My Friend Jesus: An Untold Story of Tragedy & Triumph

By Lloyd Stewart

We know little about those who surrounded and supported Jesus Christ during his remarkable ministry. The gospels are really just the bare bones of a story about one of the most powerful figures in history.

There must have been many heroes and villains not mentioned in the New Testament.

This is a fictional account of a lifelong supporter and friend of Jesus. Someone he relied on and turned to throughout his career.

That person is Jesse, a man of action. Always prepared to go the extra mile for his Master, he did so at great personal cost. Jesus was crucified, but the person who rescues His ministry and creates his legacy is someone not mentioned or recognized in the scriptures.

Raw emotion, violence, and biblical truths are all revealed.

This story covers the saints and sinners of the day. From miracles to murder, its all here!

You will be enthralled by the risks and relationships and constantly find yourself saying, What if . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Feb 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503502017

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Lloyd Stewart.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2015901291

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5035-0199-7

                 Softcover         978-1-5035-0200-0

                 eBook               978-1-5035-0201-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

‘Jerusalem’

The music of this patriotic song was composed by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, (1848–1918) in 1916.

The words are from a poem by William Blake (17570–1827).

Rev. date: 02/18/2015

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Contents

Introduction

Kids on the Loose

Growing Teens

Twenty and Learning

The Baptist

Launching Pad

The Baptism

Forty Days

The Disciples

Non-Violence

Ministry Begins

Crisis on Crisis

Herod’s Revenge

A Messiah

The Mob

The Women

Onward

Scoundrels

Judas

Staying on Message

Out of Control

War

Challenges

Heber

Fear

Love

More Conflict

Peter

Judas

Pressure

Final Preaching

Destiny

Nature

The Final Days

The Cross

Jesse

Aftermath

The Disciples

Third Day

Action Man

Mystery

Drama

Change

Jesse Released

The Mission

Saul

Saul or Paul

The Good News

Agar

On the Move

Action

Depressing News

Goodbye

Introduction

This controversial book of fiction is as much about the cohorts of Jesus, as it is about Christ and his teachings.

It tells the story of Jesse, a lifelong friend of Jesus. Perhaps Jesus had a mate, a shadowy figure in the background, on whom he totally relied?

In the story, Jesse is the person who ‘manages’ Christ, organises his life and itinerary, deals with the politicians, and thwarts his enemies.

Raw emotion, violence, and scriptural truths are revealed.

Based on a literal interpretation of the scriptures, much of the story is true. However, the chronological sequences and some geography have been rearranged to improve the narrative. Surprisingly, contemporary language and colloquialisms have been used to make it more readable.

We know little about those who surrounded and supported Jesus in his ministry. The gospels are little more than a skeleton. Many would have stood beside him, some very effectively and some not so effectively.

This story comments on the people, politics, and performance of not just Jesus during his remarkable ministry, but also on the panorama of human activity, saints, and sinners of his day.

From miracles to murder, it’s all here!

Kids on the Loose

The scorching sun blazed down on the hot, dusty earth as the two five-year-olds raced across the road towards the empty carpenter’s shop. They scrambled over heaps of timber looking for just the right size wood to construct their latest contraption. It was a Jewish holiday, and the old building was eerily empty. By rights, they shouldn’t have been playing in the dilapidated shed. But they were innocently unaware of any wrongdoing and so comfortable in the loving relationships provided by their parents that they were confident of not being chastised.

They had been companions since birth and so relaxed in each other’s company that they barely needed to even exchange words. One initiated and the other reacted and complemented every action or suggestion. The slightly more aggressive youngster, Jesse, was obviously the practical member of the team and more quickly ‘hands on’ when it came to the mechanical side of building and construction. The other, slightly more refined, even aloof for a kid, had penetrating blue eyes and deliberate authority which was even a little strange for someone so young. He was clearly the thinker and quieter than his spontaneous companion. Jesse called him Jay, only because as a two-year-old, he couldn’t properly pronounce his name and the nickname stuck.

This hand-in-glove closeness would stay with these two as they grew and grappled with the challenges of life. They were totally reliable friends, helped each other with school homework, and spent every spare waking hour together as they involved themselves in a wide variety of childish pursuits.

