MINISTRY 1
INTRODUCTION TO JESUS’ MINISTRY
(Mark 1:1; Luke 3:1; Lentulus to Tiberius)
Judea
Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
was the governor of Judea, and Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee.
Philip, his brother, was the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachontis, and
Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abiline. In those days there emerged, and
to this day exists, a man of tremendous might named Jesus Christ,
who is referred to as the prophet of truth by the Gentiles, and the Son
of God by his own disciples, since he raises the dead and heals the ill.
He is a man of average height, handsome and dignified in his
appearance, giving those who look on him a feeling of love and at the
same time fear. His hair is the same shade as an unripe hazelnut, and
is straight nearly to his ears, but from that point down, it becomes
darker, curlier, and shinier; flowing over his shoulders and parting
down the middle of his head as is typical of Nazarenes. His brow is
gentle and serene, and his face has neither wrinkles nor flaws, and its
comeliness is enhanced by a slight ruddiness thereto. There is no
defect to be found on either his nose or his mouth. His beard is full,
and about the same shade as his hair; not too long, but parting a bit
below the chin. His expression is one of mature simplicity, with
sparklingly clear gray eyes. His rebuke is fearful, but his warnings are
humane and motivated by love, that is to say he strikes a balance
between lightheartedness and solemnity. On occasion he has wept,
but he has never indulged in laughter. He stands tall and straight,
with particularly arresting hands and arms. His manner of speaking is
serious, measured, and down to earth earth; more captivating than the
children of men.
INTRODUCTION TO JESUS’ MINISTRY
(Mark 1:1; Luke 3:1; Lentulus to Tiberius)
Judea
Here begins the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
was the governor of Judea, and Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee.
Philip, his brother, was the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachontis, and
Lysanias was the tetrarch of Abiline. In those days there emerged, and
to this day exists, a man of tremendous might named Jesus Christ,
who is referred to as the prophet of truth by the Gentiles, and the Son
of God by his own disciples, since he raises the dead and heals the ill.
He is a man of average height, handsome and dignified in his
appearance, giving those who look on him a feeling of love and at the
same time fear. His hair is the same shade as an unripe hazelnut, and
is straight nearly to his ears, but from that point down, it becomes
darker, curlier, and shinier; flowing over his shoulders and parting
down the middle of his head as is typical of Nazarenes. His brow is
gentle and serene, and his face has neither wrinkles nor flaws, and its
comeliness is enhanced by a slight ruddiness thereto. There is no
defect to be found on either his nose or his mouth. His beard is full,
and about the same shade as his hair; not too long, but parting a bit
below the chin. His expression is one of mature simplicity, with
sparklingly clear gray eyes. His rebuke is fearful, but his warnings are
humane and motivated by love, that is to say he strikes a balance
between lightheartedness and solemnity. On occasion he has wept,
but he has never indulged in laughter. He stands tall and straight,
with particularly arresting hands and arms. His manner of speaking is
serious, measured, and down to earth earth; more captivating than the
children of men.
THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Matt 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:2-18; John 1:19-28;
GEb 1, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.3;
GEb 3, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13)
Judean Countryside Near the Jordan River Now in the days when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the
Word of God came to visit this man in the Judean countryside by the
name of John, who was a descendant of Aaron the priest, and the son
of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
John turned up at the Jordan River and traveled throughout the
regions of Judea to either side thereof, preaching a baptism that
changed peoples’ hearts; of rededication and forgiveness of sins,
saying, “You must turn your lives around, for the kingdom of heaven is
drawing near.” This was he who was prophesied of in accordance with
what is written in the Book of the Oracles of Isaiah the Prophet:
“Behold, I will send a messenger ahead of you
Who will make arrangements for your arrival.
The voice of someone crying in a wilderness,
‘Everyone, make all things ready for the coming of the Lord!
Make every one of his ways plain.
Every valley will be filled in,
And every mountain and hill will be made flat.
The crooked roads will be made straight,
And the bumpy roads will be made smooth.
Then all men will be convinced of God’s salvation.’”
John’s clothes were woven from camel’s hair, and he wore a leather
belt around his waist. For nourishment he ate locusts and natural,
raw honey that tasted like manna, like a cake pan-cooked in oil.
Everyone in the Judean countryside, the regions along the Jordan, and
Jerusalem, went out to him. They confessed their sins and were
baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were
coming to him to be baptized, he cried out to them, “You brood of
vipers, who counseled you to flee from the judgment to come?
Produce results consistent with true penitence. Now do not say to one
another, (or) think to yourselves that you can say, ‘Our father is
Abraham,’ because I am telling you now that God can transform even
these very rocks into children of Abraham. The ax is already laid at
the roots of the trees, and every tree that fails to bring forth fit fruit
will be chopped up and relegated to the flames.”
And those who were assembled asked, “Well then, explain to us
what we must do?” And John replied, “Any man who has two
garments should give to someone who has none, and whoever has food
should do likewise.” Tax-collectors were also coming to him to be
baptized, so they asked him, “Teacher, what are we supposed to do?”
And he replied, “Only collect the amount that’s due.” Then some
soldiers who were there inquired, “What are we supposed to do?” And
he responded, “Be content with what you earn, accuse no one falsely,
neither extort any money from anyone.”
All of these people were waiting in expectation, wondering to
themselves if John were indeed the Messiah. Now this was John’s
answer to the priests and the Levites when the Jews of Jerusalem sent
them out to ask him who he was. He did not fail to acknowledge, but
freely admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Who are
you then? You must be Elijah.” “I am not!” He replied. “How about
the Prophet?” He answered them, “No!” Finally they asked him,
“Who are you, then. Give us a statement to take back to those who
sent us. What is it that you say of yourself?” John answered them
with the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“Mine is the voice of one crying in a wilderness,
‘Make every one of his ways straight!’”
Now some from among the Pharisees who had been sent prodded him,
“If you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, then why do
you baptize?” John responded to the people there and removed all
doubt. This was what he had to say:
“I baptize you in the water of repentance,
But there is one who stands among you--
Someone who you do not know,
Someone who is greater than I.
He is following on my heels.
It is he who comes after me,
Whose sandals I am not fit to carry.
Nor am I so worthy as to bend down
And untie the laces thereof.
He will baptize you with Holy Spirit
And with fire.
His sifting fork is in his hand
To empty out his threshing floor
And gather his wheat into his barn.
But the chaff he will burn
In unquenchable flames.”
All of these things took place at Bethany, on the other side of the
Jordan, where John was baptizing. And John spurred them on with
many such words, preaching the gospel to the people.
(Matt 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:2-18; John 1:19-28;
GEb 1, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.3;
GEb 3, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13)
Judean Countryside Near the Jordan River Now in the days when Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the
Word of God came to visit this man in the Judean countryside by the
name of John, who was a descendant of Aaron the priest, and the son
of Zechariah and Elizabeth.
John turned up at the Jordan River and traveled throughout the
regions of Judea to either side thereof, preaching a baptism that
changed peoples’ hearts; of rededication and forgiveness of sins,
saying, “You must turn your lives around, for the kingdom of heaven is
drawing near.” This was he who was prophesied of in accordance with
what is written in the Book of the Oracles of Isaiah the Prophet:
“Behold, I will send a messenger ahead of you
Who will make arrangements for your arrival.
The voice of someone crying in a wilderness,
‘Everyone, make all things ready for the coming of the Lord!
Make every one of his ways plain.
Every valley will be filled in,
And every mountain and hill will be made flat.
The crooked roads will be made straight,
And the bumpy roads will be made smooth.
Then all men will be convinced of God’s salvation.’”
John’s clothes were woven from camel’s hair, and he wore a leather
belt around his waist. For nourishment he ate locusts and natural,
raw honey that tasted like manna, like a cake pan-cooked in oil.
Everyone in the Judean countryside, the regions along the Jordan, and
Jerusalem, went out to him. They confessed their sins and were
baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were
coming to him to be baptized, he cried out to them, “You brood of
vipers, who counseled you to flee from the judgment to come?
Produce results consistent with true penitence. Now do not say to one
another, (or) think to yourselves that you can say, ‘Our father is
Abraham,’ because I am telling you now that God can transform even
these very rocks into children of Abraham. The ax is already laid at
the roots of the trees, and every tree that fails to bring forth fit fruit
will be chopped up and relegated to the flames.”
And those who were assembled asked, “Well then, explain to us
what we must do?” And John replied, “Any man who has two
garments should give to someone who has none, and whoever has food
should do likewise.” Tax-collectors were also coming to him to be
baptized, so they asked him, “Teacher, what are we supposed to do?”
And he replied, “Only collect the amount that’s due.” Then some
soldiers who were there inquired, “What are we supposed to do?” And
he responded, “Be content with what you earn, accuse no one falsely,
neither extort any money from anyone.”
All of these people were waiting in expectation, wondering to
themselves if John were indeed the Messiah. Now this was John’s
answer to the priests and the Levites when the Jews of Jerusalem sent
them out to ask him who he was. He did not fail to acknowledge, but
freely admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Who are
you then? You must be Elijah.” “I am not!” He replied. “How about
the Prophet?” He answered them, “No!” Finally they asked him,
“Who are you, then. Give us a statement to take back to those who
sent us. What is it that you say of yourself?” John answered them
with the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“Mine is the voice of one crying in a wilderness,
‘Make every one of his ways straight!’”
Now some from among the Pharisees who had been sent prodded him,
“If you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, then why do
you baptize?” John responded to the people there and removed all
doubt. This was what he had to say:
“I baptize you in the water of repentance,
But there is one who stands among you--
Someone who you do not know,
Someone who is greater than I.
He is following on my heels.
It is he who comes after me,
Whose sandals I am not fit to carry.
Nor am I so worthy as to bend down
And untie the laces thereof.
He will baptize you with Holy Spirit
And with fire.
His sifting fork is in his hand
To empty out his threshing floor
And gather his wheat into his barn.
But the chaff he will burn
In unquenchable flames.”
All of these things took place at Bethany, on the other side of the
Jordan, where John was baptizing. And John spurred them on with
many such words, preaching the gospel to the people.
JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS
(Matt 3:3-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-3;
John 1:29-32; GHb 2, Quote by Jerome, Against Pelagians 3; GHb 3, Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah 4, concerning
Isa 11:2; GEb 4, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13;
Severus, Syriac Baptismal Liturgy; DTry 88:3)
The Jordan River
One day, when the people were being baptized, the Lord’s mother
and brothers said to him, “John the Baptist is washing for the
forgiveness of sins. Let’s all go and be baptized by him.” “In what way
have I erred?” Jesus replied. “Why should I go and be baptized by
him? That would only be fitting if I did not understand my own
teaching.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee over to the Jordan
to be baptized by John. The next day John saw Jesus heading his way
and said, “Behold, it’s God’s Lamb of Atonement for the sins of the
world! This is the one I was talking about when I said to you, ‘A man
who comes after me surpasses me, since he went before me.’ I never
did know him myself, but the reason I came washing with water in the
first place was so that I might reveal him to Israel.” Even so, Jesus
also was baptized, though John tried to discourage him, saying, “I ought to be baptized by you, and here you are coming to me?” “Let it
be this way for now,” Jesus replied. “It is proper insofar as it allows
for the forgiveness of all.” Only then did John consent. Now John was
standing up above the waters as Christ went down into them to receive
baptism in the Jordan. And just then a great light blazed forth all
around; and fire was visible upon the water, such that all who were
there were afraid. And even as Jesus was praying there and being
baptized, he rose up from the water and the sky started spreading
apart. On his way up and out of the water, Jesus saw the sky splitting
open and the entire wellspring of the Holy Spirit plunging down--
perching upon him in physical form like a dove (and) filling him. For
truly the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit manifests,
liberation ensues. And a voice came from the sky: “You are My Son
and I love you. You bring Me great joy! This very day I have become
your Father. I awaited you in all the prophets, Son, biding My time
until your arrival, that I might settle all things in you. For you are My
rest, My firstborn Son, who rules forever.” And right away a bright
light illumined that place. And when John saw all of this, he asked
him, “Who are you?” And once again a voice from the heavens
confirmed, “This is My precious Son. He pleases Me immensely, (and)
I accept him completely!” Then John knelt down before him and
pleaded, “Lord, I beg you to baptize me!” But Jesus refused, saying,
“That will not be necessary. This is the means by which all things are to be fulfilled.” And Jesus was about thirty years old when his
ministry began.
(Matt 3:3-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-3;
John 1:29-32; GHb 2, Quote by Jerome, Against Pelagians 3; GHb 3, Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah 4, concerning
Isa 11:2; GEb 4, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13;
Severus, Syriac Baptismal Liturgy; DTry 88:3)
The Jordan River
One day, when the people were being baptized, the Lord’s mother
and brothers said to him, “John the Baptist is washing for the
forgiveness of sins. Let’s all go and be baptized by him.” “In what way
have I erred?” Jesus replied. “Why should I go and be baptized by
him? That would only be fitting if I did not understand my own
teaching.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee over to the Jordan
to be baptized by John. The next day John saw Jesus heading his way
and said, “Behold, it’s God’s Lamb of Atonement for the sins of the
world! This is the one I was talking about when I said to you, ‘A man
who comes after me surpasses me, since he went before me.’ I never
did know him myself, but the reason I came washing with water in the
first place was so that I might reveal him to Israel.” Even so, Jesus
also was baptized, though John tried to discourage him, saying, “I ought to be baptized by you, and here you are coming to me?” “Let it
be this way for now,” Jesus replied. “It is proper insofar as it allows
for the forgiveness of all.” Only then did John consent. Now John was
standing up above the waters as Christ went down into them to receive
baptism in the Jordan. And just then a great light blazed forth all
around; and fire was visible upon the water, such that all who were
there were afraid. And even as Jesus was praying there and being
baptized, he rose up from the water and the sky started spreading
apart. On his way up and out of the water, Jesus saw the sky splitting
open and the entire wellspring of the Holy Spirit plunging down--
perching upon him in physical form like a dove (and) filling him. For
truly the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit manifests,
liberation ensues. And a voice came from the sky: “You are My Son
and I love you. You bring Me great joy! This very day I have become
your Father. I awaited you in all the prophets, Son, biding My time
until your arrival, that I might settle all things in you. For you are My
rest, My firstborn Son, who rules forever.” And right away a bright
light illumined that place. And when John saw all of this, he asked
him, “Who are you?” And once again a voice from the heavens
confirmed, “This is My precious Son. He pleases Me immensely, (and)
I accept him completely!” Then John knelt down before him and
pleaded, “Lord, I beg you to baptize me!” But Jesus refused, saying,
“That will not be necessary. This is the means by which all things are to be fulfilled.” And Jesus was about thirty years old when his
ministry began.
JOHN’S TESTIMONIAL; THE FIRST FOLLOWERS
(John 1:32-51; Papyrus Berolinensis 11710)
Bethany; Far Side of the Jordan
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down as a
dove out of the sky, and lingering upon him. Had that One Who sent
me to baptize in water not disclosed to me, ‘The man upon whom you
see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with
the Divine Inspiration,’ I would never have recognized him. I have
seen, and do confirm that this one is the Son of God.”
The next day, John was standing there with two of his followers.
And as Jesus was walking along, John looked his way and cried aloud,
“Behold--the Lamb of God!” And when the two of them heard what
John had said, they started following after him. Jesus, turning
around, saw them in pursuit and asked, “What are you seeking?” And
they asked him, “Rabbi, (which means ‘Teacher,’) where are you
staying?” And Jesus answered, “If you’d like to know, then come
along!” They went with him and saw the place, and that day they all remained together until about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s
brother, was one of the two that heard John testify, and who afterward
followed Jesus. The first thing he did was to go and find his own
brother Simon. And he said to him, “We have found the Messiah,
which means the Christ.” Andrew then took Simon over to introduce
him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son
of John. You are to be known as Cephas, which means ‘the stone.’”
The following day, he was of a mind to move on to Galilee, so Jesus
found Philip, and bid him, “Follow me.” Philip, you see, was from
Bethsaida, the same city that Andrew and Peter were from. Philip
went to get Nathanael and said, “You know the one about whom
Moses wrote in the Law and the prophets? Well, we have found him!
He is Joseph’s son; Jesus of Nazareth.” And Nathanael asked him,
“Nazareth? Can a blessing come from there?” “You will see,” Philip
said. “Come on!” Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and said, “Look,
an Israelite in whom there truly is no guile!” “How can it be that you
know me so well?” Nathanael asked him. Jesus replied, “I saw you
even before Philip summoned you. You were underneath the fig tree.”
“Rabbi,” Nathanael confessed, “my Master--you are God’s Lamb of
atonement for the sins of the world! You are assuredly the Son of
God! The King of Israel!” “Nathanael, walk in the sun! Do you
believe that simply because I said to you that I could see you
underneath the fig tree?” Rabbi Jesus answered him. “You are going
to see things that are far more impressive than this! Of a truth, and
without a doubt,” he said, “I am here to tell you that you are going to
see the sky open up, and God’s angels rising and falling on the Son of
Man.”
(John 1:32-51; Papyrus Berolinensis 11710)
Bethany; Far Side of the Jordan
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down as a
dove out of the sky, and lingering upon him. Had that One Who sent
me to baptize in water not disclosed to me, ‘The man upon whom you
see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with
the Divine Inspiration,’ I would never have recognized him. I have
seen, and do confirm that this one is the Son of God.”
The next day, John was standing there with two of his followers.
And as Jesus was walking along, John looked his way and cried aloud,
“Behold--the Lamb of God!” And when the two of them heard what
John had said, they started following after him. Jesus, turning
around, saw them in pursuit and asked, “What are you seeking?” And
they asked him, “Rabbi, (which means ‘Teacher,’) where are you
staying?” And Jesus answered, “If you’d like to know, then come
along!” They went with him and saw the place, and that day they all remained together until about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s
brother, was one of the two that heard John testify, and who afterward
followed Jesus. The first thing he did was to go and find his own
brother Simon. And he said to him, “We have found the Messiah,
which means the Christ.” Andrew then took Simon over to introduce
him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son
of John. You are to be known as Cephas, which means ‘the stone.’”
The following day, he was of a mind to move on to Galilee, so Jesus
found Philip, and bid him, “Follow me.” Philip, you see, was from
Bethsaida, the same city that Andrew and Peter were from. Philip
went to get Nathanael and said, “You know the one about whom
Moses wrote in the Law and the prophets? Well, we have found him!
He is Joseph’s son; Jesus of Nazareth.” And Nathanael asked him,
“Nazareth? Can a blessing come from there?” “You will see,” Philip
said. “Come on!” Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and said, “Look,
an Israelite in whom there truly is no guile!” “How can it be that you
know me so well?” Nathanael asked him. Jesus replied, “I saw you
even before Philip summoned you. You were underneath the fig tree.”
“Rabbi,” Nathanael confessed, “my Master--you are God’s Lamb of
atonement for the sins of the world! You are assuredly the Son of
God! The King of Israel!” “Nathanael, walk in the sun! Do you
believe that simply because I said to you that I could see you
underneath the fig tree?” Rabbi Jesus answered him. “You are going
to see things that are far more impressive than this! Of a truth, and
without a doubt,” he said, “I am here to tell you that you are going to
see the sky open up, and God’s angels rising and falling on the Son of
Man.”
THE TEMPTATION
(Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1-13;
GHb 4, Quote by Origen, Commentary on John 2)
Jordan River; The Wilderness (Mount Tabor)
Jesus, filled with the Divine Inspiration, returned from the Jordan
and was guided by the Spirit, which sent him out to a solitary place in
the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. “At that moment, my
mother, the Holy Spirit took me, whisked me away by one of my hairs,
and brought me to the great Mount Tabor.” He spent forty days in the
wilderness being tempted by Satan. He lived among the creatures of
the wild, where angels looked after him. He ate nothing that whole time, so after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was very
hungry. Then the tempter showed up and enticed him, “If you really
are the Son of God, then say the word and this stone, (indeed all of)
these stones will be turned into bread.” Jesus replied, “It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him and led him to Jerusalem, the holy city and
placed him on the pinnacle of the temple. He said, “If you really are
the Son of God, then jump down from here. You see, it is written: ‘He
will order his angels to watch over you, to guard you carefully, and
pick you up with their own hands, lest you should kick your foot
against a stone.’” Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘Do not tempt the Lord
your God.’”
Again, the devil took him and led him up to a high place, to a lofty
mountain and showed him all the nations of the world, with all of their
trappings, in a moment of time. “All of this will I give to you,” he
baited him, “if you will bow and worship me. All of its power, and
every bit of its glory will I give to you, for it has been placed into my
hand, and I am free to offer it to whomever I choose. So it will all be
yours if you worship me.” And Jesus answered saying, “You get
behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You must worship only God,
serving Him and no one else.’” Then, after the devil had run through
every temptation, he left Jesus to await a better occasion. Angels then
came and ministered to him.
(Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1-13;
GHb 4, Quote by Origen, Commentary on John 2)
Jordan River; The Wilderness (Mount Tabor)
Jesus, filled with the Divine Inspiration, returned from the Jordan
and was guided by the Spirit, which sent him out to a solitary place in
the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. “At that moment, my
mother, the Holy Spirit took me, whisked me away by one of my hairs,
and brought me to the great Mount Tabor.” He spent forty days in the
wilderness being tempted by Satan. He lived among the creatures of
the wild, where angels looked after him. He ate nothing that whole time, so after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was very
hungry. Then the tempter showed up and enticed him, “If you really
are the Son of God, then say the word and this stone, (indeed all of)
these stones will be turned into bread.” Jesus replied, “It is written:
‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him and led him to Jerusalem, the holy city and
placed him on the pinnacle of the temple. He said, “If you really are
the Son of God, then jump down from here. You see, it is written: ‘He
will order his angels to watch over you, to guard you carefully, and
pick you up with their own hands, lest you should kick your foot
against a stone.’” Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘Do not tempt the Lord
your God.’”
Again, the devil took him and led him up to a high place, to a lofty
mountain and showed him all the nations of the world, with all of their
trappings, in a moment of time. “All of this will I give to you,” he
baited him, “if you will bow and worship me. All of its power, and
every bit of its glory will I give to you, for it has been placed into my
hand, and I am free to offer it to whomever I choose. So it will all be
yours if you worship me.” And Jesus answered saying, “You get
behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You must worship only God,
serving Him and no one else.’” Then, after the devil had run through
every temptation, he left Jesus to await a better occasion. Angels then
came and ministered to him.
PETER, ANDREW, JAMES,
AND JOHN FOLLOW JESUS
(Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; AJn 88,89)
Beside the Sea of Galilee
As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, he caught sight of two
brothers; Simon, whose nickname was Peter, along with his brother
Andrew. They, being fishermen, were casting a net into the sea. And
he called out to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!”
And just then they followed him, leaving their nets behind them.
Moving on from there he saw two other brothers, James, the son of
Zebedee, along with his brother John. And he called to them as they were preparing their nets in a boat with their father. For after Jesus
had selected the two brothers, Peter and Andrew, he came up to me,
and my brother James, saying, “Come to me for I have need of you.”
And my brother asked me, “John, what does this youth who called out
to us from the shore desire?” “What youth?” I asked. “The one who is
summoning us,” he answered. “Brother James,” I said to him, “we’ve
been out to sea for way too long--you are seeing things! Can you not
tell that the one standing there is a grown man, strikingly handsome
and joyful of face?” “My brother,” he answered, “that is not the one I
see. Let us go and see what this is about.” And they both got out of
the boat. Now as [they] were getting off, [they] realized that he was
helping [them] to guide [their] boat ashore. And right away they
followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the
workers.
And as we were leaving that place, again wishing to follow him, he
showed himself to me again; this time with a bald head and a long,
thick beard. To James, however, he revealed himself as an adolescent
boy whose beard was just growing in. We were both confused by this,
and marveled over what we had seen. Still, the longer we followed
after him, and the more that we thought about it, the more confused
we both became. And another, even more incredible sight was
revealed to me. Every time that I would try to see him as he truly was,
I never could see him with his eyes closed, but they were constantly
open. He would on occasion seem to me as somewhat small and
rather homely, but at other times he would appear as one whose
stature reached into the sky. There was yet another wonder in him:
when I would sit with him at the table, he would hold me to his heart
and I would hold him close to mine. Sometimes his chest seemed soft
and gentle, and sometimes it seemed as hard as a rock. Naturally I
was confused by this and asked, ‘What is this supposed to mean?’
AND JOHN FOLLOW JESUS
(Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; AJn 88,89)
Beside the Sea of Galilee
As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, he caught sight of two
brothers; Simon, whose nickname was Peter, along with his brother
Andrew. They, being fishermen, were casting a net into the sea. And
he called out to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!”
And just then they followed him, leaving their nets behind them.
Moving on from there he saw two other brothers, James, the son of
Zebedee, along with his brother John. And he called to them as they were preparing their nets in a boat with their father. For after Jesus
had selected the two brothers, Peter and Andrew, he came up to me,
and my brother James, saying, “Come to me for I have need of you.”
And my brother asked me, “John, what does this youth who called out
to us from the shore desire?” “What youth?” I asked. “The one who is
summoning us,” he answered. “Brother James,” I said to him, “we’ve
been out to sea for way too long--you are seeing things! Can you not
tell that the one standing there is a grown man, strikingly handsome
and joyful of face?” “My brother,” he answered, “that is not the one I
see. Let us go and see what this is about.” And they both got out of
the boat. Now as [they] were getting off, [they] realized that he was
helping [them] to guide [their] boat ashore. And right away they
followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the
workers.
And as we were leaving that place, again wishing to follow him, he
showed himself to me again; this time with a bald head and a long,
thick beard. To James, however, he revealed himself as an adolescent
boy whose beard was just growing in. We were both confused by this,
and marveled over what we had seen. Still, the longer we followed
after him, and the more that we thought about it, the more confused
we both became. And another, even more incredible sight was
revealed to me. Every time that I would try to see him as he truly was,
I never could see him with his eyes closed, but they were constantly
open. He would on occasion seem to me as somewhat small and
rather homely, but at other times he would appear as one whose
stature reached into the sky. There was yet another wonder in him:
when I would sit with him at the table, he would hold me to his heart
and I would hold him close to mine. Sometimes his chest seemed soft
and gentle, and sometimes it seemed as hard as a rock. Naturally I
was confused by this and asked, ‘What is this supposed to mean?’
JESUS HEALS A SKIN DISEASE
(Matt 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16; Egtn 2:1,4)
Galilee
And behold, it happened that while he was in one of those towns,
there was this man who was blanketed by leprosy. Now when he
caught sight of Jesus, he came up to him and fell to his knees (and)
face in worship. “Lord Jesus,” he said, “my teacher! As a result of
keeping company with lepers, and eating alongside them in the
poorhouse, I myself contracted leprosy. If you will, you can make me
clean.” And Jesus, moved with compassion, reached out his hand and
touched him, saying to him, “That is truly my desire; therefore be
cleansed.” And even as he said this, the leprosy went away, and the
man was cleansed. And immediately Jesus gave him a stern warning
and ushered him out, saying to him: “See to it that you say nothing to
anyone, but do go and allow the priest to examine you, and offer the
sacrifice that is called for by Moses, both for your cleansing and as a
sign to them--and no more sinning!” But he left that place and started
preaching blatantly, and speaking the matter so extensively that Jesus
could no longer enter into any town openly. And the stories about him
grew even more widespread, and great multitudes were gathering both
to hear him and to be healed by him of their illnesses. And he
withdrew into solitude to pray. And though he was way out in isolated places, they nonetheless came out to him from every region.
(Matt 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16; Egtn 2:1,4)
Galilee
And behold, it happened that while he was in one of those towns,
there was this man who was blanketed by leprosy. Now when he
caught sight of Jesus, he came up to him and fell to his knees (and)
face in worship. “Lord Jesus,” he said, “my teacher! As a result of
keeping company with lepers, and eating alongside them in the
poorhouse, I myself contracted leprosy. If you will, you can make me
clean.” And Jesus, moved with compassion, reached out his hand and
touched him, saying to him, “That is truly my desire; therefore be
cleansed.” And even as he said this, the leprosy went away, and the
man was cleansed. And immediately Jesus gave him a stern warning
and ushered him out, saying to him: “See to it that you say nothing to
anyone, but do go and allow the priest to examine you, and offer the
sacrifice that is called for by Moses, both for your cleansing and as a
sign to them--and no more sinning!” But he left that place and started
preaching blatantly, and speaking the matter so extensively that Jesus
could no longer enter into any town openly. And the stories about him
grew even more widespread, and great multitudes were gathering both
to hear him and to be healed by him of their illnesses. And he
withdrew into solitude to pray. And though he was way out in isolated places, they nonetheless came out to him from every region.
JESUS CALLS MATTHEW (AND LEVI)
(Matt 9:9-10; Mark 2:13-14; Luke 5:29-28;
GHb 5, Quote by Didymus, Commentary on Psalm 184,
regarding Psalm 33)
Capernaum
Now as he was moving on, Jesus saw a tax-collector named
Matthew seated at the tax booth. “Follow me!” Jesus said, whereupon
Matthew got right up and followed him. Now as he was walking along
the lakeshore, he saw the son of Alphaeus, a tax-collector whose name
was Levi sitting at his spot at the tax-collector’s post. (Scripture, you
see, seems to equate Matthew with Levi, but they are actually two
different people. Matthias, the one who took the place of Judas, is in
fact Levi. He is the one who has two names; something that the
Gospel of the Hebrews makes clear.) “Follow me!” Jesus said. And
Levi stood, leaving everything behind, and following after him.
(Matt 9:9-10; Mark 2:13-14; Luke 5:29-28;
GHb 5, Quote by Didymus, Commentary on Psalm 184,
regarding Psalm 33)
Capernaum
Now as he was moving on, Jesus saw a tax-collector named
Matthew seated at the tax booth. “Follow me!” Jesus said, whereupon
Matthew got right up and followed him. Now as he was walking along
the lakeshore, he saw the son of Alphaeus, a tax-collector whose name
was Levi sitting at his spot at the tax-collector’s post. (Scripture, you
see, seems to equate Matthew with Levi, but they are actually two
different people. Matthias, the one who took the place of Judas, is in
fact Levi. He is the one who has two names; something that the
Gospel of the Hebrews makes clear.) “Follow me!” Jesus said. And
Levi stood, leaving everything behind, and following after him.
MINISTRY 2
THE PARALYTIC AT BETHESDA
(John 5:1-47; GTh 52; Egtn 1:1-9:
Quote By Pseudo-Cyprian, On The Unbelief Of The Jews 4;
Clementine Homilies 3.53)
Jerusalem
A short time later, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem to attend. Now in Jerusalem there is this pool over by
the sheep gate, which in Aramaic is called “Bethesda.” It has five
colonnades surrounding it, and all manner of the ailing--the blind, the
lame, and the paralyzed--were lying in wait for the rousing of the
water. (Every once in a while, you see, an angel would come down to
the pool and stir the water up. The first one in after this upset would
be cured of whatever malady had afflicted them.) A man who had
been disabled for thirty-eight years was in that place. Jesus saw him
lying there, and knowing that he had been there a long time asked
him, “Would you like to be made whole?” “Lord,” the lame man
answered him, “I’ve got no one to help me in at the stirring thereof; for even as I am inching toward it, someone always beats me there.” “Get
up!” said Jesus, “Now pick up your bed and walk.” Right away the
man was healed, and he picked up his bed and walked away. Now it
was the Sabbath Day, so the Jews said to the restored man, “Today is
the Sabbath! The law prohibits you from carrying that bed.” But the
man replied, “The very one who healed me also said to me, ‘Pick up
your bed and walk.’” “Who is this ‘man’ who told you to pick up your
bed and walk?” they demanded. The one who had been healed had no
idea who it was that had healed him, for Jesus had slipped away into
the crowd. A short while later, Jesus met him at the temple and said,
“Behold, you are restored to your former state. See to it that you stop
sinning, or something far worse might befall you.” The man left that
place and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
The Jews, therefore, were looking to deliver Jesus up to death, for
he had dared to perform these acts on the Sabbath. “My Father
ministers up to now,” Jesus explained, “and now I minister just like
Him.” Then the Jews were even more determined to put him to death,
for not only was he violating the Sabbath, but was also calling God his
Father, making himself out to be equal to God. “I say to you in all
truth,” Jesus therefore answered them, “the Son is unable to act on his
own. He is only able to do as he sees his own Father doing, for the Son
sees what the Father does and does things just like Him. For the
Father loves the Son, and fills him in on all He does. And He will,
moreover, make known things that are even more astounding than
this, that all of you might be amazed. For in the same way that the
Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also does the Son give
life to whomever he will. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has
relegated the judgment of all things to the Son. This is so that
everyone might respect the Son every bit as much as they respect the
Father. Whoever dishonors the Son also brings dishonor upon the
Father Who sent him. I say to you most assuredly, anyone who hears
my word and believes in Him Who sent me here, has transcendent life
and will not be judged, but has passed right through death and into
life. Assuredly I say to you, the time is approaching, and truly is upon
us, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and in hearing
they will come alive. Because in the same way that the Father has life
within Himself, so also has He decreed that the Son should have life
within himself. And He has given him complete authority, for he is the
Son of Man.
“Do not be surprised at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the grave will hear His voice and resurrect; those who have acted righteously will arise to be enlivened, and those who have acted
wickedly will arise only to be sentenced. I cannot do whatever I
please. I judge according to the way I hear, and as such my judgment
is fair, seeing that I do not act by my own whims, but only as the One
Who sent me wishes me to. And if I should speak of myself alone,
then my testimony will not stand. There is another who will testify on
my behalf, and I am quite sure that His testimony regarding me is
true. You sent envoys out to John, and he has testified to the truth.
Not that I accept the testimony of men; but this I say for your
salvation. John was a lamp that was burning bright, and for a time you were eager to bask in his light. But I am backed up by a testimony
that is greater than John’s. What I am working on now, you see, is the
very task that was given to me by the Father, and it does of itself
confirm that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father Who sent
me has already borne me out. Never have you heard His voice, nor
ever have you seen His form, and neither is His word alive in you.
That much is certain, seeing that you do not trust in the one whom He
has sent.” <Jesus said> to the scribes, “<God will judge> all who
behave unfairly, <so look to yourselves> and not me. <You imagine
that you judge the same way that> He does, how does He?” And
turning to the leaders of the people, he said: “Pore over the writings
then. You study the Scriptures meticulously, supposing that through
them, you will have eternal life. Yet you reject me out of hand, in spite
of the fact that these very Scriptures point to me, that you might draw
near to me and thereby receive endless life.
“I do not accept the praises of men. Indeed I know how it is with
you. You do not have God’s love in your hearts. For even though I
come bearing the very stamp of my Father, you do not believe in me.
If, however, someone else should come along acting in line with his
own will, you will all be sure to embrace him. If you accept
commendation from each other, while not attempting in the least to
receive the glorification that comes from God alone, how ever will you
come to believe? “Now do not imagine that I will be the one to arraign you before my
Father. Moses, upon whom you’ve pinned your every hope, stands as
your accuser.” “We know that God spoke to Moses,” they said. “But as
for you, we have no idea <where you came from.>” “You are now
charged with not accepting those <whom Moses endorsed,”>
answered Jesus. “Had you believed Moses, you would have believed
me, for I am the one about whom he wrote to your forefathers, saying,
‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, who will be to you even as I am. Hear him, therefore, in all
things. And whosoever will not hear that prophet will die.’ How will
you ever believe what I say if you do not accept the things that he
wrote?”
His followers said to him, “Twenty-four prophets have spoken in
Israel, and all of them were pointing to you!” Then Jesus said, “You
are speaking of the dead, and overlooking the Living One who is in
your midst. I, the one who speaks in the prophets, am here with you,
speaking to you.” <Some people in the crowd started to gather>
stones together <in order to pummel> him. <The leaders then> took
hold of him and tried to arrest him and deliver him over to the people,
but because the time for him to be handed up had not yet come, they
failed to apprehend him. The Lord therefore of his own eluded their
grasp and got away from them.
THE PARALYTIC AT BETHESDA
(John 5:1-47; GTh 52; Egtn 1:1-9:
Quote By Pseudo-Cyprian, On The Unbelief Of The Jews 4;
Clementine Homilies 3.53)
Jerusalem
A short time later, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up
to Jerusalem to attend. Now in Jerusalem there is this pool over by
the sheep gate, which in Aramaic is called “Bethesda.” It has five
colonnades surrounding it, and all manner of the ailing--the blind, the
lame, and the paralyzed--were lying in wait for the rousing of the
water. (Every once in a while, you see, an angel would come down to
the pool and stir the water up. The first one in after this upset would
be cured of whatever malady had afflicted them.) A man who had
been disabled for thirty-eight years was in that place. Jesus saw him
lying there, and knowing that he had been there a long time asked
him, “Would you like to be made whole?” “Lord,” the lame man
answered him, “I’ve got no one to help me in at the stirring thereof; for even as I am inching toward it, someone always beats me there.” “Get
up!” said Jesus, “Now pick up your bed and walk.” Right away the
man was healed, and he picked up his bed and walked away. Now it
was the Sabbath Day, so the Jews said to the restored man, “Today is
the Sabbath! The law prohibits you from carrying that bed.” But the
man replied, “The very one who healed me also said to me, ‘Pick up
your bed and walk.’” “Who is this ‘man’ who told you to pick up your
bed and walk?” they demanded. The one who had been healed had no
idea who it was that had healed him, for Jesus had slipped away into
the crowd. A short while later, Jesus met him at the temple and said,
“Behold, you are restored to your former state. See to it that you stop
sinning, or something far worse might befall you.” The man left that
place and informed the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.
The Jews, therefore, were looking to deliver Jesus up to death, for
he had dared to perform these acts on the Sabbath. “My Father
ministers up to now,” Jesus explained, “and now I minister just like
Him.” Then the Jews were even more determined to put him to death,
for not only was he violating the Sabbath, but was also calling God his
Father, making himself out to be equal to God. “I say to you in all
truth,” Jesus therefore answered them, “the Son is unable to act on his
own. He is only able to do as he sees his own Father doing, for the Son
sees what the Father does and does things just like Him. For the
Father loves the Son, and fills him in on all He does. And He will,
moreover, make known things that are even more astounding than
this, that all of you might be amazed. For in the same way that the
Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also does the Son give
life to whomever he will. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has
relegated the judgment of all things to the Son. This is so that
everyone might respect the Son every bit as much as they respect the
Father. Whoever dishonors the Son also brings dishonor upon the
Father Who sent him. I say to you most assuredly, anyone who hears
my word and believes in Him Who sent me here, has transcendent life
and will not be judged, but has passed right through death and into
life. Assuredly I say to you, the time is approaching, and truly is upon
us, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and in hearing
they will come alive. Because in the same way that the Father has life
within Himself, so also has He decreed that the Son should have life
within himself. And He has given him complete authority, for he is the
Son of Man.
“Do not be surprised at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the grave will hear His voice and resurrect; those who have acted righteously will arise to be enlivened, and those who have acted
wickedly will arise only to be sentenced. I cannot do whatever I
please. I judge according to the way I hear, and as such my judgment
is fair, seeing that I do not act by my own whims, but only as the One
Who sent me wishes me to. And if I should speak of myself alone,
then my testimony will not stand. There is another who will testify on
my behalf, and I am quite sure that His testimony regarding me is
true. You sent envoys out to John, and he has testified to the truth.
Not that I accept the testimony of men; but this I say for your
salvation. John was a lamp that was burning bright, and for a time you were eager to bask in his light. But I am backed up by a testimony
that is greater than John’s. What I am working on now, you see, is the
very task that was given to me by the Father, and it does of itself
confirm that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father Who sent
me has already borne me out. Never have you heard His voice, nor
ever have you seen His form, and neither is His word alive in you.
That much is certain, seeing that you do not trust in the one whom He
has sent.” <Jesus said> to the scribes, “<God will judge> all who
behave unfairly, <so look to yourselves> and not me. <You imagine
that you judge the same way that> He does, how does He?” And
turning to the leaders of the people, he said: “Pore over the writings
then. You study the Scriptures meticulously, supposing that through
them, you will have eternal life. Yet you reject me out of hand, in spite
of the fact that these very Scriptures point to me, that you might draw
near to me and thereby receive endless life.
“I do not accept the praises of men. Indeed I know how it is with
you. You do not have God’s love in your hearts. For even though I
come bearing the very stamp of my Father, you do not believe in me.
If, however, someone else should come along acting in line with his
own will, you will all be sure to embrace him. If you accept
commendation from each other, while not attempting in the least to
receive the glorification that comes from God alone, how ever will you
come to believe? “Now do not imagine that I will be the one to arraign you before my
Father. Moses, upon whom you’ve pinned your every hope, stands as
your accuser.” “We know that God spoke to Moses,” they said. “But as
for you, we have no idea <where you came from.>” “You are now
charged with not accepting those <whom Moses endorsed,”>
answered Jesus. “Had you believed Moses, you would have believed
me, for I am the one about whom he wrote to your forefathers, saying,
‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, who will be to you even as I am. Hear him, therefore, in all
things. And whosoever will not hear that prophet will die.’ How will
you ever believe what I say if you do not accept the things that he
wrote?”
His followers said to him, “Twenty-four prophets have spoken in
Israel, and all of them were pointing to you!” Then Jesus said, “You
are speaking of the dead, and overlooking the Living One who is in
your midst. I, the one who speaks in the prophets, am here with you,
speaking to you.” <Some people in the crowd started to gather>
stones together <in order to pummel> him. <The leaders then> took
hold of him and tried to arrest him and deliver him over to the people,
but because the time for him to be handed up had not yet come, they
failed to apprehend him. The Lord therefore of his own eluded their
grasp and got away from them.
THE LORD OF THE SABBATH
(Matt 12:1-9a; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5;
Luke 6:5 in Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis)
Galilee
One Sabbath Day at about that time Jesus was cutting through
some wheat fields. As they walked along his hungry disciples started
picking some of the heads, rubbing them between their hands and
eating the grains. When some of the Pharisees saw what they were
doing, they prodded Jesus, “Look, your followers are breaking the
Sabbath! Why are you (and) your disciples doing what’s unlawful on
the Sabbath Day?”
“Have you never read what David did when he and his companions
were hungry and lacking?” Jesus explained. “He entered into the
house of God during the days of Abiathar the high priest, and they ate
of the consecrated bread. He also shared some with his companions.
He and his friends ate of that sacred bread, which was prohibited to
them, but authorized for the priests alone.
“Have you not also read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests
who serve in the temple profane that day and remain undefiled? I say
to you that someone greater than the temple is here. If only you had
known what was meant by the words, ‘I long for mercy and not
sacrifice,’ you would not have passed sentence against those who have
committed no crime.” “The Sabbath was designed for the sake of
mankind,” Jesus explained, “and not mankind for the sake of the
Sabbath. So the Son of Man is indeed Lord even over the Sabbath,”
and at that he went away. That same day he saw someone doing work on the Sabbath, and said to him, “Sir, if you understand what you are
doing, then you are to be commended, but if not, then curse you--you
are nothing but a lawbreaker!”
