"My father came from a branch of the Hebrews called the Essenes. They believed that the Messiah ... the Anointed One ... would come from within their society. For many years, they prepared for his arrival. When I was born, they believed I was that one. This was something that was not revealed even to me until I reached the age of adulthood. Of course, it was also kept secret from the High Council, the Sanhedrin.
"As a child, the promise of my destiny was not always apparent. I was like any other child. I played games with the few other children my age, learned how to fish, and like all children in my village, learned the trade of my father. But I always felt something different from the other children. I reveled in the teachings of our holy books. My favorite pastime was to wander off into the hills with my scrolls and read the stories of Moses, David, and the many kings of Israel.” He smiled broadly. “My favorites were the beautiful psalms of David. The thrill of reading those stories was even more exciting for me because I knew the secret of my family ... that I was a child of the House of David, himself. Very early in my life though, I was taught that for our own safety I must never reveal this fact."
As Jesus talked, Steven noticed his demeanor began to become more self-assured and confident. It was as if the sharing of his memories was awakening him from a slumber. In a very real sense, it was doing just that.
"Around the time of my B'ar Mitzvah, something happened deep inside me. At the age of adulthood among my people, we were allowed to attend the discussions of the torah that the rabbis and church elders would engage in. One day, the High Priest ... his name was Ciaphas ... was speaking. He was talking about the coming days of glory for Israel, and that a messiah would lead Israel from the bondage of Roman oppression. This messiah would be a strong leader who would lead the people in many glorious battles. By the sword, he would unshackle his nation, Israel, from the bonds of slavery, just as Moses had led Israel out of Egypt.
"I found myself standing up as if nudged by an unseen hand. My mouth opened and I heard my voice speak, but it was as if I were hearing myself from somewhere outside my own body. ‘Oh, Israel,’ my voice called out. ‘Hear me! The Kingdom of the Holy One is come. By the power of love, not the sword, shall He remove the chains that bind you. Israel, you are bound not by the shackles of Rome, but by the shackles of fear and darkness that grip your heart. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for I am here.'
"Ciaphas spoke out angrily, ‘Who is this who dares contradict the High Priest?’ I stood and said proudly, ‘It was I, Rabbi.'
"'And who are you?’ he said sternly to me. ‘I am Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary,’ I answered.
"He walked over to me and studied me. Then he smiled and said to the rest of those present, mockingly, ‘My brothers, I may go to my rest now. This boy shall lead you. You have no need of me any longer.’ The rest of those present laughed loudly. He placed his hands on my shoulders and said in a fatherly tone, ‘My son, it is good that you feel brave enough to speak out. But you have much to learn about the history of our people and of our God.'
"Perhaps I should have remained silent, but the same force that had spoken through me earlier opened my mouth and said, ‘Is it not written in our own holy book that the spirit of God speaks to the heart of every man?'
"Ciaphas looked down at me sternly. I had gone too far. He said angrily, ‘Young boy, do not presume to tell me the teachings of our holy book. I and the other scholars who are among us have studied it for much longer than you have been walking the earth. Leave such things to those who know.'
"I opened my mouth to speak, but Ciaphas shouted, ‘Enough. Say no more. Leave us now and do not return until you have learned your proper place and are prepared to show us the respect we deserve.'
"With the laughter of the church elders ringing in my ears, I left the temple, still quite confused about what had just happened. I heard an elderly voice call out from behind me, ‘Jesus, wait.’ I turned around to see one of the temple elders ... his name was Nicodemus ... shuffling toward me. ‘Walk with me a while, young Jesus,’ he said kindly when he had caught up to me. He accompanied me to my home, where my mother was preparing the Sabbath meal and my father was reading the scriptures, as was their custom.
"Nicodemus followed me into the house. I'm sure my parents must have thought I had been caught at some mischief. ‘Nicodemus, welcome to our home,’ my father said. ‘What has our son done that he requires you to accompany him home?'
