The Gospel of the Baptist

By Christopher Laurent

The Gospel of the Baptist is an exciting novel involving the adventures of two professors of Ancient Hebrew and their students searching to support their theory that the entire trial and crucifixion of Jesus is simply a legend, thus invalidating the entire basis for Christianity. Their theory is based on the precept that the trial

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Penguin Books
• Release date: Aug 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637771211

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Jerusalem sun beat down hard on Jonathan and Saul as they walked the dusty street to the Antiquities Commission. The wind blew gently to cool the beads of sweat that had appeared on their foreheads from heat. As the wind blew sand stuck to their faces and spread out across the stoned street. The sand from the street mixed with the sand on their boots from the latest dig. The walk seemed longer each time as with each new dig came new relics and information that required approval of the Antiquities Commission. Jonathan and Saul had been in Jerusalem for three years on this archeological expedition. For most of the first thirty months, they found nothing worthwhile so this trip was not necessary. But six months ago when they discovered what appeared to be the façade of a dwelling about twelve meters beneath the surface, these walks to the Antiquities Commission had become more frequent.

Antiquities Commission was a bit of a stretch. The Commission consisted of one man. A fat bureaucrat, who had little to no knowledge of archeology, made up the Commission. He sat behind a desk too large for the room with piles of requests in his in basket and little work in the out basket. His balding head always seemed to have a sore or two as if he constantly was bumping into things. His name was Mr. Goldman and he expected to be called Mr. Goldman. His glasses, too small for his round head, always were at the tip of his nose and when he talked he constantly was pushing them up. He wore the same white cotton suit that was wrinkled as if he slept in it every night. There was also the thin black tie that contained similar wrinkles and was never really tied. He sat there with fat fingers that showed the stains of the tiny cigarillos that he constantly smoked and fanned himself from the heat.

Jonathan and Saul finally reached the steps of the Antiquities Commission. Their requests to continue to dig, as always, had not been answered. The same routine each time, submit and request and be ignored.

Do you have enough money? Jonathan asked Saul.

After three years Jonathan and Saul were well acquainted with the routine. Submit the request to continue to dig, wait the two weeks, go see Mr. Goldman, listen to his lies about not having a request, his arguments about the Jerusalem artifacts, paying the bribe, and the request miraculously approved the next day. Nothing in Jonathan and Saul’s training prepared them for these real bureaucratic workings of archeological exploration.

Jonathan and Saul had met at the University five years earlier. Saul was a professor of Ancient Hebrew and Jonathan joined the staff as an Associate Professor in the same department. Neither seemed suited to the life of academia. Saul was tall, thin, with long straight hair that curled at the ends and was thinning on top. The fine wisps of thin hair on top frequently swayed in the wind as he moved his head from side to side. His beard was equally unkempt and both showed the salt and pepper color of a man that was in his mid-fifties. His walk was that of a man of urgency, but with long strides reflective of his six foot frame. Amazingly his eyesight was not impaired; even after years of study, research, and teaching Saul did not require glasses, something he inherited from his Mother’s side of the family. She passed at 103 years old, still reading the paper without glasses. Saul always wore the same colored brown canvas trousers, light colored shirt, and a jacket that showed the years of fondness with the patches at each elbow. Under his arms were stacks of papers, old ancient books, and a paper bag with a tuna on rye sandwich and apple for dessert inside. In fact, that was how Jonathan first met the man who would become his mentor.

Jonathan was late for a meeting with the Professor. He was rushing around the corner of the building, not realizing that Saul had forgotten the appointment. Jonathan collided with Saul, sending the contents under Saul’s arm flying across the sidewalk and Jonathan down hard on his backside. Saul squinted, frustrated with the young man, and then turned to retrieve his papers, books, and most importantly his lunch. Saul looked everywhere for his lunch without success. His eyes then landed on where Jonathan remained seated on the sidewalk. Without speaking, Saul walked over to Jonathan and reached out his hand. Jonathan graciously took the hand and allowed Saul to pull him to his feet. 

Hmmph, Saul snorted as he saw the flattened sandwich, guess there’s applesauce there now.

Saul stooped to pick up the flattened bag and Jonathan adjusted his large round glasses. He immediately recognized the Professor.

Professor Harkman, I am so very sorry, Jonathan sheepishly said.

What? Saul said, a bit stunned at the familiarity with which the young man addressed him.

Professor Harkman, I am your new associate Professor, Jonathan Weiztman. Jonathan responded and stuck out his hand to shake the Professor’s.

Saul just stood glaring at the young man. He certainly was not what Saul expected. But then, Saul was not sure what he expected as he had never had an Associate Professor before. There before him stood his first, Jonathan Weiztman, a prominent Jewish scholar who had lived in Israel before coming to the United States to complete his Doctorate. Dressed in a blue sportcoat and neutral Dockers, his light blue shirt sporting a matching tie, Jonathan did not look to be almost thirty.