Their mothers, Mary and Sheba, seemed to have some instinctive understanding of the children and their behaviour. As the two kids shot up, now six, then seven, eight, ten, and soon teenagers, they became inseparable. Sheba totally supported Mary as she counselled and guided the children towards adulthood. She had many quiet discussions with Jay, while Jesse listened intently. As Jay reached his teens, they seemed particularly serious and intense for a mother and teenage son.

The bright, witty Sheba was a foil for the more studious Mary. But there could be no mistaking the fact that she supported, aided, and abetted Mary in her endeavours to educate Jay.

Even a friendly acquaintance would recognise that the young man had more than a casual interest in all things religious. But more than that, his mother was clearly his mentor and teacher. And sandwiched between the daily chores and shenanigans with Jesse, there were instructional conversations that seemed to add to Jay’s attitudes and demeanour.

After observing one such discussion, Jesse sat with Jay as they whittled away at a piece of raw timber. ‘Jay, what does your Mum mean when she talks about your mission and future role with the faithful?’ The thirteen-year-old shuffled awkwardly, something he didn’t normally do when talking to his closest mate. ‘It just sounded all very religie to me,’ blurted out Jesse. ‘I mean, I know you spend a lot of time studying the scriptures and ancient texts, but surely, you’re not going to go into the church or something?’ queried Jesse. The answers from Jay were not all that promising as he mumbled about the need to spend time in the temple talking to the priests and teachers.

Their relationship and activities were about to undergo a subtle change. As they headed into their late teens, Jay was expected to actually work seriously in the carpenter’s shop with his father. Jesse was likewise involved with his parents in the fishing and pottery industries. As two dynamic young guys in their late teens, they still spent every spare moment together, but their preoccupations moved far beyond the trades that occupied the daily grind. Life was changing in earnest.

Growing Teens

Theological and philosophic discussions seemed to attract them like an inevitable magnet. On one occasion, as a kid, Jay had effectively been lost in the temple for about three days and involved himself in endless debates with the adult teachers. They and his parents had been astounded by his wisdom and maturity. From that day on, everything seemed to change. Jesse was sensitive to the newfound notoriety of his mate and increasingly also involved himself in any academic activity or religious commitment made by Jay.

At about this time, imperceptibly, the childish moniker Jay, came to be replaced by a blunter young adult nickname, JC. As a kid, Jesse couldn’t get his tongue around Jesus, and now simply abbreviated that to the more convenient JC. From that day on, Jesse would always be Jesse, but Jesus would always be JC to his close friend and companion. Jesse was well versed in the prophecies of old; he knew all about a promised Messiah, and he knew that ‘the’ Christ would soon arrive in Israel. He had not clarified his own notions of exactly where Jay would fit in this scenario or exactly who in his deepest soul he was, and it was certainly premature to use the word Christ as a title. But he discreetly acknowledged some great truth when he settled on JC for Jay. All their contemporaries knew that J stood for Jesus, and no one bothered to quiz Jesse about the addition of ‘C’ after the ‘J’. That was just as well because at this early stage Jesse himself would not have been able to truthfully give a proper explanation. It was just that every instinct he had convinced him at some level that, for whatever reason, eventually the word Christ would follow the word Jesus.

Twenty and Learning

‘JC, we’ve gotta have a proper talk,’ grunted Jesse to his mate. They had enjoyed a superb meal with their parents, and it was now well into the evening as they sat outside alone with a steaming drink. The sky was a blanket of iridescent blue, so clear and sharp that the stars almost leapt towards the earth. The closeness of two guys who totally trusted each other, sitting quietly drowning in the night sky, promoted an honesty and frankness that didn’t always surface in the heat of a busy day. ‘What’s on your mind, Jess?’ breathed Jesus. ‘Well, mate, I know you better than anybody in this little world of ours, probably even better than your parents. As much as I berate your skills, I know deep down there is really something very different going on in your head, heart, and life. We’ve skipped around it for years. But later this year, you’ll be twenty-one, a fully fledged adult by some standards, and I think it’s time you came clean with me. If there’s something unsavoury or a problem, it doesn’t matter to me. I will always be your friend and mate. You know that, I know that. We are doomed to be pals for as long as we live. I just need to know what this silent, unspoken issue is that we have never laid on the table.’

