. 21 TEBETH 3778 The story of the prodigal son was bad enough. Now Jesus puts down the priests, the levites and makes a hero of a Samaritan. The Samaritans have disregarded our whole heritage. They have married outside our family. They are unfaithful to tradition of Abraham and Moses. 22 TEBETH 3778 Jesus has no regard for the law. He has greater regard for those who violate the law than for those who keep it. I am getting so tired of hearing about forgiveness. Is it a virtue to break the law? 1 SHEBAT 3778 I am more and more upset with the actions and the teachings of Jesus. But he keeps performing these miracles. People who never walked before are beginning to walk. There are so many cases of blind persons seeing, hearing being restored. So many people have had their lves profoundly affected by the miracles of Jesus. Where does he get his power? 4 SHEBAT 3778 How can he do all these miracles? There are some who suggest he is an agent of the devil. I don't believe that. But where does he get his power? Are the people he heals really shams? Do they simply pretend to be sick so that Jesus can appear to cure them? Does he do some kind of sleight of hand? How do we explain his miracles? 7 SHEBAT 3778 Nicodemus tells me that is my problem I am trying to explain Jesus' miracles. I am trying to find a reason why and how they happen. He says the people who are healed simply believe it can happen and it does. That sounds too simplistic and too churchy for me. 17 SHEBAT 3778 Have been following Jesus around now for about ten days. It appears Nicodemus is right. The people who come to Jesus for healing do not question how or why Jesus heals. They simply believe it. As a priest I can't have that simple faith. Our life is based on ritual and law. There is little room for faith. 13 ADAR 3778 Getting ready for feast of Purim. A lot of controversy about this feast. It is more of a secular feast than a religious one. It is one introduced mainly by Jews who have left Jerusalem. Don't expect Jesus to show up for the feast. He usually doesn't. 19 ADAR 3778 Surprisingly Jesus did show up for Purim. Spent most of the time arguing with the priests and the Pharisees. Jesus kept talking about the faith of the people. The Pharisees would scornfully reply: "The People ... hphmm ... what do they know." Several times I wanted to say "You Pharisees! What do you know?" If I were around the Pharisees enough I might even become a believer in Jesus. |
1 ADAR 3778
The baptist was murdered three days ago. Word just getting out. Why did Herod do that?
His murder will only draw sympathy for that cause. It will bring more sympathy to cause of
Jesus also. I cannot believe Herod was so stupid.
13 ADAR 3778
Been a year since the baptist was murdered. Jesus constantly reminding people of the
murder. We didn't do it. Somehow he always manages to bring it up and make it sound like
we did it.
Getting ready for feast of Purim. A lot of controversy about this feast. It is more of a secular
feast than a religious one. It is one introduced mainly by Jews who have left Jerusalem.
Don't expect Jesus to show up for the feast. He usually doesn't.
19 ADAR 3778
Word at Purim was Jesus has not been seen. He seems to have gone into seclusion since
the murder of the baptist. Maybe we are also rid of Jesus.
22 NISAN 3778
Jesus present at passover. Apparently he went into seclusion
after the death of the baptist. Everyone wondering what Jesus will do now.
20 IYAR 3778
Obviously Jesus does not intend to quit. In fact seems to have intensified his efforts. The
last month Jesus is present and visible more than any time in the past. There have been
more and more large gatherings. There is one report that he fed 5000 persons with just a
few pieces of bread and a few fish.
1 SIVAN 3778
A second report of Jesus feeding several thousand persons on just a few loaves and
fishes. Surprisingly no complaints from shepherds about garbage. The pick up crews must
be well organized.
15 SIVAN 3778
Been following Jesus around the last few weeks. His group is much better organized than
most of us suspect. He has the image of an itinerant charismatic preacher that just shows
up and does his thing. Actually there is a group that precedes him and tells the crowds he
is coming, there is a group that remains after to take care of whatever needs follow in the
wake of his being there. There are the clean up crews. Then there are the group of women
who finance his work. This is a very well organized operation. He is more than just a fly by
night preacher. He is dangerous to our efforts.
21 SIVAN 3778
A few of us have formed a group to go into the villages and deny all the reported wonders
of Jesus.
25 SIVAN 3778
The rumor is that Jesus actually walked on the water. No one but a few of his fisherman
friends saw it. That should be easy to deny.
1 TAMMUZ 3778
Harder and harder to deny miracles of Jesus. More and more people are actually
witnessing and experiencing them. People tend to believe even something as outrageous
as his walking on water. This should have been easy to deny. Only a few of his closest
followers actually were there when it supposedly happened. People are ready to believe
anything about Jesus. This man must go!
19 TAMMUZ 3778
We now have a team of 100 persons who go out and try to deny Jesus' miracles. The
harder we try the more people seem to believe in him. The latest rumor is that he gave
sight to a man blind from birth. If we don't put a stop to this the next thing we will hear is
he raises someone from the dead.
4 AB 3778
We have tripled the size of our team and still cannot stop the fanaticism of the crowds. We
have completely lost control of a very large segment of the population.