(Matt 12:1-9a; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5;
Luke 6:5 in Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis)
Galilee
One Sabbath Day at about that time Jesus was cutting through
some wheat fields. As they walked along his hungry disciples started
picking some of the heads, rubbing them between their hands and
eating the grains. When some of the Pharisees saw what they were
doing, they prodded Jesus, “Look, your followers are breaking the
Sabbath! Why are you (and) your disciples doing what’s unlawful on
the Sabbath Day?”
“Have you never read what David did when he and his companions
were hungry and lacking?” Jesus explained. “He entered into the
house of God during the days of Abiathar the high priest, and they ate
of the consecrated bread. He also shared some with his companions.
He and his friends ate of that sacred bread, which was prohibited to
them, but authorized for the priests alone.
“Have you not also read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests
who serve in the temple profane that day and remain undefiled? I say
to you that someone greater than the temple is here. If only you had
known what was meant by the words, ‘I long for mercy and not
sacrifice,’ you would not have passed sentence against those who have
committed no crime.” “The Sabbath was designed for the sake of
mankind,” Jesus explained, “and not mankind for the sake of the
Sabbath. So the Son of Man is indeed Lord even over the Sabbath,”
and at that he went away. That same day he saw someone doing work on the Sabbath, and said to him, “Sir, if you understand what you are
doing, then you are to be commended, but if not, then curse you--you
are nothing but a lawbreaker!”
THE MAN WITH THE SHRIVELED HAND
(Matt 12:9b-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11;
GNaz 4, Quote by Jerome, On Matthew 2,
Regarding Matthew 12:13)
Galilee
At another time, on another Sabbath, he entered into their
synagogue and started to teach. Now a man was there whose right
hand had withered. (Some Pharisees and scribes among them were
looking for grounds upon which to bring charges against Jesus, so
they watched him carefully to see if he would heal the man on the
Sabbath Day.) This stonemason cried out for relief, “I was once a
worker of stone, and earned my way with these two hands. Jesus, I
implore you; please heal me, that I might not be reduced to begging
for my food in shame.” But Jesus was aware of their thoughts and said
to the man with the withered hand, “Get up! Stand right here before
the crowd.” He therefore rose and stood nearby. “Is it lawful to heal
on the Sabbath Day?” they asked him. “I will put the question to you
like this,” Jesus countered: “Which act done on the Sabbath Day is in
line with the law: to perform an act of kindness, or to commit an act of
wickedness; to save someone’s life or destroy it?” But they did not
answer him. “Should any of you have but a single sheep,” Jesus asked,
“and it should slip into a ditch on the Sabbath, would you not take
hold and pull it out? How much more precious is a human being than
a sheep! For this reason it is lawful to perform an act of mercy on the Sabbath Day.” He looked out indignantly over them all, thoroughly
pained at their unyielding hearts. “Reach out your hand,” he said to
the man. The man then did as he was told, and his hand was
completely restored, and was every bit as good as the other. But the
people seethed with rage and began discussing among themselves just
what they ought to do to him. The Pharisees and the Herodians then
went out and started devising a scheme to murder Jesus.
(Matt 12:9b-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11;
GNaz 4, Quote by Jerome, On Matthew 2,
Regarding Matthew 12:13)
Galilee
At another time, on another Sabbath, he entered into their
synagogue and started to teach. Now a man was there whose right
hand had withered. (Some Pharisees and scribes among them were
looking for grounds upon which to bring charges against Jesus, so
they watched him carefully to see if he would heal the man on the
Sabbath Day.) This stonemason cried out for relief, “I was once a
worker of stone, and earned my way with these two hands. Jesus, I
implore you; please heal me, that I might not be reduced to begging
for my food in shame.” But Jesus was aware of their thoughts and said
to the man with the withered hand, “Get up! Stand right here before
the crowd.” He therefore rose and stood nearby. “Is it lawful to heal
on the Sabbath Day?” they asked him. “I will put the question to you
like this,” Jesus countered: “Which act done on the Sabbath Day is in
line with the law: to perform an act of kindness, or to commit an act of
wickedness; to save someone’s life or destroy it?” But they did not
answer him. “Should any of you have but a single sheep,” Jesus asked,
“and it should slip into a ditch on the Sabbath, would you not take
hold and pull it out? How much more precious is a human being than
a sheep! For this reason it is lawful to perform an act of mercy on the Sabbath Day.” He looked out indignantly over them all, thoroughly
pained at their unyielding hearts. “Reach out your hand,” he said to
the man. The man then did as he was told, and his hand was
completely restored, and was every bit as good as the other. But the
people seethed with rage and began discussing among themselves just
what they ought to do to him. The Pharisees and the Herodians then
went out and started devising a scheme to murder Jesus.
JESUS COMMISSIONS TWELVE APOSTLES
(Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; GEb 2:1,
Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13)
Galilee, near Capernaum
In those days, Jesus went into the hills to pray, and to petition God
the whole night through. And even as the morning dawned, he called
his hand-picked disciples to himself and selected twelve from among
them and appointed them, designating them as his apostles, that they
might travel with him, possess the power to cast out demons, and be
157
sent out to speak, “This man named Jesus, who is about thirty years
old, has sent us.” The twelve he appointed were Simon, the one he
named Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and
his brother John--upon whom he bestowed the name Boanerges,
which means the Sons of Thunder--also Philip, Bartholomew,
Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon, also known as the Zealot,
James’ son Judas (also called) Thaddeus, and Judas Iscariot, who
became a turncoat (and) betrayed him.
(Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; GEb 2:1,
Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13)
Galilee, near Capernaum
In those days, Jesus went into the hills to pray, and to petition God
the whole night through. And even as the morning dawned, he called
his hand-picked disciples to himself and selected twelve from among
them and appointed them, designating them as his apostles, that they
might travel with him, possess the power to cast out demons, and be
157
sent out to speak, “This man named Jesus, who is about thirty years
old, has sent us.” The twelve he appointed were Simon, the one he
named Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and
his brother John--upon whom he bestowed the name Boanerges,
which means the Sons of Thunder--also Philip, Bartholomew,
Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon, also known as the Zealot,
James’ son Judas (also called) Thaddeus, and Judas Iscariot, who
became a turncoat (and) betrayed him.
TEACHING FROM THE MOUNTAINSIDE
(Matt 5:1-8:1; Luke 6:17-7:1a; Acts 20.35b;
GPh 49; GNaz 3a, Quote by Jerome,
Commentary on Matthew 1, Regarding Matthew 6:11;
GNaz 3b, Quote by Jerome, Tractate on Psalm 135; Quote from Origen, On Prayer, 2:2;
Cursive Ms 1424 (Quote following Matt 7:5);
2Clement 4:5; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 2.9.45;
GTh 19,24,32,36,45,47:1,2;49,58,68,69,92,93,94/36 POxy 655;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 3.52;
GHb 6, Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 2.9.45;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 5.14.96)
On a Mountainside Near Capernaum
He went down with them and arrived at a level place and stood, and
many of his students were there. A sizable multitude from all parts of
Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon was there as
well. All had come to hear him speak and to be healed of their
diseases. Those who were afflicted by evil spirits were delivered from
them, and they were trying to touch him, for power was flowing from
him and healing each and every one of them. And seeing such
enormous masses, he went up the mountainside, seated himself, and
his disciples gathered around him. He looked out over his followers
and began to speak to them, teaching them:
“Blessed are the needy (and) the poor in spirit;
For the kingdom of God is comprised of them.
Blessed are you who are crying now For you are all about to laugh.
Blessed are those who lament,
For their consolation is drawing near.
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
For you are to be satisfied.
Blessed are the humble,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the compassionate,
For they will be shown compassion.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are those who aid in reconciliation,
For they are to bear the name; ‘Children of God.’
Blessed are those who are hunted down on account of their virtue,
For they comprise the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they whose hearts have suffered greatly,
For these have come to know the Father. Blessed are they who go without food,
That the bellies of others might be filled.
Blessed is the one who has toiled and found life.
Blessed are the chosen ones who work alone,
For you will discover the kingdom.
Since it’s from that place that you came forth,
And to that place you will be restored!
Blessed are those who came into being prior to this existence.
For though they came down to this realm,
They will again exist eternally!
For if you become a student of mine
And examine my sayings closely,
The very stones will become your servants,
For there are five trees in Paradise that remain for you alone;
They do not change from summer to winter,
And their leaves are never shed.
Anyone who knows of these will not ever taste of death.
Truly you are blessed when they detest you, exclude you, insult you,
hunt you down and defame you; making yours an evil name; casting it
aside and hurling every malicious and lying word against you--and all
of it on my account--for the sake of the Son of Man! For whatever
form your persecution takes, no basis will be found for it; and
wherever persecution has befallen you, no standing is to be afforded.
Celebrate and jump for joy, for beyond measure is the reward that
awaits you in the heavens! This, you see, was the way their forefathers
treated those who were prophets before you. But woe to the rich,
For your comfortable days are behind you now!
Woe to you who are well-fed now,
For you are all about to starve!
Woe to you who are laughing now,
For you are about to howl and lament!
Woe to you who are acclaimed by men,
For that is exactly how their forefathers spoke of the false prophets.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should lose its taste,
what is there to season it? It is then no longer fit for anything but to
be thrown into the dirt and trampled by men. You are illumination to
this world; a well defended city, sitting high upon a mountain cannot
be hid, nor indeed can it be sacked. Also, no one lights a lamp and sets
it under a grain bucket. Instead they place it high on a stand, and it
enlightens all who are in that house. Let your light shine on all of mankind, that they might appreciate the goodness in the work that
you are doing and likewise bring honor to your Father in the heavens.
“Now do not suppose that my coming nullifies the law or the
prophets. My coming does not annul them, but rather completes
them. I am telling you the simple truth when I say that not so much as
a single jot, or the tiniest mark will be overlooked in the Law, but
every detail is to be worked out until heaven and earth pass out of
existence! So whoever voids the least of these commands, and teaches
others to do the same will be despised in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever puts these teachings to work will be exalted in the kingdom of
heaven. Believe me when I tell you that you will never get into the
kingdom of the skies unless your virtue outshines that of the Pharisees
and scribes.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not kill, and every murderer
will be judged for it.’ But I am telling you now that anyone who
harbors anger against his brother without just cause will be judged for
it. Moreover, anyone who says to his brother, ‘You contemptible
person!’ will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who calls
you a ‘fool’ is right on the brink of the fires of Gehenna!
“For this reason, even if you are at the altar presenting your
offering, and in the process recall that your brother has a grievance
against you, put it down before the altar and go work things out first
with your brother. Only then should you return and present your gift.
“You should try and settle things even as your enemy is dragging
you to court. Otherwise he might place you into the hands of the judge, and the judge, into the custody of the bailiff, who may, in turn,
throw you into prison! I say to you most assuredly, you will not be let
out until you have paid back the last cent.
“You have heard that people have said, ‘Do not cheat on your
spouse.’ I, however, am telling you now that anyone who looks a
woman over and wishes to have his way with her is an adulterer
already. If your right eye is a conduit of evil, then poke it out and
throw it away. If your right hand is an instrument for wrongdoing,
then cut it off and cast it aside. Better to lose a body part than to walk
fully intact right into Gehenna!
“People have said, ‘Anyone who puts away his wife has but to issue
her a certificate of divorce.’ I, however, am telling you now that
anyone who divorces his wife for anything but unfaithfulness forces
her into adultery, since anyone who marries this woman becomes
guilty of adultery.
“Moreover, in ages past you have heard that it was said, ‘Do not go back on your oaths, but follow through on your vows to the Lord.’ But
I am telling you to never swear. Do not swear by heaven, since it is the
throne of God; nor by this world, since that is His footrest; nor by
Jerusalem, since that place belongs to the Great King. Do not even
swear by your head, since you can neither whiten nor darken so much
as a single strand. Simply let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’
mean ‘No.’ Anything more is of the evil one.
“You have heard it said, ‘An eye in exchange for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth.’ I am telling you otherwise. Do not oppose an evil man. If
anyone should strike your cheek, turn the other one his way as well.
Also, if someone wishes to sue you for the clothes on your back, let
him have your underclothes. If anyone obliges you to go a mile, then
go with him two. Should anyone ask you for something, then give it to
them, and do not ignore the one who asks you for a loan.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Show love for a friend, but hatred
for an enemy.’ But I am saying to those of you who hear my words,
show love to your enemies, blessing those who curse you, doing good
to those who hate you, and extending your prayers toward those who
wrong you. If someone should hit you on the cheek, turn the other
one to him as well. If anyone should take your clothes, do not keep
him from stealing your underclothes. Give to everyone who asks of
you, and if anyone should take what’s yours, do not insist on its
return. This is so that you may be sons to your heavenly Father. He
orders His sun to rise over the wicked and the righteous, and He sends rain upon both the virtuous and the sinful. How is it to your credit,
(and) what reward can you hope to receive for loving those who love
you back? Do not even the tax-collectors do that? Even ‘sinners’ show
love toward those who love them. And if you only acknowledge your
friends, what are you doing that these others are not? Do not even the
pagans do this? And if you are only kind to those who show you
benevolence, tell me how that makes you special? Even ‘sinners’ do as
much as that. What credit can you hope to receive by lending to those
from whom you fully expect to receive payment in kind? Even
‘sinners’ grant loans to ‘sinners’ in full expectation of repayment.
Rather, show your enemies what love is, and perform acts of kindness
even to them. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Should you
have any money, do not lend it at interest. Present it instead to those
from whom you will not receive it back. Grant loans to them without
any terms of recompense, that way your return will indeed be great,
and you will truly be the sons of the Most High, since He shows kindness toward the reprobate and the unappreciative alike. Embody
mercy (and) perfection even as your Father in heaven embodies
[them].
“Take pains to avoid doing kind works in public, for everyone to
see. If you should, your Father in heaven will not reward you. So
when you are helping out the impoverished do not proclaim it with
trumpet blasts, receiving praises from men as do the hypocrites in the
synagogues and in the streets. You can be sure that they have already
received their wages. You, however, when giving to the poor, do not
even inform your left hand of the doings of your right, that your giving
might remain unseen. Your Father, Who examines all that is hidden,
will pay you back.
“And do not pray on like the hypocrites do, for they all like to be
seen by men; they stand in prayer before synagogues and at street
corners. I am telling you the truth, they already have the payment
they crave. When you pray, enter into your room, shut the door
behind you, and pray to your Father, Who is hidden. Then your
Father will pay you back, for He sees what is done in secret. And do
not pray on like the pagans do, for they think that they will be heard
for all their blather. Your Father knows all about your needs way
before you even ask, so do not seek to be like them. Here is a pattern
for your prayers:
“Dearest Father in heaven,
Blessed be Your name!
May Your kingdom come,
And Your will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread
(And that which is) for the next,
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptations,
But guard us against (the) evil (of) the wicked one.
For the kingdom, the dominion and the praises
Are Yours for never-ending ages.
Amen.
You see, if you forgive what men do to you, then your Father in the
heavens will forgive you, too. But if you don’t forgive the sins of men,
then your Father won’t forgive your sins.
“Whenever you fast, do not go around looking dismal like the hypocrites do, because they make all kinds of faces so that men will be
sure to see that they are fasting. I tell you most assuredly, they have
the reward that they are after. But when you fast, rub anointing oil
over your head, and scrub your face, so that people might not mark
your observance. But your Father, who cannot be seen, will indeed
take note; and your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.
“Do not hoard up wealth on earth, where moth and rust decay, and
burglars break in and steal. Rather, stockpile riches in the sky, where
moth and rust do not break down, and thieves do not purloin. For
whatever the leaning of your heart, the things you value will be close at
hand.”
“Reveal to us your place of life,” his disciples implored him, “since
we all must seek for it!” He responded, “Those of you with two good
ears, listen here! There is within a luminous being a light that shines
throughout all things. If it should remain unlit, then everything will
be obscured. The ‘eye’ is the ‘lamp of the body;’ if your eye is
undivided, then your body will beam with light. But if your eyes
should be divided, then your entire body will be eclipsed by darkness.
If the light within should remain obscured, then that darkness is
indeed profound!
“A person cannot ride two horses, nor yet can he draw two bows;
neither can he serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love
the other, or else be loyal to the one while disdaining the other. You
cannot serve both God and Mammon.
“And for this reason do I say, do not fret about your life, what you
are going to eat or drink; nor over your body, what you are going to
wear. Is not life a weightier matter than food, and the body for more
164
than mere clothing? Think about the birds of the sky; they neither
plant, nor harvest, nor stockpile in barns, yet their heavenly Father
nourishes them. Are you not more precious than these? Who among
you can add an hour to his life, (or) a cubit to his height?
“And why trouble yourselves when it comes to your clothes? Think
about the lilies in the field, which do not strive, nor do they weave. All
the same, I can assure you that even Solomon decked in his finest
apparel pales in comparison to even one of these. Fret not from
daybreak until sunset, nor from sunset until daybreak <about> your
<food>--the things that <you are going> to eat; <nor> <your
clothes>--the things that you <are going> to wear. If God arrays field
grass in such splendor, being here today and tossed into the flames
tomorrow, will He not clothe you even better, oh you stunted of faith? <You are far> superior to the lilies, which neither strive nor <weave.>
As for yourselves, when you have no clothes, what <ever will you put>
on? Who is the One that can lengthen your life? The very Same will
give you your clothes! So do not get all worked up, saying, ‘What are
we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ The
Pagans chase after all of these things, but your Father in heaven knows
that you need them. Therefore seek His kingdom first, together with
His righteousness, and every one of these things will be added on to
you. Seek for things that are superior, and the inferior things will be
given as well; seek after the things of heaven, and the things of the
earth will be thrown into the bargain. For this reason, do not dwell on
tomorrow, for tomorrow will dwell on itself. Each day, you see, has
distresses sufficient for the duration thereof.
“Do not pass judgment, that judgment might not be passed on you.
For to the extent that you judge, you will be judged, and to the degree
that you calculate, it will be computed against you. Do not judge, and
you will not face judgment. Do not criticize, and you will not be
criticized. Pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and you’ll receive
it back--a heaping measure, all pressed down and densely shaken until
it overflows generously into your lap. Whatever measure you use to
mete it out, you see, will be used in measuring it back out to you.”
And he spoke this parable to them: “Can one blind man be guide to
another? Won’t they both fall into a pit? An apprentice is not above
his master, yet anyone who takes these principles fully to heart will
equal his instructor.
“Why do you inspect your brother’s eye for a tiny wooden splinter
while ignoring the log that is in yours? How can you say to your fellow
man, ‘Brother, let me take that speck from your eye,’ when you fail to
see the plank in your own? You hypocrite! Remove the beam from
your own eye first; only then will you see well enough to dislodge the
bit from your brother’s.
“Do not give hallowed things to dogs, for they might fling them onto
a pile of dung. Neither cast your pearls before swine, for they might
trample them into the mud, then turn on you and tear you to bits.
“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock and it will
open for you. Everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks is
the one who finds; and to one who knocks, it is opened right up! Seek,
and you will find, for before I would not tell you the things about
which you were asking me then; I am anxious to explain them now,
but you no longer seek for them. Recognize that the truth does not lie
on the surface of things. Be in awe of the things that are before your eyes, and make this your starting point for further enlightenment!
The ones who strive should not stop striving until they find. When
they find, they will be shaken, and when they are shaken, they will be
amazed, and will possess complete authority. And when they rule,
then they will rest.
“Should any of your sons ask you for a loaf of bread, which of you
would give him a rock instead? Were he to ask you for a fish, which of
you would give him a snake? If, therefore, you know how to give good
things to your children--even though you are steeped in error--will not
your heavenly Father bestow even greater favors upon those who ask
of Him?
“Out of this principle flows the Law and the Prophets: What you
would have others do for you, that’s what you should do for them.
Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for the large gate and the wide
road through which so many enter leads to utter devastation. But how
very few are those who come across that tiny gate and narrow path
166
that leads to life!
“Be on the lookout for false prophets, for they come to you dressedup
like sheep, but beneath all that they are ravenous wolves. You can
spot them by the fruit they bear. Do people pluck grapes from thorny
bushes, or figs from prickly plants? Similarly, every tree that gives
good fruit is useful, but a tree that delivers up no edible fruit is useless.
No good tree puts forth bad fruit, (for) a good tree cannot yield bad
fruit. Neither does a bad tree put forth good fruit, (for) a bad tree
cannot yield good fruit. Every tree is recognized by what it bears.
People do not pluck figs from thorns, nor do they garner grapes from
brambles. Every tree that fails to yield fit fruit is chopped up and
relegated to the flames. And so it will be that you will know them by
their fruit. The virtuous man brings his goods up from his good
heart’s bounty, and the evil man brings up his own evil from his evil
heart’s inventory, and utters pure wickedness. Whatever fills his
heart, you see, will flow forth from his mouth. For these people bring
out abominations from what fills their hearts.
“And of those who say to me, ‘Master! Master!’ many will fail to
enter into the kingdom of heaven, only the one who does the will of my
Father in heaven. On that day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord!
Lord! Did we not use your name when we prophesied and cast out
demons, and performed so many miracles?’ I will therefore say to
them in no uncertain terms, ‘Go away you evil men--I never even knew
you!’ If you rest upon my breast, yet ignore the will of my Father in
heaven, I will shove you right off! Should each and every one of you be with me--even in my very bosom--and still not do as I say to you, I will
shove you all aside and say, ‘Get away from me! I have no idea where
you evil workers came from!’
“Why do you cry out to me, ‘Teacher! Teacher!’ when you do not do
as I instruct? For this reason, I will show you what he (and indeed)
everyone who comes to me to hear my words, and acts on them is like.
He is even as a wise house builder, who shoveled deep into the ground,
fixed the foundation on bedrock, and on that rock he built his home.
The rain beat down and the rivers rose up, and when a flood came, it
beat against that house but was powerless to budge it on account of it’s
strength. The gales blasted and pounded away at that house, but it
pulled through, for it was founded on the rock. But someone, (indeed)
everyone, who hears my words and does not act on them is even as a
senseless man who built his home upon the sand; upon ground
without a foundation. The rain came down and the streams rose up;
the winds blew hard and beat that house, and the instant that the flood
hit it, it came down with a deafening sound, (and) it was completely
destroyed!”
And after he had said these things, the crowds were taken aback by
his teaching, for he taught them as an authority, and not at all like the
scribes. And a host of people followed him down the mountainside.
(Matt 5:1-8:1; Luke 6:17-7:1a; Acts 20.35b;
GPh 49; GNaz 3a, Quote by Jerome,
Commentary on Matthew 1, Regarding Matthew 6:11;
GNaz 3b, Quote by Jerome, Tractate on Psalm 135; Quote from Origen, On Prayer, 2:2;
Cursive Ms 1424 (Quote following Matt 7:5);
2Clement 4:5; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 2.9.45;
GTh 19,24,32,36,45,47:1,2;49,58,68,69,92,93,94/36 POxy 655;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 3.52;
GHb 6, Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 2.9.45;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 5.14.96)
On a Mountainside Near Capernaum
He went down with them and arrived at a level place and stood, and
many of his students were there. A sizable multitude from all parts of
Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon was there as
well. All had come to hear him speak and to be healed of their
diseases. Those who were afflicted by evil spirits were delivered from
them, and they were trying to touch him, for power was flowing from
him and healing each and every one of them. And seeing such
enormous masses, he went up the mountainside, seated himself, and
his disciples gathered around him. He looked out over his followers
and began to speak to them, teaching them:
“Blessed are the needy (and) the poor in spirit;
For the kingdom of God is comprised of them.
Blessed are you who are crying now For you are all about to laugh.
Blessed are those who lament,
For their consolation is drawing near.
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
For you are to be satisfied.
Blessed are the humble,
For they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
For they will be filled.
Blessed are the compassionate,
For they will be shown compassion.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
For they will see God.
Blessed are those who aid in reconciliation,
For they are to bear the name; ‘Children of God.’
Blessed are those who are hunted down on account of their virtue,
For they comprise the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they whose hearts have suffered greatly,
For these have come to know the Father. Blessed are they who go without food,
That the bellies of others might be filled.
Blessed is the one who has toiled and found life.
Blessed are the chosen ones who work alone,
For you will discover the kingdom.
Since it’s from that place that you came forth,
And to that place you will be restored!
Blessed are those who came into being prior to this existence.
For though they came down to this realm,
They will again exist eternally!
For if you become a student of mine
And examine my sayings closely,
The very stones will become your servants,
For there are five trees in Paradise that remain for you alone;
They do not change from summer to winter,
And their leaves are never shed.
Anyone who knows of these will not ever taste of death.
Truly you are blessed when they detest you, exclude you, insult you,
hunt you down and defame you; making yours an evil name; casting it
aside and hurling every malicious and lying word against you--and all
of it on my account--for the sake of the Son of Man! For whatever
form your persecution takes, no basis will be found for it; and
wherever persecution has befallen you, no standing is to be afforded.
Celebrate and jump for joy, for beyond measure is the reward that
awaits you in the heavens! This, you see, was the way their forefathers
treated those who were prophets before you. But woe to the rich,
For your comfortable days are behind you now!
Woe to you who are well-fed now,
For you are all about to starve!
Woe to you who are laughing now,
For you are about to howl and lament!
Woe to you who are acclaimed by men,
For that is exactly how their forefathers spoke of the false prophets.
You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should lose its taste,
what is there to season it? It is then no longer fit for anything but to
be thrown into the dirt and trampled by men. You are illumination to
this world; a well defended city, sitting high upon a mountain cannot
be hid, nor indeed can it be sacked. Also, no one lights a lamp and sets
it under a grain bucket. Instead they place it high on a stand, and it
enlightens all who are in that house. Let your light shine on all of mankind, that they might appreciate the goodness in the work that
you are doing and likewise bring honor to your Father in the heavens.
“Now do not suppose that my coming nullifies the law or the
prophets. My coming does not annul them, but rather completes
them. I am telling you the simple truth when I say that not so much as
a single jot, or the tiniest mark will be overlooked in the Law, but
every detail is to be worked out until heaven and earth pass out of
existence! So whoever voids the least of these commands, and teaches
others to do the same will be despised in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever puts these teachings to work will be exalted in the kingdom of
heaven. Believe me when I tell you that you will never get into the
kingdom of the skies unless your virtue outshines that of the Pharisees
and scribes.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not kill, and every murderer
will be judged for it.’ But I am telling you now that anyone who
harbors anger against his brother without just cause will be judged for
it. Moreover, anyone who says to his brother, ‘You contemptible
person!’ will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who calls
you a ‘fool’ is right on the brink of the fires of Gehenna!
“For this reason, even if you are at the altar presenting your
offering, and in the process recall that your brother has a grievance
against you, put it down before the altar and go work things out first
with your brother. Only then should you return and present your gift.
“You should try and settle things even as your enemy is dragging
you to court. Otherwise he might place you into the hands of the judge, and the judge, into the custody of the bailiff, who may, in turn,
throw you into prison! I say to you most assuredly, you will not be let
out until you have paid back the last cent.
“You have heard that people have said, ‘Do not cheat on your
spouse.’ I, however, am telling you now that anyone who looks a
woman over and wishes to have his way with her is an adulterer
already. If your right eye is a conduit of evil, then poke it out and
throw it away. If your right hand is an instrument for wrongdoing,
then cut it off and cast it aside. Better to lose a body part than to walk
fully intact right into Gehenna!
“People have said, ‘Anyone who puts away his wife has but to issue
her a certificate of divorce.’ I, however, am telling you now that
anyone who divorces his wife for anything but unfaithfulness forces
her into adultery, since anyone who marries this woman becomes
guilty of adultery.
“Moreover, in ages past you have heard that it was said, ‘Do not go back on your oaths, but follow through on your vows to the Lord.’ But
I am telling you to never swear. Do not swear by heaven, since it is the
throne of God; nor by this world, since that is His footrest; nor by
Jerusalem, since that place belongs to the Great King. Do not even
swear by your head, since you can neither whiten nor darken so much
as a single strand. Simply let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’
mean ‘No.’ Anything more is of the evil one.
“You have heard it said, ‘An eye in exchange for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth.’ I am telling you otherwise. Do not oppose an evil man. If
anyone should strike your cheek, turn the other one his way as well.
Also, if someone wishes to sue you for the clothes on your back, let
him have your underclothes. If anyone obliges you to go a mile, then
go with him two. Should anyone ask you for something, then give it to
them, and do not ignore the one who asks you for a loan.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Show love for a friend, but hatred
for an enemy.’ But I am saying to those of you who hear my words,
show love to your enemies, blessing those who curse you, doing good
to those who hate you, and extending your prayers toward those who
wrong you. If someone should hit you on the cheek, turn the other
one to him as well. If anyone should take your clothes, do not keep
him from stealing your underclothes. Give to everyone who asks of
you, and if anyone should take what’s yours, do not insist on its
return. This is so that you may be sons to your heavenly Father. He
orders His sun to rise over the wicked and the righteous, and He sends rain upon both the virtuous and the sinful. How is it to your credit,
(and) what reward can you hope to receive for loving those who love
you back? Do not even the tax-collectors do that? Even ‘sinners’ show
love toward those who love them. And if you only acknowledge your
friends, what are you doing that these others are not? Do not even the
pagans do this? And if you are only kind to those who show you
benevolence, tell me how that makes you special? Even ‘sinners’ do as
much as that. What credit can you hope to receive by lending to those
from whom you fully expect to receive payment in kind? Even
‘sinners’ grant loans to ‘sinners’ in full expectation of repayment.
Rather, show your enemies what love is, and perform acts of kindness
even to them. It is more blessed to give than to receive. Should you
have any money, do not lend it at interest. Present it instead to those
from whom you will not receive it back. Grant loans to them without
any terms of recompense, that way your return will indeed be great,
and you will truly be the sons of the Most High, since He shows kindness toward the reprobate and the unappreciative alike. Embody
mercy (and) perfection even as your Father in heaven embodies
[them].
“Take pains to avoid doing kind works in public, for everyone to
see. If you should, your Father in heaven will not reward you. So
when you are helping out the impoverished do not proclaim it with
trumpet blasts, receiving praises from men as do the hypocrites in the
synagogues and in the streets. You can be sure that they have already
received their wages. You, however, when giving to the poor, do not
even inform your left hand of the doings of your right, that your giving
might remain unseen. Your Father, Who examines all that is hidden,
will pay you back.
“And do not pray on like the hypocrites do, for they all like to be
seen by men; they stand in prayer before synagogues and at street
corners. I am telling you the truth, they already have the payment
they crave. When you pray, enter into your room, shut the door
behind you, and pray to your Father, Who is hidden. Then your
Father will pay you back, for He sees what is done in secret. And do
not pray on like the pagans do, for they think that they will be heard
for all their blather. Your Father knows all about your needs way
before you even ask, so do not seek to be like them. Here is a pattern
for your prayers:
“Dearest Father in heaven,
Blessed be Your name!
May Your kingdom come,
And Your will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day
Our daily bread
(And that which is) for the next,
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptations,
But guard us against (the) evil (of) the wicked one.
For the kingdom, the dominion and the praises
Are Yours for never-ending ages.
Amen.
You see, if you forgive what men do to you, then your Father in the
heavens will forgive you, too. But if you don’t forgive the sins of men,
then your Father won’t forgive your sins.
“Whenever you fast, do not go around looking dismal like the hypocrites do, because they make all kinds of faces so that men will be
sure to see that they are fasting. I tell you most assuredly, they have
the reward that they are after. But when you fast, rub anointing oil
over your head, and scrub your face, so that people might not mark
your observance. But your Father, who cannot be seen, will indeed
take note; and your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.
“Do not hoard up wealth on earth, where moth and rust decay, and
burglars break in and steal. Rather, stockpile riches in the sky, where
moth and rust do not break down, and thieves do not purloin. For
whatever the leaning of your heart, the things you value will be close at
hand.”
“Reveal to us your place of life,” his disciples implored him, “since
we all must seek for it!” He responded, “Those of you with two good
ears, listen here! There is within a luminous being a light that shines
throughout all things. If it should remain unlit, then everything will
be obscured. The ‘eye’ is the ‘lamp of the body;’ if your eye is
undivided, then your body will beam with light. But if your eyes
should be divided, then your entire body will be eclipsed by darkness.
If the light within should remain obscured, then that darkness is
indeed profound!
“A person cannot ride two horses, nor yet can he draw two bows;
neither can he serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love
the other, or else be loyal to the one while disdaining the other. You
cannot serve both God and Mammon.
“And for this reason do I say, do not fret about your life, what you
are going to eat or drink; nor over your body, what you are going to
wear. Is not life a weightier matter than food, and the body for more
164
than mere clothing? Think about the birds of the sky; they neither
plant, nor harvest, nor stockpile in barns, yet their heavenly Father
nourishes them. Are you not more precious than these? Who among
you can add an hour to his life, (or) a cubit to his height?
“And why trouble yourselves when it comes to your clothes? Think
about the lilies in the field, which do not strive, nor do they weave. All
the same, I can assure you that even Solomon decked in his finest
apparel pales in comparison to even one of these. Fret not from
daybreak until sunset, nor from sunset until daybreak <about> your
<food>--the things that <you are going> to eat; <nor> <your
clothes>--the things that you <are going> to wear. If God arrays field
grass in such splendor, being here today and tossed into the flames
tomorrow, will He not clothe you even better, oh you stunted of faith? <You are far> superior to the lilies, which neither strive nor <weave.>
As for yourselves, when you have no clothes, what <ever will you put>
on? Who is the One that can lengthen your life? The very Same will
give you your clothes! So do not get all worked up, saying, ‘What are
we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ The
Pagans chase after all of these things, but your Father in heaven knows
that you need them. Therefore seek His kingdom first, together with
His righteousness, and every one of these things will be added on to
you. Seek for things that are superior, and the inferior things will be
given as well; seek after the things of heaven, and the things of the
earth will be thrown into the bargain. For this reason, do not dwell on
tomorrow, for tomorrow will dwell on itself. Each day, you see, has
distresses sufficient for the duration thereof.
“Do not pass judgment, that judgment might not be passed on you.
For to the extent that you judge, you will be judged, and to the degree
that you calculate, it will be computed against you. Do not judge, and
you will not face judgment. Do not criticize, and you will not be
criticized. Pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and you’ll receive
it back--a heaping measure, all pressed down and densely shaken until
it overflows generously into your lap. Whatever measure you use to
mete it out, you see, will be used in measuring it back out to you.”
And he spoke this parable to them: “Can one blind man be guide to
another? Won’t they both fall into a pit? An apprentice is not above
his master, yet anyone who takes these principles fully to heart will
equal his instructor.
“Why do you inspect your brother’s eye for a tiny wooden splinter
while ignoring the log that is in yours? How can you say to your fellow
man, ‘Brother, let me take that speck from your eye,’ when you fail to
see the plank in your own? You hypocrite! Remove the beam from
your own eye first; only then will you see well enough to dislodge the
bit from your brother’s.
“Do not give hallowed things to dogs, for they might fling them onto
a pile of dung. Neither cast your pearls before swine, for they might
trample them into the mud, then turn on you and tear you to bits.
“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock and it will
open for you. Everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks is
the one who finds; and to one who knocks, it is opened right up! Seek,
and you will find, for before I would not tell you the things about
which you were asking me then; I am anxious to explain them now,
but you no longer seek for them. Recognize that the truth does not lie
on the surface of things. Be in awe of the things that are before your eyes, and make this your starting point for further enlightenment!
The ones who strive should not stop striving until they find. When
they find, they will be shaken, and when they are shaken, they will be
amazed, and will possess complete authority. And when they rule,
then they will rest.
“Should any of your sons ask you for a loaf of bread, which of you
would give him a rock instead? Were he to ask you for a fish, which of
you would give him a snake? If, therefore, you know how to give good
things to your children--even though you are steeped in error--will not
your heavenly Father bestow even greater favors upon those who ask
of Him?
“Out of this principle flows the Law and the Prophets: What you
would have others do for you, that’s what you should do for them.
Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for the large gate and the wide
road through which so many enter leads to utter devastation. But how
very few are those who come across that tiny gate and narrow path
166
that leads to life!
“Be on the lookout for false prophets, for they come to you dressedup
like sheep, but beneath all that they are ravenous wolves. You can
spot them by the fruit they bear. Do people pluck grapes from thorny
bushes, or figs from prickly plants? Similarly, every tree that gives
good fruit is useful, but a tree that delivers up no edible fruit is useless.
No good tree puts forth bad fruit, (for) a good tree cannot yield bad
fruit. Neither does a bad tree put forth good fruit, (for) a bad tree
cannot yield good fruit. Every tree is recognized by what it bears.
People do not pluck figs from thorns, nor do they garner grapes from
brambles. Every tree that fails to yield fit fruit is chopped up and
relegated to the flames. And so it will be that you will know them by
their fruit. The virtuous man brings his goods up from his good
heart’s bounty, and the evil man brings up his own evil from his evil
heart’s inventory, and utters pure wickedness. Whatever fills his
heart, you see, will flow forth from his mouth. For these people bring
out abominations from what fills their hearts.
“And of those who say to me, ‘Master! Master!’ many will fail to
enter into the kingdom of heaven, only the one who does the will of my
Father in heaven. On that day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord!
Lord! Did we not use your name when we prophesied and cast out
demons, and performed so many miracles?’ I will therefore say to
them in no uncertain terms, ‘Go away you evil men--I never even knew
you!’ If you rest upon my breast, yet ignore the will of my Father in
heaven, I will shove you right off! Should each and every one of you be with me--even in my very bosom--and still not do as I say to you, I will
shove you all aside and say, ‘Get away from me! I have no idea where
you evil workers came from!’
“Why do you cry out to me, ‘Teacher! Teacher!’ when you do not do
as I instruct? For this reason, I will show you what he (and indeed)
everyone who comes to me to hear my words, and acts on them is like.
He is even as a wise house builder, who shoveled deep into the ground,
fixed the foundation on bedrock, and on that rock he built his home.
The rain beat down and the rivers rose up, and when a flood came, it
beat against that house but was powerless to budge it on account of it’s
strength. The gales blasted and pounded away at that house, but it
pulled through, for it was founded on the rock. But someone, (indeed)
everyone, who hears my words and does not act on them is even as a
senseless man who built his home upon the sand; upon ground
without a foundation. The rain came down and the streams rose up;
the winds blew hard and beat that house, and the instant that the flood
hit it, it came down with a deafening sound, (and) it was completely
destroyed!”
And after he had said these things, the crowds were taken aback by
his teaching, for he taught them as an authority, and not at all like the
scribes. And a host of people followed him down the mountainside.
JESUS EXPLAINS WHY HE CHOSE THE TWELVE
(GEb 2:2-5, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13;
Quote by Clement Of Alexandria, Miscellanies 6.6.48)
Capernaum
After entering into Capernaum, Jesus went into the house of
Simon, the one whom he nicknamed Peter. Then he said: “As I walked
along the lake of Tiberias, I summoned John and James, the sons of
Zebedee, then Simon and Andrew, then Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas the Iscariot. After that I called you, Matthew, even as you
sat at the tax-collector’s booth, and you followed me. To represent
Israel, therefore, I want you apostles to be twelve in number. Now I
chose the twelve of you, deeming you to be worthy of me. I am
sending you out into the world to make the gospel known to the world,
that they might be sure that God exists. Make known the future things
that will come about through faith in me, that those who hear and
believe might indeed be saved.”
(GEb 2:2-5, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.13;
Quote by Clement Of Alexandria, Miscellanies 6.6.48)
Capernaum
After entering into Capernaum, Jesus went into the house of
Simon, the one whom he nicknamed Peter. Then he said: “As I walked
along the lake of Tiberias, I summoned John and James, the sons of
Zebedee, then Simon and Andrew, then Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot,
and Judas the Iscariot. After that I called you, Matthew, even as you
sat at the tax-collector’s booth, and you followed me. To represent
Israel, therefore, I want you apostles to be twelve in number. Now I
chose the twelve of you, deeming you to be worthy of me. I am
sending you out into the world to make the gospel known to the world,
that they might be sure that God exists. Make known the future things
that will come about through faith in me, that those who hear and
believe might indeed be saved.”
BE WATCHFUL
(Luke 12:35-48; Justin Martyr--Dialogue with Trypho 47:6)
Galilee
“Keep yourselves clothed in readiness, and your lamps burning. Be
like men who are awaiting their master when he comes back from the
wedding feast, that they might open up the door for him the moment
he comes and knocks thereat. And how joyful will those servants be
when the Lord comes and finds them watching. I tell you most
assuredly, the Lord will dress himself and have the watchmen all sit
down to eat--and he will come and wait on them. And if he should
come in the second or the third watch and find it so, those servants
will fare extremely well. But you can all be sure of this: had the
homeowner known when the thief would come, he would have kept
watch, and not allowed his house to get broken into. You, therefore,
must ready yourselves; for the Son of Man is coming at a time that you
don’t know.” Page | 152
“Sir,” Peter asked him, “are you referring to us only in this parable,
or also to these others?” “Tell me then,” the Lord replied, “who is the
wise and faithful steward whom the lord will set over his house to
measure out the wheat when the time has come? It will truly go well
for that servant, whom his lord should find so doing when he returns;
indeed I say to you that he will set him over all he owns. But if that
servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is slow in coming home,’ and
therefore starts beating the male and female servants, and being
gluttonous and drinking to excess; that servant’s master will come on
a day he has not foreseen, and in an hour that he does not know, and
hack him to bits, appointing for him the inheritance of unbelievers. I
will judge you in line with the way that I find you. That servant who
knew the will of his lord, yet failed to get things ready for him, or did
not do according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes. He will
be beaten with few who, though having done things that are worthy of
lashes, did not know. Much will be required from all to whom much
has been entrusted; and much
(Luke 12:35-48; Justin Martyr--Dialogue with Trypho 47:6)
Galilee
“Keep yourselves clothed in readiness, and your lamps burning. Be
like men who are awaiting their master when he comes back from the
wedding feast, that they might open up the door for him the moment
he comes and knocks thereat. And how joyful will those servants be
when the Lord comes and finds them watching. I tell you most
assuredly, the Lord will dress himself and have the watchmen all sit
down to eat--and he will come and wait on them. And if he should
come in the second or the third watch and find it so, those servants
will fare extremely well. But you can all be sure of this: had the
homeowner known when the thief would come, he would have kept
watch, and not allowed his house to get broken into. You, therefore,
must ready yourselves; for the Son of Man is coming at a time that you
don’t know.” Page | 152
“Sir,” Peter asked him, “are you referring to us only in this parable,
or also to these others?” “Tell me then,” the Lord replied, “who is the
wise and faithful steward whom the lord will set over his house to
measure out the wheat when the time has come? It will truly go well
for that servant, whom his lord should find so doing when he returns;
indeed I say to you that he will set him over all he owns. But if that
servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is slow in coming home,’ and
therefore starts beating the male and female servants, and being
gluttonous and drinking to excess; that servant’s master will come on
a day he has not foreseen, and in an hour that he does not know, and
hack him to bits, appointing for him the inheritance of unbelievers. I
will judge you in line with the way that I find you. That servant who
knew the will of his lord, yet failed to get things ready for him, or did
not do according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes. He will
be beaten with few who, though having done things that are worthy of
lashes, did not know. Much will be required from all to whom much
has been entrusted; and much
WHY JESUS USES PARABLES
(Matt 13:10-23; Mark 4:10-20;
Luke 8:9-15; GTh 5,9,7,41,56,62,80/5 POxy 654;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 5.10.63;
Quote By Macarius Of Egypt, Homily 12.17)
Beside the Sea of Galilee
And when Jesus was alone, those who were around him came up to
him, along with the twelve disciples, and asked him about the parable,
“Why do you speak to them in parables?” (and) “What is the meaning
of this parable?” And he answered them, “Whoever has come to see
the world has exhumed a cadaver, and of that one who has uncovered
the corpse, the world is not worthy. I clarify my mysteries to those
<who are worthy> of <my> mysteries. Do not let your left hand in on
the workings of your right. My mystery is for me to share with the
sons of my house. I am giving you such an inheritance that nothing in
this world can compare with it. To you it has been given to know the
secrets of the heavenly governance, (and) the mystery of God’s
rulership, but to these others it has been given only in parables. For to
these this knowledge has not been given. No, for outsiders, all things
are hidden away in parables, so that in seeing they may see and yet
never perceive, and in hearing they may hear and yet never
understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven their sins.’ For it
will be given to the one who has, and he will have it in abundance, and whoever has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away. This
is why I use parables when I speak to these, for though they see, they
don’t perceive, and though they hear they don’t discern, and neither
do they comprehend.’ And fulfilled in them is the prophecy of Isaiah,
which says, ‘In hearing you will hear, and will never understand, and
in seeing you will see, and never will perceive. For this people’s heart
has grown numb; they heard only wearily with their ears, and their eyes they have closed, lest with their eyes they should see, and with
their ears they should hear, and with their hearts understand, that
they might return to me to be restored.’ But joyful are your eyes that
see, and joyful are your ears that hear, for truly do I say to you, that
many prophets and righteous men wished to see what you now see,
and did not see it, and to hear what you now hear, and did not hear it.”
