The Gospel Play of St. Jude
B. K. Neifert

 

 

 

Copyright © 2020 B. K. Neifert
All rights reserved.

 

 

Dedication

I dedicate this to Jesus.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

     I acknowledge that what I wrote is not scripture, but in the tradition of gospel plays and nativity plays, I believe this will have a rich tradition in the Christian heritage of one believer’s love for Christ.

     John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is prophecy. So is C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Our books are simply in these traditions, erring where they err, and prophesying where they prophesy. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “Let every man be a liar.” And he said this so our “Sayings can be established.”

The Story of St. Jude

Chapter 1

Jesus was in trouble again.
He went outside and sold a cabinet He made.
Joseph didn’t mind that.
It was what else He did.

He gave half to the local beggar, Annanais
The other half He made into another cabinet.
His brother, Jude, was wandering around.
He saw it, and then wanted to
Sell a cabinet too.
So, with an air of importance, and a stupid look on his face
He took Annanais into the wood shop, to sell one of his father’s pieces.

Jesus, recognizing His brother was up to mischief,
Waited for the two in the shop.
Jesus smiled, patted Jude on the head
And told him the verse: “He who steals from his mother or father will be companion to a destroyer.” Jesus meant Judas Iscariot.
Jude, overzealous to do good like his brother
Was impulsive.
He stole like Robin Hood because the little 5 year old was a genius.
But it was for helping. He didn’t understand.

Jesus laid out a plane for His brother.
He carved a stool out of an oak stump.
Jude was told not to sell it.
All that Jesus made, Jude could sell.
Just, not the stool.

Albeit, Jude sold the stool to feed Annannais.
Jesus, testing His brother, secretly peered out the lattice
To see what Jude did with what he stole.
He did as was expected. He gave the denarii to Annanais.

Jesus caught his little brother by the scruff of the neck
And took him to the wood shop.
There, Jesus spanked him. Left a welt.
Jude was then told that the stool was worth more than a denarii
(That is, a “Day’s Salary)
And if he wanted to give to the poor, he should think about that.
More is not always better. But a stool needs sold at the right price.
Undersell, and it’s not enough to feed others.
Oversell, and you committed a wrong against the buyer.
Jesus then told Jude how the stool was not his, and that was why he undersold it.
Had he worked on it, he’d have sold it right.
Jude then commenced to tell Jesus of a prophecy.
How materials would appear and miracles should it be his.
Jesus laughed, and said something along the lines of theft being theft, and no miracle will supplement hard work; not to listen to any prophet, because in time, he will have to know right from wrong while it seems noone else does.
Jude sat on his big brother’s massive 6’5 foot tall lap holding his little stuffed dog. The family loved them. Jesus thought it like a family’s lamb. They always kept dogs.

Chapter 2

Jesus stayed away from the bath houses.
Jude had a fondness for them.
Swimming pools, essentially, with hot, 120 degree water.
Then there was the cold water, with ice. He’d, with James and Simon
Visit the bath houses.
He jumped into one pool, then another.
James would disappear. Jude always wondered where.
Simon wouldn’t tell him.

They didn’t like Jude because he got special
Treatment from his brother, Jesus.
They all loved Jesus, but had no honor for Him.
They liked to listen to Him humiliate the Pharisees
But He seemed to always say He was the Christ.
That heated the family up,
And Joseph would strike Jesus every Sabbath.
Jesus would weep, wondering what He did wrong.
Jude, with Puppy, would climb into Jesus’ lap, and lay at His bosom.
Jesus would hold his brother, who was always sad when Jesus was sad.
Jesus would tell him, “Weep with He who weeps; Laugh with he who laughs.”
Jude never heard his brother laugh, But Jude got scolded for going to the bath houses.
Swatted sometimes.
James, Simon and not Joses—He was too young, just an infant—
Along with the brothers from Joseph’s other marriage
Would have struck Jesus for discipline.
So, Jesus disciplined little Jude Alphaeus.
Jesus would take the little boy, and dunk him in the nearby Jordan which a tributary passed by Galilee in those days.
He’d dunk him into the water, cold, then he’d rub Jude head to toe with essential oils, Lavender, Myrrh and Frankincense.
Those smells were like home to Jesus, the oils His mother anointed Him with.
Jude did not like this, but it was the ritual for every visit to a bath house.
Jude always preferred hot water, but Jesus did not want him near the bathhouses.

Jesus would stand waist deep in the tributary, and take lye and scrub the filth off Jude.
Jesus would then get whooped by Joseph when He got home.
Joseph saw nothing wrong with Roman culture, Gladiatorial games, bath houses, but he didn’t know His sons were being whores. Gladiators, he consoled himself, were just slaves.

Chapter 3

It came to pass
That Jesus and Mary and Joseph were having a fight.
The contention was bitter, but Jesus didn’t speak a word.
His furnishings were laid with skill, but austere
So Joseph was hurling abuse at Jesus, and called Him a bastard.
Jesus did not raise His voice one iota.
He heard this before.
Jude was in the side of the one room house,
James and Simon were fiddling with the household idols.
Joses cried in the crib.
The family was poor.
Jesus had only sold three furnishings and was screamed at for giving most of the money to Annanais.
Jesus said: “On one half they use coals.”

Joseph, at this point, had enough of Jesus. He cast Jesus out of the house.
Mary bawled, she loved her son more than all the others.

Woe to that man who casts out the Son of Man from their hearts
For a time, be silent, and then welcome Him back in.

Jesus had left with no thing, just His cloak which Mary made and His tunic.
Jude watched, lingering by the fire stoop.
He was too young to know what was happening.

Chapter 4

Jesus’ fame spread.
The whole family, including Joseph, were hearing about Him.
Joseph said, “I knew he would get caught up by a radical. I hear He went to John the so called Baptist. That boy should have been married like His older half-brothers.”
Joseph loved Jesus, having raised Him up like a son.
But he felt like Jesus was struggling with His mother’s strange birth.
He pitied his son but did not honor Him.
About 7 years later Jude, James and Simon would be martyred by Judas Iscariot, who would then become King of all Rome as Emperor Claudius.

Jesus was accumulating great fame throughout the land.
So, Mary, James, Jude and Simon went to meet Him.
Jude was excited to see Jesus. As it was, he was lonely without Him.
So, the four found a crowd, where they supposed Jesus was healing the sick.
This was why Mary loved Him.
They sent message to Jesus by James, but were told not to bother Him.

Jude wept.