‘OK, here goes,’ said Jesus. ‘There is something, and it’s big. Bigger than I can contemplate or fully understand. I don’t want you to laugh or scoff. Just listen, and I will try to explain it to you. Suffice to say, the day I was born, some really unusual things happened. All sorts of stuff that we don’t need to waste time on tonight. But Mum and Dad are convinced that in some strange way, I was anointed by God to fulfil a particular role and duty here on earth. When I first visited the temple way back when I was a twelve-year-old, I understood everything those guys were talking about. I instinctively knew more about some of the history and theology of our faith than they themselves knew. As you know, I have been back to the temple on many occasions, sometimes with you, sometimes alone, I have absorbed the ancient scriptures and prophecies, and they all ring some sort of bell with me. I identify with so much that is written and so much of it seems to amplify the sort of things that have been going on in my head for years. It’s as though I hear God talking to me, but haven’t quite got the hang of interpreting the messages I am receiving. The point is, Jesse, I am being called to do more, be more, and sacrifice more than I ever believed possible. I just know it’s going to cost me big time, probably even my life, and I only have about another ten years to live and prepare myself for whatever lies ahead. There you have it, mate, what more can I say!’

‘God! JC, is that all? I thought you might have a real revelation for me.’ Jesse laughed as they both convulsed into hysterics at his superficial response!

‘Man, this is heavy stuff. We’ve gotta really talk and think this through. I know it’s your life, and in some ways, it’s none of my business, except it is. We’ve been friends since we were kids, and I need to figure out what’s going on and be there for you, if that’s what you want.’ Jesus heaved a sigh of relief and smiled in a warm all-embracing way. ‘Jesse, I couldn’t ask for more. I am going on a strange weird journey. I know all about it, yet, I know nothing about it. Mate, I am frightened and apprehensive but at the same time, assured and confident. Something deep down tells me I don’t need to take any sort of overt action until I am at least thirty. I can’t explain that I just know it. What I’ve got to do in the coming years is learn and prepare myself for whatever lies ahead. I will value your support because I know, again instinctively, that at the end of the day, it is not going to be pleasant.’

This was the first of endless discussions and debates between the two colleagues. It was perhaps unusual for peers of this age, in this culture, to strike such a blood brother bond of commitment. But Jesse was confident that JC was not away with the fairies, that this was important to the future of his country and religion, and he was not going to step back from a lifetime friendship. Little did he know that he would not be able to walk the whole way on this journey with his friend and that at some point in the future, their plans and discussions would simply be overwhelmed by events.

In some ways, Jesse was far more practical and political than Jesus. As they talked on one occasion and ranged freely over the history of their race and religion and what might potentially be a dramatic role for Jesus, his confidante started to articulate some real fears and worries. ‘JC, the thing I don’t think you have really got your head around is that we, that is you, will be operating in a very political environment when you start to take whatever action you feel is necessary. Just doing good and being kind and compassionate won’t set the world on fire. If you are successful, whatever success represents, you will gather around you vast numbers of people. You will need a fan club to give people the confidence to change their ways. And the thing you don’t seem to appreciate is that we are living under political masters who will not tolerate any sort of insurrection, dissent, or even popular movement which could threaten their rule. The minute people start parading up and down in the street, or demonstrating for or against some principle, the rulers will come down on them like a ton of bricks. Rome rules and is all powerful. They expect people to be subservient to the hierarchy.’

Jesus sat listening to his friend in a totally authentic way. He was clearly reflecting on the truth he was hearing from the one person who would be completely honest with him. ‘Jesse, the whole point of what I represent is that it is beyond politics, bigger than bigotry, factions, or war. We have had a class system and endless rules and regulations governing what we can and can’t do as a people. We have pages and pages of religious instructions telling us what to eat, when to eat, what to wear, how to behave and not behave. What I will be saying is that God’s love is more than any of these things. Faith, hope, and love will conquer all.’ He paused and wrote thoughtfully in the sand. ‘I want to create a whole new paradigm, give people something they have never completely had before. Confidence that they have one God who loves them, and regardless of what their political masters do or do not say, they will be OK. I don’t want to challenge the politicians or military. I just want to give the slaves, peasants, poor, and downhearted, hope and a reason for living. It’s really that simple, mate. I won’t be encouraging a revolution or a coup d’état, just teaching people the meaning of life showing them how they can have abundant life. Surely, that’s not too much to ask. Surely, Rome and all who take her orders won’t dispute the right of people to have hope in their lives.’