"Nicodemus laughed and said, ‘No, no. It is not like that. I have followed Jesus home so that I might speak with you about him.’ He then told them the story of the incident in the temple. My parents looked at one another and it was my father who finally said, ‘Perhaps it is time for us to have a talk, Jesus.’ Nicodemus began to leave to allow us our privacy, but was entreated to remain for supper. My father said, ‘Nicodemus, you are a holy and honorable man. I want you to stay and hear what we have to say to Jesus.'
"As we enjoyed our supper, my parents told the story of the Essenes and how they had prepared for many centuries for the coming of the Anointed One. Nicodemus listened with interest. My father then shocked both Nicodemus and myself by telling me that I was the one who the Essenes had been preparing for.
"I cannot find words in your language to explain to you the many emotions that overcame me at that moment. My father continued speaking, but I do not remember his words. I was lost in my own thoughts. I was not worthy of such an honor. Had I not just insulted the High Priest of the temple just a short while ago? Although I was a man in our religion, I knew that I was still but a boy. I did not want this responsibility. I bolted from the house. My father called out to me, but I heard my mother say, ‘Let him go, Joseph. He must allow this news to penetrate his heart.'
"I do not know how long I ran. I found myself alone in the desert as the sun was beginning to lower in the sky. I was exhausted and out of breath and I collapsed onto the sand, trembling with fear. Tears filled my eyes and shame filled my heart. How was I to carry this heavy burden? My own selfishness made me feel small and unworthy. What kind of person was I that I would turn my back on my people ... on my God? Yet, who was I to presume such greatness? I could not do it, I cried to myself.
"Suddenly, a calm overtook me. My terror and shame left me. I heard a voice speak to me. It did not come from outside but from within me. The voice said, ‘My Son, you have been chosen to free my people. You will lift their hearts from darkness and lead them from death into life.’ I felt more than heard the message of the voice. I did not understand it fully at that time. I only knew that I must obey it.
"I lay in the sand for a long time afterwards, staring up at the countless stars that filled the sky. I was alone, yet I felt the presence of God fill me. Although alone, I was not lonely. Finally, I stood up and walked back to my home.
"When I entered the house, my mother took me in her arms, hugged me tight and asked me where I had been. ‘Mother,’ I said to her. ‘Did you not know that I must do my Father's business?’ She looked into my eyes and her eyes filled with tears. She brushed my hair from my forehead with her hand and kissed it. She nodded as if she understood.
"Nicodemus, to my surprise, had remained with my parents in my absence. I soon knew the reason for my mother's tears. ‘Jesus,’ my father said to me. ‘Nicodemus is going to take you with him. You are going to go on a long journey with him.'
"'Where am I going, Father?’ I asked.
"'To many places. There are those who must teach you the things you need to know in order to fulfill your destiny,’ my father replied. ‘Before you can save the world, you must know it.'
"I did not wish to leave my home, yet I yielded to my fate totally at that moment. I put my life in God's hands that night, as I nodded my assent to my parents. The next day, Nicodemus and I began a journey to Egypt, the first of many lands I was to visit over the next eighteen years."
Jesus stopped his narrative for a moment. Steven suddenly realized it was anticipation of this very moment that h
ad compelled him to agree to clone Jesus for Angelino. Angelino had been right. Knowing that they were hearing the story of the life of Jesus from the man himself was an overwhelming experience. He wondered if John and Mathias shared his awe. A quick glance at their faces made it clear they did.
Jesus studied the faces of his audience. They had all taken a seat on the grass and were listening with rapt attention. Steven noticed a change in Jesus’ demeanor as he appeared to be regaining his identity.
"Do you want to take a break?"
Jesus shook his head. “No. I must tell it all."
Steven nodded in understanding.