He then escaped his family and found His brother reclining with the other apostles.
Jesus smiled a big smile, and hugged His little brother.
Jude cried and wanted Jesus to come home. Jesus would not, but told his brother to stay with Him and His family would soon come.
They did, and were reunited.
But, Jude wanted to go tell Joseph.
But Jesus said, “He who takes the plough and looks back, is not worthy for the kingdom.”
Mary told Jude to stay, and she promised Joseph would come looking for him.

Chapter 5

Jesus had already chosen the twelve.
Jude was the youngest.
He was given the money changer, but Judas came to him with knowledge.
Judas, knowing Jesus kept saying someone would betray Him, and how Jesus hated money
Told Jude he would betray Jesus because he had the money changer.
Jude freaked out and began chasing Judas around the desert where they walked.
Judas would not take the coins.
So, Jude kept it, after his brother told him not to worry.
As Jude chased Judas around the desert, Jesus rolled His eyes, trying to calm the both of them down.
Both were hyperactive, both were very smart; Jude did not want the money so a rumor sprung up that Jude was the one who would betray Jesus.
Except James and Peter, they all accused Jude, but thought Jesus just meant a thief; but it was much worse.

Judas would harass Jude for the money and would not let up until Jude gave him some.
He would always say it was for the poor, but Jude could not tell. So, he went to Jesus, Who told him, “To Him who asks, give Him your tunic, too.”
So, Jude let Judas get money; Judas also rallied a band of robbers who would follow Jesus, and the apostles were getting a bad name.
But, more had faith that Jesus was good, and the people heard mixed reports about Jesus.

Judas saw this opportunity, and began setting up the Apostles for crimes they did not commit.
The leaders were not fooled, because Judas’ father was Caiaphas, the High Priest.
They accused the Apostles of the thefts Judas committed, and the wicked all believed it except for the Governors.

Chapter 6

Jude loved his brother’s stories. They were his favorite pastime.
Jude would sit beside his brother, on His lap, which made the other Apostles mad because they thought he was a thief,
And listened to Jesus’ stories.
His favorite was the story about investing coins.
But Jesus always claimed that Jude had to eat Him and drink His blood. This was his least favorite because it seemed unclean. When inquired Jesus would smile and pat Jude’s head.
Jude had never believed Jesus’ miracles, but loved Jesus very much. Judas was familiar with idols and witchcraft, and always explained how Jesus did his tricks. “He hid it in his cloak,” or, when Jude was sore vexed, “He gave the people crumbs.” Jude, by reason of his Brother’s goodness, and nothing else, followed Him.
Jude understood the stories better than his friends did, and James would take care of Jude.
James became like a father to Jude, being 23 years old.
He took the responsibilities of spanking Jude when he misbehaved.
So, when Jesus paired them off, Jude thought he would be with James.
Instead, he got Judas.
James was furious with Jesus because Judas was only 13.
But Jesus did this because of the proverb: “He who steals from his father or mother is companion to a destroyer.”

So, Judas would abandon Jude, who was companion with demons most of his life.
Judas lived without a care.
He believed he was right, and those he killed, he thought it was a service.
People were starting to make a rumor about Jesus being the Christ.
Judas was employed by Rome to silence this.
Jude, he found he could easily
Make a patsy.
Jude was hated by his peers; demons had a love for him because he would always show them mercy.
He’d cast them out, but not like his brother.
The human in demons loved Jude because he always made them feel normal.
The demons in Jude, or so thought Jude he was demon possessed but he was not, would always find friends who were chief sinners.
This was because Jude could ease a demon possessed man’s suffering.
He even had visions like the demons
But was prophesying Judas and his convent.

Jude found James and then his other brothers.
They rejoiced.

Chapter 7

Jude had Judas as a partner, when the Apostles paired off. As was told in the previous chapter.
Caiaphas, Judas’ grandfather, wanted to meet the brother of the LORD.
Caiaphas was familiar with strange coercions, and often would sit with Jude and tell him his own stories.
Jude loved stories of all kind.
Jude listened, loving his Brother’s stories much more.
Jude would listen about Gideon and David, the man famous for Axes and the Kings.
Caiaphas had his own stories, which were always strange.
About Gideon and David, the man famous for Axes and the Kings.
His brother’s stories always taught right from wrong, how to discern wickedness and evil and be right.
Caiaphas, his stories seemed esoteric, never to divulge either good or bad, never to pass moral judgment.
Jesus told his stories, and Caiaphas another.
This led Jude to start having night terrors, and strange urges of the flesh.
Jude, after one year under Caiaphas’ tutelage, came to his brother.
Jesus was sore with Jude, spanking him to welts for entertaining great lies.
Jesus said to Jude, “I will give you words, and those you will eat by.”
Yet none would eat Jude’s stories because Caiaphas captured the masses.
Jesus said to Jude, “Scribes, draw forth what is old and new.”
Jesus meant wisdom.
Jude ate well his whole life leading up to his crucifixion at eighteen. He was a hard worker, whom Caiaphas kept fed.
But Christ saw in Jude what others didn’t: a willing heart.
Though Jude was spurned by the peoples.

Chapter 8

Jesus had come to the Temple a second time.
Word of what he previously did made him look like a lunatic,
And there were false reports that Jesus was planning to commit arson on the Temple.
What he meant was that the temple would be destroyed by Rome; that is Babylon.
And He meant His body would be raised.
Jude looked on the white façade of the Temple walls
And considered what Jesus said about White sepulchers.
Jude looked on the gold doors of the Temple
And considered what Jesus meant by offering sacrifice by the gold of the Temple.
It was more holy as a tent, and as a small cabin, when Haggai prophesied, and implored it be built.

Jesus did not,—so Jude concidered—like the extravagance
But it fulfilled the prophecy, or so the Jews thought.
Jude considered God might have meant Him, Christ Jesus, but Jude could not consider himself.
Yet, Jude and all Christians will become temples.

Jesus taught Jude about the last days.

“You will hear the sounds of war.”
“Waves will be troubled.
“Many will be put in dungeons for the faith. However, not yet!

“The moon and sun will darken.
“The stars will fall from heaven.
“And then look up! Christ is coming soon,
“But not one hair on the head will be hurt.”

Jude saw his brother angry; for the first time.
The thunders declared, so it seemed, as Christ used scourges to beat the hypocrites out of the temple.
He then, as someone said,—Jude hid in James’ bosom because he feared for Jesus’ life—Jesus cleansed the temple with some of the righteous priests, who loved Him more than the rest.
Chapter 9

Jesus came into Jerusalem already.
They prepared the Passover, and ate.
When Jude saw his Brother break the bread and say, “This is my body,” and poured out the cup saying, “This is my blood, take and eat,” Jude felt relieved that Jesus meant this and not His actual blood or body.

