The Gospel of Judas: Part II
Scene #2:
“When morning came, he (Jesus) appeared to his disciples. They asked him, Teacher where did you go? What did you do after you left us?” Jesus relied “I went to another great and holy race”. [to Barbelo, the divine realm] His disciples again asked, “Lord, what great race is there that is more exalted and holier than we are, yet is not in these realms?”
Once again Jesus laughed. “Truly I say to you, that no offspring of this realm will see that race…nor will any mortal human being be able to belong to it.”
On another day, Jesus came up to them (the disciples). They asked him, “Teacher, we saw you in a vision. We saw some dream at night…We saw a great house in which there was a great altar and twelve men” who appeared to us as priests. There was a crowd watching the priests receiving offerings.”
Jesus said to them, “What kind of priests are they?” (The disciples) replied,
“Some of them abstain for two weeks. Yet others sacrifice their own children, others their wives…Some are lying with males. Others work at slaughtering. Yet others were committing a multitude of sins and injustices. And the men who stand over the altar are invoking your name!”
Jesus then began to interpret this dream for his disciples as they were very disturbed by what they saw. Jesus said to them, “You are the ones you saw receiving offerings at the altar. That is the God you serve. And you are the twelve men whom you saw.” “The ruler of chaos will establish himself, and this is how he will make use of my name. And the race of the pious will adhere tenaciously to him.”
Commentary:
The author of this gospel reveals accounts of two dreams. The first dream was by the twelve, and the second by Judas. Responding to twelve’s questions about their dream, Jesus tries to correct their false beliefs and practices. In the second dream, Jesus explains more about the inner teachings of his message to Judas.
Jesus’ disciples were under the influence of a God, and what some call the “lower angels”. Although these angels were also created by God, they are deficient entities. They are mortal and limited in their understanding, thus prone to making many of the same errors as mortal human beings. Such angels came into the ancient creation story to help explain why there is so much evil and ignorance in the world. In this gospel, the twelve believe they are following the teachings of Jesus, when in fact, Jesus told them that they are doing the opposite. He teaches them that the way a person envisions God affects the way one lives. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”. (Matthew 6:24-26)
The great Jewish prophets also denounced these sacrifices to ancient beliefs of a cruel and punishing God. “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt-offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted animals. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let the justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream”. (Amos 5:21-24)
“He (God) has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. (Micah 6:8)