On this episode of Coast to Coast AM, Art talks with Edward T. Martin, a Peace Corps volunteer, adventurer, and researcher, about his extensive travels and exploration of the lost years of Jesus in India. Martin recounts his journeys through Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, sharing his experiences in remote areas. He delves into how his fascination with the subject of Jesus in India developed over time, especially after learning about Edgar Cayce’s readings that suggested Jesus spent time in India during the “missing years” between ages 12 and 30. Martin elaborates on how these findings align with various folklore, ancient texts, and spiritual teachings, suggesting Jesus survived the crucifixion, traveled to India, and was possibly buried in northern Pakistan. Art and Martin also discuss the controversial Billy Meier case, extraterrestrial connections, and how reincarnation plays into the broader spiritual understanding of Jesus’ life.
The interview goes deep into alternate theories, contrasting the biblical accounts with new age, historical, and esoteric ideas. Martin presents his views on how much of the early Christian texts were altered and redacted, leading to significant gaps in the conventional understanding of Jesus’ life and mission. He also references the Talmud of Immanuel, an ancient manuscript he believes holds a more authentic record of Jesus’ life.
Edward T. Martin recounts his encounters with diverse cultures, especially in Afghanistan, where he observed fascinating juxtapositions between ancient and modern practices. From blacksmiths still using 2,000-year-old methods to sword fights and camel trading in bazaars, Martin paints a vivid picture of a land seemingly frozen in time. He expresses deep admiration for the Afghan people, describing them as fiercely independent and resilient fighters, quick to engage in conflict when provoked but equally kind to those who treat them well. Martin reflects on his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan, highlighting how the turbulent but beautiful country left a lasting impression on him.
Art directs the conversation back to Martin’s quest to uncover the lost years of Jesus, asking when and how he began this search. Martin explains how his fascination with India, sparked by old movies and a sense of inexplicable attraction, eventually led him to investigate the possibility that Jesus spent time in India during his youth. He shares his shock upon learning about Edgar Cayce’s readings, which described Jesus studying with great teachers in India. This, combined with later discoveries of texts like the Talmud of Immanuel and The Aquarian Gospel, fueled Martin’s determination to pursue this subject, even when mainstream historical narratives dismissed these ideas.
Edward T. Martin recounts a pivotal moment in his research: learning that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was allegedly buried in northern Pakistan. Martin describes how he first encountered this story from a Pakistani Christian bartender while serving in Afghanistan. The bartender told him that the tomb of Mary could be found in the Himalayan foothills near Rawalpindi, a place revered for over 2,000 years. This revelation profoundly shocked Martin, as it contradicted traditional Christian beliefs. According to the bartender, the local tomb’s east-west orientation suggested Jewish origins, unlike the north-south alignment typical of Muslim graves. Martin became increasingly intrigued by this alternate history and decided to travel to India and Pakistan to explore the claim further.
Art pushes Martin to elaborate on how Jesus could have survived the crucifixion, prompting Martin to explain his theory in detail. He shares that medical experts have suggested Jesus’ legs were never broken during the crucifixion, a common method to hasten death. Additionally, the wound caused by a Roman spear was believed to be superficial. Martin also references Caius Longinus, a Roman centurion, who is said to have been sympathetic to Jesus and may have helped him survive by delivering only a minor injury. These and other details led Martin to believe that Jesus recovered after being placed in the tomb, thanks to the help of his friends and followers, and later traveled to India.
Edward T. Martin delves deeper into his theory that Jesus not only survived the crucifixion but was nursed back to health by a group of healers from India. According to Martin, the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea had a hidden back entrance, which allowed Jesus’ friends to access the tomb without being detected. For three days and nights, they cared for him using ancient medicines and bandages, enabling his recovery. This, Martin believes, explains the biblical story of Jesus’ resurrection—what was interpreted as a supernatural event was, in fact, Jesus emerging after recuperating from his near-death experience. Martin ties this to the prophecy of Jonah, where Jesus said he would be like Jonah, spending three days and nights in the belly of a whale before emerging alive.
Art continues to express curiosity about how such a story could differ so drastically from the biblical narrative. Martin suggests that early Christian writings were heavily redacted, with many elements of Jesus’ true life deliberately altered or removed to fit the theological agenda of figures like the Apostle Paul. Paul, according to Martin, transformed Christianity into a religion centered on resurrection and the Day of Judgment, diverging from Jesus’ original teachings, which emphasized reincarnation and spiritual enlightenment. These radical ideas, Martin argues, were purposefully hidden from the public, resulting in the version of Christianity that prevails today.
Edward T. Martin continues with his analysis, discussing how Jesus’ survival and subsequent travels to India were kept secret by those closest to him. He explains that Joseph of Arimathea, who played a key role in removing Jesus from the cross, was one of the few who understood that Jesus was in a state of near-death rather than fully dead. Martin further explains that the prophecy of Emmanuel, which aligns with certain ancient texts like the Talmud of Immanuel, was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the tomb after three days and nights, just as Jonah had emerged from the whale. According to Martin, Jesus’ subsequent appearances to his disciples, such as the encounter with Doubting Thomas and the miraculous catch of fish by the Sea of Galilee, were moments when Jesus was still recovering from his injuries, but healthy enough to move.
Art presses Martin on how mainstream Christianity could have so thoroughly overlooked or rejected these theories. Martin reiterates that early Christian leaders, particularly Paul, shaped the religion by focusing on the resurrection narrative. This emphasis on physical resurrection, Martin believes, overshadowed Jesus’ original teachings on reincarnation and spiritual growth. As the episode continues, Martin brings up additional theories that question traditional Christian history, such as the claim that Judas Iscariot may not have been the actual betrayer of Jesus, but rather a man named Judah Ihariot, which further complicates the accepted version of events. Art remains skeptical, but intrigued, as the conversation pushes deeper into these controversial ideas.
As the conversation nears its conclusion, Edward T. Martin reflects on his research into the Talmud of Immanuel and how it offers a more accurate account of Jesus’ life than the New Testament. He mentions Dr. Jim Deardorff, a scholar who initially set out to disprove the authenticity of the Talmud of Immanuel, only to come to the opposite conclusion after years of research. According to Martin, this document—believed to be the original version of the Gospel of Matthew before it was altered—supports the notion that Jesus’ teachings focused on reincarnation and spiritual knowledge, not physical resurrection.
Art and Martin also touch on the Shroud of Turin, with Martin acknowledging its significance but suggesting that the image it bears may not represent an actual supernatural event, but rather an artistic or spiritual depiction. Martin then discusses the possible appearance of Jesus, describing him as a tall, strong man with reddish-brown hair and blue-gray eyes, based on various sources he encountered in his travels, including a portrait in an ancient monastery in India. This description, along with Martin’s findings in Kashmir and Japan, highlights the idea that Jesus may have lived far longer than traditionally believed, continuing his spiritual mission in other parts of the world.