Prior to this, Judas was mad at Jude because he had a hard time counting change.
So Jude fought Judas with a bitter argument about the money changer.
Jude knew Judas was a thief, but was now zealous to give to the poor.
Jesus told him to give the money changer, so, Jude did, and now Judas had left to betray Jesus and had a heart that was wicked.

Jude’s whole being, even his heart, soul and mind, subconsciously believed, to even write his own guilt, that he would betray his brother.
But, he would not.
He sat with the twelve in a well lit room with gas lanterns.
They were bright and James sat next to Jude.
Jesus said all among Him were safe.
None believed that Jude was, save James and Peter who Jude thought he betrayed many thousands of times.

Jude asked Jesus, “Why do you show yourself to us and not the world?”

Jesus said in response what is recorded in the Book of John.

The night Jesus was betrayed, Jude truly thought he would betray Jesus, and did not understand what Judas did by dipping his bread into the bowl, like the other Apostles. Thus, he felt sore wicked because he lacked faith, and was derided by the other disciples, save Peter, James and John. So, Jude followed Jesus out into the field where Judas would betray him. When Judas did, Jude felt ire, because Jesus was his most beloved brother. When Peter struck the ear off the high Priest, Jude rebuked him, but then saw Jesus plainly heal his ear, and at that moment believed, and resolved to never leave his brother’s side.

Chapter 10

Jude then visited Jesus in prison, after Peter betrayed Him three times.

Jude was told this, “The world will try to trick you into calling yourself the Christ. Behold, the Son of Man will descend from the clouds, and you will witness it with your own eyes, all who are raised with Christ.
“Do not be deceived. You can have no part of Me if you say to those of this world, ‘Behold! Your God!’
“For many false Christs will now rise up, those fully taken to a delusion. You will be humble, and do not call yourself a prophet. Prophesy;— your sins are forgiven.”

Jude had failed many times, but still his sins were forgiven because he desired to be good with all his heart and soul; and his brother did forgive him, even of blasphemies, because his heart was turned to despise evil and covetousness.
For desiring Christ, and nothing else, he was made righteous.

Chapter 11

Jude, when Jesus was captured, came with his brother into the prison, because Caiaphas was intimate with him, and loved Jude more than Judas, his own flesh.
Jude went into the prison, where Jesus spoke to him, what is in the previous chapter.
Jude came out, and saw the elderly Peter warming his hands, to deny Jesus for warmth.
Jude rebuked him.
When Christ was being crucified, Jude fled; though: Hypocrisy was his most hated sin, and when he fled back to Joseph with Simon and James, Jude was ticked off at him self for fleeing.
Joseph welcomed the three boys, but was swiftly possessed and threw them all out, where Caiaphas found Jude and made him slave to Claudius.
James was to be made king of the world.
Simon was to be made scoundrel.
Jude died in prayer, wishing to see his brother again.
James was not martyred, and swiftly escaped his title, and began to make war on demons by casting them out, who to this day, still try to make Christians sin by coveting this world.
Simon fought against the church until Jude found him again in captivity.
Jude, while in captivity, was visited by Peter. Jude had prayed a foolish prayer, but better to pray foolishly than to betray with your own hand.
Many are Satan’s spies, who hear you. Jude had poured his heart out to God, and they would try to cause it to pass in order to trap Jude.
Fear not, but pray.

Chapter 12:

Jude hadn’t seen my brother feed the multitudes
For Christ is our brother whoever believes in Him.
So, Jude doubted his brother’s miracles his whole life, even when he saw the centurion’s ear healed.

He could not, but doubt, even knowing his brother’s power, for Jude thought himself undeserving his entire life.
This is okay, because Jude believed His brother was God, even without miracles.
It was because He is good.

But sometimes Jesus’ words were confusing, but some words were Jesus’. Some words came from our Father.
Jude had grown older, seeing that Christ is God come in the flesh, remembering things as they came.
For, right before he was killed, Jude remembered how he and the other apostles were in the seas.
How God, in Psalm 107, could only command the sea.

I attest that Jude was a child of God.
These were his sins.
Christ washed them away, and prepared a promised land.
The Daughter of Zion, whom I had seen in vision.
She who conceives our child Christ to conquer the wicked.
Let those who have ears listen:
Forget not the holy land, that virgin of Israel.
She is exceedingly beautiful.
Chapter 13.

After Jude’s brother died, and he was homeless; but before he was martyred, he stood on the Mount of Olivet and spoke these parables to a small crowd of Christians:

Of the prophet and the judge.

There were two men.

The first was a prophet.
The prophet, when he saw the wickedness of mankind
Would pray to the Father in heaven
And would accuse men of being wicked.
He would reprove for the sake of correction
And nothing he spoke was with intent to harm
But rather was with intent to increase faithfulness
Among the sons of men.
Never did he say, “You sin like thus,
“And, therefore, you are a worthless fellow.”
But rather, “The whole sins like thus,
“And your sins will condemn you.
“Not that I have never sinned,
“But that you are sinning right now,
“And I am concerned for your well being.”
When men heard this,
They felt sore vexed
Because it seemed like the Prophet was accusing
Them right to their face.
But it was rather the whole who the prophet accused;
And men stood up in judgment against this prophet
To say, “He is more wicked in his judgments
“Than we are in our murders and thefts!”

The second man was a judge.
He would see of men, “They are righteous,
“And they are, for the whole part, better than this man.”
But, when he saw a man’s sins,
He would say, “This man is incredibly wicked.
“This man, I have seen him be wicked
“I have seen his sins,
“Because I have made a diligent search for them.
“I will not depart from him
“Until I am justified in myself
“That I have found error in him.”
This man, all men loved
Because he had accused the righteous
And had encouraged the wicked to sin
By justifying them, and by making himself justified in their eyes.
Wherever he was, he made sure he was justified in their eyes
And that the truth, even, was abominable in the sights of men
Because he would rather be justified in his position
And not the truth; and once he found sin
He went home and said, “I know I am righteous
“And this other man is a sinner more than I.
“For, the prophets are judgmental,
“And I am humble and give grace to the sinner.”

Which man will stand in judgment?
Who is the hypocrite?

Of the builder

There was a man who was a great builder.
He was skilled in his craft.

He saw a river which needed a bridge
In order to be safely forded;
Therefore, he set to task
Building that bridge.

It was his only occupation for ten years,
And he lived off the fruit of other’s aid
Because he could neither afford to gain an income
For all his time was spent building the bridge
That was needed to get to the pastures on the other side.