Jesus continued. “In my travels, I encountered masters from the four corners of the earth. Egyptian holy men, Tibetan masters, Indian monks, all shared their knowledge with me. I learned to control the forces of nature ... the wind, the rains, the waves of the very ocean. I learned the secrets of healing, levitation, and the power to read the thoughts of men. All the hidden knowledge of the world was revealed to me. The entire world had known of my arrival, it seems, and the holy men and hierophants of the deepest occult traditions all welcomed me into their secret worlds.
"Nicodemus had returned to Nazareth shortly after we arrived in Egypt. His absence would have to be explained if he remained too long. Once he was satisfied that I was well taken care of, he bade us farewell. I was not to see him again until I returned home many years later.
"I was not only taught the mysteries of physical existence, but the deeper hidden meanings of the spiritual realms. I was tried and tested by my deeper lusts and passions until they were finally burned from my soul. I passed through many stages of initiation. Many others had passed before me. Only one level of attainment had never before been achieved—that of Kristos—the highest level of consciousness achievable in human form. It was with great joy that the Hierophant of Egypt bestowed that final title upon me. My days of learning, save one final test, were now complete. It was time to share this knowledge with my fellow man.
"I journeyed alone through the deserts of Africa on my way home. It was the final test of my newly achieved title. You cannot imagine the temptations which confront the heart when one has achieved the pinnacle of spiritual power and the mastery of physical existence. One can merely think into being all the riches he can imagine, and can satisfy, with a mere thought, every carnal lust of his nature. Despite the teachings of my masters, I found myself deeply tempted to use my knowledge and powers for my own purposes and gain. As I wandered the desert on my journey home, I waged the ultimate battle with my lower nature. Fortunately, the higher prevailed. Purified of all lower elements of my being, I was now ready to fulfill my destiny.
"My parents did not recognize me when I returned. Eighteen long years had passed. Once they knew who I was, my mother took me in her arms and wept openly. My father, his eyes growing moist, also hugged me. I had much to tell them. My mother prepared a great meal for us and I shared the story of my travels with them into the early hours of the morning. The cock's crow had signaled the dawn before I finally finished my tale.
"The next day, I began my mission in earnest. I walked among my own townspeople, sharing with them the wonder of the love of the Heavenly Father. I was not taken seriously. Finally, one day when I was speaking to a small crowd at the small nearby sea, I encountered two fishermen who took my message to heart. I bade them to come with me. They put down their nets without questioning, and left with me. Their names were James and John, two brothers who were to become close and loyal friends in the coming years.
"I traveled all of Israel, gradually adding to the number who would follow me, until there were twelve—each descended from one of the ancient twelve tribes of Israel. I also met the woman who would become my wife and bear my child ... the beautiful Mary of Magdalena."
The three of them gasped with one voice. Jesus had been married? Mathias blurted out, “You must be mistaken."
Jesus smiled and said, “No, I most definitely am not mistaken about that. She was my wife, a lovely soul of great spiritual depth. She was a true gift of God."
Mathias stood up and walked away a few yards, not bothering to conceal his distress.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Steven smiled and shook his head. “No. But you did shake him up a bit. I'll explain later."
John also stood up and said, “Steven, can I talk to you privately a minute?"
Steven looked at Jesus, who nodded his head indicating he understood. John grabbed Steven's arm and led him off to the side.
"Steven, I'm concerned about this."
Steven was genuinely surprised. “Concerned about what?'
"Everything we know about Jesus tells us that he never took a wife."
"John, just how much do we know about Jesus, historically?"
"Ok, I admit we don't know much, but this isn't some trivial detail. The Bible mentions the wives of all the other important kings and prophets. Don't you think it would mention if Jesus had a wife?"
"What are you getting at, John?"
John led Steven further out of earshot of Jesus. “What I'm getting at is, what if something has gone wrong with his genetic pattern? We did this way before we were ready, Steven. How do we know if cloning works the same with humans as with cats and chimpanzees?"
