The Toledot Jeshu had once been part of the
Talmud, compiled approximately 600 AD, but containing rabbinic writings going
back to the time of Jesus. In a degrading way, it acknowledged that Jesus
performed miracles, but the Jews removed it from their Talmud:
http://jewishchristianlit.com//Topics/JewishJesus/toledoth.htm
“In the year 3671 in
the days of King Jannaeus, a great misfortune befell Israel, when there arose a
certain disreputable man of the tribe of Judah, whose name was Joseph Pandera.
He lived at Bethlehem, in Judah. Near his house dwelt a widow and her lovely
and chaste daughter named Miriam. Miriam was betrothed to Yohanan [John], of
the royal house of David, a man learned in the Torah and God-fearing.
At the close of a certain Sabbath, Joseph Pandera,
attractive and like a warrior in appearance, having gazed lustfully upon
Miriam, knocked upon the door of her room and betrayed her by pretending that
he was her betrothed husband, Yohanan. Even so, she was amazed at this improper
conduct and submitted only against her will.
Thereafter, when Yohanan came to her, Miriam expressed
astonishment at behavior so foreign to his character. It was thus that they
both came to know the crime of Joseph Pandera and the terrible mistake on the
part of Miriam. Whereupon Yohanan went to Rabban Shimeon ben Shetah and related
to him the tragic seduction. Lacking witnesses required for the punishment of
Joseph Pandera, and Miriam being with child, Yohanan left for Babylonia.
Miriam gave birth to a son and named him Yehoshua [Jesus],
after her brother. This name later deteriorated to Yeshu [This is very
important because there are many references in the Talmud to “Yeshu” performing
miracles. However, some deny that this was a reference to Jesus]. On the eighth
day he was circumcised. When he was old enough the lad was taken by Miriam to
the house of study to be instructed in the Jewish tradition.
One day Yeshu walked
in front of the Sages with his head uncovered, showing shameful disrespect. At
this, the discussion arose as to whether this behavior did not truly indicate
that Yeshu was an illegitimate child and the son of a niddah. Moreover, the
story tells that while the rabbis were discussing the Tractate Nezikin, he gave
his own impudent interpretation of the law and in an ensuing debate he held
that Moses could not be the greatest of the prophets if he had to receive
counsel from Jethro. This led to further inquiry as to the antecedents of
Yeshu, and it was discovered through Rabban Shimeon ben Shetah that he was the
illegitimate son of Joseph Pandera. Miriam admitted it. After this became
known, it was necessary for Yeshu to flee to Upper Galilee.
After King Jannaeus,
his wife Helene ruled over all Israel. In the Temple was to be found the Foundation
Stone on which were engraved the letters of God's Ineffable Name. Whoever
learned the secret of the Name and its use would be able to do whatever he
wished. Therefore, the Sages took measures so that no one should gain this
knowledge. Lions of brass were bound to two iron pillars at the gate of the
place of burnt offerings. Should anyone enter and learn the Name, when he left
the lions would roar at him and immediately the valuable secret would be
forgotten.
Yeshu came and
learned the letters of the Name; he wrote them upon the parchment which he
placed in an open cut on his thigh and then drew the flesh over the parchment.
As he left, the lions roared and he forgot the secret. But when he came to his
house he reopened the cut in his flesh with a knife an lifted out the writing.
Then he remembered and obtained the use of the letters.
He gathered about himself three hundred and ten young men of
Israel and accused those who spoke ill of his birth of being people who desired
greatness and power for themselves. Yeshu proclaimed, "I am the Messiah;
and concerning me Isaiah prophesied and said, 'Behold, a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.'" He quoted other
messianic texts, insisting, "David my ancestor prophesied concerning me:
'The Lord said to me, thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.'"
The insurgents with
him replied that if Yeshu was the Messiah he should give them a convincing
sign. They therefore, brought to him a lame man, who had never walked. Yeshu spoke
over the man the letters of the Ineffable Name, and the leper was healed.
Thereupon, they worshipped him as the Messiah, Son of the Highest.
When word of these
happenings came to Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin decided to bring about the capture
of Yeshu. They sent messengers, Annanui and Ahaziah, who, pretending to be his
disciples, said that they brought him an invitation from the leaders of
Jerusalem to visit them. Yeshu consented on condition the members of the
Sanhedrin receive him as a lord. He started out toward Jerusalem and, arriving
at Knob, acquired an ass on which he rode into Jerusalem, as a fulfillment of
the prophecy of Zechariah.
The Sages bound him
and led him before Queen Helene, with the accusation: "This man is a
sorcerer and entices everyone." Yeshu replied, "The prophets long ago
prophesied my coming: 'And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse,' and I am he; but as for them, Scripture says 'Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.'"
Queen Helene asked
the Sages: "What he says, is it in your Torah?" They replied:
"It is in our Torah, but it is not applicable to him, for it is in
Scripture: 'And that prophet which shall presume to speak a word in my name,
which I have not commanded him to speak or that shall speak in the name of
other gods, even that prophet shall die.' He has not fulfilled the signs and
conditions of the Messiah."
Yeshu spoke up:
"Madam, I am the Messiah and I revive the dead." A dead body was
brought in; he pronounced the letters of the Ineffable Name and the corpse came
to life. The Queen was greatly moved and said: "This is a true sign."
She reprimanded the Sages and sent them humiliated from her presence. Yeshu's
dissident followers increased and there was controversy in Israel.
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