The peoples became wroth with him,
Though, believing his work was for nothing
And therefore those who aided him
Wanted him to obtain employment
And therefore cease from building the bridge.
The shepherds told him to cease
His fathers told him to cease
His mothers, his friends, and his aunts and uncles
All told him to stop building the bridge.
For, they believed that the bridge was not worthy employment
And believed that the ten years were spent in vain.

It had happened that the man was finished with the bridge
But for spite, none of the peoples of the towns would use it.
For, they were haughty and said, “The man had not gained an income
“These past ten years, and spent his whole fortune
“On building a bridge. Therefore, none of us will use it
“For though the toll is affordable, we believe he ought to have been
“Employed by us, so we could exact his labor for nothing.”
Therefore, the peoples did not use the bridge
Because they had become jealous that he had finished what he set out to do
And secretly wished him to be like them
Working for unjust and unfair wages;
Therefore, they would not give him his wages.

It soon came to pass that a great flood of troubles was upon the land
Where the peoples needed to ford the river.
The peoples all saw the signs, great thunder clouds
Were amassing, and the clouds would return after the rains.
Therefore, the people were still haughty
And decided that in spite of the bridge being built
They would ford the river where it was shallow.
They got to the place, where though it was shallow normally
The rapids were so strong they could carry a horse away.
The peoples stubbornly said, “This bridge is not sacred,”
And, lo, the bridge was not sacred, this they were right.
But, the bridge was built when the waters were shallow
So the people could find safe pasture into the other lands.
The man, however, had crossed the ford with his wife and children
Safely, and there found pasture on the other side.
When the neighboring village saw him
They were astonished that only he had crossed—
For the other bank was high, and went up to mountain roads.
They said, “Had you not worked for ten years on this bridge?
“And had not the peoples of your own town been wise enough to cross it
“Instead of Fording the rivers? We surely would have taken the whole
“Of them, except bodies are washing ashore where they seemed to have crossed.”

That is this generation.
A man has his skilled work, but none want it and complain
That he is lazy.

Of two men and which was righteous?

There were two men.

The first, a lot of what he predicted was wrong
But he did what God told him to do.
He’d say, “On this date, this would happen.”
And it didn’t happen on that date.
It, rather, happened, if it happened, a lot longer.
He, making one thousand shekels a month,
Gave twenty-thousand shekels to the poor.
He healed the lame with his words
And comforted them.
The blind were healed;
The stopped ear was opened;
The demons were cast out;
Even limbs were restored.
Yet, he would not credit this as his own doing
But knew God did these things because God loved him.
He spoke what was wise
Though he got his predictions wrong.
He also contemned the sinners with his words
Though he did not judge them
The sinners felt condemned when he spoke
Therefore, they hated him.

The second man, every word he predicted came true.
He didn’t do what God told him to do.
He would say, “On this day, this will happen.”
And it would.
He, making two billion shekels a month
Gave none of it to the poor.
He would tell the sinners, “God loves you”
But would not correct them to their face,
But it made them feel secure.
He would hug the sinners,
And make them feel very happy about themselves.
He never told anyone that they were wrong,
But rather, everyone was right because he was a murderer
And he didn’t want to accuse others for his own sin.
Every sinner felt like they were saved
Though they had great sin,
And they were comforted by this word,
“A mass murderer, if on his death bed
“Confessed Christ, he will go to heaven.”
So, they all committed murder
Believing their final confession would save them.

Which is the prophet?

There were also two men.
Both heard God’s voice.
God said to both,
“You do what I ask,
“And I will give you everything your heart
“Desires, even wives, children, and vineyards
“And man-servants and female servants
“And oxen and sheep in great number.”

The first man,
He listened to God’s voice
And being a great sinner
He hindered himself
And caused a great calamity
Against himself.
He had sinned
And therefore had shame cast upon him.
For, his sin was known to everyone.
But, he had only made it known because God had told him to repent.
He believed in God’s voice
But, the more good he did
And the more he waxed in righteousness
The more he grew hesitant in his belief that God would save him.
He believed God would not even
Give him a mote of what his heart desired because he was humble.

The second man,
An even greater sinner,
Knew he had heard God’s voice, too
But decided to act very foolishly instead.
He went out and began to torment his family and friends
And began to spill innocent blood.
He began to whore-monger
And would not repent.
He amassed a great following of friends and allies
And taught them to seek loves
Instead of God.
When asked about his crimes
He felt shame, but would not repent.
He said in his heart, “There is no God
“And I don’t want to be mad like my brother.”
So, he continued on sinning.

Which is faithless
And which is unfaithful?
Who is the greater sinner of the two?
The man who did what God told him
But didn’t believe there would be justice?
Or, the man who did unjustice
In spite of God’s commandment?

Chapter 14:

Jude then said, “I give you the Ten Commandments the way my brother taught them:”

Tablet I

I. Thou shalt love Jesus with everything you have and own, and have no other God.
II. Thou shalt not put any thing before your service to Jesus.
III. Thou shalt not use God’s name falsely, in order to deceive, nor use it in anger.
IV. Thou shalt rest in Jesus alone to save you, and shall not oppress your hireling by making them work on the Sabbaths, nor defraud them of any of their rights.
V. Thou shalt obey your father and your mother, so it will be well with your soul, and you will prosper.

Tablet II

VI. Thou shalt not kill,— or even be angry with your brother to slander him nor defraud him in any way.
VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery, or even look at any woman with lust, for your intent is to shame her, and therefore commit a filthy act.
VIII. Thou shalt not desire what is clearly not yours.
IX. Thou shalt not even steal a worthless thing from your neighbor or friend, yes, even your brother and especially not your father or mother.
X. Thou shalt not lie in order to put yourself at an advantage or your enemy at a disadvantage. You must surely tell the truth.
*. Love your fellow neighbor the same way as you surely love yourself in all things.

Chapter 15:

Of a hypocrite and a righteous man.

There was a hypocrite
Who, seeing that he had done much wrong
Said, “The LORD shall not exact from me
“This evil deed. I have murdered,
“Slandered my brother,
“I have stolen from him,
“And I have committed adultery
“Under every oak.
“LORD, I see I am justified by Your blessing
“Knowing I have sinned, You will not exact it from me.
“For, so I have committed offences,
“My grain offering shall be sufficient for the payment;—
“The fruit of my drink offerings and oblations poured into the ground.
“Yes, LORD You shall not visit me for this.
“Rather, when the bugle gets called
“I will enter into my heavenly abode.”

