The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 92 A crowd that takes Jesus for God, and the sedition it raises. How such claims were disputed within Christianity itself:
Jesus at Mount Sinai and the Crowd’s Error
At this time we with Jesus, by the word of the holy angel, were gone to Mount Sinai. And there Jesus with his disciples kept the Forty days. When this was past, Jesus drew nigh to the river Jordan, to go to Jerusalem. And he was seen by one of them who believed Jesus to be God. Whereupon, with greatest gladness crying ever 'Our God cometh!' having reached the city he moved the whole city saying: 'Our God cometh, O Jerusalem; prepare thee to receive him!' And he testified that he had seen Jesus near to Jordan.
Then went out from the city every one, small and great, to see Jesus, insomuch that the city was left empty, for the women bare their children in their arms, and insomuch that they forgat to take food to eat.
When they perceived this, the governor and the high-priest rode forth and sent a messenger to Herod, who in like manner rode forth to find Jesus, in order that the sedition of the people might be quieted. Whereupon for two days they sought him in the wilderness near to Jordan, and the third day they found him, near the hour of midday, when he with his disciples was purifying himself for prayer, according to the book of Moses.
Jesus marvelled greatly, seeing the multitude which covered the ground with people, and said to his disciples: 'Perchance Satan hath raised sedition in Judaea. May it please God to take away from Satan the dominion which he hath over sinners.'
And when he had said this, the crowd drew nigh, and when they knew him they began to cry out: 'Welcome to thee, O our God!' and they began to do him reverence, as unto God. Whereupon Jesus gave a great groan and said: 'Get ye from before me, O madmen, for I fear lest the earth should open and devour me with you for your abominable words!' Whereupon the people were filled with terror and began to weep.
At that time, by the word of the holy angel, we had gone with Jesus to Mount Sinai, where Jesus and his disciples observed the forty days. When this period had passed, Jesus approached the River Jordan on his way to Jerusalem. One of those who believed Jesus to be God saw him and ran to the city, continually crying with great joy: 'Our God is coming! O Jerusalem, prepare to receive him!' He testified that he had seen Jesus near the Jordan.
Everyone, young and old, went out of the city to see Jesus, so that the city was left empty. Women carried their children in their arms, and in their eagerness they even forgot to take food.
When the governor and the high priest learned this, they rode out and sent a messenger to Herod, who also rode out to find Jesus and quiet the unrest among the people. They searched the wilderness near the Jordan for two days. On the third day, near midday, they found Jesus and his disciples purifying themselves for prayer according to the book of Moses.
Jesus was greatly astonished when he saw the multitude covering the ground and said to his disciples: 'Perhaps Satan has stirred up unrest in Judea. May it please God to remove from Satan the dominion he holds over sinners.'
After he had said this, the crowd drew near. When they recognized him, they cried: 'Welcome, O our God!' and began to bow before him as before God. Jesus gave a great groan and said: 'Get away from me, O madmen! I fear that the earth may open and swallow me together with you because of your abominable words.' The people were filled with terror and began to weep.
At this time we with Jesus, by the word of the holy angel, were gone to Mount Sinai. And there Jesus with his disciples kept the Forty days. When this was past, Jesus drew nigh to the river Jordan, to go to Jerusalem. And he was seen by one of them who believed Jesus to be God. Whereupon, with greatest gladness crying ever 'Our God cometh!' having reached the city he moved the whole city saying: 'Our God cometh, O Jerusalem; prepare thee to receive him!' And he testified that he had seen Jesus near to Jordan.
Then went out from the city every one, small and great, to see Jesus, insomuch that the city was left empty, for the women bare their children in their arms, and insomuch that they forgat to take food to eat.
When they perceived this, the governor and the high-priest rode forth and sent a messenger to Herod, who in like manner rode forth to find Jesus, in order that the sedition of the people might be quieted. Whereupon for two days they sought him in the wilderness near to Jordan, and the third day they found him, near the hour of midday, when he with his disciples was purifying himself for prayer, according to the book of Moses.
Jesus marvelled greatly, seeing the multitude which covered the ground with people, and said to his disciples: 'Perchance Satan hath raised sedition in Judaea. May it please God to take away from Satan the dominion which he hath over sinners.'
And when he had said this, the crowd drew nigh, and when they knew him they began to cry out: 'Welcome to thee, O our God!' and they began to do him reverence, as unto God. Whereupon Jesus gave a great groan and said: 'Get ye from before me, O madmen, for I fear lest the earth should open and devour me with you for your abominable words!' Whereupon the people were filled with terror and began to weep.