The Gospel of the Holy Twelve
Comments of the Editors
Transcribed and Compiled
by Rev. Mark Wilcox D.D.
LECTION 11. 1-2.-There are two anointings by Mary Magdalene recorded. The first was to his prophetical ministry, the last preparatory to his self-oblation unto death on the cross in the upper room, and his subsequent murder by the Roman authorities and the Iewish priests.
LECTION 12. 3-4.-Iesus being a Yessene (Essene) could not drink intoxicating wine, and it is to be remarked here, that he did not provide it. He poured water into jars, and they tasted it as wine unfermented, or, if fermented, with four times or least twice its volume of water, which makes what is termed all through the Gospel the "fruit of the vine." It is impossible that Iesus could sanction drunkenness, though his enemies slandered him as a "wine-bibber."
v. 16.-Two modes of reckoning time were in use. The Roman, from 12 midnight to 12 midnight. The Iewish from 6 a.m. (mean time is here spoken of) in the even to 6 p.m. of next even. The Iewish hours, adopted from the Temple in the Christian Church in her devotions, were as follows:
6 p.m. 1st watch, Vespers. Ferial.
9 p.m. 2nd watch. Nightfall ("Compline" Lat. use).
12 midnight 3rd watch. Nocturms.
3 a.m. 4th watch. Daybreak. (Lauds).
5-6 p.m. Seventh or last hour of the night.
6 a.m. Matins (or "Prime" Lat. use). First hour.
9 a.m. Terce. Third hour.
12 midday. Sext. Sixth hour.
3 p.m. Nones. Ninth hour.
5-6 p.m. Eleventh or last hour of the day. Vespers. Festal. Really "Compline" in its true sense.
The "seventh hour," in this place is therefore 1 p.m. of our reckoning; whether by Iewish or Roman time-13th hour in some countries.LECTION 13. 6.-The effects of his education in Egypt and his travels in other countries and knowledge of their religion and mysteries are here clearly seen in the largeness of the heart of Iesus, and his sympathy with all men. He is the true Catholic, who excludes none from his love whose hearts are unto righteousness, while he pities those that are not, knowing the terrible fate that awaits them.
LECTION 14. 4.-Miracles are not violations of the laws of nature, but rather suspensions of lower by higher laws- wonders wrought by using wisely the subtle forces of nature, (whether by seen or unseen agencies) unknown to the science of the day, and in advance of the knowledge of the people. Many are the spiritual agencies, the knowledge of which we are now recovering, but which have existed and acted all through the ages. Occult phenomena also appear to have been used by religious teachers in all ages in the East, to attract the attention of the listless and thoughtless, and having roused and secured their interest, to teach them spiritual truths or give them higher revelations; just as in the West. in modern times, they Bound a bell, or sing an " invitatory" or a hymn to "call the people."
LECTION 15. 4.-The houses in Palestine were constructed with flat roofs, and entrance was easily made into the court below without entering by the door below.
LECTION 16. 1.-"Levi" is by tradition identified with Matthew, the writer of the second of the four Gospels (as received by the Church), Mark being the first of the four Evangelists, though placed second in the A. V.
v. 7. -It was the custom in Palestine to use the skins of animals to hold wine as we do glass bottles, and such leathern bottles when filled with new wine were liable to burst by reason of the fermentation of the wine within them.LECTION 17. 3.-Iudas Iscariot is here called a Levite. It may be symbolical of the fact, that the older priesthood was the bitter enemy of Iesus, the Prophets and the Priest of the newer Christian Dispenssotion.
v. 2-5. -Here we have a flood of light thrown on an obscure passage in Ephesians iv. 11, referring to an event of which there is no record whatever in the A. V. or in any other version of the Gospels which has come down to us. Plain enough is the passage in Ephesians as it stands, but obscure in its reference; and the only body of Christians who have in later times restored this ancient fourfold ministry is the "Catholic Apostolic Church," but with this difference, that what Iesus intended to be a permanent order, they have made only a lifetime institution, dying with the men that fill the office, at present the one left being removed by death. Under Jesus, the High Priest, or chief Shepherd and Bishop of the Universal Church, while the two and seventy afterward sent forth were the deacons in the higher ministry, altogether making the full number a hundred and twenty.
v. 6.9. -These words leave no doubt that the organization which Iesus first established was based on the older organization of the Yessenes (similar to that of the Buddhists), and from which have come the monasteries, friaries, and sisterhoods of the Christian Church, which have always been popular with the poor, and befriended them in times of trouble, and set them an example of Godly living; the corruptions and abuses, which set in now and then, being no argument against the use. They were a continual protest against the ways of the world, its vices and luxury and evil pursuits. "Leave all and follow me," was the continual call of the master, to those who could receive it.LECTION 18. 1.-This number (seventy-two), symbolizring amongst the Jews the Nations of the Earth, and late-denoting the Diaconate of the Church Universal (in priestly orders), was afterwards selected by the Christian Church as the complete number of its cardinals, as it had been before the number of members of the Jewish Sanhedrim.
LECTION 19. 2. -There are two versions given of the Lord's Prayer, this one, the fullest, being given to the Twelve and their companions, and a shorter form afterwards to the people in his Sermon on the Mount.
v. 5, 6.-An ancient saying, long lost to the Church. The all-pervading nature of Deity seems plainly taught, which, in a recently recovered fragment, is obscure.LECTION 20. 9.-There is no trace of the events between Lections xviii. and xx. other than this giving of the form of Prayer as a model for all time.
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