Then he asked them, “Is the meaning of this parable lost on you?
How then will you decipher the rest? I am going to give you what no
eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has handled, and
what has never risen in the hearts of men. Hear therefore the parable
of the sower. The seed stands for the word of God, so what the sower
sows is the word. Now those on the road where the word is sown are
those who hear. Whenever anyone hears the word of the kingdom and
does not understand it Satan, the Devil, the Evil One, comes along and
quickly captures and takes the word that was sown in their hearts, lest
through their belief therein they might be saved. This is that which
was sown on the road.
“As for those who were sown on rock, these are the ones who are
likewise sown on rocky ground. These, therefore, are the ones who
hear the word, and upon hearing it, immediately receive the word with
joy. They are, nonetheless, not firmly rooted in themselves. They,
being the ephemeral sort, believe only for a little while, and they
quickly lose their footing whenever, for the sake of the word, trial or
persecution comes, and they therefore fall away. “And what was cast onto thorns: these are the ones who have been
sown toward thorny places. And even though they hear the word, the
age and it’s worries, the deceitfulness of riches, and the cravings for
other things enter in and choke the word, rendering it unfruitful. And
those who have heard, and venture forth through troubles and wealth,
and the pleasures of this life, are strangled, and do not come to their
fruition.
“And that which is sown on fertile ground: these are the ones who,
once they have been sown, hear the word, and upon hearing the word
with a true and righteous heart, understand it, accept it and hold on to
it, and bear their fruit continuously. Some of them a hundredfold,
some sixty, and some thirty; one (indeed) bears thirty fold, one sixty,
one a hundred fold, and another one a hundred and twenty fold.
And he asked them, “Does one bring out the lamp only to place it
under a jar (or) beneath the couch? Is it not meant to be put on a
stand? Nobody lights a lamp and covers it up with a vessel or puts it
under a couch. He puts it instead upon a stand, so that those who come in might see by its light. Know what is before your face, and
what is concealed from you will be revealed to you. You see, nothing is
so secret that it will not surface (and) be exposed, nor hidden so well,
that it will not become obvious and recognized, and (nothing is)
buried that will not be <exhumed.> For there is nothing that was
concealed that is not meant to be revealed, nor was anything kept
hidden but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears that hear,
let him hear.
“And for this reason,” Jesus advised them, “consider carefully the
way that you hear. It will be measured back out to you in line with the
way that you measure, and it will be added to those of you who are
able to hear. More will be given to him who has something in hand,
but it will be taken away from him who appears to have and yet does
not. Those who are holding nothing will be stripped of even the little
that they have.”
(Matt 13:10-23; Mark 4:10-20;
Luke 8:9-15; GTh 5,9,7,41,56,62,80/5 POxy 654;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 5.10.63;
Quote By Macarius Of Egypt, Homily 12.17)
Beside the Sea of Galilee
And when Jesus was alone, those who were around him came up to
him, along with the twelve disciples, and asked him about the parable,
“Why do you speak to them in parables?” (and) “What is the meaning
of this parable?” And he answered them, “Whoever has come to see
the world has exhumed a cadaver, and of that one who has uncovered
the corpse, the world is not worthy. I clarify my mysteries to those
<who are worthy> of <my> mysteries. Do not let your left hand in on
the workings of your right. My mystery is for me to share with the
sons of my house. I am giving you such an inheritance that nothing in
this world can compare with it. To you it has been given to know the
secrets of the heavenly governance, (and) the mystery of God’s
rulership, but to these others it has been given only in parables. For to
these this knowledge has not been given. No, for outsiders, all things
are hidden away in parables, so that in seeing they may see and yet
never perceive, and in hearing they may hear and yet never
understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven their sins.’ For it
will be given to the one who has, and he will have it in abundance, and whoever has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away. This
is why I use parables when I speak to these, for though they see, they
don’t perceive, and though they hear they don’t discern, and neither
do they comprehend.’ And fulfilled in them is the prophecy of Isaiah,
which says, ‘In hearing you will hear, and will never understand, and
in seeing you will see, and never will perceive. For this people’s heart
has grown numb; they heard only wearily with their ears, and their eyes they have closed, lest with their eyes they should see, and with
their ears they should hear, and with their hearts understand, that
they might return to me to be restored.’ But joyful are your eyes that
see, and joyful are your ears that hear, for truly do I say to you, that
many prophets and righteous men wished to see what you now see,
and did not see it, and to hear what you now hear, and did not hear it.”
Then he asked them, “Is the meaning of this parable lost on you?
How then will you decipher the rest? I am going to give you what no
eye has seen, what no ear has heard, what no hand has handled, and
what has never risen in the hearts of men. Hear therefore the parable
of the sower. The seed stands for the word of God, so what the sower
sows is the word. Now those on the road where the word is sown are
those who hear. Whenever anyone hears the word of the kingdom and
does not understand it Satan, the Devil, the Evil One, comes along and
quickly captures and takes the word that was sown in their hearts, lest
through their belief therein they might be saved. This is that which
was sown on the road.
“As for those who were sown on rock, these are the ones who are
likewise sown on rocky ground. These, therefore, are the ones who
hear the word, and upon hearing it, immediately receive the word with
joy. They are, nonetheless, not firmly rooted in themselves. They,
being the ephemeral sort, believe only for a little while, and they
quickly lose their footing whenever, for the sake of the word, trial or
persecution comes, and they therefore fall away. “And what was cast onto thorns: these are the ones who have been
sown toward thorny places. And even though they hear the word, the
age and it’s worries, the deceitfulness of riches, and the cravings for
other things enter in and choke the word, rendering it unfruitful. And
those who have heard, and venture forth through troubles and wealth,
and the pleasures of this life, are strangled, and do not come to their
fruition.
“And that which is sown on fertile ground: these are the ones who,
once they have been sown, hear the word, and upon hearing the word
with a true and righteous heart, understand it, accept it and hold on to
it, and bear their fruit continuously. Some of them a hundredfold,
some sixty, and some thirty; one (indeed) bears thirty fold, one sixty,
one a hundred fold, and another one a hundred and twenty fold.
And he asked them, “Does one bring out the lamp only to place it
under a jar (or) beneath the couch? Is it not meant to be put on a
stand? Nobody lights a lamp and covers it up with a vessel or puts it
under a couch. He puts it instead upon a stand, so that those who come in might see by its light. Know what is before your face, and
what is concealed from you will be revealed to you. You see, nothing is
so secret that it will not surface (and) be exposed, nor hidden so well,
that it will not become obvious and recognized, and (nothing is)
buried that will not be <exhumed.> For there is nothing that was
concealed that is not meant to be revealed, nor was anything kept
hidden but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears that hear,
let him hear.
“And for this reason,” Jesus advised them, “consider carefully the
way that you hear. It will be measured back out to you in line with the
way that you measure, and it will be added to those of you who are
able to hear. More will be given to him who has something in hand,
but it will be taken away from him who appears to have and yet does
not. Those who are holding nothing will be stripped of even the little
that they have.”
CLOSING PARABLES
(Matt 13:51-53; Mark 4:33-34;
Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 8.7)
In a House With the Disciples
Jesus asked them, “Are all these things now clear to you?” “Yes
they are,” they answered him. “For this reason,” he explained, “every
scribe who has been initiated into the kingdom of heaven is like a
homeowner who brings out of his storehouse things that are both new
and old. Someone is counted rich in God when they recognize that the
ancient things of ages past are what is ‘new,’ and that what is ‘new’ is
really ‘old.’”
And as far as they were able to hear, he spoke the word to them
using many such parables; and he spoke nothing to them except
through parables, but when he was alone with his disciples, he would
work them all out for them. And so it happened that, after he had
finished speaking these parables, Jesus moved on.
(Matt 13:51-53; Mark 4:33-34;
Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 8.7)
In a House With the Disciples
Jesus asked them, “Are all these things now clear to you?” “Yes
they are,” they answered him. “For this reason,” he explained, “every
scribe who has been initiated into the kingdom of heaven is like a
homeowner who brings out of his storehouse things that are both new
and old. Someone is counted rich in God when they recognize that the
ancient things of ages past are what is ‘new,’ and that what is ‘new’ is
really ‘old.’”
And as far as they were able to hear, he spoke the word to them
using many such parables; and he spoke nothing to them except
through parables, but when he was alone with his disciples, he would
work them all out for them. And so it happened that, after he had
finished speaking these parables, Jesus moved on.
THE WINDS AND THE WAVES OBEY JESUS
(Matt 8:18, 23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; AcA&M 8)
By and Upon the Sea of Galilee
My children, who have given your lives over to the Lord, have no
fear, because the Lord will never forsake us. At that time we were
alone with our Lord. Now on that day, when evening had come, it
happened that Jesus saw great masses gathered around him. He then
190
gave orders to travel on to the other side of the lake, saying to [us],
“Let us pass to the further shore.” And [we] took him into the boat as
he was, leaving the crowds behind [us] there. And after he had climbed aboard, we disciples followed after him, and then [we] shoved
off. (And there were also other small boats with him.)
And while he was on board, he quietly lied down in order to test us,
and fell into a deep sleep as [we] sailed along, though he was not truly
asleep. And behold, a great, tempestuous windstorm rose up in the
sea, and bore down upon it. And the sea became so rough that the
waves were pounding against the boat (and) towering over the sail of
the ship, such that it was being filled. And by that time it was almost
full and they were all in mortal danger, but he was sleeping on a pillow
down in the stern. And [we], his disciples, came up to him saying,
“Master, master, we are all about to die! Lord, save us! We are
perishing! Teacher, do you not care if we all die?”
And seeing that we were terrified, he woke right up and questioned
[us], “Oh you limited of faith, tell me why you’re so afraid?” Then he
stood to his feet, and reproved the winds and commanded the raging
waters of the sea, “Be silent and still!” The waves subsided and the
wind was lulled, and a great calm settled in. (All things are obedient
to him, you see, for they are all his handiwork.) “Why are you so full
of fear?” he demanded. “How have you come to such unbelief? Where
is your faith?” And the men, paralyzed with fear, said to each other in
utter astonishment, “Who can this be? From where is this man that he
even commands the winds and the waves and they obey him?” And
for this reason, my children, do not ever be afraid, for the Lord Jesus
will never forsake us.
(Matt 8:18, 23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; AcA&M 8)
By and Upon the Sea of Galilee
My children, who have given your lives over to the Lord, have no
fear, because the Lord will never forsake us. At that time we were
alone with our Lord. Now on that day, when evening had come, it
happened that Jesus saw great masses gathered around him. He then
190
gave orders to travel on to the other side of the lake, saying to [us],
“Let us pass to the further shore.” And [we] took him into the boat as
he was, leaving the crowds behind [us] there. And after he had climbed aboard, we disciples followed after him, and then [we] shoved
off. (And there were also other small boats with him.)
And while he was on board, he quietly lied down in order to test us,
and fell into a deep sleep as [we] sailed along, though he was not truly
asleep. And behold, a great, tempestuous windstorm rose up in the
sea, and bore down upon it. And the sea became so rough that the
waves were pounding against the boat (and) towering over the sail of
the ship, such that it was being filled. And by that time it was almost
full and they were all in mortal danger, but he was sleeping on a pillow
down in the stern. And [we], his disciples, came up to him saying,
“Master, master, we are all about to die! Lord, save us! We are
perishing! Teacher, do you not care if we all die?”
And seeing that we were terrified, he woke right up and questioned
[us], “Oh you limited of faith, tell me why you’re so afraid?” Then he
stood to his feet, and reproved the winds and commanded the raging
waters of the sea, “Be silent and still!” The waves subsided and the
wind was lulled, and a great calm settled in. (All things are obedient
to him, you see, for they are all his handiwork.) “Why are you so full
of fear?” he demanded. “How have you come to such unbelief? Where
is your faith?” And the men, paralyzed with fear, said to each other in
utter astonishment, “Who can this be? From where is this man that he
even commands the winds and the waves and they obey him?” And
for this reason, my children, do not ever be afraid, for the Lord Jesus
will never forsake us.
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST; FEW LABORERS
(Matt 9:35-38; Mark 6:6b; GTh 73;
Quote By Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 3.64.1)
Throughout Galilee
And Jesus went from village to village throughout all of the cities
and townships, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among them. And he felt compassion for the multitudes when he saw them
all faint and cast aside, as sheep that were lacking a shepherd. “How
great is the harvest,” he said to his students, “yet how few are the
reapers. You should therefore beg the Lord of the Crop to send more
workers into His field. How blessed is the man whom the Lord will
assign to the service of his fellow workers.”
(Matt 9:35-38; Mark 6:6b; GTh 73;
Quote By Clement of Alexandria, Homilies 3.64.1)
Throughout Galilee
And Jesus went from village to village throughout all of the cities
and townships, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good
news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among them. And he felt compassion for the multitudes when he saw them
all faint and cast aside, as sheep that were lacking a shepherd. “How
great is the harvest,” he said to his students, “yet how few are the
reapers. You should therefore beg the Lord of the Crop to send more
workers into His field. How blessed is the man whom the Lord will
assign to the service of his fellow workers.”
THE TWELVE SENT OUT AS A WITNESS
(Matt 10:1,5-11:1, 10:16 in Cursive Ms. 1424;
Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6; GTh 6,14,23,27,33/27,33 POxy 1;
GEb 6, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.16;
GNaz 11, Quote by Eusebius, Theophany 4.12)
Galilee
And he called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them power
and authority to cast out the unclean spirits, and to cure every sickness
and disease. The disciples asked Jesus, “Would you like us to fast?
How should we pray? Should we give alms? What diet should we
observe?” “If you fast,” Jesus said, “you will bring sin upon
yourselves, and if you pray, you will condemn yourselves, and if you
give alms, you will damage your spirits. I came to bring all sacrificing to an end, and if you continue to offer up sacrifices, you will never stop
experiencing wrath. If you do not fast from the world, you will never
find the kingdom of God; if you do not keep the Sabbath Day as a
Sabbath, you will never come to see the Father. Indeed you hear with
one of your ears, but the other you have closed. Never say anything
that is untrue, nor ever do what’s hateful to you, for all things lie open
in the sight of heaven. Nothing, therefore, is hidden that will not be
exposed, nor is anything concealed that will not be revealed. Now
when you enter into any land and travel throughout any region, if they
should receive you, eat whatever they might place before you, and heal
the sick who are with them. For what goes into your mouth cannot
defile you. It is instead the things that come from your mouth that
bring about your defilement.”
Jesus, after giving them instruction, sent these twelve out in pairs
to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And these were the
guidelines that he gave: “Do not go among the Gentiles, nor into any
Samaritan town; but go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as you go, proclaim to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven has drawn
near to you!’ Restore the sick, cleanse the leprous, raise the dead, and
oust the demons: freely was it given you, so freely you should give it,
too. Carry nothing but a staff for your path. Do not take any silver, or
gold, or brass in your belts; nor bread or scrip for along the way. Wear sandals on your feet, but do not carry extra coats, or sandals, or staffs-
-for the worker is worthy of his hire.
“And into whatever town or village that you enter, seek out
someone who is worthy, and whenever you go into a house, no matter
whose it may be, remain there in his home until such time as you leave
that town. On entering into that place, welcome it; and if the house
should indeed be worthy, let your peace come over it; and should that
place be undeserving, let your peace return to you. And if anyone, (or)
the people of any place should refuse to take you in or hear your
words, then shake the dust from off your feet as you are leaving that
house or town as a testimony against them. I tell you most assuredly,
it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the
Day of Judgment than it will be for that town. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep amid wolves, so be as sly as
snakes, (indeed) be even slier than snakes; you should be as simple as
doves. And you must be wary of men, for they will turn you over to
councils, and beat you in their synagogues, and you will be brought for
my sake before governors and kings for a testimony both to these and
to the Gentiles. And when they deliver you up, do not think about
what you should say, or how you should say it, because at that very
moment what you should say will come to you. You are not yourselves
the speakers, you see, but the Spirit of the Father will be speaking in
you. A brother, moreover, will deliver his own brother over to death,
and a father, his own child. Children will turn against their parents,
and they will have them put to death. You will be hated by all for
bearing my name, but whoever bears it to the end will be saved. And
when they persecute you in this town, escape from there into another,
for I am telling you that you will not have passed through all the cities
of Israel before the coming of the Son of Man. A student is not above
his teacher, nor a servant greater than his lord; it is enough for a
disciple to be as his teacher, and a servant to be like his lord. If they
have called the ruler of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they
those of his own house!
“Therefore have no fear of them, for nothing has been covered that
will not be exposed; or made unclear that will not be seen through.
What I say to you in darkness, speak in illumination, and what you
hear in your ear, the other ear (I mean,) proclaim from your
housetops. No one lights a lamp and places it under a basket, nor does
anyone hide it away somewhere. One puts it on a stand instead, so
that everyone might see its light, whether coming in or going out. And
do not be shaken by those who destroy the body, but have no strength to slay the soul. Rather, fear Him Who has the power to destroy both
body and soul in Gehenna. Do not two sparrows sell for an assar? Yet
apart from your Father, not so much as one of these ever falls to the
ground. As for you--even the very hairs of your head have their
number. So do not be afraid of them--you are worth more than scores
of sparrows.
“Therefore all who will acknowledge me before mankind, I will likewise acknowledge them before my Father in heaven. But whoever
denies me before men--him also I will deny before my Father in
heaven. Do not think that I came to pacify the world; I did not come
bringing peace, but a sword. You see, I came to set a man against his
father, and a daughter against her mother; a daughter-in-law versus
her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own
household. I choose the worthiest for myself--and my heavenly Father
has given me the most worthy. Whoever loves his father or mother
above me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves his son or daughter
above me is not worthy of me. Furthermore, whoever does not accept
his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. The one who finds his life
will lose it, and the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever accepts you is accepting me, and the one who accepts me is
accepting also Him Who sent me. Anyone accepting a wise man in the
name of a wise man will receive the reward of the wise. And the one
who accepts a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, will
receive the reward of the righteous. And whoever gives one of these
little ones so much as a single cup of cold water to drink in the name of
a disciple, I tell you most assuredly, he will not be denied his reward.
Out of a thousand, I will choose one, and out of ten thousand, I will
choose two--and they will stand in peace as one.” And it happened that, when Jesus had finished giving instruction to
his twelve disciples, he left that place to teach and preach in their
cities. So they traveled through the villages, warning the people to
change their ways. They drove out many demons, anointed many of
the sick with oil and healed people everywhere.
(Matt 10:1,5-11:1, 10:16 in Cursive Ms. 1424;
Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6; GTh 6,14,23,27,33/27,33 POxy 1;
GEb 6, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.16;
GNaz 11, Quote by Eusebius, Theophany 4.12)
Galilee
And he called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them power
and authority to cast out the unclean spirits, and to cure every sickness
and disease. The disciples asked Jesus, “Would you like us to fast?
How should we pray? Should we give alms? What diet should we
observe?” “If you fast,” Jesus said, “you will bring sin upon
yourselves, and if you pray, you will condemn yourselves, and if you
give alms, you will damage your spirits. I came to bring all sacrificing to an end, and if you continue to offer up sacrifices, you will never stop
experiencing wrath. If you do not fast from the world, you will never
find the kingdom of God; if you do not keep the Sabbath Day as a
Sabbath, you will never come to see the Father. Indeed you hear with
one of your ears, but the other you have closed. Never say anything
that is untrue, nor ever do what’s hateful to you, for all things lie open
in the sight of heaven. Nothing, therefore, is hidden that will not be
exposed, nor is anything concealed that will not be revealed. Now
when you enter into any land and travel throughout any region, if they
should receive you, eat whatever they might place before you, and heal
the sick who are with them. For what goes into your mouth cannot
defile you. It is instead the things that come from your mouth that
bring about your defilement.”
Jesus, after giving them instruction, sent these twelve out in pairs
to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And these were the
guidelines that he gave: “Do not go among the Gentiles, nor into any
Samaritan town; but go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And as you go, proclaim to them, ‘The kingdom of heaven has drawn
near to you!’ Restore the sick, cleanse the leprous, raise the dead, and
oust the demons: freely was it given you, so freely you should give it,
too. Carry nothing but a staff for your path. Do not take any silver, or
gold, or brass in your belts; nor bread or scrip for along the way. Wear sandals on your feet, but do not carry extra coats, or sandals, or staffs-
-for the worker is worthy of his hire.
“And into whatever town or village that you enter, seek out
someone who is worthy, and whenever you go into a house, no matter
whose it may be, remain there in his home until such time as you leave
that town. On entering into that place, welcome it; and if the house
should indeed be worthy, let your peace come over it; and should that
place be undeserving, let your peace return to you. And if anyone, (or)
the people of any place should refuse to take you in or hear your
words, then shake the dust from off your feet as you are leaving that
house or town as a testimony against them. I tell you most assuredly,
it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the
Day of Judgment than it will be for that town. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep amid wolves, so be as sly as
snakes, (indeed) be even slier than snakes; you should be as simple as
doves. And you must be wary of men, for they will turn you over to
councils, and beat you in their synagogues, and you will be brought for
my sake before governors and kings for a testimony both to these and
to the Gentiles. And when they deliver you up, do not think about
what you should say, or how you should say it, because at that very
moment what you should say will come to you. You are not yourselves
the speakers, you see, but the Spirit of the Father will be speaking in
you. A brother, moreover, will deliver his own brother over to death,
and a father, his own child. Children will turn against their parents,
and they will have them put to death. You will be hated by all for
bearing my name, but whoever bears it to the end will be saved. And
when they persecute you in this town, escape from there into another,
for I am telling you that you will not have passed through all the cities
of Israel before the coming of the Son of Man. A student is not above
his teacher, nor a servant greater than his lord; it is enough for a
disciple to be as his teacher, and a servant to be like his lord. If they
have called the ruler of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they
those of his own house!
“Therefore have no fear of them, for nothing has been covered that
will not be exposed; or made unclear that will not be seen through.
What I say to you in darkness, speak in illumination, and what you
hear in your ear, the other ear (I mean,) proclaim from your
housetops. No one lights a lamp and places it under a basket, nor does
anyone hide it away somewhere. One puts it on a stand instead, so
that everyone might see its light, whether coming in or going out. And
do not be shaken by those who destroy the body, but have no strength to slay the soul. Rather, fear Him Who has the power to destroy both
body and soul in Gehenna. Do not two sparrows sell for an assar? Yet
apart from your Father, not so much as one of these ever falls to the
ground. As for you--even the very hairs of your head have their
number. So do not be afraid of them--you are worth more than scores
of sparrows.
“Therefore all who will acknowledge me before mankind, I will likewise acknowledge them before my Father in heaven. But whoever
denies me before men--him also I will deny before my Father in
heaven. Do not think that I came to pacify the world; I did not come
bringing peace, but a sword. You see, I came to set a man against his
father, and a daughter against her mother; a daughter-in-law versus
her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own
household. I choose the worthiest for myself--and my heavenly Father
has given me the most worthy. Whoever loves his father or mother
above me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves his son or daughter
above me is not worthy of me. Furthermore, whoever does not accept
his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. The one who finds his life
will lose it, and the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever accepts you is accepting me, and the one who accepts me is
accepting also Him Who sent me. Anyone accepting a wise man in the
name of a wise man will receive the reward of the wise. And the one
who accepts a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, will
receive the reward of the righteous. And whoever gives one of these
little ones so much as a single cup of cold water to drink in the name of
a disciple, I tell you most assuredly, he will not be denied his reward.
Out of a thousand, I will choose one, and out of ten thousand, I will
choose two--and they will stand in peace as one.” And it happened that, when Jesus had finished giving instruction to
his twelve disciples, he left that place to teach and preach in their
cities. So they traveled through the villages, warning the people to
change their ways. They drove out many demons, anointed many of
the sick with oil and healed people everywhere.
JESUS WALKS ON THE SEA
(Matt 14:23b-33; Mark 6:47-52;
John 6:17b-21; AcJn 12,13)
The Sea of Galilee
By the time evening had come and darkness had fallen, Jesus was
all alone upon the land. But he could see the disciples, wind against
them, straining at the oars in the boat, already many stadia away,
being hurled about by the waves in the midst of the lake. The wind was blowing strong and the waters were growing violent. Even so,
Jesus had not yet joined them. Then, in the fourth watch of the night,
by the time they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, Jesus
went walking out to them on the water. He was just about to pass
them by, but when they saw him drawing near to the boat, walking on
the surface of the sea, they imagined him to be a ghost. Since they all
saw him and were terrified, they cried out in fear, “It is a spirit!” But
Jesus immediately spoke up and said, “Be not fearful, but believing,
for indeed it is me!” “Master,” Simon answered, “if you are who you claim to be, order me to come out to you upon these waters.” Jesus
said, “Come to me.” So Simon got out of the boat and walked out to
him upon the water; but he grew anxious when his thoughts turned to
the powerful gale. Then Peter began to sink, so he cried out, “Master,
save me!” And immediately Jesus caught hold of him and said, “Oh,
you limited of faith, why ever did you doubt?” Then they were willing
to take him into the ship. He climbed into it with them, and the wind
died down just as soon as they had boarded. And right away the boat
reached the shore for which they had set out. They were all completely
taken aback, since their hearts had been made hard, and they had not
understood about the loaves. And the ones who had been in the boat
came to him in adoration, saying, “You’re assuredly the Son of God.”
(Matt 14:23b-33; Mark 6:47-52;
John 6:17b-21; AcJn 12,13)
The Sea of Galilee
By the time evening had come and darkness had fallen, Jesus was
all alone upon the land. But he could see the disciples, wind against
them, straining at the oars in the boat, already many stadia away,
being hurled about by the waves in the midst of the lake. The wind was blowing strong and the waters were growing violent. Even so,
Jesus had not yet joined them. Then, in the fourth watch of the night,
by the time they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, Jesus
went walking out to them on the water. He was just about to pass
them by, but when they saw him drawing near to the boat, walking on
the surface of the sea, they imagined him to be a ghost. Since they all
saw him and were terrified, they cried out in fear, “It is a spirit!” But
Jesus immediately spoke up and said, “Be not fearful, but believing,
for indeed it is me!” “Master,” Simon answered, “if you are who you claim to be, order me to come out to you upon these waters.” Jesus
said, “Come to me.” So Simon got out of the boat and walked out to
him upon the water; but he grew anxious when his thoughts turned to
the powerful gale. Then Peter began to sink, so he cried out, “Master,
save me!” And immediately Jesus caught hold of him and said, “Oh,
you limited of faith, why ever did you doubt?” Then they were willing
to take him into the ship. He climbed into it with them, and the wind
died down just as soon as they had boarded. And right away the boat
reached the shore for which they had set out. They were all completely
taken aback, since their hearts had been made hard, and they had not
understood about the loaves. And the ones who had been in the boat
came to him in adoration, saying, “You’re assuredly the Son of God.”
IN GENNESARET
(Matt 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; AcJn 92,93)
Gennesaret
And after they had passed across, they came to land at Gennesaret,
where they cast anchor. And as soon as they had disembarked, the
people there immediately recognized him, and raced throughout the
region, passing the word along to the surrounding countryside, and
the people started bringing their sick up to him on mats wherever they
heard that Jesus was.
And everywhere that he would go, be it in villages, townships, or the
countryside, they laid those who were in poor health in the markets,
and begged him to allow the ill to touch but the fringe of his robe; and
as many as touched it were instantly healed.
Again, one time when we disciples were all sleeping in a house in
Gennesaret, after I, (John,) had wrapped myself up, I kept a watchful
eye on him. At first I heard him say to me, “John, go to sleep.” And
when I heard this, I pretended to fall asleep; then I saw another who
was like him there, whom I also heard saying to my Master, “Jesus, the
ones you have chosen still do not believe in you.” And my Lord
replied, “Indeed they do not, for they are but mortal men.” I will relate another sublime matter to you, my brothers. There
were times when I wanted to touch him, and I felt a solid, physical
presence; but then there were times when his body seemed unreal to me, and without substance--as if it were not even there at all. Now, if
ever he was invited by Pharisee and indeed went to the place where he
had been bidden, we would all go with him there. And our host,
placing a loaf of bread before each of us, would give him one also.
Then he would bless his own and split it among us; and that tiny bit
would fill us all, while our own would remain unbroken. Those who
had invited him would always be amazed.
And whenever I would walk with him, from time to time I would try
to see if he left his prints upon the ground, but I could never make out
any. What I did notice, however, was him raising himself up off of the
ground. Dearest brothers, I am saying these things to you now that I
might stir your faith in him. At this time, however, we must remain
silent when it comes to his masterful and amazing works, inasmuch as
they are mysterious, and there can be no doubting that they are
neither to be expressed with words nor understood with reason.
(Matt 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56; AcJn 92,93)
Gennesaret
And after they had passed across, they came to land at Gennesaret,
where they cast anchor. And as soon as they had disembarked, the
people there immediately recognized him, and raced throughout the
region, passing the word along to the surrounding countryside, and
the people started bringing their sick up to him on mats wherever they
heard that Jesus was.
And everywhere that he would go, be it in villages, townships, or the
countryside, they laid those who were in poor health in the markets,
and begged him to allow the ill to touch but the fringe of his robe; and
as many as touched it were instantly healed.
Again, one time when we disciples were all sleeping in a house in
Gennesaret, after I, (John,) had wrapped myself up, I kept a watchful
eye on him. At first I heard him say to me, “John, go to sleep.” And
when I heard this, I pretended to fall asleep; then I saw another who
was like him there, whom I also heard saying to my Master, “Jesus, the
ones you have chosen still do not believe in you.” And my Lord
replied, “Indeed they do not, for they are but mortal men.” I will relate another sublime matter to you, my brothers. There
were times when I wanted to touch him, and I felt a solid, physical
presence; but then there were times when his body seemed unreal to me, and without substance--as if it were not even there at all. Now, if
ever he was invited by Pharisee and indeed went to the place where he
had been bidden, we would all go with him there. And our host,
placing a loaf of bread before each of us, would give him one also.
Then he would bless his own and split it among us; and that tiny bit
would fill us all, while our own would remain unbroken. Those who
had invited him would always be amazed.
And whenever I would walk with him, from time to time I would try
to see if he left his prints upon the ground, but I could never make out
any. What I did notice, however, was him raising himself up off of the
ground. Dearest brothers, I am saying these things to you now that I
might stir your faith in him. At this time, however, we must remain
silent when it comes to his masterful and amazing works, inasmuch as
they are mysterious, and there can be no doubting that they are
neither to be expressed with words nor understood with reason.
THE LIFE-GIVING BREAD
(John 6:22-71; John 6:56 in Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis)
Capernaum
The next day it became clear to the people still standing across the
sea that there had been but one boat, and that Jesus had not gotten in
with his disciples, but that his followers had gone away all by
themselves. Boats from Tiberias, however, did land near the spot
where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
When, therefore, it dawned on the people that neither Jesus nor his
disciples were there, they boarded the boats and crossed over to the
town of Capernaum in search of him. And when they found him on
that side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come to this
shore?” “I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied, “you seek me not
on account of the signs that you saw, but because you had eaten your
fill of the loaves.
“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that leads
to endless life, which the Son of Man will give to you; because God the
Father has placed His seal on him.” They asked him, “What should we
do to bring to pass the works of God?” Jesus answered, “God’s ‘work’
is that you should place your faith in the one He sent.” “What sign will you show us then, that we might see it and thereby place our faith in
you?” they asked. “What kind of work will you perform? Our forefathers ate the heavenly food out in the wilderness; even as it is
written, ‘He provided them with bread to eat from on high.’ I am
telling you the truth,” Jesus explained, “it was not Moses who gave you
to eat of the heavenly bread; it is, rather, my Father Who gives you of
the true bread of heaven. The ‘bread’ of God is that which comes down
from heaven and causes the world to come alive.”
“Teacher,” they implored him, “give us to eat of this bread.” “I am
myself that bread of life,” Jesus informed them. “Whoever comes to
me will never hunger, and whoever trusts in me will never thirst. Even
so, all of you have seen me and yet have not believed in me, even as I
have spoken it to you. All that the Father gives to me are drawn to me;
and anyone who approaches me, I will by no means cast out. For I did
not come down from heaven to do my own will, but the will of the One
Who sent me; and this is the will of the Father Who sent me: that I
should not lose anything that He has given to me, but that I might
restore it on the final day. This, you see, is my Father’s will: that
everyone who looks upon the Son and accepts him should have
endless life; and I will lift them up on the final day.”
Then the Jews started complaining about him because he said, “I
am that bread that came down from heaven.” “Is this not Jesus,” they
marveled, “the son of Joseph; about whom we are certain of father and
mother? How is it that he now can say, ‘I have come down from
heaven?” “Quit grumbling to yourselves,” Jesus replied. “No one can approach me unless they are led by the Father Who sent me; and I will
lift him up on the final day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all
be led by God.’ Everyone who hears the Father and learns from Him
comes to me. No man has ever seen the Father except for the one who
came down from God; this one has truly seen the Father. I am telling
you the truth, whoever trusts has endless life; and I am that bread of
life.
“Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they all
died. This, however, is the bread that comes down from heaven, of the
which a man might eat and never die. I am that living bread that comes from heaven; so anyone who eats of this bread will live forever.
And my flesh is the bread that I give to bring the world to life.”
Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, and asking one
another, “How can this man give us to eat of his flesh?” Then Jesus
revealed to them, “I am telling you the truth, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have any life within.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has endless life, and I will
raise him on the final day. My flesh is food in truth, you see, and my blood is drink indeed. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives within me, and I live within him; even as the Father is within me
and I am within Him. I promise you, if you do not take the body of the
Son of Man as the bread of life, then you do not have life in him. Even
as the living Father has sent me, so also do I live through Him--
therefore whoever will partake of me will live through me. This is the
bread which came down from heaven, not like that which the fathers
ate before and died; whosoever eats this bread will live forever.”
He said these things as he was teaching in the Capernaum
synagogue. When they heard this, many of his disciples complained,
“This is difficult doctrine--who can accept it?” Jesus, however,
knowing inwardly that his followers were murmuring about it,
questioned them, “Does this offend you? What if you were to see the
Son of Man rising up to his former stature?
“The Spirit is what brings you life, but the flesh profits you nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and life. Even so, some of you
refuse to believe.” (For even from the very start, Jesus knew all who
would doubt, as well as who would betray him.) “This,” he continued,
“was why I said to you that no one can approach me unless my Father
has empowered him.”
After this, many of his disciples went away, and traveled with him
no more. “Do you wish to abandon me too?” Jesus questioned the
twelve. “Master,” Simon Peter answered, “to whom are we supposed
to go? Your words lead to endless life. We are confident and do
believe that you are the Holy One, the Son of God.” “Did I not choose
the twelve of you?” Jesus replied. “Even so, one of you is a devil!” He
was referring to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, who, though he was among the twelve, was to betray him.
(John 6:22-71; John 6:56 in Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis)
Capernaum
The next day it became clear to the people still standing across the
sea that there had been but one boat, and that Jesus had not gotten in
with his disciples, but that his followers had gone away all by
themselves. Boats from Tiberias, however, did land near the spot
where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
When, therefore, it dawned on the people that neither Jesus nor his
disciples were there, they boarded the boats and crossed over to the
town of Capernaum in search of him. And when they found him on
that side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come to this
shore?” “I am telling you the truth,” Jesus replied, “you seek me not
on account of the signs that you saw, but because you had eaten your
fill of the loaves.
“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that leads
to endless life, which the Son of Man will give to you; because God the
Father has placed His seal on him.” They asked him, “What should we
do to bring to pass the works of God?” Jesus answered, “God’s ‘work’
is that you should place your faith in the one He sent.” “What sign will you show us then, that we might see it and thereby place our faith in
you?” they asked. “What kind of work will you perform? Our forefathers ate the heavenly food out in the wilderness; even as it is
written, ‘He provided them with bread to eat from on high.’ I am
telling you the truth,” Jesus explained, “it was not Moses who gave you
to eat of the heavenly bread; it is, rather, my Father Who gives you of
the true bread of heaven. The ‘bread’ of God is that which comes down
from heaven and causes the world to come alive.”
“Teacher,” they implored him, “give us to eat of this bread.” “I am
myself that bread of life,” Jesus informed them. “Whoever comes to
me will never hunger, and whoever trusts in me will never thirst. Even
so, all of you have seen me and yet have not believed in me, even as I
have spoken it to you. All that the Father gives to me are drawn to me;
and anyone who approaches me, I will by no means cast out. For I did
not come down from heaven to do my own will, but the will of the One
Who sent me; and this is the will of the Father Who sent me: that I
should not lose anything that He has given to me, but that I might
restore it on the final day. This, you see, is my Father’s will: that
everyone who looks upon the Son and accepts him should have
endless life; and I will lift them up on the final day.”
Then the Jews started complaining about him because he said, “I
am that bread that came down from heaven.” “Is this not Jesus,” they
marveled, “the son of Joseph; about whom we are certain of father and
mother? How is it that he now can say, ‘I have come down from
heaven?” “Quit grumbling to yourselves,” Jesus replied. “No one can approach me unless they are led by the Father Who sent me; and I will
lift him up on the final day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all
be led by God.’ Everyone who hears the Father and learns from Him
comes to me. No man has ever seen the Father except for the one who
came down from God; this one has truly seen the Father. I am telling
you the truth, whoever trusts has endless life; and I am that bread of
life.
“Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they all
died. This, however, is the bread that comes down from heaven, of the
which a man might eat and never die. I am that living bread that comes from heaven; so anyone who eats of this bread will live forever.
And my flesh is the bread that I give to bring the world to life.”
Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, and asking one
another, “How can this man give us to eat of his flesh?” Then Jesus
revealed to them, “I am telling you the truth, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have any life within.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has endless life, and I will
raise him on the final day. My flesh is food in truth, you see, and my blood is drink indeed. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives within me, and I live within him; even as the Father is within me
and I am within Him. I promise you, if you do not take the body of the
Son of Man as the bread of life, then you do not have life in him. Even
as the living Father has sent me, so also do I live through Him--
therefore whoever will partake of me will live through me. This is the
bread which came down from heaven, not like that which the fathers
ate before and died; whosoever eats this bread will live forever.”
He said these things as he was teaching in the Capernaum
synagogue. When they heard this, many of his disciples complained,
“This is difficult doctrine--who can accept it?” Jesus, however,
knowing inwardly that his followers were murmuring about it,
questioned them, “Does this offend you? What if you were to see the
Son of Man rising up to his former stature?
“The Spirit is what brings you life, but the flesh profits you nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit and life. Even so, some of you
refuse to believe.” (For even from the very start, Jesus knew all who
would doubt, as well as who would betray him.) “This,” he continued,
“was why I said to you that no one can approach me unless my Father
has empowered him.”
After this, many of his disciples went away, and traveled with him
no more. “Do you wish to abandon me too?” Jesus questioned the
twelve. “Master,” Simon Peter answered, “to whom are we supposed
to go? Your words lead to endless life. We are confident and do
believe that you are the Holy One, the Son of God.” “Did I not choose
the twelve of you?” Jesus replied. “Even so, one of you is a devil!” He
was referring to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, who, though he was among the twelve, was to betray him.
THOMAS’ INSIGHT AND JESUS’ WORDS TO HIM:
PETER’S INSIGHT
(Matt 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21;
GTh Prologue,1,2,13/1,2 POxy 654)
The Villages Near Caesarea Philippi
Jesus and his followers moved on to the villages around Caesarea
Philippi. And one day, along the way, when Jesus had entered into
[that] district, he was praying privately, and his disciples were all with
him. “Equate me with something,” Jesus bid his students, “and
explain to me what I am like.” Simon Peter answered him, “You are
even as a godly angel.” Matthew said, “You are like a wise
intellectual.” “Master,” said Thomas, “my mouth is completely at a
loss to put into words what you are like.” Jesus said, “I am not your
master, for you have grown drunk, having partaken of the living spring
that I myself have measured out.” And he took him aside and spoke
three sayings to him.
When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did
Jesus say to you?” Thomas answered, “If I were to tell you one of the
sayings that he spoke to me, you would pick up stones and throw them
at me--flames would then shoot out of them and burn you up.”
These are the mysterious things that the living Jesus spoke and
which Didymus Judas, <who is> also known as Thomas, wrote down.
He said, moreover, “Whoever finds what these words mean, will not ever taste of death. The seeker should keep on seeking until they find,
and when they find, they will be shaken, and when they are shaken,
they will be astonished, and will rule over everything, (and <when
they reign>, then they will <rest.>)”
Then he questioned his disciples, “Who do the people say that the
Son of Man is, (and) the multitudes, that I am?” And they answered
him, “Some say that you are John the Baptist, others say that you’re
Elijah, others say you’re Jeremiah, and still others, that you’re one of
the prophets--that one of the prophets from ages past has come alive.”
“Well then,” he asked, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter
answered him, “You are God’s Messiah; the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus answered, “How blessed are you, Simon, son of John!
Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, but it was
my Father in heaven. And I am here to say to you that you are a rock,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
prevail against it. I will hand the keys of heaven’s kingdom over to
you; and whatever you bind on earth will be, having been bound up in
the sky, and whatever you loose on earth will be, having been loosed
up in the sky.” He then forbad his servants from telling anyone about
him, that he was Jesus the Christ.
