INTRODUCTION TO JESUS THE NAZORITE. Nazorite means renunciant.
It seems to me that the Essenic influence has been overlooked in favour of a Judaic standard, with regard to Jesus.
Josephus does say that there were about 4,000 Essenes, and perhaps seven thousand Pharisees and a few thousand Sadducees. Josephus also claims to have lived with the Essenes so would have a personal understanding of what they believed. This is besides the general population of course. Pliny, Philo and many others wrote about the Essenes as well.
The Catholic Encyclopedia now recognises a debt to the Essenes, since the Dead Sea Scrolls.
If Jesus came from an Essenic background then he wouldn't have been either Pharisaic or Sadducean. He would have had a broader belief system with other influences from mystery groups in Egypt, India, Egypt, and of course Persia.
The claims to be' Son of God', or only begotten, come from the later Christians. St Augustine is quoted as saying that which is now called Christian has always existed, since the beginning of time. In fact they also had an installation in Egypt at Heliopolis, probably harking back beyond Akhenaten, the Monotheist. They also had contact with other groups around the world and as far away as India. Which isn’t surprising for the Buddhists were in Alexandria.
I don't understand why the Pharisees would have been persecuting the Essenes and Christians but it is not hard to see how the Herodian Sadducees would be, as they were persecuting all the groups. Was Paul working for the Temple Police? It is mentioned in the Scrolls that the Teacher of Righteousness was killed by the wicked Priest, this would fit in with the fact the Sadducees regarded the prophets as heretics. Although this was up to a hundred years before Jesus. However the Essenes believed their teacher would reincarnate again.
Perhaps we should look more to Mt Karmel and Egypt for an idea of what Jeshua believed and came out of. I have never presumed he was a member of a regular Jewish sect. Galilee was even full of Greek settlements at this time as well...This is presuming that Jeshua really existed and I believe that he did. Why? Well apart from the billions that believe the same, there are writings from near the time of Jesus. Notably Josephus, Pliny, some other Roman Historians, the Gospels and the Talmud. Most of this evidence is believed to be in the Vatican Library today.
MARY THE MAGDALENE---------TEACHER AND ‘BISHOP’.
Mary was obviously very close to Jesus, and this was not only due to the fact that she was the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who Jesus knew very well. She was apparently a ‘Courtesan’ with the Roman occupation and ran into trouble with the Sadducees over this. She was the woman saved by Jesus from being stoned as an adulteress. Jesus also cured her of the seven deadly spirits or vices. She apparently was ‘born again’ and became a devoted follower, never leaving his side. From her appearance she seem to be of Greek and Hebrew ancestry and in all likelihood was originally a follower of the Essenes. As was Jesus and his family also. The Essenes were much more eclectic and very different from the Sadducees and Pharisees. They also had no discrimination against women. So women could rise and be Elders and Teachers in the Church just as much as men. So as it is obvious, from the naming of a Gospel after her, Mary was a leader or ‘Bishop’ in the Early Church. There isn’t much description of Jesus and the Renunciant Essenes but there is a description of his brother James, which is in the introduction, and he definately was a mystical type. Mary no doubt was of the same group as James and his brother Simon. There is much talk of Jesus and Mary having a sexual relationship, but this is unlikely considering their renunciant state. As far as kissing her on the mouth in front of the disciples, many family members do this and too much shouldn’t be read in to it. More than likely they are referring to the Essenic custom of kissing on the cheek. More important is the fact she was at the crucifixion and the first to see Jesus on his reappearance, from the tomb.
When Saul of Tarsus took over the guiding of the Gentile Church there were some great changes. The Jerusalem and original Church was still very Essenic but St Paul wasn’t. This was because he wasn’t an Essene but a Pharisee, and this would account, perhaps if it is true, for the lack of woman Teachers or Rebbes. The course of the Church continued in this fashion until it was established by Constantine. The original Essenic Christians of Mary, James, Simon and the original apostles split into different groups. Generally becoming known as Nazorites, Gnostics and eventually some became Sufis and mystics.
Considering this, it is the present Church that could be considered ‘heretical’ BY SOME, for not following the teachings of Jesus and having female Rebbes, Teachers or Priests.
