The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 96 “I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect, even as God promised to our father Abraham.” What this answer means, and the promise to Abraham's seed:
Jesus Explains Who the Messiah Is
When the prayer was ended, the priest said with a loud voice: 'Stay, Jesus, for we need to know who thou art, for the quieting of our nation.'
Jesus answered: 'I am Jesus, son of Mary, of the seed of David, a man that is mortal and feareth God, and I seek that to God be given honour and glory.'
The priest answered: 'In the book of Moses it is written that our God must send us the Messiah, who shall come to announce to us that which God willeth, and shall bring to the world the mercy of God. Therefore I pray thee tell us the truth, art thou the Messiah of God whom we expect?'
Jesus answered: 'It is true that God hath so promised, but indeed I am not he, for he is made before me, and shall come after me.'
The priest answered: 'By thy words and signs at any rate we believe thee to be a prophet and an holy one of God, wherefore I pray thee in the name of all Judaea and Israel that thou for love of God shouldst tell us in what wise the Messiah will come.'
Jesus answered: 'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect, even as God promised to our father Abraham, saying: "In thy seed will I bless all the tribes of the earth." But when God shall take me away from the world, Satan will raise again this accursed sedition, by making the impious believe that I am God and son of God, whence my words and my doctrine shall be contaminated, insomuch that scarcely shall there remain thirty faithful ones: whereupon God will have mercy upon the world, and will send his messenger for whom he hath made all things; who shall come from the south with power, and shall destroy the idols with the idolaters; who shall take away the dominion from Satan which he hath over men. He shall bring with him the mercy of God for salvation of them that shall believe in him, and blessed is he who shall believe his words.
When the prayer ended, the priest said in a loud voice: 'Remain, Jesus, for to quiet our nation we must know who you are.'
Jesus answered: 'I am Jesus, son of Mary, of the lineage of David: a mortal man who fears God and desires that honor and glory be given to God.'
The priest answered: 'It is written in the book of Moses that our God must send us the Messiah, who will announce what God wills and bring God’s mercy to the world. Therefore, tell us the truth: are you the Messiah of God whom we await?'
Jesus answered: 'It is true that God made this promise, but I am not he, for he was created before me and will come after me.'
The priest answered: 'Your words and signs at least persuade us that you are a prophet and a holy one of God. Therefore, in the name of all Judea and Israel and for the love of God, tell us how the Messiah will come.'
Jesus answered: 'As God lives, in whose presence my soul stands, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth await, as God promised our father Abraham: "In your offspring I will bless all the tribes of the earth." But when God takes me from the world, Satan will again raise this accursed unrest by making the impious believe that I am God and the Son of God. My words and doctrine will consequently be corrupted until scarcely thirty faithful people remain. Then God will have mercy on the world and send his Messenger, for whom he made all things. He will come from the south with power, destroy the idols together with the idolaters, and remove Satan’s dominion over men. He will bring God’s mercy for the salvation of those who believe in him, and blessed is the one who believes his words.'
When the prayer was ended, the priest said with a loud voice: 'Stay, Jesus, for we need to know who thou art, for the quieting of our nation.'
Jesus answered: 'I am Jesus, son of Mary, of the seed of David, a man that is mortal and feareth God, and I seek that to God be given honour and glory.'
The priest answered: 'In the book of Moses it is written that our God must send us the Messiah, who shall come to announce to us that which God willeth, and shall bring to the world the mercy of God. Therefore I pray thee tell us the truth, art thou the Messiah of God whom we expect?'
Jesus answered: 'It is true that God hath so promised, but indeed I am not he, for he is made before me, and shall come after me.'
The priest answered: 'By thy words and signs at any rate we believe thee to be a prophet and an holy one of God, wherefore I pray thee in the name of all Judaea and Israel that thou for love of God shouldst tell us in what wise the Messiah will come.'
Jesus answered: 'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, I am not the Messiah whom all the tribes of the earth expect, even as God promised to our father Abraham, saying: "In thy seed will I bless all the tribes of the earth." But when God shall take me away from the world, Satan will raise again this accursed sedition, by making the impious believe that I am God and son of God, whence my words and my doctrine shall be contaminated, insomuch that scarcely shall there remain thirty faithful ones: whereupon God will have mercy upon the world, and will send his messenger for whom he hath made all things; who shall come from the south with power, and shall destroy the idols with the idolaters; who shall take away the dominion from Satan which he hath over men. He shall bring with him the mercy of God for salvation of them that shall believe in him, and blessed is he who shall believe his words.