More like thirteen, Saul thought to himself.

Jonathan brushed a thick lock of his black hair from his eyes and adjusted his kippah, removed his large round glasses and, with a quickness that reflected years of practice, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and cleaned the lens before placing them back on his face. The kippah sparked Saul’s memory.

Yes, he finally said, the Masorti Jew from Israel that has come to help me.

Jonathan could hear the sarcasm in Saul’s voice and watched as Saul turned on his heels and began briskly walking away. Many Jews resented the Masorti. The Masorti are the very conservative, some might say, Orthodox, branch of Judaism. After all, Masorti means traditional in Hebrew. Jonathan wondered if Saul’s sarcasm was due to a disdain for the Masorti movement, or just a disdain in general for Jonathan.

I’m sorry, Sir, Jonathan stuttered as he tried to catch up, I know I am late for my appointment.

Saul kept walking as if he had not heard a word Jonathan said. Finally Jonathan caught up to Saul and fell into step with the Professor. Saul looked at him again and laughed.

Let’s get started, we have a class in four minutes. You can observe, and then tomorrow you can begin teaching. Saul said with a quick, thin smile that betrayed his amusement at Jonathan’s predicament. 

The next day, Jonathan, without missing a beat, took over more than half of Saul’s classes. After monitoring two classes, Saul realized that Jonathan was a gifted teacher and quite an academic. At the end of that first day, Saul was waiting for Jonathan after his last class.

Well, well, who would have thought a Masorti Jew would be so well-educated, Saul said as he slapped Jonathan on the back.

Jonathan again noted the remark on his conservative background but decided to ignore it for now as he and Saul walked briskly toward Saul’s office. As they went down the long hallway Jonathan eyes saw the sign next to the door.

"Saul P. Harkman, Phd,

     Professor, Ancient Hebrew"

Saul walked straight into the office and Jonathan followed. Jonathan was stunned and stopped at the entrance. There in Saul’s office were volumes of books stacked everywhere, many very ancient looking. On the floor, on top of a small, round table, behind the door, just about every flat surface in the room contained at least four or five books. Sticking out from the pages of each book were papers, some yellowed with age and all scribbled in ink or penciled notes, many in Hebrew that Jonathan strained to read.

This is my office, Saul responded curtly, yours is next door.

Yes sir, Jonathan replied and backed out of the office.

Indeed, Jonathan’s office was next door. There next to the door to his office was also a sign.

Jonathan A. Weitzman, PhD

Associate Professor, Ancient Hebrew

Jonathan slowly opened the door and found a sparsely furnished office with mismatched furniture. The desk was obviously old, as the top showed the white stains of multiple cups or glasses left sitting too long on the dark brown surface. There was a large bookcase made of lighter colored wood that did not match the desk, empty of books with a thin layer of dust present on each shelf. Behind the desk was a rather small office chair, one more befitting a secretary than an Associate Professor. Jonathan dropped his books onto the desk and a cloud of dust spread out from the four sides. He then dropped into his chair and wondered if he had made the biggest mistake of his life. 

Jonathan graduated from Cambridge University " Summa Cum Laude in a class of over four-hundred. He was considered a prodigy. Speeding through the undergraduate course work at an accelerated pace, he had taken time off to return to Israel and serve in the Israeli Army for two years before entering graduate school. His Master’s program was boring, more of the same as undergraduate. But during his Doctorate program he became fascinated with the character of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and Persea and son of Herod the Great. Jonathan was interested in the building program of Herod Antipas and his role with the man known as Jesus of Galilee. However, the building projects of Herod Antipas were what Jonathan had written his dissertation about and brought him in contact with Saul Harkman. During Jonathan’s research he read many articles written by Dr. Harkman regarding Herod Antipas and the site of Herod’s dwellings in Jerusalem. To Jonathan, Dr. Harkman appeared to display the same passion about this King from the history of Judaism. Jonathan remembered how Dr. Harkman had theorized that Caesar Augustus divided Israel into three parts after Herod the Great’s death to keep Herod Antipas, Herod Phillip (Antipas half-brother), and Archaelus (Antipas full brother) from uniting the country and rebelling against Roman rule. However, Dr. Harkman had also written extensively regarding the role King Herod Antipas played in the death of the man Jesus. Again, Dr. Harkman subscribed to the theory that it was King Herod Antipas who ordered the death of the prophet Jesus and, therefore, indirectly was the Father of Christianity." Jewish scholars denounced Dr. Harkman as encouraging further anti-Semitic feelings from the Christians and Christians felt Dr. Harkman simply did not know the Christian Scriptures. Jonathan was fascinated with Dr. Harkman’s theories regarding that period of time and was thrilled when he first was notified that he would be Dr. Harkman’s Associate Professor. 

