Edgar Cayce's Story of Jesus

There never was a time

when there wasn't a Christ.

Edgar Cayce

Edgard Cayce spoke about the life of Jesus in shocking detail in over 2500 readings between the 1920's and the 1940's. According to Cayce, Jesus' life did not begin in a manger in Bethlehem. Instead, it stretched back over many lifetimes, each one shaping the soul that would come to be known as Jesus Christ.

Imagine Jesus as the first man in the Bible, Adam. Cayce viewed Jesus as the start of human consciousness and the spiritual odyssey towards enlightenment. Adam's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden set the stage for humanity's epic saga of redemption... which Jesus would later come to fulfill.

Next up in this spiritual lineage was Enoch, a figure known for being so close to God that he was whisked away to heaven without dying. For Edgar, Enoch's story signified a major spiritual leap. This was a soul mastering the divine walk, laying the groundwork for the teachings Jesus would one day offer.

Then there was Melchizedek, a real Biblical enigma, appearing in the story of Abraham, blessing him, and just as quickly disappearing from the narrative. No parents, no lineage... just a priest forever. It was Cayce's belief that Melchizedek's role was a precursor to Jesus' eternal priesthood, hinting at a deeper, timeless wisdom that Jesus would fully embody.

Fast forward a few generations, we find the soul of Jesus incarnated as Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, who went from being sold into slavery to becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt. Edgar saw this life as a master example of resilience and forgiveness, qualities that would be central to Jesus' later teachings. Each betrayal and setback that Joseph faced was a step toward understanding and conveying the power of grace and redemption.

Then comes Joshua, known for his role as Moses' successor, who led the Israelites into the Promised Land. According to Edgar, Joshua's life was about cultivating the courage and faith needed for a much larger role. His life prepared the soul for it's larger mission: spiritual salvation for all humanity.

Finally, all these experiences culminate in the figure of Jesus Christ. In Edgar's view, Jesus was the final iteration, the soul that had evolved through many ages, gathering wisdom and deep spiritual insight. His mission was monumental – to teach humanity about unconditional love, offer a path to salvation, and lay down his life for the redemption of all. According to Cayce, the soul's journey through these various lives was crucial for acquiring the necessary depth and empathy to undertake such a task.

Cayce dropped a bombshell when he proclaimed that Jesus was not just a carpenter's son who appeared out of nowhere. Jesus belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Essenes. The Essenes played a major role in the upbringing of Jesus, however it has been distorted by history. They were a super-dedicated group of people who took living very seriously; they lived from around the second century BC to the first century AD. They were dedicated ascetics, practicing strict self-discipline and avoiding any form of indulgence. They are known to us today through the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient texts that were found in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea, giving us a peak into their lives and beliefs. They lived hard core communal lives – sharing everything from food to chores, supporting one another, following the laws of Moses to lead pure lives in order to be closer to God.

Edgar claimed that Jesus didn't just grow up with Mary and Joseph in a simple home. Instead, he was raised by the Essenes, who were like the spiritual elite. Imagine Jesus getting the best spiritual boot camp one could attend during those times. While with the Essenes, Jesus would have undergone some serious training, a deep dive into the scriptures and prophecies about the Messiah. It wasn't all studying. The Essenes were big on purity, so Jesus regularly participated in ritual baths and fasts to keep the body and spirit squeaky clean. It was the ultimate training ground for someone whose message was all about love and serving others.

What about the elusive lost years of Jesus that the Bible skips over? The Bible leaves us hanging after Jesus' childhood, picking up again when he begins his ministry in his thirties. But Cayce tells us Jesus was on the move during this interim period, learning from the masters of various religions. Imagine a young Jesus, not just hanging out in Nazareth, but traveling the globe, soaking up wisdom like a divine sponge. According to Edgar, these were years of intense apprenticeship across India, Persia, and Egypt.

Edgar related that Jesus spent a significant portion of these lost years in India, where he studied with Hindu and Buddhist masters, enabling him to immerse himself in the rich spiritual traditions of the region. He would have learned about the concepts of karma, dharma, and reincarnation, as well as practices such as meditation and yoga. These experiences enriched his understanding of the divine and the nature of human existence.

The spiritual knowledge Jesus gained in India had a profound impact on his teachings... the emphasis on inner transformation, the cultivation of compassion, and the pursuit of enlightenment are themes that resonate with eastern spiritual traditions. Edgar believed that Jesus' time in India helped him develop a more comprehensive view of spirituality that transcended religious and cultural boundaries.

Cayce's readings also indicated that Jesus spent time in Persia, modern-day Iran, where he studied with Zoroastrian priests. Zoroastrianism, one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, emphasized the duality of good and evil, the importance of individual choice, and the ultimate triumph of good. These teachings likely influenced Jesus' own understanding of morality, free will, and the cosmic struggle between the light and darkness. In Persia, Jesus would have been exposed to Zoroastrian mysticism and esoteric knowledge. Zoroastrian priests, known as magi, were renowned for their wisdom and prophetic abilities. Their influence may have helped Jesus develop his own prophetic gifts and deepen his connection to the Divine. This mystical knowledge would later be reflected in his teachings about the Kingdom of God and the ultimate destiny of humanity.

Then onto Egypt, with its ancient and highly developed spiritual traditions, another key destination in Jesus' travels. Cayce reported that Jesus spent time studying in the temples of Egypt, particularly at the Temple of Heliopolis. Here he would have had access to the wisdom of the ancient Egyptian priests, who were custodians of profound esoteric knowledge and spiritual practices. The Egyptian temples were centers of learning and initiation into the mysteries of life, death, and the afterlife. Jesus' studies in Egypt would have included sacred geometry, the nature of the soul, and the rituals associated with spiritual transformation and resurrection. These experiences deepened his understanding of eternal life and prepared him for his own journey of sacrifice and resurrection.

Cayce believed that Jesus' travels to India, Persia, and Egypt allowed him to synthesize the spiritual wisdom of these diverse cultures, enabling him to develop a unique and universal message that transcended the limitations of any single religious tradition. His teachings about love, compassion, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God reflect a blend of both eastern and western spiritual insights.

from Jeffrey Furst's book Edgar Cayce's Story of Jesus