Nathanael Bar-Jonah
Imagine some out of the way place in the Middle East. A Bedouin in search of treasures discovers a glass jar half buried in the earth.
Imagine he unearths the jar and opens up the sealed lid. Inside are writings in the Greek language. The Bedouin wonders if what he has found is merely worthless or rather perhaps an important scripture that is very valuable, indeed. He is careful not to harm the scroll for he has decided to take it to the Religious and Archeological Society of Jerusalem to try to sell it. He must play his cards right, though. The society does not normally pay for such finds and exerts the right to claim ownership of all artifacts found in its area.
So the Bedouin carefully cuts off a piece of the scroll, goes to the director, and tells him that this is just a taste of what he has to sell. After careful study and scientific examination, it is concluded that the writings and the portion of the scroll date back to the first century C.E.
After much behind the scenes bargaining, the director pays the Bedouin a hefty sum for the enrire scroll. Both end up very happy. Is not that the nature of free bargaining?
The Gospel According to Nathanael is the title of the scroll. It is a brand new find of a very old document. It is another gospel story. You may be impressed by the striking similarity to the other gospels and yet the significant differences from them. Now, published for all to read is that gospel of Nathanael. You may wish to thank God for this excellent opportunity. Relax, take a break, and by all means take your time in reading this brand new gospel!
Who is Nathanael Bar-Jonah? Did he live 2000 years ago? Did he know and walk with Jesus?
Some people point out the fact that one of Jesus' apostles was named Nathanael. Yet, how do we know whether or not the Apostle Nathanael was the same Nathanael who wrote this book?
It would seem that, at any rate, the author knew Jesus well and much of his writing coincides with the gospels of the other evangelists. But nowhere in this gospel does he claim that he was an apostle of Jesus of Nazareth.
Nathanael's message throws a whole new light on the teachings and nature of Jesus of Nazareth. Could it be that this gospel is truer to reality than the others? While this gospel remains largely unknown, soon, many more will read it and become enlightened by it.
Does it really matter in the end who Nathanael is or was, or does not his portrait of Jesus matter most of all. It's up to you to decide.
...Jesus travelled from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of heaven. The ten were with him and also a woman who had been cured of evil spirits and other women who had received teachings directly from the mouth of Jesus. There were Mary Magdelene from whom seven evil spirits had come out, Joanna, the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household, Susana, and many others. These women were helping to support the disciples and Jesus out of their means.
One early morning, Jesus had been sitting in deep concentration and contemplation for hours when finally he opened his eyes and knew that something drastically new had occurred in him. He had developed to a level of awareness that he had never attained before. He now recognized himself as the spiritual king of all people, those who would listen to his voice, his teachings. He had undergone a total liberation from ignorance and death, and attained the purity of immortality. He had overcome all false appearance and pledged to spread this new consciousness as his life's present mission. He had been locked up in prison, as it were, but had dug his way out, had found a way to freedom and awareness. He had no reservations. He had found the true way to the kingdom.
On his way back to the camp, he confronted Peter. Peter stared at his master and said, finally, "You look so different, Master. What has happened to you?"
"What do you mean, Peter?"
"You look like a shining sun or a newborne babe."
"I am the light of the world. I am the awareness that proceeds all thought and emotions."
During these days, Jesus increased his morning trips to the woods to be alone with the Father, praying his contemplative prayer. His disciples fianally seemed to have figured out that during these times, Jesus wanted to be alone, so they did not go after him or disturb him in any way. Jesus was able to spend longer periods of time in the morning alone in contemplative prayer.
People were coming to see Jesus from miles around, and when he saw the time was right, he taught them this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path. It was trampled upon, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yeilded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
The crowd grew quiet and mumbled to each other. His disciples asked what this parable meant...