"John, it's a little late for second thoughts now. How do we know he's not telling the truth? We weren't there, and neither were any of the men who wrote the Gospels. The Bible was put together over three hundred years after Jesus’ death."
"Yeah, I know all that, Steven. This just worries me. I keep remembering the question Mathias asked the senators at the hearing."
"What question is that?"
"Does a cloned human have a soul?"
"John, I'm not even sure that I have a soul, let alone others."
"Steven, don't you think that's an important point? I mean, think about what he just told us."
"I don't follow you, John."
"He just told us that he mastered the powers of physical existence, did he not?"
"Yes."
"Think, Steven! What would happen if a being without a soul ... without any conscience or moral compass whatsoever ... were to master such powers?"
Steven grew cold at the thought. “Yes, I see what you mean now,” he said quietly.
"And another thing, Steven."
Steven rolled his eyes in exasperation. “What now?"
"If Jesus did have a wife and a son, perhaps his descendants are alive today."
That thought rocked Steven. He blinked and then whispered harshly to John, “Whatever you do, don't plant that thought in Mathias’ head."
Jesus interrupted them. “Steven,” he called out. “Do you wish to hear the rest of my story?"
Steven walked over toward him and attempted to remain as cordial as ever. “Forgive me, Jesus. We didn't mean to be so rude."
"It is ... okay.” Jesus’ awkward use of the colloquialism made Steven smile.
"Jesus, before you finish, I want to show you something in the cabin."
"Ok, Steven,” he said, and followed the two scientists. Steven called out to Mathias, who was still lost in his own bewilderment, “Armand, let's go inside."
Inside the cabin, Steven opened up one of his bags and produced a soft-cover leather-bound book. “I want you to look at this,” he said to Jesus, handing him the book.
Jesus opened it to the first chapter and began reading slowly to himself. His eyes widened in recognition. “This is the Torah,” he said.
"Not exactly,” Steven corrected. He took the book from Jesus’ hands and flipped it to the New Testament. “Read this part,” he directed.
Jesus began reading. After a few moments Steven could see his face take on an expression of growing awareness.
"This ‘Jesus’ that they speak about ... is this...?"
Steven nodded and finished his thought. “Yes. It is the story of your life ... at least according to those who put that book together many centur
ies ago. We call it the ‘Bible.’ Many people live their lives by the lessons it teaches."
Jesus’ brow furrowed in dismay. “I do not understand."
"Why don't you take some time and read a bit? We'll compare notes later."
* * * *
THE DE CHARNY banquet was a typically elegant affair as only the French could produce. A live orchestra played in the balcony of the restaurant. Cherrywood tables were decorated with fine pure-white linen, gold flatware, and beautiful crystal goblets for water and wine. Perfectly mannered waiters wandered about, diligently filling empty water glasses and wine decanters. Julian Michael—Frederick Valjean for tonight—handed his top hat and white gloves to the host. He flashed his official invitation casually, as if it were a distracting annoyance, and entered the restaurant, carrying himself with just the right amount of haughty dignity.
Arnold had come through superbly. Julian's cover was that of an importer/exporter whose business was headquartered in the West Indies. That would help to explain any accent that might creep into his French, if anyone happened to notice. The invitation said that the banquet would be followed by a formal ball in the ballroom of the restaurant. The French sure know how to make themselves feel like royalty, he mused, as he scanned the dining room.
"Mr. Valjean,” a round maitrê d' greeted him warmly. “Please allow me to show you to your table."
"Thank you,” Julian smiled, and followed him to a table located almost directly in front of the dais on which the guest of honor and those who were honoring him would be sitting. The dais was unoccupied at the moment.
Julian thanked the maitrê d' and took his seat. The table sat six. A distinguished-looking couple and a young woman who was clearly their daughter sat directly opposite him. He smiled at the gentleman and extended his hand. “Good evening. Frederick Valjean. I'm happy to make your acquaintance."
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