PETER’S INSIGHT
(Matt 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21;
GTh Prologue,1,2,13/1,2 POxy 654)
The Villages Near Caesarea Philippi
Jesus and his followers moved on to the villages around Caesarea
Philippi. And one day, along the way, when Jesus had entered into
[that] district, he was praying privately, and his disciples were all with
him. “Equate me with something,” Jesus bid his students, “and
explain to me what I am like.” Simon Peter answered him, “You are
even as a godly angel.” Matthew said, “You are like a wise
intellectual.” “Master,” said Thomas, “my mouth is completely at a
loss to put into words what you are like.” Jesus said, “I am not your
master, for you have grown drunk, having partaken of the living spring
that I myself have measured out.” And he took him aside and spoke
three sayings to him.
When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, “What did
Jesus say to you?” Thomas answered, “If I were to tell you one of the
sayings that he spoke to me, you would pick up stones and throw them
at me--flames would then shoot out of them and burn you up.”
These are the mysterious things that the living Jesus spoke and
which Didymus Judas, <who is> also known as Thomas, wrote down.
He said, moreover, “Whoever finds what these words mean, will not ever taste of death. The seeker should keep on seeking until they find,
and when they find, they will be shaken, and when they are shaken,
they will be astonished, and will rule over everything, (and <when
they reign>, then they will <rest.>)”
Then he questioned his disciples, “Who do the people say that the
Son of Man is, (and) the multitudes, that I am?” And they answered
him, “Some say that you are John the Baptist, others say that you’re
Elijah, others say you’re Jeremiah, and still others, that you’re one of
the prophets--that one of the prophets from ages past has come alive.”
“Well then,” he asked, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter
answered him, “You are God’s Messiah; the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus answered, “How blessed are you, Simon, son of John!
Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you, but it was
my Father in heaven. And I am here to say to you that you are a rock,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
prevail against it. I will hand the keys of heaven’s kingdom over to
you; and whatever you bind on earth will be, having been bound up in
the sky, and whatever you loose on earth will be, having been loosed
up in the sky.” He then forbad his servants from telling anyone about
him, that he was Jesus the Christ.
THE TRANSFIGURATION
(Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8;
Luke 9:28-36; AcJn 90; 2Pet 1:18)
Mount of Transfiguration
After six (whole) days had passed, about eight days after Jesus had
said all this, he took Peter and James and me, John, the brother of
James, and led [us] apart by [our]selves to his usual prayer spot high
up the mountain, in order to pray. And even as he was in the midst of
prayer, he was changed before [us] there. And we saw such light upon
him that it is impossible for a man to describe it in human terms. His
face transformed, and beamed like the sun, and his clothing began
shining white as snow; whiter, in fact, than any fuller on earth could
possibly whiten them; as white as light, and as bright as a lightning
bolt. Just then two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared to them in glorious
splendor, and they were discussing his imminent departure, which he
was soon to bring about in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were
all quite drowsy, but once they had awakened fully, they beheld his
glory and that of the two men who were standing there with him. As
the men were departing from Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, Sir, it
is good that we are here; if you would, let us set up three tabernacles,
one for you, one for Moses, and another for Elijah.” Now he did not
know what to say, (or even) what he was saying, for all of them were
terrified. And behold, even as he was speaking, a bright cloud
appeared and overtook them all, and as the cloud enveloped them
there, they were paralyzed with fear. And a voice came from the cloud,
saying, “This is my beloved Son, the Elect One; I am truly pleased with
him. You must hear him.” When the voice had spoken (and) the
disciples had heard it, they fell to their faces on the ground in fear.
But Jesus came and touched them. “Rise up, and fear not,” he said.
All of a sudden they looked up (and) around, and no longer saw
anyone there with him. Jesus was all alone and in their midst, and
they let no one know at the time about what they had seen. (And we
did ourselves hear this voice from the heavens, for we were with him
on the sacred mountain.)
(Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8;
Luke 9:28-36; AcJn 90; 2Pet 1:18)
Mount of Transfiguration
After six (whole) days had passed, about eight days after Jesus had
said all this, he took Peter and James and me, John, the brother of
James, and led [us] apart by [our]selves to his usual prayer spot high
up the mountain, in order to pray. And even as he was in the midst of
prayer, he was changed before [us] there. And we saw such light upon
him that it is impossible for a man to describe it in human terms. His
face transformed, and beamed like the sun, and his clothing began
shining white as snow; whiter, in fact, than any fuller on earth could
possibly whiten them; as white as light, and as bright as a lightning
bolt. Just then two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared to them in glorious
splendor, and they were discussing his imminent departure, which he
was soon to bring about in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were
all quite drowsy, but once they had awakened fully, they beheld his
glory and that of the two men who were standing there with him. As
the men were departing from Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, Sir, it
is good that we are here; if you would, let us set up three tabernacles,
one for you, one for Moses, and another for Elijah.” Now he did not
know what to say, (or even) what he was saying, for all of them were
terrified. And behold, even as he was speaking, a bright cloud
appeared and overtook them all, and as the cloud enveloped them
there, they were paralyzed with fear. And a voice came from the cloud,
saying, “This is my beloved Son, the Elect One; I am truly pleased with
him. You must hear him.” When the voice had spoken (and) the
disciples had heard it, they fell to their faces on the ground in fear.
But Jesus came and touched them. “Rise up, and fear not,” he said.
All of a sudden they looked up (and) around, and no longer saw
anyone there with him. Jesus was all alone and in their midst, and
they let no one know at the time about what they had seen. (And we
did ourselves hear this voice from the heavens, for we were with him
on the sacred mountain.)
A SECOND TRANSFIGURATION
(AcJn 90,91)
(AcJn 90,91)
Mount of Transfiguration
He led the three of us up the mountain again in a similar way,
saying, “Come up with me.” Once again we went along, and we saw
him praying at a distance. Now because he loved me, (John,) I drew
near to him silently, just as if he would not see, and stood and watched
him from behind. Now I could tell that he was not wearing clothes,
but appeared to us as naked, yet not the least bit like a mortal. His
feet were so much whiter than snow that they lit up the very ground
beneath him, and his head reached into the sky, and the sight was such
that I shrieked in fright. Then he turned around and appeared as
small as any man! And he took hold of my beard, and pulling it he
said to me, “John, do not be doubtful, but believing; and stop being so
nosy.” “Lord,” I asked, “what did I do?” And let me tell you, my
brothers, for thirty days I suffered such agony where he grabbed me by
my beard, that I complained to him, “Lord, if your lighthearted tug has
caused me such pain, what would it have been like if you had drubbed
me but good?” And he answered me, “From this time forth, make it
your business never to provoke the One Who is not to be tempted.”
But Peter and James were angered by my discussion with the Lord
and gestured for me to come to them and leave the Lord alone. So I
went over to where they were, and they both prodded me, “Who was
the Lord talking to on the mountain top, for we heard two of them
speaking?” And when I thought about the extent of his compassion as
it relates to his all-encompassing nature and his wisdom, which has
never grown weary of watching over us, I replied, “If you were to ask
this of him, you would get your answer.”
He led the three of us up the mountain again in a similar way,
saying, “Come up with me.” Once again we went along, and we saw
him praying at a distance. Now because he loved me, (John,) I drew
near to him silently, just as if he would not see, and stood and watched
him from behind. Now I could tell that he was not wearing clothes,
but appeared to us as naked, yet not the least bit like a mortal. His
feet were so much whiter than snow that they lit up the very ground
beneath him, and his head reached into the sky, and the sight was such
that I shrieked in fright. Then he turned around and appeared as
small as any man! And he took hold of my beard, and pulling it he
said to me, “John, do not be doubtful, but believing; and stop being so
nosy.” “Lord,” I asked, “what did I do?” And let me tell you, my
brothers, for thirty days I suffered such agony where he grabbed me by
my beard, that I complained to him, “Lord, if your lighthearted tug has
caused me such pain, what would it have been like if you had drubbed
me but good?” And he answered me, “From this time forth, make it
your business never to provoke the One Who is not to be tempted.”
But Peter and James were angered by my discussion with the Lord
and gestured for me to come to them and leave the Lord alone. So I
went over to where they were, and they both prodded me, “Who was
the Lord talking to on the mountain top, for we heard two of them
speaking?” And when I thought about the extent of his compassion as
it relates to his all-encompassing nature and his wisdom, which has
never grown weary of watching over us, I replied, “If you were to ask
this of him, you would get your answer.”
WHOEVER IS LEAST IS GREATEST
(Matt 18:1-14; Mark 9:33b-50; Luke 9:46-50; GPh 31)
Capernaum
A dispute broke out among the disciples as to which of them would
become the more preeminent. Jesus, knowing their thoughts,
questioned them, “What were you talking about along the way?” They,
however, did not answer, for as they were walking along, they had
spoken together as to which of them was to become the most
illustrious. And he sat down, summoned the twelve and instructed
them, “If anyone would strive to be first, he must be the lowest--even a
servant to all people.”
Then the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who, therefore, is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Calling a child to himself, Jesus
took hold of him and had him stand right next to him before them.
And drawing him into his arms, he informed them, “I am telling you
the truth, unless you transform yourselves and become like children,
you will never make it into the kingdom of heaven. For this reason,
whoever humbles himself and becomes like this child, will be greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives any of these children,
such as this one, in my name is, in fact, receiving me; and whoever
receives me is not receiving me alone, but also the One Who sent me.
You see, the most humble among you will be the most preeminent.”
Then John said to him, “Teacher, Sir, we saw this man casting out
evil spirits in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not
from those of us who follow you.” But Jesus answered, “Do not
prevent him because there is not anyone who could work a miracle in
my name and turn around and malign me. See, whoever is not opposed to us is for us, (and) whoever is not against you is on your
side. For truly do I say to you, he will never forfeit his reward who,
because you are of the Anointed, gives you so much as a cup of water to drink in my name.
“Even so, it would be better for whoever saddens even one of these
little ones who trusts in me, to have a giant millstone hung around his
neck, (and with that) millstone ringing his neck, be tossed into the sea
to drown. Curse the world for its deceit! It is inevitable that
deceptions should come, but curse the man by whom these schemes
are set in place! Now if your hand leads you to your ruin, then chop it
off and cast it out. Better that you should go through life with but one
hand, than with two hands to enter into Gehenna, where their worm
does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot should lead
you into sin, then cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life with a
single foot, than with two feet to walk into the everlasting flames,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. And if your
eye should draw you into error, pull it out and throw it away. Better that you should go through life with a single eye (and) enter into the
kingdom of God, than with two eyes to be sent into the fire of
Gehenna, where their worm never dies, and the fire is not put out.
Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with
salt. Salt is useful, but if the salt should lose its taste, how ever can
you salt it again? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace with
one another.” (The apostles taught their disciples, “May the fullness of
our offering be salted with salt.” Now when they said “salt,” what they
meant was “wisdom” in code, for without that, no offering is
acceptable. Wisdom as it stands today is barren and without a child.
She is therefore called a “<hint> of salt.” Wherever they <should
gather> in their special way, the Holy Spirit will <join with them,>
and many are her children!)
“Be careful not to scorn any of these little ones who trust in me, for
I am here to tell you that in heaven, their angels gaze endlessly upon
the face of my heavenly Father. The Son of Man came to restore what
had been lost.
“What do you suppose? If a man should have a hundred sheep and
one of them should wander off, does he not leave the ninety-nine
behind on the hills and go searching for the one that walked away?
And if he manages to find it, I tell you most assuredly that he takes
225
greater pleasure in that one than in the ninety-nine that never strayed.
Likewise, it is not the will of my heavenly Father that even one of these
little ones should perish.
(Matt 18:1-14; Mark 9:33b-50; Luke 9:46-50; GPh 31)
Capernaum
A dispute broke out among the disciples as to which of them would
become the more preeminent. Jesus, knowing their thoughts,
questioned them, “What were you talking about along the way?” They,
however, did not answer, for as they were walking along, they had
spoken together as to which of them was to become the most
illustrious. And he sat down, summoned the twelve and instructed
them, “If anyone would strive to be first, he must be the lowest--even a
servant to all people.”
Then the disciples came to Jesus, asking, “Who, therefore, is the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Calling a child to himself, Jesus
took hold of him and had him stand right next to him before them.
And drawing him into his arms, he informed them, “I am telling you
the truth, unless you transform yourselves and become like children,
you will never make it into the kingdom of heaven. For this reason,
whoever humbles himself and becomes like this child, will be greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives any of these children,
such as this one, in my name is, in fact, receiving me; and whoever
receives me is not receiving me alone, but also the One Who sent me.
You see, the most humble among you will be the most preeminent.”
Then John said to him, “Teacher, Sir, we saw this man casting out
evil spirits in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not
from those of us who follow you.” But Jesus answered, “Do not
prevent him because there is not anyone who could work a miracle in
my name and turn around and malign me. See, whoever is not opposed to us is for us, (and) whoever is not against you is on your
side. For truly do I say to you, he will never forfeit his reward who,
because you are of the Anointed, gives you so much as a cup of water to drink in my name.
“Even so, it would be better for whoever saddens even one of these
little ones who trusts in me, to have a giant millstone hung around his
neck, (and with that) millstone ringing his neck, be tossed into the sea
to drown. Curse the world for its deceit! It is inevitable that
deceptions should come, but curse the man by whom these schemes
are set in place! Now if your hand leads you to your ruin, then chop it
off and cast it out. Better that you should go through life with but one
hand, than with two hands to enter into Gehenna, where their worm
does not die, and the fire is not quenched. And if your foot should lead
you into sin, then cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life with a
single foot, than with two feet to walk into the everlasting flames,
where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. And if your
eye should draw you into error, pull it out and throw it away. Better that you should go through life with a single eye (and) enter into the
kingdom of God, than with two eyes to be sent into the fire of
Gehenna, where their worm never dies, and the fire is not put out.
Everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with
salt. Salt is useful, but if the salt should lose its taste, how ever can
you salt it again? Have salt within yourselves, and be at peace with
one another.” (The apostles taught their disciples, “May the fullness of
our offering be salted with salt.” Now when they said “salt,” what they
meant was “wisdom” in code, for without that, no offering is
acceptable. Wisdom as it stands today is barren and without a child.
She is therefore called a “<hint> of salt.” Wherever they <should
gather> in their special way, the Holy Spirit will <join with them,>
and many are her children!)
“Be careful not to scorn any of these little ones who trust in me, for
I am here to tell you that in heaven, their angels gaze endlessly upon
the face of my heavenly Father. The Son of Man came to restore what
had been lost.
“What do you suppose? If a man should have a hundred sheep and
one of them should wander off, does he not leave the ninety-nine
behind on the hills and go searching for the one that walked away?
And if he manages to find it, I tell you most assuredly that he takes
225
greater pleasure in that one than in the ninety-nine that never strayed.
Likewise, it is not the will of my heavenly Father that even one of these
little ones should perish.
JESUS INSTRUCTS PETER TO FORGIVE
(Matt 18:15-35; GTh 30,48/30 POxy 1;
GNaz 5, Quote by Jerome, Against Pelagians 3.2b)
Capernaum
“If your brother should sin against you, go and, just between the
two of you, explain to him where he is wrong. And if he should heed
your words, then you will have won him over. But if he should not,
then take one or two others along with you, so that ‘under the
testimony of two or three witnesses, every word might be upheld.’ If
he refuses to listen even to them, then let the congregation know. And
if he then does not give heed, then let him be in your sight as a pagan
or a tax-collector. I am telling you the truth, whatever you bind on
earth will be, having been bound up above; and whatever you loose on
earth will be, having been loosed up above. If, in a single house, two
should come to terms together, they will bid the mountain, ‘Move
away!’ and it will be moved. Once again I say to you, if two of you
should agree on earth about anything for which they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. You see, wherever two or three
are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. (And)
where there are three divine beings, they are gods <apart from> God.
And where there are two or even one, I say, ‘I live within that one.’
Pick up a rock, and you’ll find me there. Split apart a chunk of wood,
and there will I be.”
Then Peter went up to Jesus and asked, “Master, how often should I
forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Jesus answered him, “If
your brother or sister has slandered you and makes it right, accept him
or her seven times a day.” Simon, his disciple, questioned him, “Seven
times in just one day?” Jesus answered, “I am saying to you, more
than just those seven times, but seventy-seven, (even) seventy times
seven. For even the prophets themselves, after they had been
anointed with the Holy Spirit, were capable of sinful speech.
“Therefore, the heavenly dominion is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to reckon with them,
one of them who owe ten thousand talents was brought to him; and
seeing that he could not pay, his master commanded that he be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and everything that he owned as
payment. And so the servant fell to his knees and begged, ‘Lord, if
you’ll only have patience with me, I will pay you back one hundred
percent.’ And his master felt sorry for him, canceled his debt, and set
him free.
“That very servant went right out and tracked down one of his
fellows who owed him a hundred denarii. He latched onto him and
started to strangle him, insisting, ‘Pay me back everything you owe!’
And his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay it all back.’ But he refused; going off instead
and having him cast into prison until he could fully repay his debt.
“When some other servants saw that, they became very upset and
went and related all that had happened to their master. Then his
master sent for him, and reproved him: ‘You wicked servant! I forgave
your entire debt because you begged me to. Would it not have been
fitting for you to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, even as I
showed mercy to you?’ And his master became angry and turned him
over to the jailers, until he could pay his debt in full. Even so will my
heavenly Father deal with you, if you refuse to pardon your brother
from your innermost beings.”
(Matt 18:15-35; GTh 30,48/30 POxy 1;
GNaz 5, Quote by Jerome, Against Pelagians 3.2b)
Capernaum
“If your brother should sin against you, go and, just between the
two of you, explain to him where he is wrong. And if he should heed
your words, then you will have won him over. But if he should not,
then take one or two others along with you, so that ‘under the
testimony of two or three witnesses, every word might be upheld.’ If
he refuses to listen even to them, then let the congregation know. And
if he then does not give heed, then let him be in your sight as a pagan
or a tax-collector. I am telling you the truth, whatever you bind on
earth will be, having been bound up above; and whatever you loose on
earth will be, having been loosed up above. If, in a single house, two
should come to terms together, they will bid the mountain, ‘Move
away!’ and it will be moved. Once again I say to you, if two of you
should agree on earth about anything for which they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. You see, wherever two or three
are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. (And)
where there are three divine beings, they are gods <apart from> God.
And where there are two or even one, I say, ‘I live within that one.’
Pick up a rock, and you’ll find me there. Split apart a chunk of wood,
and there will I be.”
Then Peter went up to Jesus and asked, “Master, how often should I
forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Jesus answered him, “If
your brother or sister has slandered you and makes it right, accept him
or her seven times a day.” Simon, his disciple, questioned him, “Seven
times in just one day?” Jesus answered, “I am saying to you, more
than just those seven times, but seventy-seven, (even) seventy times
seven. For even the prophets themselves, after they had been
anointed with the Holy Spirit, were capable of sinful speech.
“Therefore, the heavenly dominion is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to reckon with them,
one of them who owe ten thousand talents was brought to him; and
seeing that he could not pay, his master commanded that he be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and everything that he owned as
payment. And so the servant fell to his knees and begged, ‘Lord, if
you’ll only have patience with me, I will pay you back one hundred
percent.’ And his master felt sorry for him, canceled his debt, and set
him free.
“That very servant went right out and tracked down one of his
fellows who owed him a hundred denarii. He latched onto him and
started to strangle him, insisting, ‘Pay me back everything you owe!’
And his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience
with me, and I will pay it all back.’ But he refused; going off instead
and having him cast into prison until he could fully repay his debt.
“When some other servants saw that, they became very upset and
went and related all that had happened to their master. Then his
master sent for him, and reproved him: ‘You wicked servant! I forgave
your entire debt because you begged me to. Would it not have been
fitting for you to have shown mercy to your fellow servant, even as I
showed mercy to you?’ And his master became angry and turned him
over to the jailers, until he could pay his debt in full. Even so will my
heavenly Father deal with you, if you refuse to pardon your brother
from your innermost beings.”
JESUS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
(John 7:11-8:1; GTh 38,53,59,108/38 POxy 655; OSol 30;
The Heavenly Dialogue, Quote by Origen, Against Celsus 8.15)
Jerusalem
So the Jews were looking for him at the Feast, saying, “Where is
that man?” And the crowds were bustling with talk about him there;
some were saying, “He is a righteous man,” but others contended, “No,
he is leading the people astray.” Even so, no one spoke openly about
him for fear of the Jews. And it was about midway through the Feast
when Jesus went up into the temple and started to teach. And there
the Jews all marveled and asked, “How did this man acquire such
knowledge without the benefit of an education?” And Jesus answered,
“This is not my own doctrine, but that of the One Who sent me. If any
one should do His will, he will come to recognize whether this teaching
comes from God, or if I am speaking on my own. Whoever speaks on
his own authority, seeks his own glory, but anyone who seeks to glorify
the One Who sends him is authentic, and no falsity exists within him.
Did not Moses give you the law? All the same, not even one of you
keeps to the law, so why are you looking to murder me?” “You’re
demon-possessed,” the people replied. “Just who is it that is seeking
your death?” “I did one miracle and you’re all amazed?” Jesus replied.
“Still, you will circumcise a child on the Sabbath Day because Moses
passed circumcision down to you, though it did not actually stem from
him, but the patriarchs instead. So if you can circumcise a boy on the Sabbath to keep from breaking the Mosaic Law, then why are you
enraged at me for restoring a man to perfect health on the Sabbath
Day? Do not judge by appearances, but by righteousness instead.” “Is
circumcision beneficial or not?” his disciples asked him. He answered,
“If it were of any use, their Father would bring forth from their
mothers children who are circumcised already. It is, rather, the true
circumcision--that of the spirit--that has become beneficial in its every
aspect.” Then some of the people of Jerusalem started to ask, “Is this
not the man they are trying to kill? And there he goes speaking freely
among them. They are not saying a word to him. Have the leaders all
concluded that he is the Messiah? We know where this man came from, but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he came
from.”
And as Jesus was teaching in the temple, he cried out to them, “You
have known me, have you? And where I came from too? I did not
come of my own accord. The One Who sent me is genuine, and you
have certainly never known Him! I know Him because I came from His very presence, and He was the One Who sent me here.” So they
tried to apprehend him, but none could get their hands on him, since
his time had not yet come. And many who were in that crowd placed
their trust in him and proclaimed, “When the Messiah does come, will
he do more signs than this man has?”
The Pharisees heard the people speaking these things under their
breath about him, so along with the high-ranking priests, they sent
officers out to arrest him. Jesus therefore said to them, “I will only be
with you a little longer, and then be off to Him Who sent me. You
have often longed to hear the words that I am now passing on to you,
and you’ve got no one else to hear them from. Even so, the days are
coming when you will seek for me and find me not, and it will be
impossible for you to come over to where I am.” So the Jews then
started asking each other, “Where is he off to, then, that we will be
unable to find him? Will he go away and live among the Gentiles, and
teach among the Greeks? And what is this saying of his, ‘You will seek
me, but not ever find me,’ and, ‘You cannot come to where I am’?”
(And) Jesus said, “As long as you remain alive, you must look to the
One Who lives; otherwise you just might die, and when you seek for
the Living One, you will be unable to find Him.”
On the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood and
cried aloud, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Anyone who drinks from my mouth will become like me! I will, in
fact, become that man, and the hidden things will open up to him. Many are those who circle the well, yet no one ever draws from it.
Why fear now when you’ve come so far? Isn’t it clear to you that I lack
neither courage, nor a weapon. Whosoever trusts in me, as it says in
the Scripture, ‘Rivers of living waters will flow forth from him.’” And
in so saying, he spoke of the Spirit, which they who believed in him
230
would soon receive.
(Drink deeply from the fountain of the Living God,
For it is open to you now.
You who thirst, drink your fill,
And rest yourselves by the spring of the Lord,
For it is lovely and pure, and brings rest to your soul.
More pleasing than honey is the taste thereof,
And the honeycomb is as nothing beside it.
For it flows from the lips of the Lord,
And takes its name from his very heart.
For it approached unseen, and arrived without limit,
And until it came at last, and was set in their midst, No one knew anything about it.
How blessed are those who drink therefrom,
And come to find their rest thereby.)
Now Jesus had not yet been glorified, since the Holy Spirit had not
yet been given. Therefore many in the crowd, hearing his words
proclaimed, “This man must certainly be that Prophet.” Others said,
“This is the Messiah!” And others asked, “Why would the Messiah
come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Messiah
comes from the seed of David, and hails from his hometown of
Bethlehem?” There was thus a division among the people on his
account. And some there wanted to arrest him, but no one managed
to get their hands on him. So the officers approached the chief priests
and the Pharisees, who asked them, “How is it that you did not arrest
him?” “No one else has ever spoken the way that this man has,” the
officers replied. The Pharisees then questioned them, “Have you been
taken in as well? Has anyone from the rulers believed in him? How
about the Pharisees? It is only that this crowd is cursed, ignorant as
they are about the law!” Nicodemus, the one who had come to him by
night, being one of them, asked them, “Does our law pass sentence
against a man without first giving him a hearing to find out what it is
that he has done?” “Are you also from Galilee?” they rejoined. “Look
into it and recognize that the Prophet, (indeed) no prophet rises up
from Galilee.” And at that they all went home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
(John 7:11-8:1; GTh 38,53,59,108/38 POxy 655; OSol 30;
The Heavenly Dialogue, Quote by Origen, Against Celsus 8.15)
Jerusalem
So the Jews were looking for him at the Feast, saying, “Where is
that man?” And the crowds were bustling with talk about him there;
some were saying, “He is a righteous man,” but others contended, “No,
he is leading the people astray.” Even so, no one spoke openly about
him for fear of the Jews. And it was about midway through the Feast
when Jesus went up into the temple and started to teach. And there
the Jews all marveled and asked, “How did this man acquire such
knowledge without the benefit of an education?” And Jesus answered,
“This is not my own doctrine, but that of the One Who sent me. If any
one should do His will, he will come to recognize whether this teaching
comes from God, or if I am speaking on my own. Whoever speaks on
his own authority, seeks his own glory, but anyone who seeks to glorify
the One Who sends him is authentic, and no falsity exists within him.
Did not Moses give you the law? All the same, not even one of you
keeps to the law, so why are you looking to murder me?” “You’re
demon-possessed,” the people replied. “Just who is it that is seeking
your death?” “I did one miracle and you’re all amazed?” Jesus replied.
“Still, you will circumcise a child on the Sabbath Day because Moses
passed circumcision down to you, though it did not actually stem from
him, but the patriarchs instead. So if you can circumcise a boy on the Sabbath to keep from breaking the Mosaic Law, then why are you
enraged at me for restoring a man to perfect health on the Sabbath
Day? Do not judge by appearances, but by righteousness instead.” “Is
circumcision beneficial or not?” his disciples asked him. He answered,
“If it were of any use, their Father would bring forth from their
mothers children who are circumcised already. It is, rather, the true
circumcision--that of the spirit--that has become beneficial in its every
aspect.” Then some of the people of Jerusalem started to ask, “Is this
not the man they are trying to kill? And there he goes speaking freely
among them. They are not saying a word to him. Have the leaders all
concluded that he is the Messiah? We know where this man came from, but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he came
from.”
And as Jesus was teaching in the temple, he cried out to them, “You
have known me, have you? And where I came from too? I did not
come of my own accord. The One Who sent me is genuine, and you
have certainly never known Him! I know Him because I came from His very presence, and He was the One Who sent me here.” So they
tried to apprehend him, but none could get their hands on him, since
his time had not yet come. And many who were in that crowd placed
their trust in him and proclaimed, “When the Messiah does come, will
he do more signs than this man has?”
The Pharisees heard the people speaking these things under their
breath about him, so along with the high-ranking priests, they sent
officers out to arrest him. Jesus therefore said to them, “I will only be
with you a little longer, and then be off to Him Who sent me. You
have often longed to hear the words that I am now passing on to you,
and you’ve got no one else to hear them from. Even so, the days are
coming when you will seek for me and find me not, and it will be
impossible for you to come over to where I am.” So the Jews then
started asking each other, “Where is he off to, then, that we will be
unable to find him? Will he go away and live among the Gentiles, and
teach among the Greeks? And what is this saying of his, ‘You will seek
me, but not ever find me,’ and, ‘You cannot come to where I am’?”
(And) Jesus said, “As long as you remain alive, you must look to the
One Who lives; otherwise you just might die, and when you seek for
the Living One, you will be unable to find Him.”
On the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood and
cried aloud, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
Anyone who drinks from my mouth will become like me! I will, in
fact, become that man, and the hidden things will open up to him. Many are those who circle the well, yet no one ever draws from it.
Why fear now when you’ve come so far? Isn’t it clear to you that I lack
neither courage, nor a weapon. Whosoever trusts in me, as it says in
the Scripture, ‘Rivers of living waters will flow forth from him.’” And
in so saying, he spoke of the Spirit, which they who believed in him
230
would soon receive.
(Drink deeply from the fountain of the Living God,
For it is open to you now.
You who thirst, drink your fill,
And rest yourselves by the spring of the Lord,
For it is lovely and pure, and brings rest to your soul.
More pleasing than honey is the taste thereof,
And the honeycomb is as nothing beside it.
For it flows from the lips of the Lord,
And takes its name from his very heart.
For it approached unseen, and arrived without limit,
And until it came at last, and was set in their midst, No one knew anything about it.
How blessed are those who drink therefrom,
And come to find their rest thereby.)
Now Jesus had not yet been glorified, since the Holy Spirit had not
yet been given. Therefore many in the crowd, hearing his words
proclaimed, “This man must certainly be that Prophet.” Others said,
“This is the Messiah!” And others asked, “Why would the Messiah
come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Messiah
comes from the seed of David, and hails from his hometown of
Bethlehem?” There was thus a division among the people on his
account. And some there wanted to arrest him, but no one managed
to get their hands on him. So the officers approached the chief priests
and the Pharisees, who asked them, “How is it that you did not arrest
him?” “No one else has ever spoken the way that this man has,” the
officers replied. The Pharisees then questioned them, “Have you been
taken in as well? Has anyone from the rulers believed in him? How
about the Pharisees? It is only that this crowd is cursed, ignorant as
they are about the law!” Nicodemus, the one who had come to him by
night, being one of them, asked them, “Does our law pass sentence
against a man without first giving him a hearing to find out what it is
that he has done?” “Are you also from Galilee?” they rejoined. “Look
into it and recognize that the Prophet, (indeed) no prophet rises up
from Galilee.” And at that they all went home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
(John 10:1-21; Gospel of the Ebionites
in Clementine Homilies III.52)
Jerusalem
“I am the door that leads to life. Whoever passes through me enters
into life. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold
through the door, but climbs over from some other side is a thief and a
robber. The shepherd of the sheep enters in through the door. The
porter opens up for him and the sheep all hear his voice. And he calls
his own sheep by name and guides them out. And after drawing out
those that belong to him, he goes out ahead of them. And the sheep
follow after him because they recognize the sound of his voice. But
they will not follow a stranger. They all run away from him, for they
recognize not a stranger’s voice.” Jesus spoke this to them in a parable, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
So Jesus again affirmed to them, “Most assuredly I say to you, I am
the sheep gate. All who have gone before me were thieves and
robbers. The sheep, however, never listened to them. I am that door.
If any should go in through me, he will be kept safe, and will come in
and go out, and find pasture. The only reason that the thief comes is
in order to steal, to kill, and to destroy; but I have come to give them
life--that they might have it to a greater extent!
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for
the sheep. But the hired hand, who is not the shepherd to whom the
sheep belong, runs away when he sees the wolf approaching. The wolf
then catches them, and the sheep are all dispersed. And the hired
servant runs away, for he is but a wage earner, and is not worried
about the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and they know me, even
as the Father knows me, and I know Him. And I lay down my life for
the sake of the sheep. What is more, I have other sheep which are not
of this fold which I must likewise bring along. These will also hear my
voice, and there will be a single flock, with a single shepherd. This is
why my Father loves me: because I lay my life down that I might take
it up again. No one deprives me of it. It is of my own will that I lay it down; and I have the power to take it up. This instruction was given
to me by my Father.”
And there arose yet another rift among the Jews over these words.
Many among them contended, “He has a demon!” and “He is
demented!” and “Why do you even listen to him?” But others insisted, “These are not the words of a demoniac. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
(John 10:1-21; Gospel of the Ebionites
in Clementine Homilies III.52)
Jerusalem
“I am the door that leads to life. Whoever passes through me enters
into life. Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold
through the door, but climbs over from some other side is a thief and a
robber. The shepherd of the sheep enters in through the door. The
porter opens up for him and the sheep all hear his voice. And he calls
his own sheep by name and guides them out. And after drawing out
those that belong to him, he goes out ahead of them. And the sheep
follow after him because they recognize the sound of his voice. But
they will not follow a stranger. They all run away from him, for they
recognize not a stranger’s voice.” Jesus spoke this to them in a parable, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
So Jesus again affirmed to them, “Most assuredly I say to you, I am
the sheep gate. All who have gone before me were thieves and
robbers. The sheep, however, never listened to them. I am that door.
If any should go in through me, he will be kept safe, and will come in
and go out, and find pasture. The only reason that the thief comes is
in order to steal, to kill, and to destroy; but I have come to give them
life--that they might have it to a greater extent!
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for
the sheep. But the hired hand, who is not the shepherd to whom the
sheep belong, runs away when he sees the wolf approaching. The wolf
then catches them, and the sheep are all dispersed. And the hired
servant runs away, for he is but a wage earner, and is not worried
about the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and they know me, even
as the Father knows me, and I know Him. And I lay down my life for
the sake of the sheep. What is more, I have other sheep which are not
of this fold which I must likewise bring along. These will also hear my
voice, and there will be a single flock, with a single shepherd. This is
why my Father loves me: because I lay my life down that I might take
it up again. No one deprives me of it. It is of my own will that I lay it down; and I have the power to take it up. This instruction was given
to me by my Father.”
And there arose yet another rift among the Jews over these words.
Many among them contended, “He has a demon!” and “He is
demented!” and “Why do you even listen to him?” But others insisted, “These are not the words of a demoniac. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
THE SEVENTY-TWO SENT OUT
(Luke 10:1-24; DTry 35:3;
Acts of Paul, Gospel Fragment in Coptic)
Perea
Now after this, the Lord appointed another seventy(-two,) and sent
them out in pairs before him into every city and region where he was
soon to go. Then he informed them, “Truly it is a bountiful crop, but
there are scarcely any harvesters. So appeal to the Lord of the harvest
to send more gatherers into His field. Now move along.
Divisions and heresies are sure to come. I am sending you out as
sheep among wolves, (for) many will come outwardly draped in
sheepskins and bearing my name, but deep within they are ravenous
wolves. Do not carry a bag, or a wallet, or any sandals. Do not so much as say ‘hello’ to anyone along the way. And into whatever house
you go, even before you do anything else, say, ‘May peace come upon
this home.’ And if there should be a son of peace in that place, your
peace will come to rest on it. And if this is not the case, your peace will
then come back to you. Remain there with them in that house, and eat
or drink what they provide for you, because the laborer is worthy of his
hire. Do not move from house to house.
“And into whatever town you go and they receive you, eat whatever
they give to you. Heal the sick among them, and say to them, ‘God’s
kingdom has drawn near to you.’ And into whatever town you go and
they do not take you in, go out into its open places and proclaim, ‘Even
the dust of your town that sticks to us, we scrape off against you! Even
so, be sure of this: the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ I can
assure you that when the day comes, it will be more tolerable for
Sodom than it will be for that place. “Curse you, Chorazin! Curse you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty
works that were done in you been carried out in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have sat long ago in sackcloth and ashes and repented. But the
judgment will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than it will be for
you. As for you, Capernaum, have your praises reached the skies?
Well, you will be brought down to Hell! Whoever hears you, also hears
me; and whoever dismisses you dismisses me; and anyone who rejects
me is also rejecting Him Who sent me.”
And the seventy(-two) returned in joy, saying, “Lord, even the
demons subject themselves to us under your authority!” And he
replied, “I have seen the Adversary fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you power to trample down snakes and
scorpions, and the Enemy’s every strength. There is nothing that can
harm you at all. But do not rejoice over the fact that the spirits submit
to you, but delight in the knowledge that your names have been
written up in the heavens. There is something above the raising of the
dead and the feeding of the multitudes--blessed indeed are those who
with their whole heart have believed.”
At that moment, Jesus grew joyful in spirit and said, “Father, I fully
agree with You, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed
these things from the ‘learned’ and ‘wise,’ and have disclosed them
instead to mere ‘infants.’ Indeed, Father, because it was just so
pleasing to You! My Father has placed all things into my hands, and
no one knows who the Son is, except for the Father, and no one knows
who the Father is except for the Son, and those to whom the Son
wishes to disclose Him.” And he turned to the followers and spoke to them privately, “How privileged are the eyes that see what you do, for
indeed I am telling you that many prophets and kings have longed to
glimpse what you now see, and never did see it, and to hear what
you’re being told, but never heard it.”
(Luke 10:1-24; DTry 35:3;
Acts of Paul, Gospel Fragment in Coptic)
Perea
Now after this, the Lord appointed another seventy(-two,) and sent
them out in pairs before him into every city and region where he was
soon to go. Then he informed them, “Truly it is a bountiful crop, but
there are scarcely any harvesters. So appeal to the Lord of the harvest
to send more gatherers into His field. Now move along.
Divisions and heresies are sure to come. I am sending you out as
sheep among wolves, (for) many will come outwardly draped in
sheepskins and bearing my name, but deep within they are ravenous
wolves. Do not carry a bag, or a wallet, or any sandals. Do not so much as say ‘hello’ to anyone along the way. And into whatever house
you go, even before you do anything else, say, ‘May peace come upon
this home.’ And if there should be a son of peace in that place, your
peace will come to rest on it. And if this is not the case, your peace will
then come back to you. Remain there with them in that house, and eat
or drink what they provide for you, because the laborer is worthy of his
hire. Do not move from house to house.
“And into whatever town you go and they receive you, eat whatever
they give to you. Heal the sick among them, and say to them, ‘God’s
kingdom has drawn near to you.’ And into whatever town you go and
they do not take you in, go out into its open places and proclaim, ‘Even
the dust of your town that sticks to us, we scrape off against you! Even
so, be sure of this: the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ I can
assure you that when the day comes, it will be more tolerable for
Sodom than it will be for that place. “Curse you, Chorazin! Curse you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty
works that were done in you been carried out in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have sat long ago in sackcloth and ashes and repented. But the
judgment will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than it will be for
you. As for you, Capernaum, have your praises reached the skies?
Well, you will be brought down to Hell! Whoever hears you, also hears
me; and whoever dismisses you dismisses me; and anyone who rejects
me is also rejecting Him Who sent me.”
And the seventy(-two) returned in joy, saying, “Lord, even the
demons subject themselves to us under your authority!” And he
replied, “I have seen the Adversary fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you power to trample down snakes and
scorpions, and the Enemy’s every strength. There is nothing that can
harm you at all. But do not rejoice over the fact that the spirits submit
to you, but delight in the knowledge that your names have been
written up in the heavens. There is something above the raising of the
dead and the feeding of the multitudes--blessed indeed are those who
with their whole heart have believed.”
At that moment, Jesus grew joyful in spirit and said, “Father, I fully
agree with You, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed
these things from the ‘learned’ and ‘wise,’ and have disclosed them
instead to mere ‘infants.’ Indeed, Father, because it was just so
pleasing to You! My Father has placed all things into my hands, and
no one knows who the Son is, except for the Father, and no one knows
who the Father is except for the Son, and those to whom the Son
wishes to disclose Him.” And he turned to the followers and spoke to them privately, “How privileged are the eyes that see what you do, for
indeed I am telling you that many prophets and kings have longed to
glimpse what you now see, and never did see it, and to hear what
you’re being told, but never heard it.”
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
(Luke 10:25-37; GTh 25;
Clement of Alexandria, Excerpts from Theodotus 2.2;
Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 1.19)
Judea?
Now behold, this lawyer stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher,
what must I do to inherit limitless life?” And Jesus replied, “What is
written in the Law? Tell me how it reads to you.” And he answered
Jesus, “You are to love your God with your whole heart and your
whole spirit; from the fullness of your strength and with a thorough
understanding; and your fellow man as you do yourself.” And Jesus
said, “You have given me the right answer. If you’ve seen your
brother, then you’ve seen your God. Love your friends as you do your
soul, defend them as the pupil of your eye. Do all this and you will
live. Save yourself and your soul as well!’”
But eager to excuse himself, the man put this question to him, “But
who qualifies as my neighbor?” And Jesus, taking it all in, answered
him, “This man was on his way down to Jericho from Jerusalem, when
he fell prey to bandits. They took his clothing off of him, pounded him
severely, and ran away, leaving him there half dead. And a certain
priest happened to be passing through. When he saw the man, he
passed him by on the opposite side. Likewise, when a Levite who
happened on that place got there and saw it, he passed him by on the
other side. A Samaritan, however, came to him on his travels. But
when this man saw him, he was moved with compassion for him. He walked over to him, bound up his wounds, poured olive oil and wine
over them, lifted him up onto his own mount, took him to an inn and
cared for him. And the next day as he was moving on, he took out two
denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Watch over him,
and if it should cost you anything more, I will pay you back when I
return.’ Of these three, which one of them do you suppose turned out
to be a ‘neighbor’ to the one who fell among the robbers?” And he
answered, “The one who showed him compassion.” Then Jesus
charged him, “Go and do things just like him.”
(Luke 10:25-37; GTh 25;
Clement of Alexandria, Excerpts from Theodotus 2.2;
Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies 1.19)
Judea?
Now behold, this lawyer stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher,
what must I do to inherit limitless life?” And Jesus replied, “What is
written in the Law? Tell me how it reads to you.” And he answered
Jesus, “You are to love your God with your whole heart and your
whole spirit; from the fullness of your strength and with a thorough
understanding; and your fellow man as you do yourself.” And Jesus
said, “You have given me the right answer. If you’ve seen your
brother, then you’ve seen your God. Love your friends as you do your
soul, defend them as the pupil of your eye. Do all this and you will
live. Save yourself and your soul as well!’”
But eager to excuse himself, the man put this question to him, “But
who qualifies as my neighbor?” And Jesus, taking it all in, answered
him, “This man was on his way down to Jericho from Jerusalem, when
he fell prey to bandits. They took his clothing off of him, pounded him
severely, and ran away, leaving him there half dead. And a certain
priest happened to be passing through. When he saw the man, he
passed him by on the opposite side. Likewise, when a Levite who
happened on that place got there and saw it, he passed him by on the
other side. A Samaritan, however, came to him on his travels. But
when this man saw him, he was moved with compassion for him. He walked over to him, bound up his wounds, poured olive oil and wine
over them, lifted him up onto his own mount, took him to an inn and
cared for him. And the next day as he was moving on, he took out two
denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Watch over him,
and if it should cost you anything more, I will pay you back when I
return.’ Of these three, which one of them do you suppose turned out
to be a ‘neighbor’ to the one who fell among the robbers?” And he
answered, “The one who showed him compassion.” Then Jesus
charged him, “Go and do things just like him.”