19 AB 3778
What did I tell you? Jesus is said to have raised people from the dead. Is there to be no
end to this outrage?
29 AB 3778
I am surprised that there are a number of priests who are sympathetic toward Jesus. Annas
and Caiphas have organized a campaign to get rid of Jesus. They are just looking for the
right opportunity to do so.
11 ELUL 3778
Heard that Annas and Caiphas are trying to infiltrate the band of Jesus' closest followers.
They are concentrating on members of the Zealot party among Jesus' followers.
27 ELUL 3778
Judas seems to be the best possibility among Jesus' followers. He has the most intense
hatred of the Romans.
3 TISHRI 3779
Think we have won Judas over to our side. Yesterday Jesus acknowledged publicly that it
is ok to pay the Roman tax. Judas was obviously upset.
13 TISHRI 3779
Have been throwing little feelers out to Judas. He is willing to co-operate with us.
17 TISHRI 3779
Judas will be hard to bargain with. He wants us to publicly denounce the Romans. Annas
and Caiphas cannot do that. If they do that they will be out of a job. They owe their
appointments to Rome. We will somehow have to convince Judas that we will denounce
the Romans without actually doing so. But if anyone can pull it off, Annas and Caiphas can.
They have a lot of experience at deception.
2 HESHVAN 3779
Have been talking to other priests. There is more support for Jesus than I would have
imagined. They are still a very small minority. Most priests have a "wait and see" attitude. If
Jesus were not so popular among the people, I think there would be a greater opposition
to him.
13 HESHVAN 3779
I think Jesus will do himself in. Yesterday he publicly offended several priests. Jesus was
asked about the law as the revelation of God's will. He described the origins of the much
of the law. He told of the basic decalogue which is common to just about every civilized
society.
Then he described the interpretation of the law which has a way of becoming law. He said
that it is interpreted by the priests who do not always understand the needs of the people.
That was enough of an insult. But then he described how much of that interpretation is
done. It is not done by careful study, prayer, reflection and dialogue. It is done by lot. That
has created quite a fury among priests.
20 HESHVAN 3779
Priests are a fickle group. One week later very few even remember Jesus' insult to our
sacred group.
18 CHISLEV 3779
Jesus is becoming outrageous. At the feast of Dedication he claimed that he is God. Some
people actually believed him. He is really becoming dangerous.
20 CHISLEV 3779
Special meeting of the Sanhedrin. Resolution passed to look for the opportunity to kill
Jesus. If he can get away with calling himself God, why will anyone need us?
29 CHISLEV 3779
I wish the Pharisees would stay out of this. Yesterday he spent most of the time arguing
with the Pharisees. Jesus kept talking about the faith of the people. The Pharisees would
scornfully reply: "The People ... hphmm ... what do they know." Several times I wanted to
say "You Pharisees! What do you know?" If I were around the Pharisees enough I might
even become a believer in Jesus.
15 TEBETH 3779
For two solid weeks Jesus has been criticizing us and our institutions. Does this man hold
nothing sacred?
1 SHEBAT 3779
I don't know how much more I can take. It is non stop criticism.
3 SHEBAT 3779
Manaleus pointed out to me that most of Jesus' criticism is directed at the Scribes and
Pharisees and they deserve it. I agree. Manaleus says I am too thin skinned.
7 SHEBAT 3779
Where does Jesus get his authority?
12 SHEBAT 3779
I am hearing others asking where Jesus gets his authority.
21 SHEBAT 3779
Finally they asked him publicly where he got his authority. He managed to twist the
question around by talking about John's authority. He said in a very slow drawl: "Well, you
know, my ministry flowed out of that of John the Baptist. So my authority comes from the
same source as John. Where do you suppose that authority came from?"
He knew well that we could not criticize the baptist. Jesus is getting a lot of mileage out of
the baptist's murder. Even persons who were not avid fans of the baptist are now
sympathetic to the baptist and by extension to Jesus.
Part of me admires him for his cleverness and ingenuity. But a bigger part of me hates him.
3 ADAR 3779
Been a year since the murder of the baptist. Hardly a week goes by that Jesus doesn't talk
about the baptist. Somehow he always manages to make it sound like the baptist's death
was our fault.
18 ADAR 3779
He can call the Pharisees "whitened sepulchures". He can talk about their insidiousness,
refer to them as bad leaven. He can criticize the scribes for their blasphemy. But when he
starts talking about observing the Sabbath, he is scraping our turf. I wonder how long
before there is just a complete rejection of Jesus.
21 ADAR 3779
Judas and the high priests seem to be meeting more frequently.
27 ADAR 3779
Jesus must suspect something. He is making more and more references to death. He is
also seen less and less.
1 VEADAR 3779
Extra month this year.
3 VEADAR 3779
What next!!! Reports flying around that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
6 VEADAR 3779
Attempts being made to hire witnesses to testify that Lazarus was put in the tomb alive and
four days later Jesus comes along and appears to raise him from the dead.