There was a righteous man
Seeing he had done much wrong
Who said, “LORD, I had defiled myself
“In the way. I have lain with two virgins
“Who were not my wife
“And I have defiled the covenant
“With the woman I was betrothed to.
“I had also done violence,
“And had lied for gain.
“I had spoken ill against You
“In my heart, and I had cursed my neighbor
“And I had falsely accused the innocent.
“LORD, I know certainly Your wrath
“Shall abide on me, until the day
“That these abominations are loosed from me,
“For how else, LORD, am I to be made clean?”

Of Lazarus and Judas.
This is what they said:

“Jesus, I have healed in Your name.
“Cast out demons, seen amputations healed.
“I had spoken Your word with truth.
“I have given what I could to the poor.
“I have tried to be kind, and give just reproof.
“I had tried to make the brokenhearted smile.
“I had done this all because I loved You
“And had believed You loved me too,”
Spoke Jesus’ friend Lazarus.

“Jesus, I had healed the lame
“And prophesied in Your Name.
“I tithed to the church my ten percent.
“I had not made sinners ashamed.
“I had done this because You glorified me,
“And I continually remembered Your burnt offering;
“I had known I am a sinner,
“So, therefore, by knowing I have sinned, I am justified,”
Said Judas Iscariot.

Of the good scribe and the bad scribe.

There was a good scribe who saw
His Master, and loved his Master
Who knew many languages.
His master spoke to him in His native tongue
Telling the good scribe
To translate the words He spoke
And give letters to His fellow landowners.
So, the good scribe, knowing what his Master’s business was
Translated the letters into the other languages
Paying careful heed to give the meaning of his Master’s words
Though, sometimes phrases needed changed
And sometimes new metaphors needed to be drawn out.

There was an evil scribe who never saw his Master
Nor did he love his Master, but rather loved his mistress Mammon
Who was given to him for his service as a scribe.
He knew many languages too.
He, having correspondence from his Master by letters
Took down the words literally, yet being careless
Added to the letters ideas which were his own
And not his Master’s.

Both of these servants were employed in the task of sending out the letters
To the local landowners, yet the Master secretly wished to see
Which was the more trustworthy of His scribes.
The Master cared nothing for exact words
But rather cared that His meaning would be understood by the local landowners
So they could carry out His business too.
The report came back, however, several months later
That there was confusion by what the Master had meant in his letters.
So, the Master had conferred a meeting with His neighbors
Using the two scribes to speak in His presence.
The good scribe, he gave right speech in the presence of his Master
Telling the local landowners all that his Master wanted
In their own tongues. Skillfully he told the meaning of what
His Master wanted.

The other scribe, being well versed in the modern age
Told, in the presence of his Master—for he had never met his Master
Until then—
The Master’s words. He told them literally, while
Adding to the words what weren’t there.—for the peoples loved simplicity
And he wished to make his Master’s speech easier to understand
In the presence of the Master’s peers;—because he felt
His Master had used too difficult of speech,
And that was the reason it created confusion.

The Master saw this scribe had confused His peers
And did not give them the right directions
Thus He handed the scribe over to another master
Who cared nothing for him at all.
The Master said to His scribe, “I had paid you great sums to write this
“And I had made sure you were well fed, clothed and not needy.
“My other scribe, a slave, he told my words perfectly
“So I will give him a hired salary,
“And you will work for other men who care nothing for your welfare.”

Of Judgement.

There was a man
Who felt much shame.
His shame was no greater than other men’s
But it caused him great distress.
So, he clothed himself with cursing
To bring upon others their judgment
And to raise himself a head above all.
When the time came to be judged
The LORD told him, “Worthless Servant
“All of the good deeds you have done
“Would have been sufficient
“Had you not made accusations against your fellow brethren.
“Now, all of the judgments you made about others
“Will fall on your own head.”
Thus, the worthless servant was cast into hell.

There was another man
Who felt he did much good.
He felt no shame for anything he did
And no distresses, though he was a grievous sinner.
He brought no accusation against any
And brought no man down
Yet had not any good deed done.
When it came time to be judged
The LORD said to him, “Worthless Servant
“Though you have not judged
“Others, you yourself have done nothing good.
“For, there were the starving,
“And you did not feed them.
“There were the naked
“And you did not clothe them.
“How can your sins be covered
“With a covering,
“If you have done no good?”
Thus, the worthless servant was cast into hell.

There was another man
Who had committed much offense
Even murder, blasphemy and adultery.
He felt constant sorrow for the shame
Yet, one day he happened upon a certain carpenter’s Son
Who told him, “My Servant
“Forsake your belongings
“And your worldly desires
“And come, follow Me!” So the servant came
Selling all he possessed
And gave to the poor.
This one the LORD said,
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

There was yet a last man
Who had committed much unpardonable sins in man’s eyes
And was exceedingly rich.
He had beaten the poor
He had stolen from them
And he had stripped the poor of their garments.
Yet, upon hearing of a heavenly abode
He climbed a Sycamore tree
And cried out, “Master! Have Mercy!”
Thus, he came to the carpenter’s Son.
He proclaimed, “I will be honest
“I will give half of all I own to the poor, for I am very rich!
“And I will only do what is lawful from here on out!”
This one, the LORD said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Of the skilled Craftsman.

There was a skilled craftsman who was blessed
In everything he took up in the trade.
Skilled he was with his craft
Yet none would purchase it.

He, at the outset, showed skill from his beginning
Yet, none would purchase his work
Because he was a Christian.
So, the Craftsman increased his skill with great learning
To where he was master of his trade
And none were his equal.

Yet, still, none would purchase his craft!
Woe to this people!
For if this little one
Who waxed in skill with his trade
Could not but earn little from such great talents,
What can the poor do to earn even the least crumb of bread?

So, poor of this people, know this is your time of suffering
For even great men, with great skill
Are prevented from earning bread by Satan.
What can you do, to earn the least bit of bread
If a master Craftsman cannot earn bread with what he makes?
Such is this world where lesser skilled craftsmen take home their bread
Because the world is corrupt, and they worship Mammon
Not the LORD their God.

Yet, great rewards abound in heaven for you little poor ones
Of the flock
Should you hold on until the end
When the Son of Man descends on the clouds of heaven;
When He is seen, then the LORD shall take you up
And you shall earn all the sustenance your soul lacked
While on your sojourn here on Earth;
Even wives, children, and trades when Christ reigns
For one thousand years on the earth.
He who has an ear, listen!

Of the man who wished to earn his master coin.

There was a man
Whom after hearing his Master tell a story
Thought to himself
“I hear of the man who made ten coins with his Master’s one
“And the man who made five coins with his Master’s one…
“I wish to make one thousand coins with one
“Not, however, for the cities I will gain
“But to enrich my fellow heirs to the kingdom.”