As he sat behind his worn desk, Jonathan was not convinced that he had made a mistake, but thus far he was unimpressed with the man he had admired for so long. That all changed after the end of the semester as Saul and Jonathan began to plan together the curriculum for the next term.

Chapter 2

As the spring semester concluded, Dr. Harkman had notified Jonathan of the need to meet during the summer to discuss the plans for fall term, divide the schedule, and further enhance the curriculum. It was the most Jonathan heard Dr. Harkman speak to him during the past school year. Other than to discuss tests, student grades, or some other issues related to the daily work of teaching, the two rarely talked. But that all changed at their first meeting.

Jonathan entered the cluttered office of Dr. Harkman cautiously as he always did and spied Dr. Harkman sitting behind his desk, his long legs stretched upward and propped upon a stack of four books on his desk. There was a thin smile on his lips and he stroked his beard with his right hand as if to pull it from his face with each tug. 

Interesting reading, Saul said without looking up from the pages.

Jonathan’s heart sank as he realized that Dr. Harkman was reading his dissertation. To Jonathan’s horror, it was obvious that Dr. Harkman was almost finished with it.

Dr. Harkman finished the last page with Jonathan standing anxiously waiting.

Sit down, Jonathan, Dr. Harkman invited.

Jonathan looked around the room for an empty chair. There were only three hard-back chairs and all were piled with books and papers.

Just set those on the floor and sit down, Dr. Harkman barked.

Jonathan carefully walked to the chair with the smallest stack and placed them on the floor and sat down facing Dr. Harkman. It had not escaped Jonathan that Dr. Harkman called him by his first name instead of Dr. Weitzman, which was his habit. Jonathan fidgeted in his seat as Dr. Harkman looked at him though squinting eyes and continued to pull at his beard with that thin smile. Jonathan felt Dr. Harkman was trying to see through him until he finally spoke.

Yes, Jonathan, a very interesting read, Dr. Harkman continued, so you believe that the palace of King Herod Antipas is somewhere in the western aspect of Tiberias. Very interesting indeed.

Yes, sir, Dr. Hark. . . Jonathan tried to say but was interrupted.

Call me Saul when we’re in the office, Jonathan, we are going to be working together for a long time, no need for such formalities. 

Jonathan sat stunned at the warm, cordial feeling from the man who essentially ignored him throughout the school term. When Jonathan did try and talk with him, Dr. Harkman seemed annoyed and always was rushing off to do something more important. Now did Jonathan hear correctly, he wanted to be called Saul.

Yes sir, Saul, Jonathan corrected and watched as the grin widened between Saul’s mustache and beard.

You realize that Professor Hirschfield from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, before his death, did several archeological digs and never found anything to indicate he discovered King Herod’s palace, Saul countered almost as a challenge.

The majority of Professor Hirchfield’s digs were the community bath house, the marketplace, and the main street. He did discover a complex that was thought to be the capital seat of the Sanhedrin, but not King Herod’s palace, Jonathan responded, feeling as if he was defending his dissertation again and thankful that the same question had been asked at his defense. 

I’m listening, Saul prodded Jonathan to continue.

As you know, King Herod built the city at the site of the destroyed village of Rakkat and it eventually became the capital of Galilee. The Jews at first refused to live there because it was considered unclean due to being built atop a graveyard. King Herod forcefully moved people into the city and the Sanhedrin... Jonathan paused as he saw the smile leaving Saul’s face. Is something wrong?

Jonathan, I have been a professor of Ancient Hebrew for many years and written extensively about King Herod, do you really think I need these details? Saul sighed.

Jonathan remained silent knowing the question did not warrant an answer.

Tell me your theories about his palace, Saul exclaimed with frustration in his voice, Many feel Dr. Hirchfield discovered the remains of Herod’s palace at the basilica digs at the seat of the Sanhedrin.

Yes, yes, I understand, they attributed that to the marble floors as there is no natural marble in Israel. However, with King Herod’s lifestyle, marrying his brother’s wife, the last place King Herod would want to live is in the presence of the Sanhedrin, judges in Israel. Judges could be bribed even during King Herod’s time. What better way to bribe a group than to provide marble stone for the floor. The structure is too small to be a palace. I believe the actual sight is north of the main promenade and located on the coast of Lake Galilee. This would be the proper site of a King with Herod’s ego and it is supported by the Christian accounts of the examination of the man Jesus before Herod. I just can’t see where it would be anywhere else, Jonathan was almost shouting at Saul as he spoke.