11 VEADAR 3779
Witness search not successful. Lots of people would be willing to testify but none of them
would be credible. Judas might have done it but we don't want to expose him at this point.
We will need him later.
12 VEADAR 3779
Jesus found out that Lazarus was sick several days before he made any attempt to come
see him. We have even tried to insinuate that the reason Jesus waited several days was
so they could arrange this scam funeral of Lazarus. The attempt only backfired on us.
25 VEADAR 3779
Getting rid of either Jeusus or Lazarus will not be easy.
1 NISAN 3779
An arrest warrant has been put out for Jesus. We are trying to keep it quiet. It is presumed
he will show up for Passover. Our spies tell us he has been hanging around Bethany.
4 NISAN 3779
So far have managed to keep Jesus' arrest warrant quiet. The ones we want to know about
it, do know. So far none of his followers seem to know.
6 NISAN 3779
Judas acting strangely. Can we trust him? Is he really just a double agent? actually spying
on behalf of Jesus?
7 NISAN 3779
Talked with several others at Sabbath services today. Several of us suspect Judas.
Consensus was we are stuck with Judas. He is all we have. If we don't pull it off before
Passover, we may never get another chance.
8 NISAN 3779
There was a strange parade of Jesus and his followers today. Why did they show up almost
a week before Passover? Does he really know nothing of our plans? Is he mocking us?
Saying here I am, come take me? Is he simply showing off? Just challenging us to try and
arrest him?
9 NISAN 3779
Found out from Judas that they had this "resurrection" dinner for Lazarus. Naturally Jesus
showed up and stole the show. He has to go. We also need to get rid of Lazarus.
We really have to get rid of Jesus. Yesterday he attacked some of the merchants in the
Temple. That is going too far. If he wants to challenge our religious doctrine, we can
handle that. When he begins to attack our merchants that is an entirely different question.
Those merchants are there because we give them a license. We collect a fee for their
license. They pay us a tax on the items they sell. Many of them are actually selling some of
our products. When Jesus attacked those merchants he declared economic war on us.
We may even have to up Judas' fee to make sure he is on our side.
10 NISAN 3779
There is no stopping this Jesus. He is going around now claiming to be the Messiah. His
followers are even worse. Not only do they believe this nonsense, they are spreading
Jesus' propaganda far and wide. Sometimes I think Jesus has won. We are simply fighting a
lost cause. He will win!
11 NISAN 3779
We finalized plans last night. We are down to our last two days. If we miss this opportunity,
we may not get another. We have to get him alone at night. We have to find out where he
stays at night. Judas is our best bet.
12 NISAN 3779
Only one more night left. Some of our members are beginning to panic. If we miss this
opportunity, Jesus may never again come back to Jerusalem.
13 NISAN 3779
Well we did it! We pulled it off! It almost seems like a miracle. Sure shows that God is own
our side. Jesus went out to pray. It was that prayer that did him in. Just proves that our
prayer is better than his. Thanks to Judas we were able to arrest him quietly.
There were just a few of his closest followers but they were either asleep or frightened to
death. There was an all night trial. I am surprised his followers were not able to arouse
support and make the trial more difficult. There were no riots. Maybe Jesus was not as
powerful as we thought. Should be all done for Passover.
14 NISAN 3779
There was a strange mood in Jerusalem for Passover. No one seemed to be talking about
Jesus and his death. What happened to his followers? Are they just too frightened? Word
is out that anyone who tries to take up Jesus' work will be treated in a like manner. Maybe
we really pulled it off.
15 NISAN 3779
Lots of people going by tomb to see his body. Looks like someone broke in to steal the
body. That's what we were afraid of. Tried to get Pilate to give us guards from the Roman
Legion. He refused.
16 NISAN 3779
Today even more crowds go by to see the tomb. No one can produce a body. We've
searched every possible location. These followers of Jesus are much more clever than we
imagined.
22 NISAN 3779
After a week there are still crowds going by the tomb. Far worse, people are claiming to
see him alive. We cannot stop his movement. His followers seem more numerous and
more vocal now that he has died than when he was alive.
29 NISAN 3779
I can't believe Jesus' followers. They are some of our most devout Jews. They observe all
our laws but still follow the teachings of Jesus.
13 IYAR 3779
Gamliel telling all of us not to fight Jesus and his movement. He does make sense.
Gamaliel says if this is God's work, we cannot fight against it (and I for one would not want
to). If it is a mere human venture, it will wear off and fade out in a short time.
19 SIVAN 3779
Have tried to forgot about Jesus but his followers won't let me. Saw them 5000 strong at
Pentecost professing their faith in the living Jesus.
11 AB 3779
I guess Gamaliel was right. I'm not going to fight them. I've been fighting them for several
years now and have nothing to show for my effort. They go their way. I'll go mine.
END OF DIARY
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH
3041 CHITIMACHA TRAIL
P.O. BOX 278
CHARENTON, LOUISIANA 70523
337-923-4281
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