So, the man had his one coin
And used it to buy himself an instrument.
He learned upon that instrument
How to play skillfully, and played to bring joy to others.
He had earned from that instrument five coins.

He then spent the five coins to buy wisdom.
He spent ten years learning wisdom
All the while working upon his instrument
From time to time.
From his wisdom
He earned one hundred coins.

Then, the man had spent the one hundred coins
To go work for a harsh taskmaster
Making himself a slave to a wicked man.
He gave all his wages to this man
So the man would yield to him some skill or knowledge.
The man had earned from his taskmaster ten coins
From his investment of one hundred;—

So, the man, seeing he had spent his true Master’s coin unworthily
Left his earthly master, that being Mammon
And went and used the ten coins to purchase
Himself a field for go0d fruit which he used to feed the poor and brokenhearted.
This work he did for the poor
Earned him back the one hundred coins he had spent on Mammon
So he had returned an investment for the wasted money
He had spent to make himself a slave.
Then, having one hundred coins
The servant was sad because he had not earned one thousand coins.
Yet, joyful will that servant be who even earns one extra coin with his Master’s money.

Of Two Servants

There were two men.
One of the men murdered
One of the men committed adultery
One of the men blasphemed unto death
One of the men had made fraudulent oaths.
The other did none of this
But rather had unbelief.

The first man,
Seeing he had been pardoned for all of his sin
Decided that it was good.
So, he lived his days securely
Never in fear of judgment.
He spent his days cheerfully
Giving to the poor and receiving nothing in return.
He builded houses and churches and places of rest
For the poor, and thanked God every day
That his blasphemies, oaths, murders and adulteries all were forgiven.
For, he was happy that he was permitted to do his good deeds in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The second man
He did not see a reason to be pardoned from his sins.
He decided that he was good.
So, he lived his days securely
Never in fear of human justice.
He spent his days cheerfully
Not giving much to the poor, but rather expected every borrowed thing to be returned in measure,
As was the custom.
He did not thank God, but rather thanked himself
For all of the provisions he had stored up for himself.
He was happy, and decided that he did good deeds enough,
Sufficient that he had never thought he had sinned.

It came to a time when both men died,
The righteous man with the hypocrite.

The Father asked the first man,
“What had you done?”
The man replied,
“Nothing father.”
The LORD said,
“Well done good and faithful servant.”

The Father asked the second man,
“What had you done?”
The man replied,
“Oh, Father, I made a fortune, and blessed myself upon the Earth.”
The LORD said,
“What had you done with your sustenance?”
The man said,
“Well, I spent it for my stomach.”
The Father said,
“What of the poor?”
The man said,
“I’ve given some to the poor.”
The Father said,
“Yet, I have another man who had just died today.
“He had given much to the poor, more than his ten percent.
“Though, he had never made much, nor blessed himself
“On the earth, he was neither rich, nor satisfied with his life
“Except in his giving.”
The man then said,
“Well, what must I do to be saved?”
The LORD said,
“Be gone, I never knew you, you proud and wicked servant.”

Chapter 16:

Jude, in a vision, then went on a journey, to foresee all of the religions of the world, and their error:

1. St. Jude Meets Muhammad

Ancient kingdoms, long ago
Bore witness to Zoroaster,
The so called prophet
Of the Persian kingdoms
Used to unite Cambyses II’s
Kingdom, after his father “shamefacedly” confessed
The religion of the Jews.

This prophet’s “faith” was strong
And bore resemblance to the Jews’
Who sojourned there
In Great Persia
Right before the
People of the One True God
Were sent home to Jacob’s lot.

Myths of the Zoroaster
Reached the North African Sub-Continent
Where a man sat in his loft
Looking for ways to join his nation
Into a great and powerful sovereignty.
“God must reveal the truth
“Should God exist…” thought this man.
Thus, he wrote upon the pages
The Book of the Muhammadene.

St. Jude came to see whether this religion were true
For he was in a moment of doubt.
He had walked with his Brother Jesus,
But had been deceived by the Baalim
Which threatened
Even hell should he confess the Jesus as LORD.
Thus, he sought to see if this religion were true.

This Baalim Muhammad,
Who deceived Jude,
He saw, was a great king
Who built the tool for his conquering
Called The Faith in the Book of the Recitation.
Jude, saw this and was in wonder.
“Is conquest the religion of my ancestors?”
Thought Jude.

Jude could speak any language
By the ministry of the Holy Spirit
Should one be implored to preach
The Gospel; or even be protected
In a foreign land.
Thus, he made arrangements with
The King Muhammad
By means of great diligence.
He petitioned the standard-bearers
To allow him one hour with the king
For inquiry.
Jude, being a peasant
Was still a great man for having known the Christ.

Muhammad sat before Jude,
And the two talked.
On every subject of morality
The two were in agreement with one another.
It startled Jude so great to see
That every word spoken by Muhammad
Seemed the law of his God.
Then, Jude looked toward the City of Mecca
And saw them bow down to a rock.

“Why do your people idolize that rock?”

Muhammad gazed upon it,
“Because it is holy ground.”

“Is it a rock that you worship
“Or is it Allah?” said Jude.

“I worship Allah.”

“So, does the Spirit of Allah inhabit that rock
“More than in other places?”

“Allah’s Spirit does not inhabit places,”
Said Muhammad, in a great wrath.

“Allah’s Spirit, surely does not,
“But what about the former Temple of the Jews?”

“Allah’s Spirit never inhabited that.”

“Surely you would know that such things have
“Happened, though.”

“Allah is Allah, and his Spirit does not inhabit temples
“Nor does it inhabit the Dome of the Rock
“Nor the Black Stone.”

“Then why do your people bow down to it?”

“Because it is holy.”

“How can it be holy, if God’s spirit does not reside there?
“Is there anything beside God which is holy?”

At this, Muhammad raged.
“Yet, you agree with our laws!
“Is this not holy enough!”

“Yet, Muhammad, I see a great multitude
“Bowing down to a stone and not God.
“Surely, the Spirit is in your followers?”

“Allah’s Spirit would never inhabit a man!
“That is a greater blaspheme than it inhabiting the Black Stone!”

“Why, my dear, would the true religion
“Have it be more blasphemous for God
“To inhabit a man, than to inhabit a stone?
“I see now why your religion is false.
“You worship the precept
“But not the living God.”

2. The Man By the Road

A great King held a fortune
Of two mountains of gold.
Two princes were his sons.

