John of Endor
[[file:|thumb|"Give me the memory and hatred that make you sick and let me put love in your heart!" (...) The man, head bowed, weeps, without anything betraying his tears. Only Jesus, who walks beside him, sees it." (EMV 188.4)]] Named Felix at birth, a proselyte of Cypriot origin (Cintium), he is the only son of a Jewish woman who dies shortly after giving birth to him.
He kills his unfaithful wife ("that unhappy woman who was my wife, and whom I killed"[1]) and loses an eye killing her Roman lover. Sentenced to life hard labor in Anatolia (Turkey), he gains the trust of the guard thanks to his knowledge of herbal medicine and escapes after twenty years. He lives for fifteen years in Endor where he raises chickens. It is in this setting that he meets, as a supplier of eggs and chickens, Publius Quintilianus, a Roman favorable to Jesus.[2]
His conversion[edit | edit source]
Felix meets Jesus when he visits Endor with the apostles at Judas’ request in order to see the "witch’s cave." He is asked to be their guide; it is then that he discusses his life with Jesus.
Because of his painful past, he no longer believes in love, and is sarcastic about it:"No, man! Do not speak thus!" Jesus puts his hand on his shoulder, truly and visibly grieved.A little later, his face "reddened by tears," he says:The man looks at him with his one eye, and what he sees on this gentle and very charming face leaves him speechless and changes his expression. From sarcasm he moves to deep seriousness and from there to a true sorrow. He lowers his head and asks, in a changed voice: "Who are you?"
"... I did not know that you were good with everyone… even with murderers… Forgive what I said about God and love... "Now I understand why you want to give me love ... Because without love the world is a hell and You, Messiah, want to make it a paradise."
"A paradise in every heart. Give me the memory and the hatred that make you sick and let me put love in your heart!" (...) The man, head bowed, weeps, without anything betraying his tears. Only Jesus, who walks beside him, sees it. Yes, he sees it. But he says nothing more."[3]
"Jesus... I believe that to have the strength to speak, to (…) change myself; to evoke my dead soul (...), I must say your Name, sweet as your gaze, holy as your voice. You have given me a new life and it is formless, unable like that of a newly born who had a difficult birth. It still struggles in the grip of a bad mother. Help me to come out of my death.""John" is the new name Jesus gives Felix:
"Yes, friend.""Me... I have understood that I still have a little humanity in my heart. I am not completely a beast, and I can still love and be loved, forgive and be forgiven. Your love, your love that is forgiveness teaches me this. Is it not so?" - "Yes, friend."
"Then… take me with You. I am called Felix! Irony!"[4] "But You, give me a new name. Let the past be truly dead. I will follow you like a stray dog that finally finds a master. I will be your slave, if you want. But do not leave me alone..."
"A name dear to me: John.[5] Because you are the grace that the Lord shows."[6]
Character and appearance[edit | edit source]
About 60/65 years old, one-eyed with a guttural voice.[7] He totally renounces his past to follow Jesus, leaves his goods and house to the poor and leaves Endor taking only clothes, books, and some money:"I have no more house. I will leave to the poor what I have. Give me only your love and some bread."He uses this money to offer a feast of roasted lambs to the hungry peasants of Doras.[8]
Apostolic journey[edit | edit source]
John is added to the group of Disciples.Because of his past, Jesus calls him to works of mercy:
"In what have you sinned? Against the Mercy and Love. It is with hatred that you destroyed your Soul. It is with love and mercy that you will rebuild it. I give you the materials for it. I will employ you particularly for works of mercy and love. You are capable of healing. You are capable of speaking. With this, you are apt to heal physical and moral infirmities, and you have the power to do so".[9]Highly educated, he writes down some of Jesus’ discourses[10] to play the role of tutor to Margziam.
Denounced as a fugitive galley slave by Judas at the Temple, his strength declining and heart torn at the idea of being separated from Jesus, he has to find refuge in Antioch of Syria (Antigonea) in one of the houses owned by Lazarus, son of Theophilus, governor of Syria.[11]
In this ordeal, John can fortunately rely on Sintica. He who had hated Women because of the betrayal of his wife, develops a true affection for her.
With Sintica, a fugitive slave hunted like him, he lays the foundations of the Christian community of Antioch. According to his promise, the spirit of Jesus visits him every night.
He converts Nicolaus the proselyte who becomes one of the first deacons of the nascent church. Exhausted and ill, he dies quickly there in early June 29, receiving in spirit the visit of Jesus. Facing his sufferings, Sintica writes to Jesus and the apostles[12]: "with compassion, I prayed to the Eternal to call him to Peace. He said: 'To freedom'."[13]
At the appearance of the resurrected Jesus to Sintica, He confirms the fate reserved in Heaven to John of Endor: "He is happy. He remembers only love and lives in it".[14]
His name[edit | edit source]
Felix means "Happy" in Latin. John means "the Eternal has shown grace, has been favorable".
Where is he mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
EMV 188 EMV 189 EMV 190 EMV 191 EMV 192 EMV 193 EMV 194 EMV 195 EMV 196 EMV 197 EMV 198 EMV 199EMV 200 EMV 201 EMV 202 EMV 203 EMV 205 EMV 206 EMV 206 EMV 210 EMV 249 EMV 250 EMV 251 EMV 252 EMV 253 EMV 254 EMV 255 EMV 256 EMV 260 EMV 261 EMV 262 EMV 275 EMV 276 EMV 277 EMV 278 EMV 280 EMV 281 EMV 282 EMV 285 EMV 286 EMV 287 EMV 289 EMV 290 EMV 293 EMV 294 EMV 295 EMV 296
EMV 302 EMV 303 EMV 304 EMV 306 EMV 307 EMV 310 EMV 311 EMV 312 EMV 313 EMV 314 EMV 315 EMV 316 EMV 318 EMV 319 EMV 320 EMV 321 EMV 322 EMV 323 EMV 324 EMV 336 EMV 355 EMV 364 EMV 365 EMV 366 EMV 384
EMV 427 EMV 440 EMV 461 EMV 492 EMV 496 EMV 497
EMV 632