Again, Jesse really was far more politically perceptive than Jesus. ‘Mate, you are dead wrong! The minute you start preaching this sort of message, you will have thousands of followers. This stuff has not been uttered in this country for centuries. You go out there into the highways and byways offering people freedom and life, and hundreds will automatically think it’s the beginning of an armed revolt. What will Rome do when they see that happening? I’ll tell you what they’ll do. They’ll quietly and as unobtrusively as possible have you murdered before you are too influential and too prominent to control. I tell you, JC, notwithstanding all the fine altruistic discussions we have had over these last few years, this is dangerous, dangerous, dangerous.’

The Baptist

As the days ground by, the weeks turning to months, ever so painfully, slowly, Jesus felt his time was near. He was impatient to be about God’s work. In his twenties, he knew his elders did not take him completely seriously, but now, he was thirty, and his confidence made him authoritative to say the least. He had immersed himself in every ancient scripture, read and reread the prophets knew that his fellow countrymen were yearning for spiritual and physical liberation. He may not be able to deliver the country from secular rulers, but he was certain he could provide spiritual hope for those who believed in a better way of life.

Meanwhile, Jesse constantly tried to bring his friend down to earth. Jesus the optimist found his friend the pessimist challenging to say the least. So much of what Jesse said was wise and astute and yet Jesus knew he could not be diverted from his course of action. He prayed nightly, not just simple recitation of age-old scripts, but rather an intense conversation with his God. When Jesus climbed into bed at about midnight after probably two hours of prayer, he was exhausted, dripping with perspiration from the effort of communing with his Father. This was no ordinary relationship. This was not a simple churchgoer or temple adherent mumbling a few meaningless words to his God. This was powerful and excruciatingly different.

Jesse, out of enormous concern for his mate, constantly conducted what we might call an environmental scan. He consumed every political nuance, every religious edict, and every bit of community gossip that he could lay his hands on. He was convinced that if Jesus simply declared himself to friends and foes he would either sink into oblivion in a whimper, or find himself surrounded with violent ratbags who would use him as an excuse to go to war with the nation’s suppressors. Jesse knew with certainty that Jesus was committed to a course of action and would not detour. He desperately sought a third way. He did not want JC humiliated or murdered. There must be an alternative.

As Jesus became more confident and self-assured and started to talk to more people about his personal theology, it became increasingly urgent for Jesse to direct, and one might say manage, the rising star waiting in the wings. The environment right now was certainly not conducive to a man of God preaching love and forgiveness. There was more hate, anger, and violence in the country than ever before. Anyone who openly challenged government was likely to find themselves crucified and hanging from a cross on the roadside. It was a gruesome way to die, and it seemed on a whim from those in charge that could be your exact fate if you got it wrong.

Coincidentally, as Jesse searched the ancient scriptures, not so much for enlightenment but rather to educate himself even further about the foundation on which JC was building his cause, he had a blindingly clear revelation. Many were trying to find a bridge between the prophets of old and those of the present day. And the very day he had that thought, he heard about the rough and ready, unruly, dishevelled, preacher coming out of the wilderness of Judea, called John the Baptist. His reputation was now running far and wide. The more Jesse enquired, the clearer it became that he was feared, admired, and respected. John preached the fulfilment of the law by one who was greater than himself. There would be a Messiah sent from God. There was not a taint of politics attached to John and that was the thing that really impressed Jesse. He was a spokesperson for God. He was a prophet preaching repentance. He was not challenging governments, but rather challenging the heart, soul, and commitment of the everyday person at every social and community level. Jesse immediately recognised that this was the answer to his prayers and research. Somehow he must ensure that JC was caught up in the aura of John the Baptist. The wild preacher’s message and reputation must create a reflected glory for Jesus to launch his ministry upon an unsuspecting world.

‘JC, I have some good news and some bad news,’ Jesse quipped to his mate. ‘Well, you had better come out with it and give me the lot.’ JC laughed. ‘Mate, I know you are chaffing at the bit to get out of this carpenter’s shop and get on with what you see as your mission. I understand that. And I think you understand some of my anxieties as I support your aspirations. We don’t need to debate the whole thing again, but I know as sure as we sit here and discuss the pros and cons that you need some sort of appropriate launching pad or you are going to plunge to earth like a falling star or meteorite!

‘You have this strong belief that you are the Son of God in whatever weird way we interpret or understand that phrase. I respect your calling totally. But saying it and living it in a way that people can appreciate and identify with is an entirely different matter.

‘You’ve got to manifest your mission in a way that will capture public attention and sympathy.