The first prince came, and said:
Father, give me the mountains of gold
And I will give them to the poor.
The King said, “I will give you
“But you must give it all within 24 hours.”
So, the prince went and gave of his father’s fortune diligently
But had not enough time to give even a smidgen;
He diligently went to the poor
Seeing their needs
And gave away what they needed
To that exact amount;
Yet, he began to wonder about the burden of these riches.
What profit was it to have all of this?
He could not in a lifetime give all of it away.

After the twenty-four hours were up
He came to his father shamefaced.
And his father rebuked him by making him a beggar.

The second prince said,
“Father, I shall do greater with the money.”
So, the king said, “I give you the two mountains of Gold
“Get rid of it in 2 minutes.”
So, the Prince gave both mountains of gold
To a passeryonder.

A poor vagabond named Jude
Wandered behind the traveler
To see what he did with his fortunes;—
To see what he did with the moneys.
He was curious because he was so poor
And wanted to know what a man could do with such riches.
He, being very rich now
Spent it on clothes
Rings, torques
Tattoos to praise his gods and goddesses
He spent it on mansions
Even built the Marble Palace.

Jude saw all of this,
And said, “Good heavens.
“I am poor,
“And might have been tempted to take
“Two mountains of gold in my youth.
“But now, now I know it is vanity.
“What man, giving away all his fortune
“Does good with it so carelessly?
“The first prince, he went and gave to the needy
“According to their individual needs.
“I say, a worthless religion would praise the second.”

3. The Buddha and St. Jude

Along the silk road, where time was here bent
Came two travelers where the road twice rent.
It was a king named Siddhartha, so too
A peasant named St. Jude, he so joyful
Siddhartha’s plump face slumped without renew.
Jude, he said, to the Siddhartha prince here,
“Why does your face have not but little cheer?”

Siddhartha said, “Oh, wayward traveler
“How do you know my speech? I am dark skinned
“And you must come from the Western mystique.”

“Oh, good friend, need no nonsense here to say
“I speak every language in the world,
“If God has things worthy for me to pray.”

“Oh, how I suffer, to see such dirt-poor
“To see murder, to see violence, I stand
“Where battlefields have fought for bloody tor.
“There, among the tombs, I laid where dead fell—
“I meditated, and taught myself how
“To not suffer in this living, awful hell.”

“Dear sir, you sat idly with dead hosts ’round?
“Why did you not write stories, and then give
“Your money to those so suffering crowds?”

“Oh! If I could but stop the suffering
“Of the world, I’d be gay! To march through
“Valleys, and peaks, I would to the gods pray!”

“I’ve heard of you, my good sir, your fame is
“Renowned. You teach your disciples to sit
“And ponder silly things men naught be found.
“Your religion is built on wisdom, to
“Suffer through life draught. To have compassion
“Yet, could you do more than sit idly fraught?”

At this, Buddha resisted Christ so fierce,
“I am one man! I cannot, nations, cheer!”

“Yet, my leader of the Eastern Magic
“Offended by all things claimed to be known
“You forget there are sublime pleasures here
“That is why your religion’s fruit’s not shown.”

“Then tell me, good sir, if you be so wise
“What faith do you speak, which men can’t deny?”

“Oh, simply put, men do suffer for naught
“But there are more important things to do
“Than to dwell on it so idoly fraught.
“That there are questions for philosophy
“That do make no sense. For I do here say
“How can there be an immovable thing
“And a force which cannot ever be swayed?
“For your religion ponders on this nonsense
“And other things. It is why I can’t be
“A Buddhist, among other pallid things.
“For, you say you wish to avoid being
“King? I say this is a right, solid thing.
“Yet, could you not find some thing to do with
“Time? To maybe, I don’t know… compile
“Wisdom so in time, your words can be heard?
“Then, you could pass down knowledge, to till your
“Idle herds? For a religion make’th
“Nonsense, this it breaks men like a potsherd.
“For you had to leave home, and I had to stay.
“I say my cross is more fitting, because
“I had to learn long how to be so gay.
“For I had to learn how to love my sheep
“This is why your religion, left them sleep.”

“Oh, who are you, sage so very, so wise?”

“I am St. Jude, the LORD God’s brother primed
“For a love so profound and so, so blest.
“For I am being tried in a furnace
“To bring forth pure silver to now here test.
“For I know, it cannot make me wholly
“Pure, so that is why I need a Savior
“So my heart does not become so inured.
“For that is what you do, Baalim of the East
“You teach men to suffer, but forget there are feasts.”
4. Part I: St. Jude Meets Homer

Jude, the lofty soul
Came upon a war
Where a certain lady was raped away
By the pride of Hector of Troy.
Thus, the city called Troy was sieged
By the king Menelaus.
Agamemnon, came to the war
With all of Greece.

Jude, beholden of the valiant battles—
Befallen wars outside the gates of Zion;
He entered in through a side entrance
He spied—such things do not get accessed
During sieges.

Jude met with his familiar friend
One of the kings whom he once had discourse.
It was Helen of Tyre, stolen of Menelaus.
“Ah! Your beauty, Helen, has caused this war?”
She gazed upon St. Jude.
“Jude, Brother of the LORD
“I see you have come to spy out another event in history
“To see its might. I see you have lost your
“Infatuation for me, like a great man
“Yet this kind is not so wise as you,
“Noble peasant.”

Upon Helen’s desk, lay
Manuscripts, handwritten in perfect Greek.
Next to those manuscripts lie
The manuscripts of the Jews.
“So, it is you, Helen, who writes
“Of the great conquering of the city
“Of Troy? It is your hand that inspired the Greek religion?—
“Beauty Which Always Causes War.
“For your loves are very strong,
“And those strong loves
“Lead you to foolish things.”

“Yes, St. Jude… it is I who writes
“The Blind Sage’s masterpiece.
“I, Helen of Troy
“I am Homer.”

5. Part II: Helen of Troy to Jude

Jude, watching Helen’s brother in law
Fight the mighty Achilles,
Pondered. “Helen, you would let men fight
“For your loves?”

“Why not? I am Helen of Troy.”

“Yet, men will die.
“Both the warriors you see before you,
“They will die.”

“Look upon my beauty,
“Judas Son of James.
“Gaze upon my perfect face
“My flowing brown tress
“My sharp eyes
“My perfect hips
“For bearing children.”

“I look upon you,
“Helen, and I fear
“That you, you Helen,
“Would let men die in vanity
“Just for your love.”

“Life, Judas,
“Is just a schoolyard.
“On the wooden trapeze
“Men will risk their lives
“For beauty like mine.
“On the wrestling sand
“Men wrestle nude
“Just to taste my kisses.
“Men will kill stallions
“To jump them over hurdles
“Just to see my form in their beds.
“Why, Jude, does it matter to you
“If they die in battle for it, too?”