JESUS WITHDRAWS TO THE JORDAN,
ASKS THE PEOPLE A STRANGE QUESTION AND WORKS A
MIRACLE
(John 10:40-42; Egtn 4)
The Jordan River
Then he returned to the place on the other side of the Jordan where
John had first baptized and stayed there. <Jesus said, “This withered
tree’s fruit has been> locked up <and its productivity> has been
subjected imperceptibly. <How much of> its weight <remains>
unweighed?” They were bewildered at such an unusual question, so
Jesus headed to the riverbank. And as he stood there, he stretched out
his right hand and <ground up a withered branch(?)> and scattered it
over the <coursing river.> Then <he sprinkled some> water <over>
the <dried-up tree> and it <filled out> before their eyes and put forth fruit <in such abundance that there was nothing> into <which it could
all fit before them.> And many people came up to him and said, “John
never performed any signs, but everything that John taught us about
this man turned out to be true.” And many placed their faith in him
there.
ASKS THE PEOPLE A STRANGE QUESTION AND WORKS A
MIRACLE
(John 10:40-42; Egtn 4)
The Jordan River
Then he returned to the place on the other side of the Jordan where
John had first baptized and stayed there. <Jesus said, “This withered
tree’s fruit has been> locked up <and its productivity> has been
subjected imperceptibly. <How much of> its weight <remains>
unweighed?” They were bewildered at such an unusual question, so
Jesus headed to the riverbank. And as he stood there, he stretched out
his right hand and <ground up a withered branch(?)> and scattered it
over the <coursing river.> Then <he sprinkled some> water <over>
the <dried-up tree> and it <filled out> before their eyes and put forth fruit <in such abundance that there was nothing> into <which it could
all fit before them.> And many people came up to him and said, “John
never performed any signs, but everything that John taught us about
this man turned out to be true.” And many placed their faith in him
there.
THE CLEVER MANAGER
(Luke 16:1-18; Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 1.28.177;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, 11.51, 3.50, 18.20)
Perea
And he said to his disciples, “There was this rich man whose
steward was charged with squandering his assets. So he called for him
and demanded, ‘What is this I hear of you? Account for your
oversight, for you may no longer manage my affairs.’ And the steward
said within himself, ‘What am I going to do now that my boss is firing
me? I am too weak to dig and too proud to beg. I know just what I will do when I am relieved of my duties--get them to welcome me into
their houses!’ And he summoned all of his master’s debtors and
inquired of the first, ‘How much do you owe my Master?’ And he
replied, ‘A hundred baths of olive oil.’ ‘Now take your bill, sit down
and write fifty.’ Then he asked the second one, ‘Now as for you, how
much do you owe?’ He responded, ‘One hundred cors of wheat.’ So he
said to him, ‘Here is your invoice, write down eighty.’ Then the Lord
commended the unjust steward on the shrewdness of his tactics. For
the sons of this age are more clever in their strain than the sons of
light. And I am here to say to you, be competent money-changers.
Make plenty of friends for yourselves with this unholy mammon, so
that when you fail, they will receive you into their eternal abodes.
Whoever is faithful with what is least will be faithful with what is
great; and whoever is unfaithful with what is least will be unfaithful
with what is great. So if you can’t be trusted with filthy lucre, who will
entrust you with the true wealth? And if you cannot be trusted with
the things of others, who will give you anything for yourself? Become
faithful money-changers! Reject the counterfeit coins and accept only
the genuine. No servant can serve two masters, because he will
despise the one and love the other, or else he will serve the one and
ignore the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.” When the money-loving Pharisees heard this, they all scoffed at
him. Jesus said to them, “You like to parade your righteousness
before mankind, but God knows what’s in your hearts, because what is
thought commendable in the eyes of men is reprehensible in the sight
of God. Until John came on the scene, there was the law and the
prophets. And ever since that time, the good news of the kingdom of
God has been proclaimed, and everyone forces their way in. Indeed, it
would be easier for heaven and earth to pass out of existence than it
would be for a tittle of the law to disappear. Whoever divorces his wife
and marries another, is committing adultery, and anyone who marries
that woman put away by her husband is also committing adultery.
(Luke 16:1-18; Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 1.28.177;
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, 11.51, 3.50, 18.20)
Perea
And he said to his disciples, “There was this rich man whose
steward was charged with squandering his assets. So he called for him
and demanded, ‘What is this I hear of you? Account for your
oversight, for you may no longer manage my affairs.’ And the steward
said within himself, ‘What am I going to do now that my boss is firing
me? I am too weak to dig and too proud to beg. I know just what I will do when I am relieved of my duties--get them to welcome me into
their houses!’ And he summoned all of his master’s debtors and
inquired of the first, ‘How much do you owe my Master?’ And he
replied, ‘A hundred baths of olive oil.’ ‘Now take your bill, sit down
and write fifty.’ Then he asked the second one, ‘Now as for you, how
much do you owe?’ He responded, ‘One hundred cors of wheat.’ So he
said to him, ‘Here is your invoice, write down eighty.’ Then the Lord
commended the unjust steward on the shrewdness of his tactics. For
the sons of this age are more clever in their strain than the sons of
light. And I am here to say to you, be competent money-changers.
Make plenty of friends for yourselves with this unholy mammon, so
that when you fail, they will receive you into their eternal abodes.
Whoever is faithful with what is least will be faithful with what is
great; and whoever is unfaithful with what is least will be unfaithful
with what is great. So if you can’t be trusted with filthy lucre, who will
entrust you with the true wealth? And if you cannot be trusted with
the things of others, who will give you anything for yourself? Become
faithful money-changers! Reject the counterfeit coins and accept only
the genuine. No servant can serve two masters, because he will
despise the one and love the other, or else he will serve the one and
ignore the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.” When the money-loving Pharisees heard this, they all scoffed at
him. Jesus said to them, “You like to parade your righteousness
before mankind, but God knows what’s in your hearts, because what is
thought commendable in the eyes of men is reprehensible in the sight
of God. Until John came on the scene, there was the law and the
prophets. And ever since that time, the good news of the kingdom of
God has been proclaimed, and everyone forces their way in. Indeed, it
would be easier for heaven and earth to pass out of existence than it
would be for a tittle of the law to disappear. Whoever divorces his wife
and marries another, is committing adultery, and anyone who marries
that woman put away by her husband is also committing adultery.
THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
(Luke 16:19-31; Recognitions of Clement 2.29)
Perea
Now there was this certain rich man who dressed in purple and
choicest linen, and feasted sumptuously on a daily basis. Then there
was this poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed at his gate, all
covered in sores. He longed to eat even the crumbs that fell from the
rich man’s table. Dogs even came up to him and licked his sores. So
the poor man died, and was whisked by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The wealthy man passed on as well, and he received a burial.
And amid his tortures in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham off in
the distance, and Lazarus was in his bosom. Then he cried out, ‘Father
Abraham, show me some compassion! Send Lazarus to dip his finger
into the water and cool my tongue with it, because this flame is
tormenting me so.’ ‘My son,’ Abraham replied, ‘call to mind all of the
good things that you received while you were still alive, as well as the
evils that Lazarus has known. He is receiving his consolation now,
whereas you are receiving your affliction. And besides all that, a great
chasm has been placed between ourselves and you, so that those who
would leave and cross over to you cannot, nor can any pass over from
that side to this.’ ‘Then I beg you father Abraham,’ the wealthy man
replied, ‘send him to my father’s house, that he might describe this
place of torment in detail to my five brothers, so that they don’t also
end up here.’ Abraham then answered him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets, let your brothers hear their words.’ And he responded, ‘But
no, father Abraham, if someone should rise up from the dead and go
to them, they will truly change their ways!’ ‘If they will not hear Moses
and the prophets,’ Abraham rejoined, ‘then neither will they be
persuaded by someone who rises from the dead.’ Curse those who live
in extravagance and wealth and yet give nothing to the poor! These
will have to give account, for they should have loved their neighbors as
themselves. For they showed the poor no compassion in their
hardship.”
(Luke 16:19-31; Recognitions of Clement 2.29)
Perea
Now there was this certain rich man who dressed in purple and
choicest linen, and feasted sumptuously on a daily basis. Then there
was this poor man named Lazarus, who had been placed at his gate, all
covered in sores. He longed to eat even the crumbs that fell from the
rich man’s table. Dogs even came up to him and licked his sores. So
the poor man died, and was whisked by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. The wealthy man passed on as well, and he received a burial.
And amid his tortures in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham off in
the distance, and Lazarus was in his bosom. Then he cried out, ‘Father
Abraham, show me some compassion! Send Lazarus to dip his finger
into the water and cool my tongue with it, because this flame is
tormenting me so.’ ‘My son,’ Abraham replied, ‘call to mind all of the
good things that you received while you were still alive, as well as the
evils that Lazarus has known. He is receiving his consolation now,
whereas you are receiving your affliction. And besides all that, a great
chasm has been placed between ourselves and you, so that those who
would leave and cross over to you cannot, nor can any pass over from
that side to this.’ ‘Then I beg you father Abraham,’ the wealthy man
replied, ‘send him to my father’s house, that he might describe this
place of torment in detail to my five brothers, so that they don’t also
end up here.’ Abraham then answered him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets, let your brothers hear their words.’ And he responded, ‘But
no, father Abraham, if someone should rise up from the dead and go
to them, they will truly change their ways!’ ‘If they will not hear Moses
and the prophets,’ Abraham rejoined, ‘then neither will they be
persuaded by someone who rises from the dead.’ Curse those who live
in extravagance and wealth and yet give nothing to the poor! These
will have to give account, for they should have loved their neighbors as
themselves. For they showed the poor no compassion in their
hardship.”
FORGIVENESS AND FAITH
(Luke 17:1-10; Oxy 840:1)
Perea
<Jesus said, “A criminal,> before committing a crime, thinks about
his every move. But you should guard against a fate like his, since
those who carry out crimes against their fellow men not only get
what’s coming to them in this life, but (in the next one,) he will have to
face punishment and eternal anguish. Stumbling blocks are sure to
come,” he cautioned his disciples, “but woe to the one who sets them
up. It would profit him more to have a giant millstone fitted around
his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little
ones to lose their footing. You must therefore watch yourselves. If
your brother should do you wrong, then reprove him, and if he should
change his ways, then forgive him. And if he should injure you seven
times in just one day, and seven times that day he should turn around
and apologize, then pardon him.” Then the apostles said to the Lord,
“Give us a more excellent faith.” The Lord then answered them, “If your faith were even as a mustard seed, you would have said to this
mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it
would have obeyed you.
“Which of you, should he have a servant out plowing or feeding,
would have him come in from the field and say to him, ‘Come here. Sit
down and eat!’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘You must fix me
something to eat. Tie your robe and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You can eat when I am done.’ Does the servant get any thanks for
following orders? I think not! And so it goes for all of you, after doing what you were expected to, say, ‘We are all just miserable servants and
have only done as we were told.’”
(Luke 17:1-10; Oxy 840:1)
Perea
<Jesus said, “A criminal,> before committing a crime, thinks about
his every move. But you should guard against a fate like his, since
those who carry out crimes against their fellow men not only get
what’s coming to them in this life, but (in the next one,) he will have to
face punishment and eternal anguish. Stumbling blocks are sure to
come,” he cautioned his disciples, “but woe to the one who sets them
up. It would profit him more to have a giant millstone fitted around
his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little
ones to lose their footing. You must therefore watch yourselves. If
your brother should do you wrong, then reprove him, and if he should
change his ways, then forgive him. And if he should injure you seven
times in just one day, and seven times that day he should turn around
and apologize, then pardon him.” Then the apostles said to the Lord,
“Give us a more excellent faith.” The Lord then answered them, “If your faith were even as a mustard seed, you would have said to this
mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea,’ and it
would have obeyed you.
“Which of you, should he have a servant out plowing or feeding,
would have him come in from the field and say to him, ‘Come here. Sit
down and eat!’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘You must fix me
something to eat. Tie your robe and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You can eat when I am done.’ Does the servant get any thanks for
following orders? I think not! And so it goes for all of you, after doing what you were expected to, say, ‘We are all just miserable servants and
have only done as we were told.’”
JESUS AND THE CHILDREN
(Matt 19:13-15:Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17;
GTh 4,22/4 POxy 654; Gospel of The Nassenes,
Quote by Hippolytus, Philosophumena 5.7.20)
Perea
At that time, the people were bringing infants (and) young children
261
over to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But
when his disciples saw what the people were doing, they reproached
them. But when Jesus saw the disciples hindering the crowds, he
became angry, called the children to himself and said, “Let the little
ones draw near to me! Do not stand in the way of their coming, for the
heavenly kingdom of God is comprised of such as these. Most
assuredly I say to you, whoever fails to receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will never enter into it.” Jesus, spotting some suckling
newborns, said to his followers, “You see these infants nursing here?
Those who enter the kingdom are just like these.” His followers asked
him, “So are we to enter in as newborns?” Jesus answered, “Out of the
two you should form one, making what is inside like what is outside,
and what is outside like what is inside, and what is ‘higher’ should be
brought together with what is ‘lower,’ and in this way you will
transform the ‘man’ and the ‘woman’ into that singular union. Thus
the man will not be ‘male,’ nor will the woman be ‘female.’ And when
you should replace an ‘eye’ with an ‘eye,’ and a ‘hand’ with a ‘hand,’
and a ‘foot’ with a ‘foot,’ with one image replacing the other, you will enter into the <kingdom.> Anyone who looks for me will find me in
children, for it is in these that I will show myself. The aged man who is
full of days will not hesitate to ask a little child who is seven days old
about the place of life, and he will live. For there are many who are
first who will be last, and many who are last (who will be) first, and
they will become singular, one.” Then he took the children into his
arms and blessed them. And after laying his hands on them, he left
that place.
(Matt 19:13-15:Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17;
GTh 4,22/4 POxy 654; Gospel of The Nassenes,
Quote by Hippolytus, Philosophumena 5.7.20)
Perea
At that time, the people were bringing infants (and) young children
261
over to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But
when his disciples saw what the people were doing, they reproached
them. But when Jesus saw the disciples hindering the crowds, he
became angry, called the children to himself and said, “Let the little
ones draw near to me! Do not stand in the way of their coming, for the
heavenly kingdom of God is comprised of such as these. Most
assuredly I say to you, whoever fails to receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will never enter into it.” Jesus, spotting some suckling
newborns, said to his followers, “You see these infants nursing here?
Those who enter the kingdom are just like these.” His followers asked
him, “So are we to enter in as newborns?” Jesus answered, “Out of the
two you should form one, making what is inside like what is outside,
and what is outside like what is inside, and what is ‘higher’ should be
brought together with what is ‘lower,’ and in this way you will
transform the ‘man’ and the ‘woman’ into that singular union. Thus
the man will not be ‘male,’ nor will the woman be ‘female.’ And when
you should replace an ‘eye’ with an ‘eye,’ and a ‘hand’ with a ‘hand,’
and a ‘foot’ with a ‘foot,’ with one image replacing the other, you will enter into the <kingdom.> Anyone who looks for me will find me in
children, for it is in these that I will show myself. The aged man who is
full of days will not hesitate to ask a little child who is seven days old
about the place of life, and he will live. For there are many who are
first who will be last, and many who are last (who will be) first, and
they will become singular, one.” Then he took the children into his
arms and blessed them. And after laying his hands on them, he left
that place.
THE PITFALL OF WEALTH
(Matt 19:16-28; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30;
GNaz 6, Quote by Origen, On Matthew, 15:14,
regarding Matt 19:16-30;
GTh 110,81)
Perea
Now as Jesus was moving on from there, a certain ruler ran up to
him. And when he had drawn near to him, he asked him, “Good
teacher, what is the good that I must do to receive [the] inherit[ance] (of) eternal life?” And Jesus asked him, “Why do you refer to me as
good, (and) ask it of me? God alone, and no one else, is the only One
Who is good. But if you’d like to enter into life, then you must abide
by the commandments.” And he asked Jesus, “Which ones?” And
Jesus said, “You know them: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery,
do not steal, do not witness falsely, do not commit fraud, honor your
father and your mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.’”
The young man answered him, “Teacher, I have lived by these from
my childhood. What do I yet lack?” When Jesus heard this, he looked
at him with love (and) said, “You only fall short in one thing. If you
wish to move on to perfection, go and sell the things you own and
distribute your substance among the poor, then you will have treasure
in the kingdom of heaven. Then come and follow after me.”
And when he heard this, the young man’s face fell, (and) his heart
sank. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to get
into God’s kingdom! Truly it is easier for a camel to pass through the
eye of a needle than it is for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom
of God.” And he went away all dejected, seeing that he had many
possessions. And those who heard this asked him, “Then who
qualifies for salvation?” Jesus answered, “What is beyond the grasp of
men is within the reach of God.”
A second wealthy man asked him, “Teacher, what must I do to have life?” Jesus answered, “Sir, you must fulfill the law and the prophets.”
“I have done that already,” the man replied. “Go now,” he said, “sell
your things and give it all to the poor. Then come and follow me.” But
the rich man didn’t like hearing that, so he started scratching his head.
Then the Lord reproved him, saying, “How can you claim to be
fulfilling the law and the prophets, when the law demands of you,
‘Love your neighbor as you do yourself’? Take a look around you then.
Many of your brothers and sisters, Abraham’s own sons and
daughters, live in squalor and starve to death, while nothing of yours
ever makes it out to them.” And turning toward Simon, who was
sitting nearby, he said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, it is easier for a
camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to
pass into the kingdom of heaven.” And Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and said, “The one who discovers the world and finds the
wealth, and the one who has authority, ought to renounce the world (and) to reign. In all truth I say to you, a wealthy man can hardly
enter into the heavenly kingdom of God.”
The disciples were all amazed by his words. But once again he said
to them, “Children, how difficult it is for those whose confidence is in
their wealth to get into God’s kingdom! Once again I say to you, it is
easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than it is for a
wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God.” When his students
heard this, they were completely taken aback. “Who then can be
saved?” they asked one another. Jesus then looked at his disciples and
said, “This is impossible for men, but not for God. For God, all things
are possible.”
Then Peter asked him, “All of us have forsaken everything to follow
you. What, therefore, will we possess?” “Truly do I say to you,” Jesus
then said to them, “when all things have been made new, and the Son
of Man is sitting on his glorious throne, all of you who followed me
will likewise sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of
Israel. And everyone who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for my sake (and) the
kingdom of God, will receive (and) not fail to receive many times over,
(even) a hundred fold, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and
fields--and though they come with persecutions in this age, their end
is eternal life in the age to come. And many who are first will then be
last, and many of the last will then be first.
(Matt 19:16-28; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30;
GNaz 6, Quote by Origen, On Matthew, 15:14,
regarding Matt 19:16-30;
GTh 110,81)
Perea
Now as Jesus was moving on from there, a certain ruler ran up to
him. And when he had drawn near to him, he asked him, “Good
teacher, what is the good that I must do to receive [the] inherit[ance] (of) eternal life?” And Jesus asked him, “Why do you refer to me as
good, (and) ask it of me? God alone, and no one else, is the only One
Who is good. But if you’d like to enter into life, then you must abide
by the commandments.” And he asked Jesus, “Which ones?” And
Jesus said, “You know them: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery,
do not steal, do not witness falsely, do not commit fraud, honor your
father and your mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.’”
The young man answered him, “Teacher, I have lived by these from
my childhood. What do I yet lack?” When Jesus heard this, he looked
at him with love (and) said, “You only fall short in one thing. If you
wish to move on to perfection, go and sell the things you own and
distribute your substance among the poor, then you will have treasure
in the kingdom of heaven. Then come and follow after me.”
And when he heard this, the young man’s face fell, (and) his heart
sank. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to get
into God’s kingdom! Truly it is easier for a camel to pass through the
eye of a needle than it is for a wealthy man to enter into the kingdom
of God.” And he went away all dejected, seeing that he had many
possessions. And those who heard this asked him, “Then who
qualifies for salvation?” Jesus answered, “What is beyond the grasp of
men is within the reach of God.”
A second wealthy man asked him, “Teacher, what must I do to have life?” Jesus answered, “Sir, you must fulfill the law and the prophets.”
“I have done that already,” the man replied. “Go now,” he said, “sell
your things and give it all to the poor. Then come and follow me.” But
the rich man didn’t like hearing that, so he started scratching his head.
Then the Lord reproved him, saying, “How can you claim to be
fulfilling the law and the prophets, when the law demands of you,
‘Love your neighbor as you do yourself’? Take a look around you then.
Many of your brothers and sisters, Abraham’s own sons and
daughters, live in squalor and starve to death, while nothing of yours
ever makes it out to them.” And turning toward Simon, who was
sitting nearby, he said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, it is easier for a
camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to
pass into the kingdom of heaven.” And Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and said, “The one who discovers the world and finds the
wealth, and the one who has authority, ought to renounce the world (and) to reign. In all truth I say to you, a wealthy man can hardly
enter into the heavenly kingdom of God.”
The disciples were all amazed by his words. But once again he said
to them, “Children, how difficult it is for those whose confidence is in
their wealth to get into God’s kingdom! Once again I say to you, it is
easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than it is for a
wealthy man to enter into the kingdom of God.” When his students
heard this, they were completely taken aback. “Who then can be
saved?” they asked one another. Jesus then looked at his disciples and
said, “This is impossible for men, but not for God. For God, all things
are possible.”
Then Peter asked him, “All of us have forsaken everything to follow
you. What, therefore, will we possess?” “Truly do I say to you,” Jesus
then said to them, “when all things have been made new, and the Son
of Man is sitting on his glorious throne, all of you who followed me
will likewise sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of
Israel. And everyone who left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for my sake (and) the
kingdom of God, will receive (and) not fail to receive many times over,
(even) a hundred fold, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and
fields--and though they come with persecutions in this age, their end
is eternal life in the age to come. And many who are first will then be
last, and many of the last will then be first.
JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
(Matt 20:17-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34;
SMk 1; Matt 20:28ff in certain mss.)
Perea, Bethany
Now Jesus led them out as they moved on to Jerusalem. The
disciples were amazed, and those who followed were troubled and
afraid. He took the twelve disciples aside privately and informed them
once again about what he was soon to undergo, “See, we are headed up
to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets have written about the Son of
Man are to be fulfilled. The Son of Man will be delivered up to the
chief priests and the scribes. They will then condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles so that they might mock him, insult
him, spit on him, beat him, crucify and kill him. And three days later, he will rise up, being raised to life on the third day.” The disciples did
not get this at all. Its meaning was lost on them, and they did not
realize what he was talking to them about.
Then they came to Bethany. There was a woman there whose
brother had recently died, so she knelt down before Jesus. “Son of
David,” she implored him, “show me compassion!” But the disciples
reproved her. Then Jesus became angry, and went with her into the
garden where his tomb was. At that moment, a voice was heard from
within the tomb. Then Jesus went to the entrance and rolled away the
stone. He went in to where the young man was, took him by his hand
and lifted him up. The man looked on Jesus with love, and begged him to remain with him. They then came out of the tomb and entered
into the young man’s home. (Who, by the way, was very wealthy.) Six
days later, Jesus gave him instruction: the man came to him that evening, clad only in a linen cloth. He stayed there with him
overnight, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the kingdom of God.
Then he left that place and crossed back over to the far side of the
Jordan.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, together
with her sons, knelt down before him and asked him to do her a favor.
Jesus asked her, “What would you like?” James and John said,
“Teacher, we would like you to grant us our request.” And he
responded, “What would you have me do for you?” They answered,
“Allow us to sit in your glory, one to your right, and the other to your
left.” “Please,” the mother asked Jesus, “order that one of these two
sons of mine might sit to your right in your kingdom, and the other to
your left.” But Jesus responded, “You don’t know what you’re asking
of me. Are you able to drink from the cup of which I must soon
partake, or of experiencing the same baptism which I am soon to
undergo?” “Yes we are,” they answered him. “Indeed you are to drink
of my cup,” he informed them, “and go through the same baptism with
which I will be baptized. Nevertheless, it is not for me to grant a seat,
either to my right or to my left. It belongs instead to those for whom
my Father has prepared it.”
When the ten heard about this, they were furious with the two brothers, James and John. So Jesus called them to himself and said,
“You know how those who are reckoned as governors over the Gentiles
lord it over them, and how their superiors subjugate them as well.
This is not how it will be with you. Rather, let anyone among you who
aspires to greatness become your servant, and whoever would be first
must be servant to you, (and indeed) to all; even as the Son of Man
has. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but in order to
render service, and to offer his life as a ransom for many. You ought
rather to try and outgrow smallness, foregoing greatness to become
small. Upon receiving a dinner invitation, for example, do not go in
and sit among the places of distinction, lest someone more illustrious
than you should come along, and the host be compelled to approach
you and say, ‘Move on down,’ and thus embarrass you. It would work
more to your advantage for you to seat yourself in a lesser spot. That
way if someone less distinguished should come, the host will therefore
say to you, ‘Move on up!’”
(Matt 20:17-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34;
SMk 1; Matt 20:28ff in certain mss.)
Perea, Bethany
Now Jesus led them out as they moved on to Jerusalem. The
disciples were amazed, and those who followed were troubled and
afraid. He took the twelve disciples aside privately and informed them
once again about what he was soon to undergo, “See, we are headed up
to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets have written about the Son of
Man are to be fulfilled. The Son of Man will be delivered up to the
chief priests and the scribes. They will then condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles so that they might mock him, insult
him, spit on him, beat him, crucify and kill him. And three days later, he will rise up, being raised to life on the third day.” The disciples did
not get this at all. Its meaning was lost on them, and they did not
realize what he was talking to them about.
Then they came to Bethany. There was a woman there whose
brother had recently died, so she knelt down before Jesus. “Son of
David,” she implored him, “show me compassion!” But the disciples
reproved her. Then Jesus became angry, and went with her into the
garden where his tomb was. At that moment, a voice was heard from
within the tomb. Then Jesus went to the entrance and rolled away the
stone. He went in to where the young man was, took him by his hand
and lifted him up. The man looked on Jesus with love, and begged him to remain with him. They then came out of the tomb and entered
into the young man’s home. (Who, by the way, was very wealthy.) Six
days later, Jesus gave him instruction: the man came to him that evening, clad only in a linen cloth. He stayed there with him
overnight, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the kingdom of God.
Then he left that place and crossed back over to the far side of the
Jordan.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him, together
with her sons, knelt down before him and asked him to do her a favor.
Jesus asked her, “What would you like?” James and John said,
“Teacher, we would like you to grant us our request.” And he
responded, “What would you have me do for you?” They answered,
“Allow us to sit in your glory, one to your right, and the other to your
left.” “Please,” the mother asked Jesus, “order that one of these two
sons of mine might sit to your right in your kingdom, and the other to
your left.” But Jesus responded, “You don’t know what you’re asking
of me. Are you able to drink from the cup of which I must soon
partake, or of experiencing the same baptism which I am soon to
undergo?” “Yes we are,” they answered him. “Indeed you are to drink
of my cup,” he informed them, “and go through the same baptism with
which I will be baptized. Nevertheless, it is not for me to grant a seat,
either to my right or to my left. It belongs instead to those for whom
my Father has prepared it.”
When the ten heard about this, they were furious with the two brothers, James and John. So Jesus called them to himself and said,
“You know how those who are reckoned as governors over the Gentiles
lord it over them, and how their superiors subjugate them as well.
This is not how it will be with you. Rather, let anyone among you who
aspires to greatness become your servant, and whoever would be first
must be servant to you, (and indeed) to all; even as the Son of Man
has. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but in order to
render service, and to offer his life as a ransom for many. You ought
rather to try and outgrow smallness, foregoing greatness to become
small. Upon receiving a dinner invitation, for example, do not go in
and sit among the places of distinction, lest someone more illustrious
than you should come along, and the host be compelled to approach
you and say, ‘Move on down,’ and thus embarrass you. It would work
more to your advantage for you to seat yourself in a lesser spot. That
way if someone less distinguished should come, the host will therefore
say to you, ‘Move on up!’”
ZACCHAEUS THE PUBLICAN
(Luke 18:35-37; 19:1-10; Mark 10:46a; SMk 2; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 4.6.35)
Jericho
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, this blind man was sitting and
begging by the side of the road. When he heard all the people who
were headed that way, the blind man asked, “What is all of this
about?” The people replied, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
They then arrived in Jericho. Now the sister of the young man
whom Jesus loved was there, as were both his mother and Salome.
Jesus, however, would not visit them as he was only passing through.
There was this rich man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief
tax-collector. He was determined to get a glimpse of Jesus. He
wanted to see which one he was, but owing to the throngs and his
diminutive stature, he was not able. So he ran on ahead and climbed
up a sycamore tree in order to get a look at him, seeing how he was
soon to pass that way. Now when Jesus came to that place, he glanced
up and looked at him. “Zacchaeus,” Jesus beckoned him, “hurry on
down, for I must spend the day at your house!” And Zacchaeus clambered down and received him with delight. And when they saw
that, everyone started grumbling, “He has gone to stay with a ‘sinful’
man!” But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Sir! I am
giving half of all that I own to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone
out of anything, I will pay it back four times over.” And Jesus said to
him, “The Son of Man has come this day and restored what had been
lost; for it was in order to search out and save what was lost that the
Son of Man came. Today deliverance has come to this house, for this
man also is a son of Abraham.”
(Luke 18:35-37; 19:1-10; Mark 10:46a; SMk 2; Traditions of Matthias,
Quote by Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis 4.6.35)
Jericho
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, this blind man was sitting and
begging by the side of the road. When he heard all the people who
were headed that way, the blind man asked, “What is all of this
about?” The people replied, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
They then arrived in Jericho. Now the sister of the young man
whom Jesus loved was there, as were both his mother and Salome.
Jesus, however, would not visit them as he was only passing through.
There was this rich man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief
tax-collector. He was determined to get a glimpse of Jesus. He
wanted to see which one he was, but owing to the throngs and his
diminutive stature, he was not able. So he ran on ahead and climbed
up a sycamore tree in order to get a look at him, seeing how he was
soon to pass that way. Now when Jesus came to that place, he glanced
up and looked at him. “Zacchaeus,” Jesus beckoned him, “hurry on
down, for I must spend the day at your house!” And Zacchaeus clambered down and received him with delight. And when they saw
that, everyone started grumbling, “He has gone to stay with a ‘sinful’
man!” But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Sir! I am
giving half of all that I own to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone
out of anything, I will pay it back four times over.” And Jesus said to
him, “The Son of Man has come this day and restored what had been
lost; for it was in order to search out and save what was lost that the
Son of Man came. Today deliverance has come to this house, for this
man also is a son of Abraham.”
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
(Matt 21:1-11, 14-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44;
John 12:12-19; POxy 840 2:1-9, GTh 28/28 POxy 1)
Bethphage, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
By the following day, the great multitude that showed up for the
feast had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. And they drew
near, approaching (and) arriving in Bethphage, then Bethany, as far as
the hill known as the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus sent out two of his
followers, saying to them, “Go on ahead to the village that lies before
you, and even as you are going in, you will see a donkey tethered there,
and a colt which no one has ever ridden before, tied alongside her.
Untie them both and bring them here. And if anyone says anything to
you, (or) asks you, ‘What are you up to?’ (or) ‘Why are you untying it?’
simply respond, ‘The Lord is in need of them.’ He will send [them]
back here shortly, (and) without hesitation.’” So the disciples went
and did as Jesus had said. Those he sent went out and found
everything precisely as Jesus had described it to them. They went and
270
found a colt tied to a door in the open street. As they were untying the
colt, the owners happened to be standing there. They then asked the disciples, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They replied as
Jesus had instructed them: “The Lord has need of [them],” they
answered. So the people let them leave with [them]. They brought
back the ass and its colt, draped their garments across them, and
seated him thereon. So Jesus found himself a young donkey and
mounted it. And all of this came to pass in order to fulfill what had
been spoken through the prophet who said,
‘Say to the Daughter of Zion,
“Fear not, Oh Daughter of Zion.
Behold, your King is coming to you,
Humbly mounted on a donkey,
Upon a colt--the foal of a beast of burden.”’
His students did not get this at first, but after Jesus had been
glorified, they recognized that all of these things were written about
him and had been fulfilled in him.
And as he moved on from there, the better portion of the crowd
continued to spread their clothing out along the road, while others cut
palm branches from trees that were out in the fields. They went out to
meet him shouting, (and) scattering the branches all over the road.
When he came to the crest of the road on the Mount of Olives, the host
of disciples--the great crowd that was leading the way, and also those
who were trailing behind--started praising God with joyful cries for all
the wonders they had seen. They were all clamoring,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the King of Israel!
Blessed is the coming of the kingdom of our father David!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!
Hosanna even in the highest!”
Then some of the Pharisees from among the people reproved Jesus:
“Teacher, admonish your disciples!” “I can assure you,” he answered
them, “if these were to silence themselves, the very stones would cry
aloud.”
And as he drew near to Jerusalem and caught sight of the city, he
mourned for it, saying, “If only you, yes you, had understood what
would have brought you peace this very day, which even now is hidden
from you. The days are coming when your adversaries will raise up an
embankment against you, surrounding you and shutting you in on
every side, and will throw you right down to the ground, along with
the children within your walls. They will not leave so much as a single
stone upon another--all because you did not recognize the time of your visitation!”
Now the people who were with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of
the tomb and raised him from the dead were there describing the
event to everyone. And because they heard that Jesus had worked this
wonder, many people went out to meet him. And as he entered into
Jerusalem, the entire city trembled, asking, “Who is this?” And the
crowds proclaimed, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of
Galilee!” And he went over to the temple, where blind and lame men
came up to him, and he healed them there. And when the highranking
priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he was
doing, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son
of David,” they became extremely angry. “Do you not hear what these
children are saying?” they questioned him. “Yes I do,” Jesus said,
“have you never read, ‘You have praises prepared from the mouths of
babes and children’?” So the Pharisees concluded among themselves,
“Face it, we are getting nowhere with this. Look at how the whole
world chases after him!”
And Jesus went up into the temple, taking <his students> along
with him. He led them all the way into the innermost sanctuary and
started wandering through the temple grounds, looking around at
everything.
A high-ranking Pharisee priest named Levi also went in and
confronted them, demanding of the Savior, “Who authorized you to walk around in this inner sanctum and look upon these hallowed
objects, seeing how you have not performed the ceremonial ablution,
nor have your followers so much as cleansed their feet? In a polluted
state have you encroached upon this ceremonially clean and holy place. No one walks around in here unless they have washed up first
and put on clean clothes, nor do they venture to look upon these holy
vessels!”
Now the Savior immediately got up with his disciples and said,
“And I suppose that you are clean, seeing that you are with us here?”
“I’m clean all right,” Levi said. “I went down into the Pool of David,
washed myself off, and came back up on the other side. I have,
moreover, put on ceremonially clean, white clothing. It was only after
doing so that I came here and looked upon these sacred things.”
“Accursed be the blind who refuse to see!” the Savior retorted. “You
wash in these lifeless waters, where swine and dogs wallow day and
night. You cleanse and scrub your skin superficially as any whore or
showgirl would. They all rinse and scour--putting on fragrances and
painting themselves for the seduction of men--but deep inside they are teeming with scorpions and every manner of filth. You say that my
students and I are unwashed, yet we have bathed in the dynamic water
of life which comes down from <my Father in heaven.> But curse
those <who are hypocritical and blind!> I took my place in the midst
of the world, and showed myself to them in the flesh. I found them all
to be intoxicated, and not one of them was thirsty. My soul has
suffered, (and continues to) suffer, on account of the sons of men, for
their hearts are blind and they do not see, for empty did they enter this
world, and empty do they seek to leave it--and the whole time that
they are here, they continue in their drunkenness. After they have
recovered from their wine, they will repent.” Now because it was
getting to be quite late, he and the twelve left them all behind and
withdrew from town to lodge in Bethany.
(Matt 21:1-11, 14-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44;
John 12:12-19; POxy 840 2:1-9, GTh 28/28 POxy 1)
Bethphage, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
By the following day, the great multitude that showed up for the
feast had heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. And they drew
near, approaching (and) arriving in Bethphage, then Bethany, as far as
the hill known as the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus sent out two of his
followers, saying to them, “Go on ahead to the village that lies before
you, and even as you are going in, you will see a donkey tethered there,
and a colt which no one has ever ridden before, tied alongside her.
Untie them both and bring them here. And if anyone says anything to
you, (or) asks you, ‘What are you up to?’ (or) ‘Why are you untying it?’
simply respond, ‘The Lord is in need of them.’ He will send [them]
back here shortly, (and) without hesitation.’” So the disciples went
and did as Jesus had said. Those he sent went out and found
everything precisely as Jesus had described it to them. They went and
270
found a colt tied to a door in the open street. As they were untying the
colt, the owners happened to be standing there. They then asked the disciples, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They replied as
Jesus had instructed them: “The Lord has need of [them],” they
answered. So the people let them leave with [them]. They brought
back the ass and its colt, draped their garments across them, and
seated him thereon. So Jesus found himself a young donkey and
mounted it. And all of this came to pass in order to fulfill what had
been spoken through the prophet who said,
‘Say to the Daughter of Zion,
“Fear not, Oh Daughter of Zion.
Behold, your King is coming to you,
Humbly mounted on a donkey,
Upon a colt--the foal of a beast of burden.”’
His students did not get this at first, but after Jesus had been
glorified, they recognized that all of these things were written about
him and had been fulfilled in him.
And as he moved on from there, the better portion of the crowd
continued to spread their clothing out along the road, while others cut
palm branches from trees that were out in the fields. They went out to
meet him shouting, (and) scattering the branches all over the road.
When he came to the crest of the road on the Mount of Olives, the host
of disciples--the great crowd that was leading the way, and also those
who were trailing behind--started praising God with joyful cries for all
the wonders they had seen. They were all clamoring,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the King of Israel!
Blessed is the coming of the kingdom of our father David!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!
Hosanna even in the highest!”
Then some of the Pharisees from among the people reproved Jesus:
“Teacher, admonish your disciples!” “I can assure you,” he answered
them, “if these were to silence themselves, the very stones would cry
aloud.”
And as he drew near to Jerusalem and caught sight of the city, he
mourned for it, saying, “If only you, yes you, had understood what
would have brought you peace this very day, which even now is hidden
from you. The days are coming when your adversaries will raise up an
embankment against you, surrounding you and shutting you in on
every side, and will throw you right down to the ground, along with
the children within your walls. They will not leave so much as a single
stone upon another--all because you did not recognize the time of your visitation!”
Now the people who were with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of
the tomb and raised him from the dead were there describing the
event to everyone. And because they heard that Jesus had worked this
wonder, many people went out to meet him. And as he entered into
Jerusalem, the entire city trembled, asking, “Who is this?” And the
crowds proclaimed, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of
Galilee!” And he went over to the temple, where blind and lame men
came up to him, and he healed them there. And when the highranking
priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he was
doing, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son
of David,” they became extremely angry. “Do you not hear what these
children are saying?” they questioned him. “Yes I do,” Jesus said,
“have you never read, ‘You have praises prepared from the mouths of
babes and children’?” So the Pharisees concluded among themselves,
“Face it, we are getting nowhere with this. Look at how the whole
world chases after him!”
And Jesus went up into the temple, taking <his students> along
with him. He led them all the way into the innermost sanctuary and
started wandering through the temple grounds, looking around at
everything.
A high-ranking Pharisee priest named Levi also went in and
confronted them, demanding of the Savior, “Who authorized you to walk around in this inner sanctum and look upon these hallowed
objects, seeing how you have not performed the ceremonial ablution,
nor have your followers so much as cleansed their feet? In a polluted
state have you encroached upon this ceremonially clean and holy place. No one walks around in here unless they have washed up first
and put on clean clothes, nor do they venture to look upon these holy
vessels!”
Now the Savior immediately got up with his disciples and said,
“And I suppose that you are clean, seeing that you are with us here?”
“I’m clean all right,” Levi said. “I went down into the Pool of David,
washed myself off, and came back up on the other side. I have,
moreover, put on ceremonially clean, white clothing. It was only after
doing so that I came here and looked upon these sacred things.”
“Accursed be the blind who refuse to see!” the Savior retorted. “You
wash in these lifeless waters, where swine and dogs wallow day and
night. You cleanse and scrub your skin superficially as any whore or
showgirl would. They all rinse and scour--putting on fragrances and
painting themselves for the seduction of men--but deep inside they are teeming with scorpions and every manner of filth. You say that my
students and I are unwashed, yet we have bathed in the dynamic water
of life which comes down from <my Father in heaven.> But curse
those <who are hypocritical and blind!> I took my place in the midst
of the world, and showed myself to them in the flesh. I found them all
to be intoxicated, and not one of them was thirsty. My soul has
suffered, (and continues to) suffer, on account of the sons of men, for
their hearts are blind and they do not see, for empty did they enter this
world, and empty do they seek to leave it--and the whole time that
they are here, they continue in their drunkenness. After they have
recovered from their wine, they will repent.” Now because it was
getting to be quite late, he and the twelve left them all behind and
withdrew from town to lodge in Bethany.
GIVE CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR
(Matt 22:15; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26; GTh 100; Egtn 3)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And the Pharisees went off and discussed how they might entangle
him in a remark. And keeping him under close surveillance, they sent
some of the followers of the Pharisees and Herodians, (as) spies
posing as righteous folk, in order to catch him by some statement (or)
to lay hold of something he might say, so as to deliver him up to the
governor’s control and jurisdiction. And they came and put this
question to him: “Master Jesus, we know that you come <from God>,
because the things that you do place you above all of the prophets. We
know that you are sincere, that you speak and teach what is right, and
that you are swayed by none, since you show neither respect of
persons, nor do you defer to any man. Quite to the contrary, you teach
God’s way in line with truth.” And they said, “Caesar’s people demand
that we pay taxes. So tell us what you think. Would it be right or
wrong for us to pay Caesar’s poll tax? Should we have to pay or not?” Jesus, however, sensing their spite, and marking their cunning, was
aware of their hypocrisy. “Why are you putting me to the test?” he
asked them. “You hypocrites! Let me see the coin for the tax. Bring
me a denarius, and let me have a look at it!” So the men brought one
up to Jesus (and) handed it over. Then he asked them, “Whose image
is this, and what is inscribed thereon?” The men answered him,
“Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said to them, “So give to Caesar what belongs
to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God, and to me, what is mine.” And when they heard that, they were amazed by him (and) his
response, (and) they kept silent. So right there in the sight of all, they
failed to take him in his words. So they went away and let him be.