I agree, Saul responded quietly, looking directly at Jonathan.

What? Jonathan asked in disbelief.

I agree, the palace is probably at the north end of the promenade on Lake Galilee. There are numerous explanations for the marble at the seat of the Sanhedrin. To think that structure also served as King Herod’s palace makes no sense, Saul stated matter of fact.

Jonathan removed his glasses and stared at Saul, You agree?

I agree, Saul smiled and stood up and shook Jonathan’s hand and embraced him, I have waited for many years for someone to come and support this theory, you are truly a God-send Jonathan.

Jonathan listened as Saul with almost a frenzy moved from ancient documents, to ancient texts, and back to ancient books with maps. Saul pointed and talked, pointed and read continually to say that King Herod’s palace was north of the promenade.

Have you been there? Saul asked Jonathan.

Jonathan just stared at the man who he thought was this reserved, studious professor as he turned into an man obsessed.

When you were in Israel, did you go there? Saul asked again anxiously.

No, Jonathan said simply.

Well, I have, at least six times, I know where to dig. I believe I know where the palace is, covered by the earthquake of 363 and just waiting to be uncovered, Saul exclaimed.

Jonathan watched as the professor was transformed into an excited little kid with a new toy. Saul rushed from stack of books to stack of books excitedly talking about a sabbatical and excavation team, taking students, almost rambling.

Whoa, what are you talking about? Jonathan anxiously asked.

Grabbing Jonathan by the shoulders, Saul exclaimed as if it was obvious, I believe that the man Jesus was not ‘crucified’ in Jerusalem by Pilate as the Christian authors have written. As you know, I believe that Herod ordered the death of Jesus, but not by crucifixion as the custom of the Romans, but through beheading.

Jonathan sat dumbfounded as Saul expounded on his theory regarding King Herod. Saul outlined what he thought were the events leading up to the death of the man Jesus. He agreed that Jesus was brought before Pilate, and that Pilate sent him to King Herod.

There is the key, Pilate sent him to King Herod, Saul stated emphatically. A distance today, on the best road of 176 miles.

Jonathan just stared at Saul trying to decipher where he was going.

Don’t you see? Saul asked, the Christians claim that the arrest, trial, crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in just three days!

But, the early Christian writers argue that Herod was in Jerusalem, Jonathan countered.

Yes, some state that, but it is clear that Pilate sent the man Jesus to see Herod at Galilee, and it is well known that Herod’s palace was in Tiberias, in Galilee. 

A smile came to Jonathan’s face and he realized the simplicity of the theory.

Even if they traveled by cart, it would have taken at least three or four days to reach Tiberias, Jonathan exclaimed with building excitement.

Yes, and three or four days to return, Saul added with a certain satisfaction as if he had argued his point to a logical conclusion.

So, by finding King Herod’s palace, you hope to find evidence to support that Herod put Jesus to death, not Pilate.

Exactly, Saul replied, and that the early so-called ‘Christian’ writers manipulated the events of the death of Jesus in order to make it appear that he fulfilled the Torah prophecies regarding the Messiah.

If that were the case, then our assertions that the Messiah is still to come would be accurate, Jonathan added, and that the Christian religion is based on a lie.

Saul smiled a broad smile showing all of his teeth framed by his beard. He then continued his thoughts regarding moving the class to Israel.

Where better to teach ancient Hebrew than in Israel, Saul said, the students will provide the workforce for the digs, learn real facts regarding the history of Judaism, and the history of Christianity. 

Jonathan blinked thinking Saul looked out of focus and then remembered his glasses were in his hands. He stood in shock as Saul outlined obtaining funding, having students assist with the dig, teaching during particular hours of the day, gaining approval of the trustees, and flight arrangements. Saul was all over the place with loose associations, plans, packing.

Stop!!!!! Jonathan yelled, placed his glasses on his face and covered his ears.

Saul looked at him a little shocked.

Are you crazy? Jonathan asked, we can’t move the class to Israel, can we?

Why not?’ Saul asked with a certain level of insult that Jonathan would challenge him, this is the ideal educational opportunity and setting. I thought you would be thrilled with the idea. After all, that is the reason I selected you as my Associate Professor."

Do you think that the Academic Trustees will approve such a project? Jonathan asked.

I’ve been at this University for many years, a number of the members of the Academic Trustees have privately supported my writings regarding King Herod, I think with a little politicking with those trustees regarding the purpose of the dig, Saul paused, I mean of the educational opportunity for the students, that, yes, they will approve it.

Jonathan looked at Saul and saw a man beaming with energy and enthusiasm. Jonathan realized that if he participated in this venture and Saul was accurate that he and Saul would be remembered forever as the two archeologists who finally debunked the myths surrounding the