“I see… your vanity goes before you Lordess Tyrus.
“Why then write this blasphemy?”

“Why? So philosophers can see
“The vanity of the gods,—
“How they squabble over love
“Just like men,
“And therefore,
“Your God, Jude, will be likened to one of them.
“The gods, Jude,
“Men… Jude, of which I am one
“The so called Aphrodite
“Called Eros, called Desire.”

“Then it is your vanity,
“Tyrus, that lets men die for you.”

“‘Tis not love so vain, Jude?
“Yet, this is what you desire above all things.”

“I, Aphrodite, do not desire your love.
“I desire a wife, like David had Jonathan
“As a friend, I desire her the same
“Yet, to also be joined with her
“In ways Jonathan and David never would.”

“‘Tis beautiful! Bravo!
“You’ll get your wife.”

“Yes, but not by you.
“For you, Eros,
“Are but a vain idol.”

6. St. Jude Meets an Atheist

St. Jude, sitting by the park
Fed the pigeons and enjoyed the bounty of his God.

He overheard a quarrel
In the park about Christ,
And a Christian defended his God
As best he could.

It was with a man whose god
Was Balial, the Principalities
And Powers of the air.

Thus, St. Jude listened,
Seeing the argument go through all twists and turns.
It was said, “The Fermentation of Species,
“Atoms, the Universe Was its Own Cause,
“The things of Science disprove your God,
“Morally, physically and spiritually.”

St. Jude pondered on this…

The Christian said, “Yet, what was before nothing?”
The Atheist said, “It always was.”

The Atheist, in his own mind
Had won the discussion.

St. Jude looked to the Pigeons
Seeing in them the life and breath of God.
How could the Atheist not see
The miracle right before him
Of life? The most powerful force in creation?
Why was he so deluded?
Had you ever looked into a living thing
And not seen it?
No… for he was blind;
Blind to what is life.

St. Jude went to the Christian,
Who wept for having lost a debate—
Christians always do lose those debates.

St. Jude said, “You need not quarrel
“With a man whose foundation is his own whims.”

7. St. Jude Meets a Rabbi

Upon his walks, Jude found
A village in the Amonite Kingdom.
It was a town, and in that town were Jews
Worshiping their god.
They confessed that Jesus was their God
But called Him by an unpronounceable name.
They believed other gods had power
And authority, even so believing
Silly enough
That these gods could be more powerful.
Jude saw them wear their captivity
‘round their necks
And Jude saw them
Abandoned by their God.

Jude witnessed and wondered.
He found the Rabbi of the town to persuade Him to Christ.
Perhaps he could shepherd his congregation
And therefore win many converts to Christ?
For it would be easy, wouldn’t it?
Jude and the Rabbi both spoke the same language?
They both worshiped the same God?
They both read the same Law?
Jude turned to the Isaiah’s Fifty-Third Psalm.

The Jewish Rabbi scoffed.
“We do not add that into our Holy Book.”

Jude, perplexed,
Then went to the Second Psalm of David’s.

“The Word “Son” here, it means pure.
“It does not mean Son,”
Said the Rabbi.

Jude was even more perplexed.
He took the Rabbi to Isaiah’s Seventh Psalm.
“The woman is not a virgin,
“She is a young woman.
“It talks of the captivity.”

Jude said, “Was not Christ come
“To save us from this captivity?
”And is this not what it means?
“That Christ shall break the rod
“Of the Assyrian from off our land?”

“Of course not,” said the Rabbi.

“Then, who, Rabbi, breaks the
“Yoke of Assyria from off thy shoulders?”
Said Jude

“Why, right here,
“It says we do
“When we believe.
“If you do not believe
“You shall surely not be established,”
Said the Rabbi.

“Believe in Who, though?”
Said Jude.

“That the Assyrian will be beaten,”
Said the Rabbi.

“Must you not believe in Christ Jesus
“So the Assyrian is beaten?”
Jude took the Rabbi to Jeremiah’s Thirty-First
Warning. “See, there now shall be a New Covenant?
“Not that the old shall pass away,
“But that the New shall save us
“From the destructions prophesied against Israel
“Namely, the hell the Prophets warned about,
“Which is prophesied?”

The Rabbi blushed. “I do not believe in the Prophets.
“Nor do I believe in Hell.
“Only the Torah.”

Thus, Jude went to Deuteronomy’s
Twenty-seventh article.
“Does this not occur when you break the commandment?
“How then shall justice be paid
“If you break it unto death
“With Murder, Blaspheme
“Adultery, and Disobeying the Sabbath?
“How shall mercy be extended
“To such a one who has broken the everlasting covenant?”

“I did not break the covenant.
“When did I ever disobey the Sabbath?”
Asked the Rabbi with haughty scorn.

“You did, when you believed it was
“These laws which saved you, that
“By your own vain efforts you performed them,
“And had not rested on the LORD Your God
“To save you,
“As is commanded by the Sabbath’s rest.
“Therefore, all of the branches
“Of the Olive Tree have been cut off.
”For you shall not carry your Burden of sin
“Into the LORD’s Paradise
“A place of rest.
“Has this curse not fallen on you?
“Has this curse not fallen on your people?”
Said Jude.

“I do not see it,”
Said the Rabbi.

“No, for you are blind,
“But I, I see it.
“And what shall God do for you
“To save you from the Prophets’ words?
“To save you from this hell
“They have prophesied,
“And Moses wrote in ordinances?
“Which God has written in His commandments?
“What shall God do
“But send His only Begotten Son
“To die for you, in His Flesh
“So that you may be spared from these
“Punishments, which the Prophets
“Have decreed, and Moses had written in
“Ordinance?”
Said Jude.

At this, the rubicund Rabbi said,
“The Law is a type.
“It does not happen literally.”

To which Jude replied,
“Then why do I quarrel with a man
“Whose foundation is only himself?”

At the end of this vision, it was when Jude was killed by Judas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author’s Bio:

Brandon Neifert is the author of books including In Defense of the Story, a crowning achievement of autodidactism; My Collected Writings, a medley of various writings on diverse topics; and, The Love of Another, an epic novel starring a rowdy maverick colonel caught between a devastating, fifth world war and the love of his life. Neifert is a self-educated, self-published writer, who, much like his characters, strives for the moral best in both himself and society. A devoted Christian, Neifert was born-again when confronted with a sin from his adolescence that ultimately lead to his confession and incarceration as an adult. Neifert has a colorful past, but makes up for it with his scrupulous observations of the human condition, framing both good and evil in ways that even the most skeptical can agree.