(Matt 22:15; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26; GTh 100; Egtn 3)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And the Pharisees went off and discussed how they might entangle
him in a remark. And keeping him under close surveillance, they sent
some of the followers of the Pharisees and Herodians, (as) spies
posing as righteous folk, in order to catch him by some statement (or)
to lay hold of something he might say, so as to deliver him up to the
governor’s control and jurisdiction. And they came and put this
question to him: “Master Jesus, we know that you come <from God>,
because the things that you do place you above all of the prophets. We
know that you are sincere, that you speak and teach what is right, and
that you are swayed by none, since you show neither respect of
persons, nor do you defer to any man. Quite to the contrary, you teach
God’s way in line with truth.” And they said, “Caesar’s people demand
that we pay taxes. So tell us what you think. Would it be right or
wrong for us to pay Caesar’s poll tax? Should we have to pay or not?” Jesus, however, sensing their spite, and marking their cunning, was
aware of their hypocrisy. “Why are you putting me to the test?” he
asked them. “You hypocrites! Let me see the coin for the tax. Bring
me a denarius, and let me have a look at it!” So the men brought one
up to Jesus (and) handed it over. Then he asked them, “Whose image
is this, and what is inscribed thereon?” The men answered him,
“Caesar’s.” Then Jesus said to them, “So give to Caesar what belongs
to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God, and to me, what is mine.” And when they heard that, they were amazed by him (and) his
response, (and) they kept silent. So right there in the sight of all, they
failed to take him in his words. So they went away and let him be.
THE WIFE OF THE SEVEN BROTHERS
(Matt 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38;
GEb Quote in Clementine Homilies 3.50)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And that same day some Sadducees, those who claim that there will
be no resurrection, approached him. And they asked him a question:
“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, saying that if someone’s brother should
die having a wife, but no child, (thereby) leaving his wife behind, and
leaving no children, his brother should thenceforth take his wife, (and)
through her he should marry in, causing seed for his brother to
proceed from her. Now there were seven brothers among us, and the
first one took a wife and passed away childless. He therefore left his
wife to his brother, neither having (nor) leaving any seed. Then the
second took her to himself, and he also passed away, leaving no seed
behind. And the third, all the way through the seventh, likewise took
her. And in like fashion, not even one of the seven left any children
(or) seed behind. So each of them passed on, and afterward, last of all,
the woman also passed away. Now when the resurrection comes and
these rise up, which of the seven will this woman become wife to?
Whose wife will she be, since all seven of them had her as his?” And
Jesus answered them, “Aren’t you being misled by this, having
understood neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? You
misjudge because you do not know the precision of the Scriptures. It is because of this that you don’t see the power of God. How is it that you do not understand that the Scriptures are based on soundness of
reason? It is only the children of this age who wed and are given in
marriage. But as for the ones deemed worthy to achieve that
resurrection age, upon rising in the revival from the dead, they will
neither marry nor be given in marriage. You see, it won’t even be
possible for them to die anymore, because they will be celestial--even
as the angels are in heaven--and as the sons of the resurrection, they
will therefore be the Sons of God. Now as for the resurrection of the
dead, did you never read the word that God spoke to you in the book of
Moses? Moses, referring to the Lord, pointed out at the burning bush,
that the dead are to be raised again, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham
and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ He is, therefore, not the
God of the dead, but of the living instead, because to Him all are alive.
You are being led astray in a serious way.” And the multitudes were moved by his teaching.
(Matt 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-38;
GEb Quote in Clementine Homilies 3.50)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And that same day some Sadducees, those who claim that there will
be no resurrection, approached him. And they asked him a question:
“Teacher, Moses wrote to us, saying that if someone’s brother should
die having a wife, but no child, (thereby) leaving his wife behind, and
leaving no children, his brother should thenceforth take his wife, (and)
through her he should marry in, causing seed for his brother to
proceed from her. Now there were seven brothers among us, and the
first one took a wife and passed away childless. He therefore left his
wife to his brother, neither having (nor) leaving any seed. Then the
second took her to himself, and he also passed away, leaving no seed
behind. And the third, all the way through the seventh, likewise took
her. And in like fashion, not even one of the seven left any children
(or) seed behind. So each of them passed on, and afterward, last of all,
the woman also passed away. Now when the resurrection comes and
these rise up, which of the seven will this woman become wife to?
Whose wife will she be, since all seven of them had her as his?” And
Jesus answered them, “Aren’t you being misled by this, having
understood neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? You
misjudge because you do not know the precision of the Scriptures. It is because of this that you don’t see the power of God. How is it that you do not understand that the Scriptures are based on soundness of
reason? It is only the children of this age who wed and are given in
marriage. But as for the ones deemed worthy to achieve that
resurrection age, upon rising in the revival from the dead, they will
neither marry nor be given in marriage. You see, it won’t even be
possible for them to die anymore, because they will be celestial--even
as the angels are in heaven--and as the sons of the resurrection, they
will therefore be the Sons of God. Now as for the resurrection of the
dead, did you never read the word that God spoke to you in the book of
Moses? Moses, referring to the Lord, pointed out at the burning bush,
that the dead are to be raised again, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham
and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ He is, therefore, not the
God of the dead, but of the living instead, because to Him all are alive.
You are being led astray in a serious way.” And the multitudes were moved by his teaching.
EXPOSING THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
(Matt 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47;
GTh 39, 89,102,103/39 POxy 655;
Justin, Dialogue With Trypho 116:2;
Hippolytus, Philosophumena 5.3)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And even as he lectured them, the entire crowd listened with rapt
attention. Jesus began cautioning his disciples and the people:
“Watch out for (and) beware of the scribes and the Pharisees! They
have placed themselves on the seat of Moses, so keep to and carry out
whatever they should tell you to; but do not imitate their ways. For
they say one thing and do another. You see, they tie up heavy and
unmanageable loads, and place them on the backs of men. Even so
they will not so much as lift a finger to budge them. Every single one
of their deeds is designed to be seen by men; for they make their
phylacteries really wide, (and) they love to walk in flowing robes,
flaunting their elongated tassels, delighting in the salutations they
receive in the marketplaces, and cherishing the foremost seats in the
synagogues. They love the places of distinction at feasts, and to be
referred to as ‘Rabbi’ by men. They consume the homes of widows and
then go on to pray at length. When these are sentenced, they will be
severely punished.
“But you must not be called ‘Rabbi,’ since you have but one Master,
and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not refer to anyone upon
this earth as your ‘father,’ for only One is your Father--the One in
heaven. Neither let yourselves be called ‘Teachers,’ for Christ will be your only guide. And the greatest among you is to be your servant,
since whoever honors himself is abased, and whoever abases himself is
honored.
“Curse the scribes and Pharisees! For they are even as a dog that
lies atop a cattle trough; he neither eats, nor does he let the cattle eat.
The Pharisees and the scribes have taken and hidden the keys of
knowledge. These have failed to make it in, and have stood in the way
of those who were trying. You, on the other hand, become as slippery
as snakes, and as simple as doves. If you keep my word, you will
recognize the eternal kingdom in advance. How lucky is the man who
knows where the thieves are going to enter, since he will be able to
arise and prepare from the very start that which pertains to the
kingdom before they manage to break into it.
“Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You shut the
empire of the skies in the face of all mankind. You do not go in
yourselves, and you block off those who are trying to get in. Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You devour the homes of
widows and then pray long and pretentious prayers to conceal it. You
will therefore receive a stiffer sentence. Curse you scribes and
Pharisees! You travel across sea and land to gain a single proselyte;
and when you’ve turned him into one, you cause him to be twice the
child of Gehenna that you are. Curse you, you blind leaders! You say,
‘Should anyone declare an oath upon this sanctuary, it means nothing;
but should anyone swear by the gold of the temple, his debt remains.’
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies it? What is more, you declare, ‘If anyone should swear by
the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone should swear by the offering
on it, his oath is binding. You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or
the altar that sanctifies it? So then, whoever swears by the altar
swears by both it and what’s on it. And whoever swears by the temple
swears by it and the One Who dwells therein. And anyone swearing by
heaven is swearing by the throne of God--(even) the One Who is
seated thereon. Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You
have tithed of your mint, dill and cumin, but have neglected the
weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith. You ought to
have kept to the latter, without being negligent of the former. You
blind guides! You strain out the gnat, but swallow the camel. Curse
you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You clean the outer portion
of the dish and cup, but on the inside you are filled with greed and
self-indulgence. Why is it that you wash the outside? Is it because you fail to recognize that the One Who created the inside is also the One
Who created the outside? You blind Pharisee! Start by scrubbing the
inside of the dish and cup. That way their outsides will also be
cleansed. Curse you scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the surface, but in
your core you are filled with skeletons of dead men and all manner of
filth, for the enlivened man is not in you. That is how it goes with you.
On the surface, you appear as righteous before the people, but deep
inside, you are full of hypocrisy and vice.
“Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You build
sepulchers for the prophets and adorn the graves of the upright. Then
you profess, ‘Had we been around in the days of our fathers, we would
never have had a part in the shedding of their blood.’ You are in effect
commending yourselves for being the seed of those who slew the
prophets. So then, bring to completion the sins of your fathers. You
serpents! You brood of vipers! How ever will you escape the
judgment of Gehenna? For this reason I am going to send prophets to you; wise men and teachers, too. Some you will kill and crucify, others
you will beat in your synagogues, hounding them from town to town.
That way every drop of righteous blood that has been shed upon this earth will find its way straight back to you, from the blood of the
righteous Abel all the way down to that of Zechariah, son of Berechiah,
whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I say to you
most assuredly, every bit of this will fall upon this generation.
“Oh Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Slayer of the prophets and stoner of
those who are sent to her! How many times have I longed to gather
your children together as a hen gathers her nestlings under her wings-
-but you would not have it. Look, your house is being left to you in
desolation. For I am here to say to you, from this very day until such
time as you proclaim, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord,’ you will never see me again.”
(Matt 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47;
GTh 39, 89,102,103/39 POxy 655;
Justin, Dialogue With Trypho 116:2;
Hippolytus, Philosophumena 5.3)
The Temple, Jerusalem
And even as he lectured them, the entire crowd listened with rapt
attention. Jesus began cautioning his disciples and the people:
“Watch out for (and) beware of the scribes and the Pharisees! They
have placed themselves on the seat of Moses, so keep to and carry out
whatever they should tell you to; but do not imitate their ways. For
they say one thing and do another. You see, they tie up heavy and
unmanageable loads, and place them on the backs of men. Even so
they will not so much as lift a finger to budge them. Every single one
of their deeds is designed to be seen by men; for they make their
phylacteries really wide, (and) they love to walk in flowing robes,
flaunting their elongated tassels, delighting in the salutations they
receive in the marketplaces, and cherishing the foremost seats in the
synagogues. They love the places of distinction at feasts, and to be
referred to as ‘Rabbi’ by men. They consume the homes of widows and
then go on to pray at length. When these are sentenced, they will be
severely punished.
“But you must not be called ‘Rabbi,’ since you have but one Master,
and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not refer to anyone upon
this earth as your ‘father,’ for only One is your Father--the One in
heaven. Neither let yourselves be called ‘Teachers,’ for Christ will be your only guide. And the greatest among you is to be your servant,
since whoever honors himself is abased, and whoever abases himself is
honored.
“Curse the scribes and Pharisees! For they are even as a dog that
lies atop a cattle trough; he neither eats, nor does he let the cattle eat.
The Pharisees and the scribes have taken and hidden the keys of
knowledge. These have failed to make it in, and have stood in the way
of those who were trying. You, on the other hand, become as slippery
as snakes, and as simple as doves. If you keep my word, you will
recognize the eternal kingdom in advance. How lucky is the man who
knows where the thieves are going to enter, since he will be able to
arise and prepare from the very start that which pertains to the
kingdom before they manage to break into it.
“Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You shut the
empire of the skies in the face of all mankind. You do not go in
yourselves, and you block off those who are trying to get in. Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You devour the homes of
widows and then pray long and pretentious prayers to conceal it. You
will therefore receive a stiffer sentence. Curse you scribes and
Pharisees! You travel across sea and land to gain a single proselyte;
and when you’ve turned him into one, you cause him to be twice the
child of Gehenna that you are. Curse you, you blind leaders! You say,
‘Should anyone declare an oath upon this sanctuary, it means nothing;
but should anyone swear by the gold of the temple, his debt remains.’
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies it? What is more, you declare, ‘If anyone should swear by
the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone should swear by the offering
on it, his oath is binding. You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or
the altar that sanctifies it? So then, whoever swears by the altar
swears by both it and what’s on it. And whoever swears by the temple
swears by it and the One Who dwells therein. And anyone swearing by
heaven is swearing by the throne of God--(even) the One Who is
seated thereon. Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You
have tithed of your mint, dill and cumin, but have neglected the
weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and faith. You ought to
have kept to the latter, without being negligent of the former. You
blind guides! You strain out the gnat, but swallow the camel. Curse
you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You clean the outer portion
of the dish and cup, but on the inside you are filled with greed and
self-indulgence. Why is it that you wash the outside? Is it because you fail to recognize that the One Who created the inside is also the One
Who created the outside? You blind Pharisee! Start by scrubbing the
inside of the dish and cup. That way their outsides will also be
cleansed. Curse you scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You are like
whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the surface, but in
your core you are filled with skeletons of dead men and all manner of
filth, for the enlivened man is not in you. That is how it goes with you.
On the surface, you appear as righteous before the people, but deep
inside, you are full of hypocrisy and vice.
“Curse you, scribes and Pharisees, you phonies! You build
sepulchers for the prophets and adorn the graves of the upright. Then
you profess, ‘Had we been around in the days of our fathers, we would
never have had a part in the shedding of their blood.’ You are in effect
commending yourselves for being the seed of those who slew the
prophets. So then, bring to completion the sins of your fathers. You
serpents! You brood of vipers! How ever will you escape the
judgment of Gehenna? For this reason I am going to send prophets to you; wise men and teachers, too. Some you will kill and crucify, others
you will beat in your synagogues, hounding them from town to town.
That way every drop of righteous blood that has been shed upon this earth will find its way straight back to you, from the blood of the
righteous Abel all the way down to that of Zechariah, son of Berechiah,
whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I say to you
most assuredly, every bit of this will fall upon this generation.
“Oh Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Slayer of the prophets and stoner of
those who are sent to her! How many times have I longed to gather
your children together as a hen gathers her nestlings under her wings-
-but you would not have it. Look, your house is being left to you in
desolation. For I am here to say to you, from this very day until such
time as you proclaim, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord,’ you will never see me again.”
THE APOCALYPSE OF JESUS
(Matt 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36;
Clementine Recognitions, 4.4; Barnabas 12:1b;
2Bar 25:1b-4; SbOr 2:6-38; ApEl 3:1-18;
2Esd 2:13, 5:1-12, 13:29-31, 15:12-19;
Papias, Quote from Irenaeus, Against Heresies 33.3,4)
The Temple, Mount of Olives
Then Jesus left the temple. And as he was on his way out, his
disciples came up to him and called his attention to the buildings
thereof. Now some of them talked about how it was adorned with
beautiful stones and gifts. “Master,” one of his followers said, “behold
what manner of stones and structures these are!” But Jesus answered
him, “See all of these magnificent buildings (and) objects? As for all
that you see here, I am telling you truly that the days are coming when
there will not be so much as a single stone left on another that will not
be thrown down. And this generation will not pass until the
destruction begins. For they will come and sit in this very place and
lay siege to it, and in this place they will slay your children.”
As he sat upon the Mount of Olives across from the temple, the
disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
“Master, tell us when all of this will come to pass. What will be the
sign that all these things will be fulfilled, and what will be the sign of
your coming and the end of the age?” And Jesus replied, “Take care
that no man deceives you, because many people will come in my name
and claim, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and ‘The time is upon us!’ and they will deceive many. So do not go chasing after them. The Son of
Lawlessness will show himself and say to you, ‘I am the Christ,’
although he is not. Don’t you believe him! You will start to hear of
wars and reports of wars and agitations, but when you do, see to it that
you are neither frightened nor disturbed thereby. These, you see, are
but the foreshadowings, so do not be afraid, for the end has not yet
come. The consummation will not take place all at once.” Then he
informed them, “Behold, the days are coming when the Most High will arrive to rescue those who live on earth. Confusion of mind will
overtake those who dwell thereon, causing them to plot wars one
against the other, city against city, region against region. Nation will
move against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and major
earthquakes will break forth in this place and that, as will famines,
pestilences, and horrifying spectacles--and momentous omens will
appear from out of heaven. When, however upon the earth come
violent shakings, thunders and lightnings, mildews upon the land,
frenzies of jackals and wolves, the slaughtering and devastation of
men, the bellowing of oxen, four-footed cattle, domestic mules and
goats and sheep, then great expanses of farmland will become barren
and through neglect not render their fruit. The selling of free men into
slavery will become commonplace as will the robbing of temples.
When all of these things come to pass, the tenth generation of men
will appear at last, when He Who shakes the earth and brings forth the
lightnings will destroy the glory of the idols, and shake down those of
the seven-hilled Rome. Vast amounts of wealth will perish, burning in
the great fire of the flame of Hephaestus. Then blood will rain down
out of heaven; but the earth with its countless men will slay each other
in their madness. During this time of unrest, God will impose famines
and diseases and thunderbolts upon those who do not judge according to justice. There will be such a dearth of men on the face of the earth,
that one would marvel to see the footprints of another on the ground.
These are but the onset of labor pains. But before these trials take
place, they will take you into custody and hand you over to councils to
be tortured, so look to yourselves. They will persecute you, turn you
over to synagogues and imprisonment, and you will be beaten there.
And all the nations will despise you on account of me; and you will be
brought as witnesses before governors and kings for the sake of my
name. This will be your occasion to testify. The gospel, however, must
first be preached before the nations. Now when they lead you up and
turn you in, do not rehearse what you will speak. Simply resolve in
your hearts not to plan out your rebuttal in advance, for I will provide
you with a mouth and a wisdom which none who oppose you will be
able to deny or withstand. Instead, speak whatever is given to you at
that time, because the words will not be coming from you, but rather,
the Holy Spirit.
“Many will be displeased at this, and will turn each other over and
despise one another. At that point many false prophets will rise up
and seduce many, and unrighteousness will increase to a level beyond
that which you now see, nor have you ever heard of before. And owing to the proliferation of lawlessness, the love of the many will grow cold.
You will even be turned over by parents and siblings; friends and
relatives. So a brother will hand his own brother over to be killed, and
a father, his son. Children will rise against their parents, and they will
see to it that some of you are executed. And they will be hateful
toward you and put you to death for bearing my name. Even so, not a
single hair that is on your head will be lost. The one who perseveres to
the very end will be saved. And through your persistence you will save
your souls. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed at that time
as a sign to the world. That is when the moment will come. Then
when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, recognize that its
destruction is at hand. So when you see the abomination that causes
devastation, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place where it does not belong, (let whoever reads this understand it,)
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are inside get out, and let not those in the surrounding areas go in.
Let not the one who is on top of his house go back down to take
anything from it. Let not the one who is in the field go back to retrieve
his clothing. You see, these are days of retribution, for the fulfillment
of all that has been written.
“Let Egypt mourn from its foundations for the plague of
chastisement and punishment being brought upon it by the Lord. Let
those weep who till the soil, for indeed their seed will fail, and their
trees all wither from blight and hail and terrible tempest. Woe to the
world and to those who dwell therein, for misery and sword draw near
to them, and nation will rise up, sword in hand, to battle against
nation. For unrest will there be among mankind, and stronger and
stronger will they grow against one another: showing respect for
neither king nor commander. A man will wish to enter a town, but
will be turned back. Cities will remain in confusion on account of their
pride, houses will then be destroyed, and the people there will live in
fear. A man will show no mercy to his neighbor, but for his hunger’s
sake and the extent of his suffering will he use his sword to plunder his
neighbor for his household goods. But curse any who are pregnant
and nursing in those days! For there will be a great travail in the land,
and a wrath against this people. They will all fall by the sword and be
taken captive into every nation. And Jerusalem will be trampled down
by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“Pray that your flight does not come in the winter or on the
Sabbath, because there will come a time of trouble unrivaled since the
time when God first brought the world into being until now, nor ever could it happen again. And someone will reign over the world, whom
none on earth will anticipate; and the birds will fly away, and the Sea
of Sodom will cast up fish. Then will the one whom the multitudes
know not cause his voice to be heard by night, and his voice will be
heard by all. Chaos, also, will reign in many places, fires will break
out, wild animals will wander beyond their usual places, and
menstruous women will bring forth monsters. Salty water will be
found in the sweet, and friend will overpower friend. Then reason will
go into hiding, and wisdom withdraw into its abode, and many will
seek after it, but no one will find it. Then unrighteousness and lack of
restraint will increase upon the earth. A nation will then ask its
neighbor, ‘Has righteousness or anyone who does what is right passed
through you?’ And the answer will be, ‘Not at all.’ And in those days
men will hope, but not receive; labor, but their efforts will be for
nought. Had the Lord not shortened those days, no flesh would at all
be saved. But those days will indeed be cut short by the Lord, who has
shortened them for the sake of the elect. Ask and you will receive;
pray that your days might be few in number, that your days might be
cut short. Then if anyone should say to you, ‘Look, the Messiah is
here,’ or, ‘Look, over there!’ don’t you believe it, because false Christs
and false prophets will come along and do signs and wonders to
deceive, if it were possible, even the elect. But that Son of Lawlessness
will once again take his stand in hallowed places, (even) in the holy place. To the sun he will command, ‘Descend,’ and it will go down.
‘Shine,’ he will say, and it will blaze forth; ‘Darken,’ he will declare,
and it will grow dark. To the moon he will demand, ‘Become bloody,’
and so it will be. Like them he will sweep across the sky. With a word
he will decree: ‘Walk upon the rivers and seas,’ and on river and sea
will he tread as if he were on dry land. The lame he will cause to walk,
the deaf to hear, the mute to speak, and the blind to see. The lepers he
will cleanse, and the ill he will heal. He will cast out demons and
multiply his signs and wonders before all men. All the works that the
Christ performed he will likewise replicate, except for the raising of the
dead alone. This is how you will know that he’s the Son of
Lawlessness, for he has no power to give life.
“But the kingdom is even now prepared for you, so look to
yourselves! See, I have told you all things in advance. So if they
should say to you, ‘Look, he is out in the desert!’ do not go forth,
‘Look, in the innermost rooms!’ do not believe it. You know how
lightning strikes in the east and lights up the west, the coming of the
Son of Man will be just like that! And the land which you see ruling now will be laid waste and untrodden, and all of mankind will see its
desolation. (Wherever there is a carcass, the vultures will be sure to
gather!) But if the Most High grants that you should live, after the
third day you will see it thrown into confusion.
“But in the days immediately following the distress of those times,
there will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. Now with
regard to the signs: the sun will be dimmed, and the moon will not
furnish her light. Then the sun will suddenly shine at night, and the
moon during the day. A tree will bend down and stand upright, blood
will drip from out of wood, and stone will speak, and the people will be
distressed, and the stars will fall from the sky. And in this world,
nations will be tormented and perplexed by the roaring and billowing
of the sea. Behold, the days are coming when fear will seize all of
those who live on earth, and the land will be devoid of faith. Men will
grow cold with fear and dread because of what is taking place, for the
powers of heaven will all be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in the sky, and the nations of the world will beat their
breasts. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of heaven with tremendous power and magnificent glory. On
the day that the Messiah comes, it will be even as a flock of doves
surrounding him as a crown. He will tread upon the vault the heaven,
led forth by the sign of the cross. The whole world will see him even as
the sun shining from the eastern to the western horizons. All of his
angels will surround him at his coming.
“And he will send them forth at the great trumpet call, and they will
gather all his chosen ones from the four winds--from one end of
heaven to the other, (and) from the farthest reaches of the earth to the
uttermost regions of heaven. And when all of these things begin to
take place, it will be time to rise and lift your heads, for your
deliverance has finally come!” Then he spoke a parable to them: “Take
the fig tree, and every other tree as well. Now work out the mystery of
the fig tree: when its tender limbs grow out and sprout leaves, at that
moment you can see for yourselves and know that summer is coming.
And so it will be that when you see all of these things begin to unfold,
understand that God’s kingdom is at hand; even at the very doors! I am telling you the truth, this generation will not have passed before all
these things are fulfilled at last. Heaven and earth will pass away, but
never my words. Therefore at the end of days, this will be the sign that the Most High will show in the sight of all who dwell on earth; when
terror overtakes those who are living in the world and they fall into terrible torments and tribulations. It will then come about that
because of their many troubles, they will say in their hearts, ‘The
Mighty One no longer takes thought for the earth.’ It will be even as
they are losing all hope that the time will awaken. Furthermore, the
great God Who dwells in the skies will become in every way a savior to
all men of virtue. At that time a profound peace and understanding
will begin, and the bountiful land will once again bring forth fruit in
profusion, and will no longer remain divided or in servitude. Those
who enter into God’s kingdom will see the days come when vines will
grow with ten thousand runners apiece, and ten thousand branches
will grow on each runner, and ten thousand shoots will grow on each
branch, and ten thousand sprouts will grow on each shoot, and ten
thousand bunches will grow on each sprout. And these bunches will
each produce ten thousand grapes; and when they are pressed, each of
these grapes will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And if one of the
saints should grab one cluster, another one will then proclaim, ‘I am
better, take me instead! Glorify the Lord through me!’ A grain of
wheat will likewise produce ten thousand ears, and these ears will each
have ten thousand grains thereon, and each grain will yield five
pounds of pure, fine wheat flour twice over. And it will be the same for
every other fruit, seed, and plant. And every animal will feed solely on
what the earth provides. They will become peaceable and live together
in harmony, and will subject themselves obediently to men. Every
harbor and port will once again be open to all mankind and
shamelessness will exist no more. Then God will again perform a great sign: a star will shine forth like a radiant crown, glorious, and
gleaming from the resplendent sky for a great many days. (For at that
time, He will show from heaven the crown that is given to men who
strive in the war.) But as for the day and the hour, no man knows it,
neither do the angels in heaven, nor even does the Son, but only the
Father.
“But at the coming of the Son of Man, things will be even as they
were in Noah’s day. For just as it was in the days before the flood, when they were eating and drinking, getting married and marrying off
right up to the day that Noah entered the ark; none gave heed until the
flood arrived and did away with all of them. Even so will the coming
of the Son of Man be. Two will then be out in the field; one will be
taken and the other will be left. Two will be grinding at the mill; one
will be taken and the other will be left. So stay alert, for you do not
know when your Lord will return.
“Even so, recognize this much, if the homeowner had known before the hour that the thief would come, he would have kept watch, and not
allowed his house to get broken into. So also must you be vigilant, for
the Son of Man is coming at a time that you do not know. Also, look to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcome by excess and
drunkenness and the concerns of this life, and that day sneak up on
you without your being aware. For like a trap it will ensnare all of
those who live on earth. Who then is that trusty and sagacious servant
whom his lord will set over his household servants, that he might give
them their food when the season arrives? How lucky will that servant
be when his lord comes and finds him so doing. I tell you most
assuredly, he will put him over all that He has. But should that wicked
servant say in his heart, ‘My master will be gone a long time,’ and
starts beating his fellow servants, and eating and drinking with the
drunkards, that servant’s master will come on a day that he’s not
expecting, and at a time that he’s not aware, and hack him to bits,
assigning him his part with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing
and grinding of teeth.
“So be alert, praying at all times that you might be deemed worthy
to escape all that will soon come to pass, and stand in the presence of
the Son of Man. Do not let down your guard; watch and pray, since
you do not know when that time will be. It is like a man who was
going on a distant journey, who, at the time he left his house, charged
each of his servants with certain tasks, and commanded the porter to
keep watch. So remain vigilant, for you never know when the lord of
the house might come; at dusk, midnight, cock’s crow, or daybreak.
Should he happen to come back on a sudden, do not let him catch you
sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
(Matt 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36;
Clementine Recognitions, 4.4; Barnabas 12:1b;
2Bar 25:1b-4; SbOr 2:6-38; ApEl 3:1-18;
2Esd 2:13, 5:1-12, 13:29-31, 15:12-19;
Papias, Quote from Irenaeus, Against Heresies 33.3,4)
The Temple, Mount of Olives
Then Jesus left the temple. And as he was on his way out, his
disciples came up to him and called his attention to the buildings
thereof. Now some of them talked about how it was adorned with
beautiful stones and gifts. “Master,” one of his followers said, “behold
what manner of stones and structures these are!” But Jesus answered
him, “See all of these magnificent buildings (and) objects? As for all
that you see here, I am telling you truly that the days are coming when
there will not be so much as a single stone left on another that will not
be thrown down. And this generation will not pass until the
destruction begins. For they will come and sit in this very place and
lay siege to it, and in this place they will slay your children.”
As he sat upon the Mount of Olives across from the temple, the
disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
“Master, tell us when all of this will come to pass. What will be the
sign that all these things will be fulfilled, and what will be the sign of
your coming and the end of the age?” And Jesus replied, “Take care
that no man deceives you, because many people will come in my name
and claim, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and ‘The time is upon us!’ and they will deceive many. So do not go chasing after them. The Son of
Lawlessness will show himself and say to you, ‘I am the Christ,’
although he is not. Don’t you believe him! You will start to hear of
wars and reports of wars and agitations, but when you do, see to it that
you are neither frightened nor disturbed thereby. These, you see, are
but the foreshadowings, so do not be afraid, for the end has not yet
come. The consummation will not take place all at once.” Then he
informed them, “Behold, the days are coming when the Most High will arrive to rescue those who live on earth. Confusion of mind will
overtake those who dwell thereon, causing them to plot wars one
against the other, city against city, region against region. Nation will
move against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and major
earthquakes will break forth in this place and that, as will famines,
pestilences, and horrifying spectacles--and momentous omens will
appear from out of heaven. When, however upon the earth come
violent shakings, thunders and lightnings, mildews upon the land,
frenzies of jackals and wolves, the slaughtering and devastation of
men, the bellowing of oxen, four-footed cattle, domestic mules and
goats and sheep, then great expanses of farmland will become barren
and through neglect not render their fruit. The selling of free men into
slavery will become commonplace as will the robbing of temples.
When all of these things come to pass, the tenth generation of men
will appear at last, when He Who shakes the earth and brings forth the
lightnings will destroy the glory of the idols, and shake down those of
the seven-hilled Rome. Vast amounts of wealth will perish, burning in
the great fire of the flame of Hephaestus. Then blood will rain down
out of heaven; but the earth with its countless men will slay each other
in their madness. During this time of unrest, God will impose famines
and diseases and thunderbolts upon those who do not judge according to justice. There will be such a dearth of men on the face of the earth,
that one would marvel to see the footprints of another on the ground.
These are but the onset of labor pains. But before these trials take
place, they will take you into custody and hand you over to councils to
be tortured, so look to yourselves. They will persecute you, turn you
over to synagogues and imprisonment, and you will be beaten there.
And all the nations will despise you on account of me; and you will be
brought as witnesses before governors and kings for the sake of my
name. This will be your occasion to testify. The gospel, however, must
first be preached before the nations. Now when they lead you up and
turn you in, do not rehearse what you will speak. Simply resolve in
your hearts not to plan out your rebuttal in advance, for I will provide
you with a mouth and a wisdom which none who oppose you will be
able to deny or withstand. Instead, speak whatever is given to you at
that time, because the words will not be coming from you, but rather,
the Holy Spirit.
“Many will be displeased at this, and will turn each other over and
despise one another. At that point many false prophets will rise up
and seduce many, and unrighteousness will increase to a level beyond
that which you now see, nor have you ever heard of before. And owing to the proliferation of lawlessness, the love of the many will grow cold.
You will even be turned over by parents and siblings; friends and
relatives. So a brother will hand his own brother over to be killed, and
a father, his son. Children will rise against their parents, and they will
see to it that some of you are executed. And they will be hateful
toward you and put you to death for bearing my name. Even so, not a
single hair that is on your head will be lost. The one who perseveres to
the very end will be saved. And through your persistence you will save
your souls. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed at that time
as a sign to the world. That is when the moment will come. Then
when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, recognize that its
destruction is at hand. So when you see the abomination that causes
devastation, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place where it does not belong, (let whoever reads this understand it,)
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are inside get out, and let not those in the surrounding areas go in.
Let not the one who is on top of his house go back down to take
anything from it. Let not the one who is in the field go back to retrieve
his clothing. You see, these are days of retribution, for the fulfillment
of all that has been written.
“Let Egypt mourn from its foundations for the plague of
chastisement and punishment being brought upon it by the Lord. Let
those weep who till the soil, for indeed their seed will fail, and their
trees all wither from blight and hail and terrible tempest. Woe to the
world and to those who dwell therein, for misery and sword draw near
to them, and nation will rise up, sword in hand, to battle against
nation. For unrest will there be among mankind, and stronger and
stronger will they grow against one another: showing respect for
neither king nor commander. A man will wish to enter a town, but
will be turned back. Cities will remain in confusion on account of their
pride, houses will then be destroyed, and the people there will live in
fear. A man will show no mercy to his neighbor, but for his hunger’s
sake and the extent of his suffering will he use his sword to plunder his
neighbor for his household goods. But curse any who are pregnant
and nursing in those days! For there will be a great travail in the land,
and a wrath against this people. They will all fall by the sword and be
taken captive into every nation. And Jerusalem will be trampled down
by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“Pray that your flight does not come in the winter or on the
Sabbath, because there will come a time of trouble unrivaled since the
time when God first brought the world into being until now, nor ever could it happen again. And someone will reign over the world, whom
none on earth will anticipate; and the birds will fly away, and the Sea
of Sodom will cast up fish. Then will the one whom the multitudes
know not cause his voice to be heard by night, and his voice will be
heard by all. Chaos, also, will reign in many places, fires will break
out, wild animals will wander beyond their usual places, and
menstruous women will bring forth monsters. Salty water will be
found in the sweet, and friend will overpower friend. Then reason will
go into hiding, and wisdom withdraw into its abode, and many will
seek after it, but no one will find it. Then unrighteousness and lack of
restraint will increase upon the earth. A nation will then ask its
neighbor, ‘Has righteousness or anyone who does what is right passed
through you?’ And the answer will be, ‘Not at all.’ And in those days
men will hope, but not receive; labor, but their efforts will be for
nought. Had the Lord not shortened those days, no flesh would at all
be saved. But those days will indeed be cut short by the Lord, who has
shortened them for the sake of the elect. Ask and you will receive;
pray that your days might be few in number, that your days might be
cut short. Then if anyone should say to you, ‘Look, the Messiah is
here,’ or, ‘Look, over there!’ don’t you believe it, because false Christs
and false prophets will come along and do signs and wonders to
deceive, if it were possible, even the elect. But that Son of Lawlessness
will once again take his stand in hallowed places, (even) in the holy place. To the sun he will command, ‘Descend,’ and it will go down.
‘Shine,’ he will say, and it will blaze forth; ‘Darken,’ he will declare,
and it will grow dark. To the moon he will demand, ‘Become bloody,’
and so it will be. Like them he will sweep across the sky. With a word
he will decree: ‘Walk upon the rivers and seas,’ and on river and sea
will he tread as if he were on dry land. The lame he will cause to walk,
the deaf to hear, the mute to speak, and the blind to see. The lepers he
will cleanse, and the ill he will heal. He will cast out demons and
multiply his signs and wonders before all men. All the works that the
Christ performed he will likewise replicate, except for the raising of the
dead alone. This is how you will know that he’s the Son of
Lawlessness, for he has no power to give life.
“But the kingdom is even now prepared for you, so look to
yourselves! See, I have told you all things in advance. So if they
should say to you, ‘Look, he is out in the desert!’ do not go forth,
‘Look, in the innermost rooms!’ do not believe it. You know how
lightning strikes in the east and lights up the west, the coming of the
Son of Man will be just like that! And the land which you see ruling now will be laid waste and untrodden, and all of mankind will see its
desolation. (Wherever there is a carcass, the vultures will be sure to
gather!) But if the Most High grants that you should live, after the
third day you will see it thrown into confusion.
“But in the days immediately following the distress of those times,
there will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. Now with
regard to the signs: the sun will be dimmed, and the moon will not
furnish her light. Then the sun will suddenly shine at night, and the
moon during the day. A tree will bend down and stand upright, blood
will drip from out of wood, and stone will speak, and the people will be
distressed, and the stars will fall from the sky. And in this world,
nations will be tormented and perplexed by the roaring and billowing
of the sea. Behold, the days are coming when fear will seize all of
those who live on earth, and the land will be devoid of faith. Men will
grow cold with fear and dread because of what is taking place, for the
powers of heaven will all be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man
will appear in the sky, and the nations of the world will beat their
breasts. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of heaven with tremendous power and magnificent glory. On
the day that the Messiah comes, it will be even as a flock of doves
surrounding him as a crown. He will tread upon the vault the heaven,
led forth by the sign of the cross. The whole world will see him even as
the sun shining from the eastern to the western horizons. All of his
angels will surround him at his coming.
“And he will send them forth at the great trumpet call, and they will
gather all his chosen ones from the four winds--from one end of
heaven to the other, (and) from the farthest reaches of the earth to the
uttermost regions of heaven. And when all of these things begin to
take place, it will be time to rise and lift your heads, for your
deliverance has finally come!” Then he spoke a parable to them: “Take
the fig tree, and every other tree as well. Now work out the mystery of
the fig tree: when its tender limbs grow out and sprout leaves, at that
moment you can see for yourselves and know that summer is coming.
And so it will be that when you see all of these things begin to unfold,
understand that God’s kingdom is at hand; even at the very doors! I am telling you the truth, this generation will not have passed before all
these things are fulfilled at last. Heaven and earth will pass away, but
never my words. Therefore at the end of days, this will be the sign that the Most High will show in the sight of all who dwell on earth; when
terror overtakes those who are living in the world and they fall into terrible torments and tribulations. It will then come about that
because of their many troubles, they will say in their hearts, ‘The
Mighty One no longer takes thought for the earth.’ It will be even as
they are losing all hope that the time will awaken. Furthermore, the
great God Who dwells in the skies will become in every way a savior to
all men of virtue. At that time a profound peace and understanding
will begin, and the bountiful land will once again bring forth fruit in
profusion, and will no longer remain divided or in servitude. Those
who enter into God’s kingdom will see the days come when vines will
grow with ten thousand runners apiece, and ten thousand branches
will grow on each runner, and ten thousand shoots will grow on each
branch, and ten thousand sprouts will grow on each shoot, and ten
thousand bunches will grow on each sprout. And these bunches will
each produce ten thousand grapes; and when they are pressed, each of
these grapes will yield twenty-five measures of wine. And if one of the
saints should grab one cluster, another one will then proclaim, ‘I am
better, take me instead! Glorify the Lord through me!’ A grain of
wheat will likewise produce ten thousand ears, and these ears will each
have ten thousand grains thereon, and each grain will yield five
pounds of pure, fine wheat flour twice over. And it will be the same for
every other fruit, seed, and plant. And every animal will feed solely on
what the earth provides. They will become peaceable and live together
in harmony, and will subject themselves obediently to men. Every
harbor and port will once again be open to all mankind and
shamelessness will exist no more. Then God will again perform a great sign: a star will shine forth like a radiant crown, glorious, and
gleaming from the resplendent sky for a great many days. (For at that
time, He will show from heaven the crown that is given to men who
strive in the war.) But as for the day and the hour, no man knows it,
neither do the angels in heaven, nor even does the Son, but only the
Father.
“But at the coming of the Son of Man, things will be even as they
were in Noah’s day. For just as it was in the days before the flood, when they were eating and drinking, getting married and marrying off
right up to the day that Noah entered the ark; none gave heed until the
flood arrived and did away with all of them. Even so will the coming
of the Son of Man be. Two will then be out in the field; one will be
taken and the other will be left. Two will be grinding at the mill; one
will be taken and the other will be left. So stay alert, for you do not
know when your Lord will return.
“Even so, recognize this much, if the homeowner had known before the hour that the thief would come, he would have kept watch, and not
allowed his house to get broken into. So also must you be vigilant, for
the Son of Man is coming at a time that you do not know. Also, look to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcome by excess and
drunkenness and the concerns of this life, and that day sneak up on
you without your being aware. For like a trap it will ensnare all of
those who live on earth. Who then is that trusty and sagacious servant
whom his lord will set over his household servants, that he might give
them their food when the season arrives? How lucky will that servant
be when his lord comes and finds him so doing. I tell you most
assuredly, he will put him over all that He has. But should that wicked
servant say in his heart, ‘My master will be gone a long time,’ and
starts beating his fellow servants, and eating and drinking with the
drunkards, that servant’s master will come on a day that he’s not
expecting, and at a time that he’s not aware, and hack him to bits,
assigning him his part with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing
and grinding of teeth.
“So be alert, praying at all times that you might be deemed worthy
to escape all that will soon come to pass, and stand in the presence of
the Son of Man. Do not let down your guard; watch and pray, since
you do not know when that time will be. It is like a man who was
going on a distant journey, who, at the time he left his house, charged
each of his servants with certain tasks, and commanded the porter to
keep watch. So remain vigilant, for you never know when the lord of
the house might come; at dusk, midnight, cock’s crow, or daybreak.
Should he happen to come back on a sudden, do not let him catch you
sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!
THE TEN VIRGINS
(Matt 25:1-13; AcAn in P. Utrecht I p.14)
Mount of Olives
“At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be likened unto ten
virgins who each took their lanterns and went to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish, and five of them were wise. Now the foolish
ones, even though they took their lamps, failed to take any olive oil
with them; whereas the prudent ones carried flasks along with their
lamps. And as the bridegroom lingered, they nodded off, and lay there
sleeping. Then at midnight there came a shout, ‘Behold, the
bridegroom is coming! Go and meet him.’ Then those virgins all got
up, and they each trimmed their own lanterns. ‘Give us of your olive
oil,’ said the foolish to the wise, ‘for our lamps are burning out!’ But
the wise ones said to them, ‘We fear that there will not be enough for you and us both. You ought rather to go to those who sell and buy
some oil for yourselves.’ Now after they had gone away to purchase
some, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him
to the wedding feast, and the door was then secured. After a while, the
other virgins came around pleading, ‘Lord, Lord, open up the door for
us!’ But the bridegroom answered, ‘I tell you most assuredly that I
never even knew you.’ So keep watch, because you do not know the
day or the hour. Oh virgins, it is not without reason that you have
guarded your chastity, nor was it in vain that you persisted in prayer
with your lamps burning until the voice came to you at midnight,
saying, ‘Get up! Go forth and meet the bridegroom.’
(Matt 25:1-13; AcAn in P. Utrecht I p.14)
Mount of Olives
“At that time, the kingdom of heaven will be likened unto ten
virgins who each took their lanterns and went to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish, and five of them were wise. Now the foolish
ones, even though they took their lamps, failed to take any olive oil
with them; whereas the prudent ones carried flasks along with their
lamps. And as the bridegroom lingered, they nodded off, and lay there
sleeping. Then at midnight there came a shout, ‘Behold, the
bridegroom is coming! Go and meet him.’ Then those virgins all got
up, and they each trimmed their own lanterns. ‘Give us of your olive
oil,’ said the foolish to the wise, ‘for our lamps are burning out!’ But
the wise ones said to them, ‘We fear that there will not be enough for you and us both. You ought rather to go to those who sell and buy
some oil for yourselves.’ Now after they had gone away to purchase
some, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him
to the wedding feast, and the door was then secured. After a while, the
other virgins came around pleading, ‘Lord, Lord, open up the door for
us!’ But the bridegroom answered, ‘I tell you most assuredly that I
never even knew you.’ So keep watch, because you do not know the
day or the hour. Oh virgins, it is not without reason that you have
guarded your chastity, nor was it in vain that you persisted in prayer
with your lamps burning until the voice came to you at midnight,
saying, ‘Get up! Go forth and meet the bridegroom.’
