John of Gaash the Sanhedrist
A friend of Joseph of Arimathea who witnessed his marriage to Anne and who is present at the Banquet offered for Jesus.[1] A lustful husband, his pathological jealousy drives his woman Anne to file for divorce. Distraught, John rushes, right in the middle of the Sabbath, from his residence in Gaash at Joseph of Arimathea’s home and asks Jesus for help. He grants him a three-month reprieve to get himself together, during which he will limit the power of his demon that drives him to this obsessive concupiscence of the flesh.[2] The reconciliation with his woman will happen since a child, Emmanuel, is expected: "My son, Blessed he will be, will not have to struggle to To Believe, as we must. He will grow up in the messianic time, and it will be easy for him to accept the idea."[3]
Character and appearance
His forehead is broad, slightly receding like that of a mature man. His hair is just beginning to grey, with a thick, square beard.
Apostolic path
Rather favorable to Jesus, he defends him Against Felix who attacks him. Later, during the 3rd Passover, he comes to Jesus accompanied by another favorable Pharisee: Eleazar. He increasingly sides with Jesus, even before his peers: "Now they will hate us..." murmurs Joachim. "It is an honor for us to be so!" exclaims the Sanhedrist John.
It is with Eleazar that he is found involved in the plot of Chuza to make Jesus a king."I do not reproach you, for I know it is not you who want this spontaneously. It is the Snare, it is the Adversary at work."[4]John’s convictions grow stronger: He is one of those who, during the interrogation of the born-again Confessionalist, declares himself a follower of Jesus.[5] This affirmed faith gradually grows: in the company of Eleazar, with whom, it seems, he has become friends, he comes to warn Jesus upon his return from exile that the Sanhedrin has not disarmed Against him.[6]
John publicly declines the summons to the trial of Jesus, marking his complete break with the Sanhedrin.[7]
His name
yoHanan - Iohanan - means "the Eternal One has shown Grace, has been favorable".
Where is he mentioned in the work?
GRM 114GRM 510 GRM 542 GRM 546 GRM 548 GRM 566 GRM 585 GRM 588
GRM 604
Notes and references
Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.