KING ABGAR OFFERS JESUS ASYLUM
(AcThad; EpAb)
Edessa, Jerusalem
{This is a copy of a letter which Abgar the Toparch wrote to Jesus, and
sent to him in Jerusalem by the hand of the courier, Hananiah, (and
also) the copy of the things that Jesus wrote to Abgar the Toparch by
the hand of Hananiah the courier:}
In those days there was this governor of a city called Edessa, whose
name was Abgar, who had heard of the wonders that the Christ had
worked, and of what he taught as well, for his fame had spread both
far and wide. He was amazed by him and wished to meet him, but was
unable to leave the supervision of his city. Now Abgar was overtaken
by a chronic illness right about the time of the Passion of Jesus and
299
the plotting of the Jews, so he sent a letter to Christ by way of
Hananiah the courier. It went something like this: “Abgar Ouchama,
the Toparch, governor of the land of the Edessenes, to Jesus, who is
called Christ, the good Savior who has appeared in the region of
Jerusalem, greetings to you. I have heard many things about you; of
the many wonders that you have worked, and the healings that you
have brought about with neither medicine nor herb. It is reported that
you cause the blind to see and the lame to walk; that you cleanse the leprous, heal the paralyzed, exorcise filthy spirits and demons, restore
those who suffer from chronic illnesses, and raise the dead back up to
life. When I learned these things about you, I figured that you must be
one or the other of these two: either you are a god who came down
from heaven to bring these things to pass, or you are a son of God.
And this is why I have written you; by everything that’s good in you, I
implore you now to come to us; both to cure me of my illness and to
escape the scheming of the Jews. I have heard that the Jews are
spreading malicious rumors about you, and that they wish to do you
harm. Come and escape the stratagems of the wicked--all that they
have set in place against you on account of their own jealousy. And
though my city is rather small, it is holy, and large enough for the both
of us.”
Now Abgar had ordered Hananiah to obtain an accurate description
of Christ; what he looked like, how tall he was, about his hair, and, in
short, all that there was to know of him. Then Hananiah went and
handed him the letter and looked him over carefully, but could not fix
his appearance in his mind. And Jesus, as one who understood the
heart, requested something with which to wash, and a towel was given
him. And after he had washed himself, he patted his face with it, and
it left its form in the linen cloth. Then he handed it to Hananiah and
said, “Take this back to the one who sent you, with this message: Peace
to you and to your town! This is the reason that I came; to suffer on
behalf of this world, and to rise again and raise the fathers. How
blessed you are for believing in me, for concerning me it has been
written, ‘Those who have seen me will not believe in me,’ and, ‘Those
who never saw me will believe and live.’ Now concerning that part of your letter requesting that I come to you. I need to make it clear that I
must complete my mission in this land, and afterward be taken up to
Him Who sent me. But after I have passed into the heavens, I will
send Thaddeus, a disciple of mine, to be with you. He will heal your
illness, open up your eyes, guide you into all truth, and bring you life--
along with the people of your town.” And after receiving Hananiah,
Abgar fell down and worshiped the image, and his disease vanished
before Thaddeus arrived.
(AcThad; EpAb)
Edessa, Jerusalem
{This is a copy of a letter which Abgar the Toparch wrote to Jesus, and
sent to him in Jerusalem by the hand of the courier, Hananiah, (and
also) the copy of the things that Jesus wrote to Abgar the Toparch by
the hand of Hananiah the courier:}
In those days there was this governor of a city called Edessa, whose
name was Abgar, who had heard of the wonders that the Christ had
worked, and of what he taught as well, for his fame had spread both
far and wide. He was amazed by him and wished to meet him, but was
unable to leave the supervision of his city. Now Abgar was overtaken
by a chronic illness right about the time of the Passion of Jesus and
299
the plotting of the Jews, so he sent a letter to Christ by way of
Hananiah the courier. It went something like this: “Abgar Ouchama,
the Toparch, governor of the land of the Edessenes, to Jesus, who is
called Christ, the good Savior who has appeared in the region of
Jerusalem, greetings to you. I have heard many things about you; of
the many wonders that you have worked, and the healings that you
have brought about with neither medicine nor herb. It is reported that
you cause the blind to see and the lame to walk; that you cleanse the leprous, heal the paralyzed, exorcise filthy spirits and demons, restore
those who suffer from chronic illnesses, and raise the dead back up to
life. When I learned these things about you, I figured that you must be
one or the other of these two: either you are a god who came down
from heaven to bring these things to pass, or you are a son of God.
And this is why I have written you; by everything that’s good in you, I
implore you now to come to us; both to cure me of my illness and to
escape the scheming of the Jews. I have heard that the Jews are
spreading malicious rumors about you, and that they wish to do you
harm. Come and escape the stratagems of the wicked--all that they
have set in place against you on account of their own jealousy. And
though my city is rather small, it is holy, and large enough for the both
of us.”
Now Abgar had ordered Hananiah to obtain an accurate description
of Christ; what he looked like, how tall he was, about his hair, and, in
short, all that there was to know of him. Then Hananiah went and
handed him the letter and looked him over carefully, but could not fix
his appearance in his mind. And Jesus, as one who understood the
heart, requested something with which to wash, and a towel was given
him. And after he had washed himself, he patted his face with it, and
it left its form in the linen cloth. Then he handed it to Hananiah and
said, “Take this back to the one who sent you, with this message: Peace
to you and to your town! This is the reason that I came; to suffer on
behalf of this world, and to rise again and raise the fathers. How
blessed you are for believing in me, for concerning me it has been
written, ‘Those who have seen me will not believe in me,’ and, ‘Those
who never saw me will believe and live.’ Now concerning that part of your letter requesting that I come to you. I need to make it clear that I
must complete my mission in this land, and afterward be taken up to
Him Who sent me. But after I have passed into the heavens, I will
send Thaddeus, a disciple of mine, to be with you. He will heal your
illness, open up your eyes, guide you into all truth, and bring you life--
along with the people of your town.” And after receiving Hananiah,
Abgar fell down and worshiped the image, and his disease vanished
before Thaddeus arrived.
THE PASSOVER PREPARATIONS
(Matt 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-17; Luke 22:7-16, 24-30;
GEb 7, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.22)
Large Upper Room, Jerusalem
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, upon which, the custom is
that the Passover lamb must be sacrificed. The disciples drew near to Jesus, and he said, “Clearly I’ve not looked forward to eating this
Passover meat with you in its every aspect, have I?” And he sent out
two of his disciples, Peter and John, saying, “Go and ready the
Passover meal for us, that we might eat.” And they asked him, “Where
would you have us make it for you?” Go to a certain man in town.
And behold, even as you are entering the city, a man carrying a pitcher
of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. Then you
will say to the one in charge of the house that he goes into, ‘The Master
says to you, “My time is at hand. My disciples and I will keep the
Passover at your house. Where is the room where my followers and I
will eat the Passover meal?”’ Then he will show you a large upper
room which has been spread out and prepared. Arrange it for us in
that place.” So the disciples went into the city and found things even
as he had described it to them, so they readied the Passover there.
That evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. And when the time
had come, he sat at table with the twelve apostles. Then he explained,
“I have longed to eat this Passover with you before my suffering,
inasmuch as I say to you that I will in no way eat of it until the time
comes when it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.”
And a dispute broke out among them as to which of them would be
the greatest. At that point he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the ones who are over these are called
‘benefactors.’ Yet that is not how it will be with you. Let the one who
is greater among you be even as the lesser, and the one who rules as
the one who serves. For which is the greater, the one seated or the one
serving? Is it not the one who sits? Even so, I am here with you as one who serves. You are the ones who have stayed with me through my
ordeals, and I am passing a kingdom on to you, even as the Father has
passed a kingdom on to me, that you might eat and drink at my table
in the kingdom. Then you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel.”
(Matt 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-17; Luke 22:7-16, 24-30;
GEb 7, Quote by Epiphanius, Heresies 30.22)
Large Upper Room, Jerusalem
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, upon which, the custom is
that the Passover lamb must be sacrificed. The disciples drew near to Jesus, and he said, “Clearly I’ve not looked forward to eating this
Passover meat with you in its every aspect, have I?” And he sent out
two of his disciples, Peter and John, saying, “Go and ready the
Passover meal for us, that we might eat.” And they asked him, “Where
would you have us make it for you?” Go to a certain man in town.
And behold, even as you are entering the city, a man carrying a pitcher
of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. Then you
will say to the one in charge of the house that he goes into, ‘The Master
says to you, “My time is at hand. My disciples and I will keep the
Passover at your house. Where is the room where my followers and I
will eat the Passover meal?”’ Then he will show you a large upper
room which has been spread out and prepared. Arrange it for us in
that place.” So the disciples went into the city and found things even
as he had described it to them, so they readied the Passover there.
That evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. And when the time
had come, he sat at table with the twelve apostles. Then he explained,
“I have longed to eat this Passover with you before my suffering,
inasmuch as I say to you that I will in no way eat of it until the time
comes when it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.”
And a dispute broke out among them as to which of them would be
the greatest. At that point he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the ones who are over these are called
‘benefactors.’ Yet that is not how it will be with you. Let the one who
is greater among you be even as the lesser, and the one who rules as
the one who serves. For which is the greater, the one seated or the one
serving? Is it not the one who sits? Even so, I am here with you as one who serves. You are the ones who have stayed with me through my
ordeals, and I am passing a kingdom on to you, even as the Father has
passed a kingdom on to me, that you might eat and drink at my table
in the kingdom. Then you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes
of Israel.”
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
(John 13:31-35; GHb 7 Quote by Jerome,
Commentary on Ephesians 3, regarding Ephesians 5:4;
Quote by Jerome, On Isaiah 11.2)
The Upper Room, Jerusalem
So after Judas had left that place, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man
is prepared for glorification, and through him will God be glorified.
And if God is set to be glorified through the Son of Man, then God
Himself will glorify him; and how suddenly will He do so! Dearest
children, I will only be with you a little while longer. And even as I
have said to the Jews, so now do I say to you; you will go looking for
me, but not be able to follow me to where I go. I am passing a new
commandment on to you: that you should love one another, even as I
have loved you. Never think of yourself as truly fulfilled until you can
look upon your brother with love. It is among the greatest of sins to
sadden the spirit of a brother. If you should show love for one
another, then everyone will recognize you as my disciples.”
(John 13:31-35; GHb 7 Quote by Jerome,
Commentary on Ephesians 3, regarding Ephesians 5:4;
Quote by Jerome, On Isaiah 11.2)
The Upper Room, Jerusalem
So after Judas had left that place, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man
is prepared for glorification, and through him will God be glorified.
And if God is set to be glorified through the Son of Man, then God
Himself will glorify him; and how suddenly will He do so! Dearest
children, I will only be with you a little while longer. And even as I
have said to the Jews, so now do I say to you; you will go looking for
me, but not be able to follow me to where I go. I am passing a new
commandment on to you: that you should love one another, even as I
have loved you. Never think of yourself as truly fulfilled until you can
look upon your brother with love. It is among the greatest of sins to
sadden the spirit of a brother. If you should show love for one
another, then everyone will recognize you as my disciples.”
THE FAREWELL PRAYER
(John 17:1-26; vss. following John 17:26 in codex evangelii
Johannei Parisii in sacro Templariorum tabulario asservatus;
Pseudo-Cyprian, Against Dice-Throwers 3;
Fragment From The Strasbourg Coptic Papyrus)
Jerusalem
And when Jesus had spoken these things, he lifted his eyes toward
heaven and said, “Father, the time has come to glorify Your Son, that
he might also bring You glory. For You have given him power over all
flesh, to grant limitless life to all that You have given him. And neverending
life is this: that they might come to know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, the one You have sent. I have brought You
glory here on earth by finishing all that You gave me to do. And now,
Father, glorify me with the majesty that I shared with You before the
world was made. I have revealed Your name to those that You gave to
me from out of the world. All of them belonged to You, and You have given them to me, and they have truly kept Your word. Now they have
received assurances that what You have given me is indeed from You.
For I have passed the words that You gave me on to them, and they
have accepted them, knowing for sure that I came from Your side, and
believing that You have sent me. I am praying for the sake of these. I
am not praying on behalf of this world, but for the sake of the ones
that You have given me, for all of them belong to You. And all that I
have belongs to You, and what is Yours is mine as well. And I have
been glorified through them. I am no longer in this realm, but these
are to remain behind as I come to You. Holy Father, watch over those
You have given to me in Your name, that they might become One, even
as we are One. While I was with them in this world, I kept them in
Your name. I watched over those that You gave to me, and not one of
them was lost except for that son of devastation, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled. And now I’m coming back to You, having spoken
these things in the world, that my joy might be fulfilled in them. I
have passed Your word on to them, and the world has despised them,
since they are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. I am
not asking You to release them from this realm, but that You might
guard them against all evil. They are no more of this world than I am.
Sanctify them in Your truth. Your Word is truth. I have sent them out
into the world even as You have sent me into the world. And I sanctify
myself for them, that they might be sanctified through the truth. Not that I pray for these alone, but also for those who will come to believe in me through their testimony, that they might all become One, even
as You, Father are within me, and I am within You. This is so that
they might be within us, that the world may come to know that You
have sent me. And I have given them the same glory that You gave to
me, that they may be One, even as We are One--‘I AM’ in them, and
‘YOU ARE’ in me, that they might all be made perfect in the ‘One’--and
that they might recognize while in this world that You have sent me,
and that You have loved them in the same way that You have loved
me. Father, I truly wish for those that You have given me to come over
to where I AM, that they might experience my glory, which You gave to
me, because You loved me before the world ever was. Holy Father,
truly the world never did know You, but I do know You, and these all
know that You have sent me. I have made Your name known to them,
and I will again make it known, so that in these might dwell the same
love with which You have loved me, and that I might remain in them.
Strengthen me now with Your power, so that with me they might endure the world. Amen. I have been given the scepter of the
kingdom. All of these have been despised--and since they were lowly,
they were never recognized. Through You, oh Father, have I taken my
place as king. You will place all things into my hands. And now I will
reveal myself to you in the fullness of my glory, and make known to
you the scope of your authority, together with the secret of your
apostleship.”
Then, with uplifted hands, Jesus said to his followers, “Behold, the
time for me to drink the cup from which my Father has given me to
drink has come. I am off to my Father Who sent me here, so I will
remind you one last time: I am sending you out, so do as I’ve
instructed you. Pass what I have taught you on to others, so that the
whole world might come to receive it, and so receive the Holy Spirit.
The sins of those that you forgive will be forgiven, and the sins of those
you do not forgive will remain unforgiven. Hear what I have said to
you: I do not come from this world. The Comforter is with you now, so
teach through the authority of the Advocate. I am sending you out as
the Father has sent me. Do not sadden the Holy Spirit that is living
within you. Do not quench the light that is shining within you. This in
truth I swear to you, that I am not of this world. John will act as your
father until he comes to me in paradise.” Then he sanctified them
with the Holy Spirit.
(John 17:1-26; vss. following John 17:26 in codex evangelii
Johannei Parisii in sacro Templariorum tabulario asservatus;
Pseudo-Cyprian, Against Dice-Throwers 3;
Fragment From The Strasbourg Coptic Papyrus)
Jerusalem
And when Jesus had spoken these things, he lifted his eyes toward
heaven and said, “Father, the time has come to glorify Your Son, that
he might also bring You glory. For You have given him power over all
flesh, to grant limitless life to all that You have given him. And neverending
life is this: that they might come to know You, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, the one You have sent. I have brought You
glory here on earth by finishing all that You gave me to do. And now,
Father, glorify me with the majesty that I shared with You before the
world was made. I have revealed Your name to those that You gave to
me from out of the world. All of them belonged to You, and You have given them to me, and they have truly kept Your word. Now they have
received assurances that what You have given me is indeed from You.
For I have passed the words that You gave me on to them, and they
have accepted them, knowing for sure that I came from Your side, and
believing that You have sent me. I am praying for the sake of these. I
am not praying on behalf of this world, but for the sake of the ones
that You have given me, for all of them belong to You. And all that I
have belongs to You, and what is Yours is mine as well. And I have
been glorified through them. I am no longer in this realm, but these
are to remain behind as I come to You. Holy Father, watch over those
You have given to me in Your name, that they might become One, even
as we are One. While I was with them in this world, I kept them in
Your name. I watched over those that You gave to me, and not one of
them was lost except for that son of devastation, that the Scripture
might be fulfilled. And now I’m coming back to You, having spoken
these things in the world, that my joy might be fulfilled in them. I
have passed Your word on to them, and the world has despised them,
since they are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. I am
not asking You to release them from this realm, but that You might
guard them against all evil. They are no more of this world than I am.
Sanctify them in Your truth. Your Word is truth. I have sent them out
into the world even as You have sent me into the world. And I sanctify
myself for them, that they might be sanctified through the truth. Not that I pray for these alone, but also for those who will come to believe in me through their testimony, that they might all become One, even
as You, Father are within me, and I am within You. This is so that
they might be within us, that the world may come to know that You
have sent me. And I have given them the same glory that You gave to
me, that they may be One, even as We are One--‘I AM’ in them, and
‘YOU ARE’ in me, that they might all be made perfect in the ‘One’--and
that they might recognize while in this world that You have sent me,
and that You have loved them in the same way that You have loved
me. Father, I truly wish for those that You have given me to come over
to where I AM, that they might experience my glory, which You gave to
me, because You loved me before the world ever was. Holy Father,
truly the world never did know You, but I do know You, and these all
know that You have sent me. I have made Your name known to them,
and I will again make it known, so that in these might dwell the same
love with which You have loved me, and that I might remain in them.
Strengthen me now with Your power, so that with me they might endure the world. Amen. I have been given the scepter of the
kingdom. All of these have been despised--and since they were lowly,
they were never recognized. Through You, oh Father, have I taken my
place as king. You will place all things into my hands. And now I will
reveal myself to you in the fullness of my glory, and make known to
you the scope of your authority, together with the secret of your
apostleship.”
Then, with uplifted hands, Jesus said to his followers, “Behold, the
time for me to drink the cup from which my Father has given me to
drink has come. I am off to my Father Who sent me here, so I will
remind you one last time: I am sending you out, so do as I’ve
instructed you. Pass what I have taught you on to others, so that the
whole world might come to receive it, and so receive the Holy Spirit.
The sins of those that you forgive will be forgiven, and the sins of those
you do not forgive will remain unforgiven. Hear what I have said to
you: I do not come from this world. The Comforter is with you now, so
teach through the authority of the Advocate. I am sending you out as
the Father has sent me. Do not sadden the Holy Spirit that is living
within you. Do not quench the light that is shining within you. This in
truth I swear to you, that I am not of this world. John will act as your
father until he comes to me in paradise.” Then he sanctified them
with the Holy Spirit.
THE PARTING HYMN AND DANCE
(AcJn 94-97a)
Jerusalem
Now prior to being arrested by the ungovernable Jews who received
their law through the lawless serpent, he gathered us all together and
said, “Before I am handed up to them, let us sing a hymn to the Father,
and venture forth to what lies ahead.” So he had us form a circle
together and hold hands with one another. And he stood at the center
and said, “Answer me, ‘Amen.’” And he sang a hymn, which went like
this:
“Glory to You, Father!”
And those of us encircling him answered, “Amen!”
“Glory to you Word! Glory to you, Grace!” “Amen!”
“Glory to you, Grace! Glory to you, Holy One! Glory even unto
Glory!” “Amen!”
“Oh Father, how we give You praise!
We thank You, Light, wherein no darkness dwells.” “Amen!”
“Now I will explain to you why we are giving thanks:
I will be delivered, and I will deliver.” “Amen!”
“I will be freed, and I will set free.” “Amen!”
“I will be wounded, and I will wound.” “Amen!”
“I will be born, and I will bring forth.” “Amen!”
“I will consume, and I will be consumed.” “Amen!”
“I will hear, and I will be heard.” “Amen!”
“I will be understood, being understanding itself.” “Amen!”
“I will be cleansed, and I will cleanse.” “Amen!”
The Dance of Grace:
“I will pipe. All of you dance!” “Amen!”
“I will grieve. All of you mourn!” “Amen!”
“The Eightfold Power has joined us in song!” “Amen!”
“The Twelfth in number is dancing on high!” “Amen!”
“It is for the All to dance up in the heights!” “Amen!”
“All of those who do not dance, do not know what is taking place!”
“Amen!”
“I will flee, and I will stay!” “Amen!”
“I will beautify, and I will be beautified!” “Amen!”
“I will be united, and I will unify!” “Amen!”
“I have no house, yet I have many houses!” “Amen!”
“I have no place, yet I have many places!” “Amen!”
“I have no temple, yet I have many temples!” “Amen!”
“I am a lamp to all who look on me!” “Amen!”
“I am a mirror to all who know me!” “Amen!”
“I am a door for all who knock on me!” “Amen!”
“I am a path for all who travel.” “Amen!”
“Now if you respond to my dance, see yourself as within me who speaks. And when you see the things I do, keep my mysteries to
yourselves. Those of you who dance with me, consider my actions
carefully, for it is for you to suffer the passion of mankind, which
corresponds to my own suffering. You see, you could never have
understood your own affliction without realizing that the Father has
sent me to you as the Word. Those of you who have seen my actions
as suffering have not stood firm, but you have instead been moved.
You have me to rest upon as you move toward wisdom; rest upon me!
After I depart from you, you will come to see me as I am! I am not as I
now seem to you. At the time that you come forth, you will see me as I
truly am. Had you known what your passion would entail, you could
have avoided it altogether. Learn therefore the way to suffer, and you
will gain power over your suffering. I will teach you what you do not
know. I am your God, and not that of the betrayer. It is my will that
holy souls should join with mine. Listen to the Word of Wisdom! Say again with me.
‘Glory to You, Father!
Glory to You, Word!
Glory to You, Holy Spirit!’
As for myself, if you would like to see me as I truly was, I made all
things a laughingstock by means of the Word. By no means was I put
to shame, but instead I jumped for joy! But you must come to see the
greater vision, and once you have grasped it, then you must go on to
proclaim, ‘Glory to You, Father!’” “Amen!”
(AcJn 94-97a)
Jerusalem
Now prior to being arrested by the ungovernable Jews who received
their law through the lawless serpent, he gathered us all together and
said, “Before I am handed up to them, let us sing a hymn to the Father,
and venture forth to what lies ahead.” So he had us form a circle
together and hold hands with one another. And he stood at the center
and said, “Answer me, ‘Amen.’” And he sang a hymn, which went like
this:
“Glory to You, Father!”
And those of us encircling him answered, “Amen!”
“Glory to you Word! Glory to you, Grace!” “Amen!”
“Glory to you, Grace! Glory to you, Holy One! Glory even unto
Glory!” “Amen!”
“Oh Father, how we give You praise!
We thank You, Light, wherein no darkness dwells.” “Amen!”
“Now I will explain to you why we are giving thanks:
I will be delivered, and I will deliver.” “Amen!”
“I will be freed, and I will set free.” “Amen!”
“I will be wounded, and I will wound.” “Amen!”
“I will be born, and I will bring forth.” “Amen!”
“I will consume, and I will be consumed.” “Amen!”
“I will hear, and I will be heard.” “Amen!”
“I will be understood, being understanding itself.” “Amen!”
“I will be cleansed, and I will cleanse.” “Amen!”
The Dance of Grace:
“I will pipe. All of you dance!” “Amen!”
“I will grieve. All of you mourn!” “Amen!”
“The Eightfold Power has joined us in song!” “Amen!”
“The Twelfth in number is dancing on high!” “Amen!”
“It is for the All to dance up in the heights!” “Amen!”
“All of those who do not dance, do not know what is taking place!”
“Amen!”
“I will flee, and I will stay!” “Amen!”
“I will beautify, and I will be beautified!” “Amen!”
“I will be united, and I will unify!” “Amen!”
“I have no house, yet I have many houses!” “Amen!”
“I have no place, yet I have many places!” “Amen!”
“I have no temple, yet I have many temples!” “Amen!”
“I am a lamp to all who look on me!” “Amen!”
“I am a mirror to all who know me!” “Amen!”
“I am a door for all who knock on me!” “Amen!”
“I am a path for all who travel.” “Amen!”
“Now if you respond to my dance, see yourself as within me who speaks. And when you see the things I do, keep my mysteries to
yourselves. Those of you who dance with me, consider my actions
carefully, for it is for you to suffer the passion of mankind, which
corresponds to my own suffering. You see, you could never have
understood your own affliction without realizing that the Father has
sent me to you as the Word. Those of you who have seen my actions
as suffering have not stood firm, but you have instead been moved.
You have me to rest upon as you move toward wisdom; rest upon me!
After I depart from you, you will come to see me as I am! I am not as I
now seem to you. At the time that you come forth, you will see me as I
truly am. Had you known what your passion would entail, you could
have avoided it altogether. Learn therefore the way to suffer, and you
will gain power over your suffering. I will teach you what you do not
know. I am your God, and not that of the betrayer. It is my will that
holy souls should join with mine. Listen to the Word of Wisdom! Say again with me.
‘Glory to You, Father!
Glory to You, Word!
Glory to You, Holy Spirit!’
As for myself, if you would like to see me as I truly was, I made all
things a laughingstock by means of the Word. By no means was I put
to shame, but instead I jumped for joy! But you must come to see the
greater vision, and once you have grasped it, then you must go on to
proclaim, ‘Glory to You, Father!’” “Amen!”
PASSION 1
PROLOGUE TO THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE
(ALSO KNOWN AS THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS)
Jerusalem?
{I am Ananias, an officer of the Praetorian guard. And as one who
is well-versed in the Law, I learned of Jesus Christ through the holy
writings, which I read with an unwavering trust, and was deemed
worthy to receive holy baptism. And I looked high and low for reports
that had been made by the Jews, who during and after the time of our
Lord Jesus Christ, had written them under orders from Pontius Pilate
himself. I found these accounts written in the original Hebrew during
the seventeenth year of our Emperor Flavius Theodosius, the sixth
year of the ninth indiction of the Nobility of Flavius Valentinianus,
and have translated them into Greek both to please God and to
enlighten all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this very reason, all of you who read this account and copy it
into other books, think of me and pray on my behalf, that God might
be kindly disposed toward me and forgive all of the sins that I have
committed against Him. Peace to all who read this book and come to
hear what it has to say, and to those who serve them as well. Amen.
Now these are the things that Nicodemus recorded with regard to the deeds of the chief priests and the rest of the Jews after the Lord
had suffered on the cross. He handed them over on the twenty-fifth of
March, four years into the two hundred and second Olympiad, eight
days prior to the month of April. This same Nicodemus, during the
nineteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius of Rome, translated
these accounts into the Hebrew tongue. This coincides with the
nineteenth year of the reign of Herod, king of Galilee, which was
during the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio, when the Jewish high
priest was Joseph Caiaphas.}
PROLOGUE TO THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE
(ALSO KNOWN AS THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS)
Jerusalem?
{I am Ananias, an officer of the Praetorian guard. And as one who
is well-versed in the Law, I learned of Jesus Christ through the holy
writings, which I read with an unwavering trust, and was deemed
worthy to receive holy baptism. And I looked high and low for reports
that had been made by the Jews, who during and after the time of our
Lord Jesus Christ, had written them under orders from Pontius Pilate
himself. I found these accounts written in the original Hebrew during
the seventeenth year of our Emperor Flavius Theodosius, the sixth
year of the ninth indiction of the Nobility of Flavius Valentinianus,
and have translated them into Greek both to please God and to
enlighten all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this very reason, all of you who read this account and copy it
into other books, think of me and pray on my behalf, that God might
be kindly disposed toward me and forgive all of the sins that I have
committed against Him. Peace to all who read this book and come to
hear what it has to say, and to those who serve them as well. Amen.
Now these are the things that Nicodemus recorded with regard to the deeds of the chief priests and the rest of the Jews after the Lord
had suffered on the cross. He handed them over on the twenty-fifth of
March, four years into the two hundred and second Olympiad, eight
days prior to the month of April. This same Nicodemus, during the
nineteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius of Rome, translated
these accounts into the Hebrew tongue. This coincides with the
nineteenth year of the reign of Herod, king of Galilee, which was
during the consulate of Rufus and Rubellio, when the Jewish high
priest was Joseph Caiaphas.}
JESUS BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
(John 18:12-14, 19-24; Matt 26:57-68;
Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:63-71; POxy 1224:4)
Jerusalem
Together, the soldiers, the Captain of the Thousand, and the officers
seized Jesus, tied him up, and led him away to Annas first, since he
was father-in-law to Caiaphas, that year’s high priest. Caiaphas, you
see, was the one who had counseled the Jews, “Better that one man
should die than the entire nation.” The high priest then examined
Jesus with regard to his students and his teaching. “I spoke plainly
and openly before the world,” Jesus replied. “I was forever in the
synagogue and the temple, speaking where the Jews perpetually
convene. I never spoke anything in secret, so why are you
interrogating me? Why not ask the ones who heard me teach what I
said?” And when he heard this, one of the officers standing nearby
struck Jesus and shouted, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
“If I spoke amiss,” Jesus replied, “kindly tell me where I misspoke, but
if I spoke the truth, how can you justify hitting me?”
So Annas forwarded him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Those
arresting Jesus seized him and led him away still bound into the house
of the high priest Caiaphas, where all of the chief priests, teachers of
the law, and elders had gathered together. The high-ranking priests
and the entire Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony to use
against Jesus in order to bring about his execution. But even though
many pretenders stepped up and put forth false statements about him,
they were unable to produce any. Their stories, you see, did not agree with one another. Then at last two rose to their feet, came forward
and hurled this false accusation against him: “Both of us heard him
say, ‘I can (and) will destroy this temple that was built through manual
labor, and in three days raise up in its place one not made with the
hands of men.’” But even the testimonies of these two were not in
perfect accord. Then the high priest stood up in the sight of all and examined
Jesus: “Are you not going to respond? What can all of the things that
these men have testified against you possibly mean? <What are you
trying to prove by> not answering? What are you repudiating,
anyway? What is this new doctrine they claim that you teach? What is
this brand new message that you are preaching? Explain <it to us>
and <we will listen.>” But Jesus held his peace and gave no response.
Once again the high priest examined him: “I order you to swear by the
Living God: Tell us plainly, are you the Messiah, the Son of the Holy
God?” “Indeed I am,” answered Jesus. “This is what you say
yourselves! And to all of you I say that one day you are going to see
the Son of Man coming from the sky on clouds, seated to the right
hand of Power.” Then the high priest ripped his clothing. “His words
are blasphemous!” he argued. Then he said, “What need have we of
further witnesses? Listen up, now that you have heard his blasphemy,
are you ready to render your verdict?” “He ought to be put to death!”
they all replied. So each of them passed sentence against him as one
deserving the death penalty. Then some of the men guarding Jesus
started taunting him: they blindfolded him, spit into his face, beat
him, and punched him with their fists. Still others slapped him and
demanded: “Hey, Christ, why not prophesy to us! Which of us
punched you?” Then the officers took him and drubbed him.
(John 18:12-14, 19-24; Matt 26:57-68;
Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:63-71; POxy 1224:4)
Jerusalem
Together, the soldiers, the Captain of the Thousand, and the officers
seized Jesus, tied him up, and led him away to Annas first, since he
was father-in-law to Caiaphas, that year’s high priest. Caiaphas, you
see, was the one who had counseled the Jews, “Better that one man
should die than the entire nation.” The high priest then examined
Jesus with regard to his students and his teaching. “I spoke plainly
and openly before the world,” Jesus replied. “I was forever in the
synagogue and the temple, speaking where the Jews perpetually
convene. I never spoke anything in secret, so why are you
interrogating me? Why not ask the ones who heard me teach what I
said?” And when he heard this, one of the officers standing nearby
struck Jesus and shouted, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”
“If I spoke amiss,” Jesus replied, “kindly tell me where I misspoke, but
if I spoke the truth, how can you justify hitting me?”
So Annas forwarded him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Those
arresting Jesus seized him and led him away still bound into the house
of the high priest Caiaphas, where all of the chief priests, teachers of
the law, and elders had gathered together. The high-ranking priests
and the entire Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony to use
against Jesus in order to bring about his execution. But even though
many pretenders stepped up and put forth false statements about him,
they were unable to produce any. Their stories, you see, did not agree with one another. Then at last two rose to their feet, came forward
and hurled this false accusation against him: “Both of us heard him
say, ‘I can (and) will destroy this temple that was built through manual
labor, and in three days raise up in its place one not made with the
hands of men.’” But even the testimonies of these two were not in
perfect accord. Then the high priest stood up in the sight of all and examined
Jesus: “Are you not going to respond? What can all of the things that
these men have testified against you possibly mean? <What are you
trying to prove by> not answering? What are you repudiating,
anyway? What is this new doctrine they claim that you teach? What is
this brand new message that you are preaching? Explain <it to us>
and <we will listen.>” But Jesus held his peace and gave no response.
Once again the high priest examined him: “I order you to swear by the
Living God: Tell us plainly, are you the Messiah, the Son of the Holy
God?” “Indeed I am,” answered Jesus. “This is what you say
yourselves! And to all of you I say that one day you are going to see
the Son of Man coming from the sky on clouds, seated to the right
hand of Power.” Then the high priest ripped his clothing. “His words
are blasphemous!” he argued. Then he said, “What need have we of
further witnesses? Listen up, now that you have heard his blasphemy,
are you ready to render your verdict?” “He ought to be put to death!”
they all replied. So each of them passed sentence against him as one
deserving the death penalty. Then some of the men guarding Jesus
started taunting him: they blindfolded him, spit into his face, beat
him, and punched him with their fists. Still others slapped him and
demanded: “Hey, Christ, why not prophesy to us! Which of us
punched you?” Then the officers took him and drubbed him.
THE JEWS ACCUSE JESUS BEFORE PILATE
(Matt 27:2b; Mark 15:1b; Luke 1b,2;
John 18:28-32; GNc 1:1-3:1)
Palace of Pontius Pilate, Jerusalem
Then, while it was still early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus
away from Caiaphas and over to the Praetorium, and delivered him up
to Pilate the governor. Now they all wanted to eat the Passover meal,
so to avoid ceremonial defilement, they did not go in. And Annas,
Caiaphas, Semes, Dathaes, Gamaliel, Judas, Levi, Naphthali,
Alexander, Jairus, and all of the other Jews started charging Jesus
with a whole range of offenses, so Pilate went out to them and
requested, “What is the precise charge that you are bringing against
him?” “We would not have brought him here to you,” they responded,
“if he were not a criminal.” Then they started accusing him, saying,
“We found this man to be undermining our nation; forbidding that
taxes be paid to Caesar. We know for a fact,” they insisted, “that this
man is the son of Joseph the Carpenter and that he was born of Mary;
but he claims to be the Messiah, the Son of God, and a King as well!
And as if that were not enough, he desecrates the Sabbath Day and
seeks to do away with the law of our fathers.” Then Pilate questioned
them, “And what things does he do that show he wants it done away
with?” “In our law,” the Jews replied, “it says that no healing should
be done on the Sabbath. But this man, by his evil ways, has healed the lame, the crippled, the withered, the blind, the paralyzed, the deaf, and
the demon-possessed--all upon the Sabbath Day!” “And in what way
are these actions evil?” Pilate asked. “He is a sorcerer!” they retorted.
“It is through none other than Beelzebub that he casts the evil spirits
out. All of them are at his command.” “What you say cannot be true!”
Pilate replied. “No filthy spirit can cast out another; only the gods can
do that.”
“Your excellency,” the Jews bid Pilate, “we implore you; please take
him and try him yourself before your court.” And Pilate called them
near and asked, “Since I am but a governor, kindly explain to me how I
am supposed to interrogate a king?” “Now hold on right there!” they
said. “We never said that he was a king. Only that he claims to be
one!” Then Pilate called his messenger over and directed him, “Give
Jesus a proper escort into this place.” So the messenger went right
out. And as soon as he saw that he was the Christ, the messenger
worshiped him. Then he took his cloak in hand and spread it out on
the ground below. Then the man addressed him thus, “Lord, the
governor is summoning you, so please pass across this as you enter.”
But when the Jews saw how the messenger had acted, they denounced
Pilate, demanding, “Why did you send this herald out to call him in,
and not a bailiff instead? For as soon as this messenger laid eyes on
him, he worshiped him, spreading his cloak upon the ground and
asking him to walk across it as though he were some kind of king!”
Then Pilate called for the messenger and questioned him, “Why did
you spread your cape on the ground and have Jesus pass over?” “Lord
Governor,” replied the messenger, “when you sent me over to
Alexander in Jerusalem, I saw this man seated on a donkey, and the
children of the Hebrews were carrying branches in their hands and
making a commotion. And other people were spreading their own
clothes out before him and proclaiming, ‘You, who rest in the highest,
rescue us now! Praises to the one who comes bearing the Lord’s
name!’”
“The children of the Hebrews were crying out in Hebrew,” the Jews
called out to the messenger, “so how could you, who speak Greek,
possibly have understood what they said?” “I simply asked one of the
Jews,” the messenger replied, “‘What is this that they are shouting in
Hebrew?’ and he interpreted it for me.” Then Pilate demanded, “And
just what were they crying out in Hebrew?” “Hosanna membrome
baruchamma Adonai,” the Jews answered. “And just how do
‘Hosanna’ and all of those other words translate?” Pilate asked. “You
who rest in the highest, rescue us now,” conceded the Jews. “Praises to the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Then Pilate asked
them, “If you admit that these are the words that the children spoke,
then why are you faulting this messenger?” And none of them could
say a thing. Then the governor bid the messenger, “Go out and bring
him back in any way that you see fit!” At this, the messenger went
right out and did as he had done before, saying to Jesus, “Lord, the
governor is summoning you, please come inside.”
And as he was going in, Jesus passed by the ensigns who were
holding the standards up. Then the images at the tops of the
standards started of themselves to bow down and worship him. And
when the Jews saw what those images had done, bowing themselves in
worship to Jesus, they clamored against the standard bearers. But
Pilate asked them, “Are you not amazed that the images bowed down
and worshiped Jesus?” “We saw the standard bearers lowering them
in reverence to him!” the Jews answered Pilate. Then the governor
called the ensigns over and demanded, “Why have you done this?”
“We are all Greek,” they said, “and servants of the temples. Why
would we worship him? We were trying to hold the images up, but
they bowed down and worshiped him on their own.”
Then Pilate ordered the synagogue rulers and the elders: “Pick out
some strong men to support the standards, and let us all see if the
images lower themselves then.” So the Jewish elders chose the twelve
strongest men and had them hold the standards up, and they stood, in
groups of six, before the bar of the governor. And Pilate instructed the messenger, “Walk him out of the Praetorium, and come back in with
him any way that you like.” Jesus and the messenger then left the hall.
Then Pilate summoned the ensigns who had held the standards with
the images up the first time, and informed them, “I have sworn by
Caesar’s life that if the standards do not bow down when Jesus comes
in, I will have your heads chopped off!” And the governor ordered
Jesus to enter in a second time. So the messenger did as he had
before, inviting Jesus to walk across his cape. He stepped across and
went inside, and as he was going in, the standards fell down in
reverence to him, even as they had before.
And when Pilate saw this, he was stunned, and nearly got up out of
his seat. And even as he was coming to terms with this, his wife, who
was some distance away, sent him this message: “Do not get mixed up
with this honorable man, because last night I agonized much over a
dream I had about him!” And Pilate, calling the Jews before him said,
“You know that my wife is devout, and that she is every bit the
practicing Jew that you are.” Then they replied, “We are all aware of that.” “Look,” said Pilate, “my wife just now sent this message to me:
‘Do not get mixed up with this honorable man, because last night I
agonized much over a dream I had about him.’” “Did we not say that
he was a sorcerer?” the Jews replied. “You see, he was the one who
sent your wife that dream!” Then Pilate called for Jesus and asked,
“What are these men testifying against you? Will you not have your
say?” “They would not be saying anything at all had they not been
given the power to do so,” Jesus replied. “Everyone has the ability to
bring about either good or evil with the power of the tongue. They will
therefore see to it.”
Then the Jewish elders challenged Jesus, “And just what ought we
to see, anyway? All of us know, first of all, that you were born through
fornication; second, that your birth brought about the slaughter of the
children of Bethlehem; and third, the reason that your father and
mother, Joseph and Mary, had to run away into Egypt was because the
people all hated them.” But some of the more fair-minded among the
Jews who were standing nearby spoke up, “We do not agree that his
was an illegitimate birth because we know for sure that Joseph was
betrothed to Mary, and it therefore did not constitute fornication.”
Then Pilate said to the Jews who had alleged that Jesus was born out
of wedlock, “Your charge is baseless, because there had been a
betrothal by then. Even your fellow countrymen say that!” Annas and
Caiaphas then answered Pilate, “All of us here maintain that his birth
was through fornication, and you still do not believe us? These are
disciples and proselytes of his.” Then Pilate called Annas and
Caiaphas to himself and said, “Tell me, what are proselytes?”
“Proselytes,” they explained, “are people who are born to Gentile parents and convert to Judaism.” Then Lazarus, Asterius, Antonius,
James, Amnes, Caras, Samuel, Isaac, Phinees, Crispus, Agrippa, and
Judas, the ones who had vouched for his legitimacy, contended, “None
of us are proselytes. We are all of Jewish heritage, and are telling you
the truth, for we were there at the betrothal of Joseph and Mary.”
Pilate then called these twelve who denied that he was born of
fornication over to himself and said, “I order you to swear by Caesar’s
life that your claim--that his birth was not of fornication--is true.” But they all answered Pilate, “We are forbidden by our law ever to swear,
because for us to do so would be a sin. You ought to have them swear
on Caesar’s life that it is not as we have said, and we will accept the
penalty of death.” Pilate then questioned Annas and Caiaphas, “Will
you not respond to these things?” Annas and Caiaphas answered Pilate, “You are crediting these twelve men who hold that he is
legitimate, even though we and the crowd assembled here are
clamoring that he was born through fornication, that he practices
sorcery, and that he not only claims a kingship for himself, but then
goes on to say that he is God’s Son, and we are given no credence?”
Pilate then ordered the entire crowd to leave except for the twelve men
who denied that he had come through fornication. And after ordering
that Jesus be taken out of earshot, he asked them, “Why are they so
anxious to have him executed?” “They cannot accept the way he
performs his healings on the Sabbath Day,” they replied. Pilate then
asked, “Do you mean that these men want to kill him for doing a
kindness?” “That is indeed the case,” they answered him.
And Pilate, growing indignant, left the Praetorium and announced
to all who were assembled there, “As the sun is my witness, I do not
find any guilt in this man.” “We would never have handed him over to
you if he were not a criminal,” the Jews replied to the governor. At
that point Pilate declared, “Take him to yourselves, therefore, and
judge him as your law directs!” Now in order to bring to pass the word
that was spoken by Jesus prefiguring the kind of death that he would
suffer, the Jews responded, “It is unlawful for us to put a man to
death.” And Pilate asked them, “Did your God intend for that
command to apply to you alone and not to me?”
(Matt 27:2b; Mark 15:1b; Luke 1b,2;
John 18:28-32; GNc 1:1-3:1)
Palace of Pontius Pilate, Jerusalem
Then, while it was still early in the morning, the Jews led Jesus
away from Caiaphas and over to the Praetorium, and delivered him up
to Pilate the governor. Now they all wanted to eat the Passover meal,
so to avoid ceremonial defilement, they did not go in. And Annas,
Caiaphas, Semes, Dathaes, Gamaliel, Judas, Levi, Naphthali,
Alexander, Jairus, and all of the other Jews started charging Jesus
with a whole range of offenses, so Pilate went out to them and
requested, “What is the precise charge that you are bringing against
him?” “We would not have brought him here to you,” they responded,
“if he were not a criminal.” Then they started accusing him, saying,
“We found this man to be undermining our nation; forbidding that
taxes be paid to Caesar. We know for a fact,” they insisted, “that this
man is the son of Joseph the Carpenter and that he was born of Mary;
but he claims to be the Messiah, the Son of God, and a King as well!
And as if that were not enough, he desecrates the Sabbath Day and
seeks to do away with the law of our fathers.” Then Pilate questioned
them, “And what things does he do that show he wants it done away
with?” “In our law,” the Jews replied, “it says that no healing should
be done on the Sabbath. But this man, by his evil ways, has healed the lame, the crippled, the withered, the blind, the paralyzed, the deaf, and
the demon-possessed--all upon the Sabbath Day!” “And in what way
are these actions evil?” Pilate asked. “He is a sorcerer!” they retorted.
“It is through none other than Beelzebub that he casts the evil spirits
out. All of them are at his command.” “What you say cannot be true!”
Pilate replied. “No filthy spirit can cast out another; only the gods can
do that.”
“Your excellency,” the Jews bid Pilate, “we implore you; please take
him and try him yourself before your court.” And Pilate called them
near and asked, “Since I am but a governor, kindly explain to me how I
am supposed to interrogate a king?” “Now hold on right there!” they
said. “We never said that he was a king. Only that he claims to be
one!” Then Pilate called his messenger over and directed him, “Give
Jesus a proper escort into this place.” So the messenger went right
out. And as soon as he saw that he was the Christ, the messenger
worshiped him. Then he took his cloak in hand and spread it out on
the ground below. Then the man addressed him thus, “Lord, the
governor is summoning you, so please pass across this as you enter.”
But when the Jews saw how the messenger had acted, they denounced
Pilate, demanding, “Why did you send this herald out to call him in,
and not a bailiff instead? For as soon as this messenger laid eyes on
him, he worshiped him, spreading his cloak upon the ground and
asking him to walk across it as though he were some kind of king!”
Then Pilate called for the messenger and questioned him, “Why did
you spread your cape on the ground and have Jesus pass over?” “Lord
Governor,” replied the messenger, “when you sent me over to
Alexander in Jerusalem, I saw this man seated on a donkey, and the
children of the Hebrews were carrying branches in their hands and
making a commotion. And other people were spreading their own
clothes out before him and proclaiming, ‘You, who rest in the highest,
rescue us now! Praises to the one who comes bearing the Lord’s
name!’”
“The children of the Hebrews were crying out in Hebrew,” the Jews
called out to the messenger, “so how could you, who speak Greek,
possibly have understood what they said?” “I simply asked one of the
Jews,” the messenger replied, “‘What is this that they are shouting in
Hebrew?’ and he interpreted it for me.” Then Pilate demanded, “And
just what were they crying out in Hebrew?” “Hosanna membrome
baruchamma Adonai,” the Jews answered. “And just how do
‘Hosanna’ and all of those other words translate?” Pilate asked. “You
who rest in the highest, rescue us now,” conceded the Jews. “Praises to the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” Then Pilate asked
them, “If you admit that these are the words that the children spoke,
then why are you faulting this messenger?” And none of them could
say a thing. Then the governor bid the messenger, “Go out and bring
him back in any way that you see fit!” At this, the messenger went
right out and did as he had done before, saying to Jesus, “Lord, the
governor is summoning you, please come inside.”
And as he was going in, Jesus passed by the ensigns who were
holding the standards up. Then the images at the tops of the
standards started of themselves to bow down and worship him. And
when the Jews saw what those images had done, bowing themselves in
worship to Jesus, they clamored against the standard bearers. But
Pilate asked them, “Are you not amazed that the images bowed down
and worshiped Jesus?” “We saw the standard bearers lowering them
in reverence to him!” the Jews answered Pilate. Then the governor
called the ensigns over and demanded, “Why have you done this?”
“We are all Greek,” they said, “and servants of the temples. Why
would we worship him? We were trying to hold the images up, but
they bowed down and worshiped him on their own.”
Then Pilate ordered the synagogue rulers and the elders: “Pick out
some strong men to support the standards, and let us all see if the
images lower themselves then.” So the Jewish elders chose the twelve
strongest men and had them hold the standards up, and they stood, in
groups of six, before the bar of the governor. And Pilate instructed the messenger, “Walk him out of the Praetorium, and come back in with
him any way that you like.” Jesus and the messenger then left the hall.
Then Pilate summoned the ensigns who had held the standards with
the images up the first time, and informed them, “I have sworn by
Caesar’s life that if the standards do not bow down when Jesus comes
in, I will have your heads chopped off!” And the governor ordered
Jesus to enter in a second time. So the messenger did as he had
before, inviting Jesus to walk across his cape. He stepped across and
went inside, and as he was going in, the standards fell down in
reverence to him, even as they had before.
And when Pilate saw this, he was stunned, and nearly got up out of
his seat. And even as he was coming to terms with this, his wife, who
was some distance away, sent him this message: “Do not get mixed up
with this honorable man, because last night I agonized much over a
dream I had about him!” And Pilate, calling the Jews before him said,
“You know that my wife is devout, and that she is every bit the
practicing Jew that you are.” Then they replied, “We are all aware of that.” “Look,” said Pilate, “my wife just now sent this message to me:
‘Do not get mixed up with this honorable man, because last night I
agonized much over a dream I had about him.’” “Did we not say that
he was a sorcerer?” the Jews replied. “You see, he was the one who
sent your wife that dream!” Then Pilate called for Jesus and asked,
“What are these men testifying against you? Will you not have your
say?” “They would not be saying anything at all had they not been
given the power to do so,” Jesus replied. “Everyone has the ability to
bring about either good or evil with the power of the tongue. They will
therefore see to it.”
Then the Jewish elders challenged Jesus, “And just what ought we
to see, anyway? All of us know, first of all, that you were born through
fornication; second, that your birth brought about the slaughter of the
children of Bethlehem; and third, the reason that your father and
mother, Joseph and Mary, had to run away into Egypt was because the
people all hated them.” But some of the more fair-minded among the
Jews who were standing nearby spoke up, “We do not agree that his
was an illegitimate birth because we know for sure that Joseph was
betrothed to Mary, and it therefore did not constitute fornication.”
Then Pilate said to the Jews who had alleged that Jesus was born out
of wedlock, “Your charge is baseless, because there had been a
betrothal by then. Even your fellow countrymen say that!” Annas and
Caiaphas then answered Pilate, “All of us here maintain that his birth
was through fornication, and you still do not believe us? These are
disciples and proselytes of his.” Then Pilate called Annas and
Caiaphas to himself and said, “Tell me, what are proselytes?”
“Proselytes,” they explained, “are people who are born to Gentile parents and convert to Judaism.” Then Lazarus, Asterius, Antonius,
James, Amnes, Caras, Samuel, Isaac, Phinees, Crispus, Agrippa, and
Judas, the ones who had vouched for his legitimacy, contended, “None
of us are proselytes. We are all of Jewish heritage, and are telling you
the truth, for we were there at the betrothal of Joseph and Mary.”
Pilate then called these twelve who denied that he was born of
fornication over to himself and said, “I order you to swear by Caesar’s
life that your claim--that his birth was not of fornication--is true.” But they all answered Pilate, “We are forbidden by our law ever to swear,
because for us to do so would be a sin. You ought to have them swear
on Caesar’s life that it is not as we have said, and we will accept the
penalty of death.” Pilate then questioned Annas and Caiaphas, “Will
you not respond to these things?” Annas and Caiaphas answered Pilate, “You are crediting these twelve men who hold that he is
legitimate, even though we and the crowd assembled here are
clamoring that he was born through fornication, that he practices
sorcery, and that he not only claims a kingship for himself, but then
goes on to say that he is God’s Son, and we are given no credence?”
Pilate then ordered the entire crowd to leave except for the twelve men
who denied that he had come through fornication. And after ordering
that Jesus be taken out of earshot, he asked them, “Why are they so
anxious to have him executed?” “They cannot accept the way he
performs his healings on the Sabbath Day,” they replied. Pilate then
asked, “Do you mean that these men want to kill him for doing a
kindness?” “That is indeed the case,” they answered him.
And Pilate, growing indignant, left the Praetorium and announced
to all who were assembled there, “As the sun is my witness, I do not
find any guilt in this man.” “We would never have handed him over to
you if he were not a criminal,” the Jews replied to the governor. At
that point Pilate declared, “Take him to yourselves, therefore, and
judge him as your law directs!” Now in order to bring to pass the word
that was spoken by Jesus prefiguring the kind of death that he would
suffer, the Jews responded, “It is unlawful for us to put a man to
death.” And Pilate asked them, “Did your God intend for that
command to apply to you alone and not to me?”
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
(Matt 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-6;
John 18:33-38; GNc 3:2-9:1a)
Jerusalem
Then Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus.
And when Jesus was standing before the governor, Pilate asked him in
confidence, “Are you indeed the King of the Jews?” But Jesus asked
him, “Are you asking because you were moved to ask, or did other
people tell you that?” “Am I a Jew?” asked Pilate. “Your own people,
and their chief priests, have placed you into my hands. Now what did
you do to deserve this?” “It is that my kingdom is not of this world,”
Jesus answered. “You see, if mine were an earthly kingdom, my
servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
The source of my kingship lies not in this realm.” “Then indeed you
are a king!” Pilate declared. “It is you, therefore, who are calling me
king!” Jesus replied. “This was why I was born and sent--that
everyone who is of the truth might hear my voice.” Then Pilate asked
him, “What is truth?” Jesus said, “Truth comes from heaven.” So
Pilate asked him, “Is there not any truth on earth?” “You have seen for yourself,” Jesus answered Pilate, “that those who speak the truth on
earth are condemned by those in authority.”
Then Pilate, leaving Jesus in the Praetorium, went out to the Jews
and proclaimed, “I do not find any guilt in him.” “This man said,” the
Jews rejoined, “‘I am able to destroy this temple and to build it again
in just three days.’” “Which temple?” Pilate asked them. “The one
that took Solomon forty-six years to construct,” the Jews answered.
“He says that not only will he destroy it, but that in three days he will
restore it!” Pilate then declared, “I am free of this righteous man’s
blood; you see to it yourselves!” “May the bloodguilt fall on us and our
children as well!” answered the Jews.
And Pilate called the elders, the priests and the Levites over to
himself and charged them privately, “Do not conduct yourselves this
way. Your allegations involve healing and Sabbath breaking. None of
the things you have accused him of warrants the death penalty.” The
elders, chief priests, and Levites replied, “Should a man be put to
death for speaking blasphemy against Caesar?” “He does deserve to
die for that,” responded Pilate. “A man qualifies for the death penalty
if he curses Caesar,” the Jews answered Pilate, “but this man has
blasphemed God Himself.”
The chief priests and the elders started denouncing Jesus, but he
never responded to any of it. Then Pilate asked him, “Do you not hear
how many charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus did not
answer him, which astonished the governor to no end. The chief priests went on charging him with a whole range of offenses, so Pilate
asked him once again, “Are you not going to defend yourself? Look at
how many crimes they are charging you with!” But Jesus still did not
respond, and Pilate was amazed.
Then the governor ordered the Jews to leave the Praetorium. And
he called Jesus over to himself and asked, “What am I to do with you?”
“Even as it was given to you,” answered Jesus. Then Pilate requested,
“And just how was it given to me?” Jesus replied, “Moses and the
prophets forespoke of both my death and my resurrection.”
Now the Jews were trying to hear what they were saying, and as
soon as they heard that, they asked Pilate, “What do you need to hear
over and above that man’s blasphemy?” And Pilate answered the
Jews, “If this qualifies as blasphemy, then take him into your
synagogue, charge him with it, and judge him as your law directs!”
Then the Jews informed Pilate, “Our law stipulates that if one man
should wrong another, he should receive thirty-nine lashes, but it calls
for the stoning of anyone who blasphemes God.” “Then take him,” Pilate answered them, “and punish him as you see fit!” The Jews then
said to Pilate, “We would like to see him crucified.” “He does not
deserve to be crucified,” Pilate responded. Then the governor studied
the great number of Jews who were standing there closely. And when
he saw that many of them were shedding tears, he observed, “Not all of
them wish to see him killed.” But the Jewish elders then retorted,
“Each of us has come in order to bring about his execution.” Then
Pilate asked the Jews, “Why ought he to be put to death?” “Because he
claims to be the Son of God,” the Jews replied, “and a king as well.”
Nicodemus, who was there among the Jews, stood before the
governor and pleaded, “Your Honor, I implore you, allow me to speak
a few words.” “You may speak,” Pilate said. And Nicodemus
explained, “I inquired of the elders, priests, Levites, and all who were
in the synagogue, ‘What are you planning to do with this man? He
performs signs and wonders which are far too numerous to count, and
which no one else has ever done or ever will do. Set him free, and do
not long for evil to befall him. The signs that he presents will endure if
indeed they come from God; but if not, they will never amount to anything. You see, when God sent Moses into Egypt, He ordered him
to perform many signs before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Now Pharaoh
had these two magicians, Jannes and Jambres, who also pulled off
numerous signs like those that Moses did, and the Egyptians were
convinced that they were gods. But because the signs that they
showed did not really come from God, they perished along with those
who believed in them, as you Pharisees and teachers of the law are
well aware. Now set this man free, for he has done nothing that is worthy of death.’”
At that point the Jews replied, “You are a convert and a disciple of
his.” “Has the governor also converted, and become his disciple?”
Nicodemus asked. “Did not Caesar himself appoint him to this high
office?” And when the Jews heard this, they became enraged and
started to grind their teeth against Nicodemus. Then Pilate asked
them, “Why are you gnashing your teeth against him when you know
that he’s telling the truth?” The Jews then said to Nicodemus, “May
you receive his inheritance along with his teaching.” “Yes indeed,”
Nicodemus affirmed, “may it be to me as you have said.”
Then one from among the Jews got up and asked if he might say
something. “If you’ve got something to say,” the governor replied,
“then you may speak.” And he testified, “I laid in agony on a mat for
thirty-eight years, but then Jesus came healing many of the demonpossessed, as well as those crippled by various diseases. Now a few
young men felt for me and carried me over to him on my stretcher.
And when he saw me, this Jesus pitied me, and said to me, ‘Pick up
your bed and walk.’ So I picked up my bed and started walking!” “Ask
him the day on which he received his healing,” the Jews bid Pilate. “It
was on the Sabbath Day,” admitted the man who had been healed.
Then another of the Jews rose up and asked the governor if he might
say a few things. And the governor replied, “Say what you will.” This
man therefore testified, “I lay in horrible pain over by the sheep pool
in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years waiting to be healed. Now at a
certain time, one of God’s angels would come along and rouse the
water, and that is when the remedy would come. The first one in, you
see, would be the one to receive healing for whatever the affliction.
331
And when Jesus saw me suffering there, he asked me, ‘Would you like
to be made whole?’ ‘Sir,’ I replied, ‘I’ve got no one to help me in at the
stirring thereof.’ ‘Stand up!’ he ordered me, ‘Now pick up your bed
and walk.’ And I was immediately healed, so I picked up my bed and
started walking.” The Jews then asked Pilate, “Please, Governor, ask
him the day on which he was healed.” The man who had been ill said,
“It was on the Sabbath.” The Jews then said to Pilate, “Did we not say
to you that he does his healing on the Sabbath Day? And it is by the
Prince of Demons that he exorcises demons!” And another from the
Jews stepped up and affirmed, “I was born blind. I could hear things
just fine, but I could not see anything. One day, as Jesus was walking by, I heard this passing multitude, so I asked what it was all about, and
I was told that it was Jesus. So I screamed as loud as I could, ‘Son of
David, have mercy on me!’ All of a sudden he stopped and had me
brought before him. Then he asked me, ‘What would you have me do
for you?’ And I answered him, ‘I would like to have my sight.’ And out
of compassion for me he touched my eyes and said to me, ‘Receive
your sight!’ and just like that I was able to see! Then I followed after
him, rejoicing and giving thanks.” Then another of the Jews stood up
and declared, “I was hunched over, and with only a word he caused me
to stand up straight!” “I had a skin disease,” affirmed another, “and he
cleansed me with just a word!” Then a woman named Veronica
testified, “I was plagued for twelve years by a continual flow of blood.
Then I touched the hem of his robe, and right away my bleeding
stopped.” At that point the Jews replied, “Our law does not admit the
testimony of a woman.”
And after many others had put forward their accounts, another one
of the Jews added, “I saw when Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee. After the wine had run out, he ordered the servants to fill
six jugs brimful with water, and so they did. Then he blessed them,
changing the water into wine. Everybody drank of it, and this miracle
amazed us all!” Then another from among the Jews stepped forward
and declared, “I saw Jesus when he was teaching in the synagogue in
Capernaum. Now in that place there was this demon-possessed man.
‘Leave me alone!’ the demon screamed. ‘What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? I know that you’re God’s Holy One.’ But Jesus
reproved him, saying, ‘Be silent, you filthy spirit, and leave this man at
once!’ And right away he left that man, not harming him at all.” Then
a Pharisee testified: “I saw an enormous crowd from all parts of
Galilee gather together around Jesus; from Judea, the seaside, and the
many regions around the Jordan. And even though so many sick came
up to him, he healed each and every one of them. I heard the filthy
spirits screaming, ‘You are the Son of God!’ but Jesus ordered them
most emphatically, ‘Don’t you tell a soul!’”
And after this, another one, who was known as Centurio, testified,
“I saw Jesus in Capernaum. ‘Master,’ I begged him, ‘my servant back
home is wracked with paralysis.’ And Jesus said, ‘Then I will go and
heal him.’ ‘But Lord,’ I said, ‘I am not even worthy that you should
enter my house. Just say the word and my servant will be restored.’
‘Go on then,’ he said to me, ‘may it be to you as you believed.’ And it
was from that time that my servant was healed.” Then a certain
prominent man chimed in, “I had a son who was laying at death’s door
back in Capernaum. And when I heard that Jesus had come into
Galilee, I went and begged him to come down to my house and restore
my son, for he was at the point of death. He said to me, ‘Your son is
alive!’ and it was from that very moment that my son was made well!”
And a host of others shouted, “Surely he’s the Son of God and a
prophet too, seeing how with his word alone he cures every manner of
illness, and subjugates every demon.” Then Pilate asked those who
were claiming that the demons were under his authority, “Why, then,
are your Teachers not also subject to him?” “We have no idea,” they
replied. But other people then affirmed, “Only God can give this kind
of power.” “Why then are your Teachers unable to control them?”
Pilate asked the Jews. Some claimed, “The power to command
demons comes from God alone,” but others said, “Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead after he had been entombed for four days!” Then the
governor shuddered, and questioned the entire assembly of Jews,
“Why are you so eager to shed innocent blood?”
Pilate then summoned Nicodemus and the twelve who held that Jesus was not born of fornication, and asked them, “What am I
supposed to do? The people are divided.” “We do not know,” they
answered him, “those who incite the crowds will see to it.”
Then he went out to the Jews again and proclaimed to the chief
priests and the assembled multitude, “I do not find any guilt in this
man.” But they grew all the more insistent, saying, “He’s been
teaching all over Judea, getting the people all worked up! He started
out in Galilee and has continued to this very place!” But when Pilate
heard these words from them, he asked if Jesus were a Galilean. And
when he realized that Jesus fell under the jurisdiction of Herod, he
forwarded Jesus to him, who at the time was also in Jerusalem.
(Matt 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:1-6;
John 18:33-38; GNc 3:2-9:1a)
Jerusalem
Then Pilate went back into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus.
And when Jesus was standing before the governor, Pilate asked him in
confidence, “Are you indeed the King of the Jews?” But Jesus asked
him, “Are you asking because you were moved to ask, or did other
people tell you that?” “Am I a Jew?” asked Pilate. “Your own people,
and their chief priests, have placed you into my hands. Now what did
you do to deserve this?” “It is that my kingdom is not of this world,”
Jesus answered. “You see, if mine were an earthly kingdom, my
servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
The source of my kingship lies not in this realm.” “Then indeed you
are a king!” Pilate declared. “It is you, therefore, who are calling me
king!” Jesus replied. “This was why I was born and sent--that
everyone who is of the truth might hear my voice.” Then Pilate asked
him, “What is truth?” Jesus said, “Truth comes from heaven.” So
Pilate asked him, “Is there not any truth on earth?” “You have seen for yourself,” Jesus answered Pilate, “that those who speak the truth on
earth are condemned by those in authority.”
Then Pilate, leaving Jesus in the Praetorium, went out to the Jews
and proclaimed, “I do not find any guilt in him.” “This man said,” the
Jews rejoined, “‘I am able to destroy this temple and to build it again
in just three days.’” “Which temple?” Pilate asked them. “The one
that took Solomon forty-six years to construct,” the Jews answered.
“He says that not only will he destroy it, but that in three days he will
restore it!” Pilate then declared, “I am free of this righteous man’s
blood; you see to it yourselves!” “May the bloodguilt fall on us and our
children as well!” answered the Jews.
And Pilate called the elders, the priests and the Levites over to
himself and charged them privately, “Do not conduct yourselves this
way. Your allegations involve healing and Sabbath breaking. None of
the things you have accused him of warrants the death penalty.” The
elders, chief priests, and Levites replied, “Should a man be put to
death for speaking blasphemy against Caesar?” “He does deserve to
die for that,” responded Pilate. “A man qualifies for the death penalty
if he curses Caesar,” the Jews answered Pilate, “but this man has
blasphemed God Himself.”
The chief priests and the elders started denouncing Jesus, but he
never responded to any of it. Then Pilate asked him, “Do you not hear
how many charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus did not
answer him, which astonished the governor to no end. The chief priests went on charging him with a whole range of offenses, so Pilate
asked him once again, “Are you not going to defend yourself? Look at
how many crimes they are charging you with!” But Jesus still did not
respond, and Pilate was amazed.
Then the governor ordered the Jews to leave the Praetorium. And
he called Jesus over to himself and asked, “What am I to do with you?”
“Even as it was given to you,” answered Jesus. Then Pilate requested,
“And just how was it given to me?” Jesus replied, “Moses and the
prophets forespoke of both my death and my resurrection.”
Now the Jews were trying to hear what they were saying, and as
soon as they heard that, they asked Pilate, “What do you need to hear
over and above that man’s blasphemy?” And Pilate answered the
Jews, “If this qualifies as blasphemy, then take him into your
synagogue, charge him with it, and judge him as your law directs!”
Then the Jews informed Pilate, “Our law stipulates that if one man
should wrong another, he should receive thirty-nine lashes, but it calls
for the stoning of anyone who blasphemes God.” “Then take him,” Pilate answered them, “and punish him as you see fit!” The Jews then
said to Pilate, “We would like to see him crucified.” “He does not
deserve to be crucified,” Pilate responded. Then the governor studied
the great number of Jews who were standing there closely. And when
he saw that many of them were shedding tears, he observed, “Not all of
them wish to see him killed.” But the Jewish elders then retorted,
“Each of us has come in order to bring about his execution.” Then
Pilate asked the Jews, “Why ought he to be put to death?” “Because he
claims to be the Son of God,” the Jews replied, “and a king as well.”
Nicodemus, who was there among the Jews, stood before the
governor and pleaded, “Your Honor, I implore you, allow me to speak
a few words.” “You may speak,” Pilate said. And Nicodemus
explained, “I inquired of the elders, priests, Levites, and all who were
in the synagogue, ‘What are you planning to do with this man? He
performs signs and wonders which are far too numerous to count, and
which no one else has ever done or ever will do. Set him free, and do
not long for evil to befall him. The signs that he presents will endure if
indeed they come from God; but if not, they will never amount to anything. You see, when God sent Moses into Egypt, He ordered him
to perform many signs before Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Now Pharaoh
had these two magicians, Jannes and Jambres, who also pulled off
numerous signs like those that Moses did, and the Egyptians were
convinced that they were gods. But because the signs that they
showed did not really come from God, they perished along with those
who believed in them, as you Pharisees and teachers of the law are
well aware. Now set this man free, for he has done nothing that is worthy of death.’”
At that point the Jews replied, “You are a convert and a disciple of
his.” “Has the governor also converted, and become his disciple?”
Nicodemus asked. “Did not Caesar himself appoint him to this high
office?” And when the Jews heard this, they became enraged and
started to grind their teeth against Nicodemus. Then Pilate asked
them, “Why are you gnashing your teeth against him when you know
that he’s telling the truth?” The Jews then said to Nicodemus, “May
you receive his inheritance along with his teaching.” “Yes indeed,”
Nicodemus affirmed, “may it be to me as you have said.”
Then one from among the Jews got up and asked if he might say
something. “If you’ve got something to say,” the governor replied,
“then you may speak.” And he testified, “I laid in agony on a mat for
thirty-eight years, but then Jesus came healing many of the demonpossessed, as well as those crippled by various diseases. Now a few
young men felt for me and carried me over to him on my stretcher.
And when he saw me, this Jesus pitied me, and said to me, ‘Pick up
your bed and walk.’ So I picked up my bed and started walking!” “Ask
him the day on which he received his healing,” the Jews bid Pilate. “It
was on the Sabbath Day,” admitted the man who had been healed.
Then another of the Jews rose up and asked the governor if he might
say a few things. And the governor replied, “Say what you will.” This
man therefore testified, “I lay in horrible pain over by the sheep pool
in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years waiting to be healed. Now at a
certain time, one of God’s angels would come along and rouse the
water, and that is when the remedy would come. The first one in, you
see, would be the one to receive healing for whatever the affliction.
331
And when Jesus saw me suffering there, he asked me, ‘Would you like
to be made whole?’ ‘Sir,’ I replied, ‘I’ve got no one to help me in at the
stirring thereof.’ ‘Stand up!’ he ordered me, ‘Now pick up your bed
and walk.’ And I was immediately healed, so I picked up my bed and
started walking.” The Jews then asked Pilate, “Please, Governor, ask
him the day on which he was healed.” The man who had been ill said,
“It was on the Sabbath.” The Jews then said to Pilate, “Did we not say
to you that he does his healing on the Sabbath Day? And it is by the
Prince of Demons that he exorcises demons!” And another from the
Jews stepped up and affirmed, “I was born blind. I could hear things
just fine, but I could not see anything. One day, as Jesus was walking by, I heard this passing multitude, so I asked what it was all about, and
I was told that it was Jesus. So I screamed as loud as I could, ‘Son of
David, have mercy on me!’ All of a sudden he stopped and had me
brought before him. Then he asked me, ‘What would you have me do
for you?’ And I answered him, ‘I would like to have my sight.’ And out
of compassion for me he touched my eyes and said to me, ‘Receive
your sight!’ and just like that I was able to see! Then I followed after
him, rejoicing and giving thanks.” Then another of the Jews stood up
and declared, “I was hunched over, and with only a word he caused me
to stand up straight!” “I had a skin disease,” affirmed another, “and he
cleansed me with just a word!” Then a woman named Veronica
testified, “I was plagued for twelve years by a continual flow of blood.
Then I touched the hem of his robe, and right away my bleeding
stopped.” At that point the Jews replied, “Our law does not admit the
testimony of a woman.”
And after many others had put forward their accounts, another one
of the Jews added, “I saw when Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee. After the wine had run out, he ordered the servants to fill
six jugs brimful with water, and so they did. Then he blessed them,
changing the water into wine. Everybody drank of it, and this miracle
amazed us all!” Then another from among the Jews stepped forward
and declared, “I saw Jesus when he was teaching in the synagogue in
Capernaum. Now in that place there was this demon-possessed man.
‘Leave me alone!’ the demon screamed. ‘What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? I know that you’re God’s Holy One.’ But Jesus
reproved him, saying, ‘Be silent, you filthy spirit, and leave this man at
once!’ And right away he left that man, not harming him at all.” Then
a Pharisee testified: “I saw an enormous crowd from all parts of
Galilee gather together around Jesus; from Judea, the seaside, and the
many regions around the Jordan. And even though so many sick came
up to him, he healed each and every one of them. I heard the filthy
spirits screaming, ‘You are the Son of God!’ but Jesus ordered them
most emphatically, ‘Don’t you tell a soul!’”
And after this, another one, who was known as Centurio, testified,
“I saw Jesus in Capernaum. ‘Master,’ I begged him, ‘my servant back
home is wracked with paralysis.’ And Jesus said, ‘Then I will go and
heal him.’ ‘But Lord,’ I said, ‘I am not even worthy that you should
enter my house. Just say the word and my servant will be restored.’
‘Go on then,’ he said to me, ‘may it be to you as you believed.’ And it
was from that time that my servant was healed.” Then a certain
prominent man chimed in, “I had a son who was laying at death’s door
back in Capernaum. And when I heard that Jesus had come into
Galilee, I went and begged him to come down to my house and restore
my son, for he was at the point of death. He said to me, ‘Your son is
alive!’ and it was from that very moment that my son was made well!”
And a host of others shouted, “Surely he’s the Son of God and a
prophet too, seeing how with his word alone he cures every manner of
illness, and subjugates every demon.” Then Pilate asked those who
were claiming that the demons were under his authority, “Why, then,
are your Teachers not also subject to him?” “We have no idea,” they
replied. But other people then affirmed, “Only God can give this kind
of power.” “Why then are your Teachers unable to control them?”
Pilate asked the Jews. Some claimed, “The power to command
demons comes from God alone,” but others said, “Jesus raised Lazarus
from the dead after he had been entombed for four days!” Then the
governor shuddered, and questioned the entire assembly of Jews,
“Why are you so eager to shed innocent blood?”
Pilate then summoned Nicodemus and the twelve who held that Jesus was not born of fornication, and asked them, “What am I
supposed to do? The people are divided.” “We do not know,” they
answered him, “those who incite the crowds will see to it.”
Then he went out to the Jews again and proclaimed to the chief
priests and the assembled multitude, “I do not find any guilt in this
man.” But they grew all the more insistent, saying, “He’s been
teaching all over Judea, getting the people all worked up! He started
out in Galilee and has continued to this very place!” But when Pilate
heard these words from them, he asked if Jesus were a Galilean. And
when he realized that Jesus fell under the jurisdiction of Herod, he
forwarded Jesus to him, who at the time was also in Jerusalem.
JESUS’ TRIAL BEFORE THE PEOPLE
(Matt 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25;
John 18:39-19:1-16a; GNc 9:1b-9:5; GPt 6-9,1,2;
GNaz 9 Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 4)
Jerusalem
Now it was the governor’s practice at this feast to free any prisoner
that the crowd desired. At the time there was this rather infamous
inmate named Jesus Barabbas, the meaning of which is “the son of
their teacher, who during the rebellion had committed murder and
been locked away with the other insurgents.” Then Pilate again
rounded up the Jews: the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. And
when the crowd had assembled there, they approached Pilate and
asked him to do what he would customarily do for them. “You
brought this man before me,” Pilate declared, “as someone who
corrupts the nation. Now behold, I have tried him here before you all
and have found him to be not guilty of the charges you have brought
against him, as has Herod. Just look, he has even sent him back to us. Nothing that this man has done qualifies him for the penalty of death.
Now it is your custom that I should release to you a prisoner at
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I have this inmate named
Barabbas who has been condemned for murder, and this King of the
Jews, Jesus, who is standing here before you all, and in whom I have
found no guilt. I will punish him and set him free.” (He was now
under obligation to release one man among them during the feast.)
“So which one would you like to have let loose among you?” Pilate
asked, “Would you rather have me free Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who
is known as the Messiah, the King of the Jews?” (He knew full well,
you see, that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had turned
Jesus over to him. And as Pilate sat at his bar, his wife sent him this
word: “Do not get mixed up with this honorable man because I have
agonized much today over a dream I had about him.”) But the chief
priests and the elders worked the crowd into a frenzy, and convinced
them to have Jesus put to death, and to have Barabbas released in his
stead. And they all cried out as one, “Not him; take this man away
from us! Set Barabbas free instead; give us this man in his place.” (It
was in that very city, you see, that Barabbas had taken part in an
uprising and had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder.)
And out of his desire to free Jesus, Governor Pilate once again
pleaded with them, asking, “Which of the two should I release to you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered him. “What then,” Pilate asked, “would
you have me do with Jesus the Christ--the one you call the King of the
Jews?” “Crucify him!” the crowd responded with a shout. And they
kept on screaming, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate appealed to them yet a third time, asking, “Why should I?
What is his crime? I have found no basis whatsoever for putting him
to death, so I will see to it that he is beaten and then have him
released.” But they just screamed the louder, “Crucify him!”
Then Pilate took Jesus and ordered him beaten. The soldiers
twisted a crown of thorns, then they put it on his head and dressed
him in a purple robe. They approached him repeatedly and mocked,
“Hail to you, oh King of the Jews!” then they slapped him in the face.
Then Pilate went out to them again and said, “Look, I am bringing
him back to let you know that I have found no guilt in him.” Then
Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
“Just look at this man!” Pilate bid them. When the chief priests and
the officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Then
Pilate said to them, “You take and crucify him, because I have found
no guilt in him!” “We have a law,” the Jews replied, “and according to that law he should be put to death for calling himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard them saying this, he grew even more disturbed.
And he went back into the Praetorium and questioned Jesus, “Where
did you come from?” but Jesus did not answer him. “So you’re not
going to answer me,” Pilate said to him. “Do you not realize that I
have both the authority to free you, as well as to have you crucified?”
“You would never have had such power,” Jesus said, “had it not been
given to you from above, so the one who handed me over to you is
committing the more serious offense.” Now Pilate was all the more
anxious to let him go after he heard him say this, but the Jews kept on
clamoring, “If you free this man, you cannot be Caesar’s friend,
because he has made himself out to be the Son of God, and a King as
well. Would you have him take Caesar’s place as king? Anyone who
declares himself king does so in opposition to Caesar!” And when
Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at
a spot known as “the pavement,” but in Aramaic it is called
“Gabbatha.” This took place at about the sixth hour on the day of
Preparation, during the week of Passover. And Pilate said to the Jews,
“Behold your king!” But they just roared, “Away with him! Take him
away and crucify him!” “Is it my role to crucify your king?” asked
Pilate. The chief priests responded, “We recognize no king but
Caesar!”
Now the Jews had Pilate really upset. “Yours has always been a
seditious people,” he retorted, “forever in opposition to those who
wish to do you good!” “And who might they be?” the Jews demanded. “The way I heard it,” Pilate answered, “your God rescued you from
unbearable slavery under the Egyptians, and guided you across the
Red Sea as if by dry land. He supplied you with manna and quails in
the desert, quenched your thirst with water from a rock, and entrusted
you with His own law. Yet in spite of all this, you infuriated your God.
A molten calf was all you wanted, and this so enraged your God that
He would have wiped you out completely had Moses not intervened on
your behalf. And even though you were spared, you have the nerve to
implicate me as one who despises the emperor!” Then he got up out of
his judgment seat and started to leave. And the Jews all shouted, “We
recognize only Caesar, not Jesus. Magi from the east brought him
gifts that were fit for a king, and when Herod heard the Magi say that a
king had been born, he tried to have him put to death. But as soon as
his father Joseph learned of it, he took him and his mother and fled
into Egypt. When Herod found out about this, he had all of the
Hebrew infants of Bethlehem killed.” And when Pilate heard these words, his blood ran cold, and he had
the boisterous crowd pipe down. Then he asked them, “Do you mean
that this is the one that Herod sought?” “Yes,” the Jews replied, “the
very same.”
And they stubbornly persisted with deafening shouts that Jesus be
crucified, and their shouts prevailed. When Pilate sensed that he was
getting nowhere with this, but was only stirring up a greater
commotion, he took water in the sight of all, washed his hands before
the sun and said, “I am free of this man’s blood. You will have to bear
the blame.” And everyone responded, “Let his blood fall on us and our
children as well!” But none of the Jews there washed their hands, and
neither did Herod or any of his magistrates. Then Pilate got up, since
none of them would wash. And King Herod commanded that the Lord
be taken away, saying, “Do as I’ve instructed you!” And Pilate, wishing
to pacify the multitudes, ordered that the people’s will be carried out.
Pilate set Barabbas, the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion
and murder, free among them, for he was their chosen one.
Then Pilate gave the command, and the curtain across from his
judgment seat was pulled back. Then he said, “Jesus, your own people have convicted you for being their king. I have ordered that you be
beaten as the law of the righteous emperors directs, and hung upon a
cross in the very garden where you were taken. And the two evildoers,
Gestas and Dysmas are to be crucified alongside you.”
Now Joseph, a mutual friend to both Pilate and Jesus, was standing
there. And when he realized that they were about to crucify him,
Joseph approached Pilate and requested the Lord’s body, so that he
might bury it himself. Then Pilate sent a message to Herod,
requesting his remains. “Pilate, my good friend,” Herod answered,
“we would have buried him whether or not anyone had asked, seeing
that the Sabbath Day is almost here. You see, it stands written in the
Law, ‘The sun must not be allowed to set on anyone who has been put
to death.’” And Herod handed him over to the crowds on the eve of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
So they grabbed the Lord, shoving him as they drove him on,
saying, “Let us drag God’s Son along now that he is subject to us.”
They placed a purple robe on him and set him on the judgment seat.
“Judge fairly, oh King of Israel!” they sneered. Then one of them
brought a crown of thorns and placed it on the head of the Lord. Now
some of those who were standing there spat into his eyes, while others
slapped him in the face, and still others poked him with a stick. Some
pounded him and jeered, “Let us pay respect to the Son of God!” But Pilate (had) ordered that Jesus be beaten, so the governor’s
soldiers seized the Lord Jesus, led him away and ushered him into the
palace, which is called the Praetorium, where the entire company of
soldiers marshaled around him. They stripped his clothing off of him,
placed a bright red (and) a purple robe on him. Then they twisted
thorns into a crown and placed it upon his head. And after putting a
staff into his right hand, they dropped to their knees before him and
taunted him. Over and again they approached him in pretended
worship and gibed, “Oh, King of the Jews, how we glorify you!” Time
and again they took that staff and beat him over the head with it,
spitting all over him, and dropping to their knees in feigned worship to
him. Then at last Pilate turned him over to them to be crucified.
(Matt 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25;
John 18:39-19:1-16a; GNc 9:1b-9:5; GPt 6-9,1,2;
GNaz 9 Quote by Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 4)
Jerusalem
Now it was the governor’s practice at this feast to free any prisoner
that the crowd desired. At the time there was this rather infamous
inmate named Jesus Barabbas, the meaning of which is “the son of
their teacher, who during the rebellion had committed murder and
been locked away with the other insurgents.” Then Pilate again
rounded up the Jews: the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. And
when the crowd had assembled there, they approached Pilate and
asked him to do what he would customarily do for them. “You
brought this man before me,” Pilate declared, “as someone who
corrupts the nation. Now behold, I have tried him here before you all
and have found him to be not guilty of the charges you have brought
against him, as has Herod. Just look, he has even sent him back to us. Nothing that this man has done qualifies him for the penalty of death.
Now it is your custom that I should release to you a prisoner at
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I have this inmate named
Barabbas who has been condemned for murder, and this King of the
Jews, Jesus, who is standing here before you all, and in whom I have
found no guilt. I will punish him and set him free.” (He was now
under obligation to release one man among them during the feast.)
“So which one would you like to have let loose among you?” Pilate
asked, “Would you rather have me free Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who
is known as the Messiah, the King of the Jews?” (He knew full well,
you see, that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had turned
Jesus over to him. And as Pilate sat at his bar, his wife sent him this
word: “Do not get mixed up with this honorable man because I have
agonized much today over a dream I had about him.”) But the chief
priests and the elders worked the crowd into a frenzy, and convinced
them to have Jesus put to death, and to have Barabbas released in his
stead. And they all cried out as one, “Not him; take this man away
from us! Set Barabbas free instead; give us this man in his place.” (It
was in that very city, you see, that Barabbas had taken part in an
uprising and had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder.)
And out of his desire to free Jesus, Governor Pilate once again
pleaded with them, asking, “Which of the two should I release to you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered him. “What then,” Pilate asked, “would
you have me do with Jesus the Christ--the one you call the King of the
Jews?” “Crucify him!” the crowd responded with a shout. And they
kept on screaming, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate appealed to them yet a third time, asking, “Why should I?
What is his crime? I have found no basis whatsoever for putting him
to death, so I will see to it that he is beaten and then have him
released.” But they just screamed the louder, “Crucify him!”
Then Pilate took Jesus and ordered him beaten. The soldiers
twisted a crown of thorns, then they put it on his head and dressed
him in a purple robe. They approached him repeatedly and mocked,
“Hail to you, oh King of the Jews!” then they slapped him in the face.
Then Pilate went out to them again and said, “Look, I am bringing
him back to let you know that I have found no guilt in him.” Then
Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
“Just look at this man!” Pilate bid them. When the chief priests and
the officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Then
Pilate said to them, “You take and crucify him, because I have found
no guilt in him!” “We have a law,” the Jews replied, “and according to that law he should be put to death for calling himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard them saying this, he grew even more disturbed.
And he went back into the Praetorium and questioned Jesus, “Where
did you come from?” but Jesus did not answer him. “So you’re not
going to answer me,” Pilate said to him. “Do you not realize that I
have both the authority to free you, as well as to have you crucified?”
“You would never have had such power,” Jesus said, “had it not been
given to you from above, so the one who handed me over to you is
committing the more serious offense.” Now Pilate was all the more
anxious to let him go after he heard him say this, but the Jews kept on
clamoring, “If you free this man, you cannot be Caesar’s friend,
because he has made himself out to be the Son of God, and a King as
well. Would you have him take Caesar’s place as king? Anyone who
declares himself king does so in opposition to Caesar!” And when
Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat on the judgment seat at
a spot known as “the pavement,” but in Aramaic it is called
“Gabbatha.” This took place at about the sixth hour on the day of
Preparation, during the week of Passover. And Pilate said to the Jews,
“Behold your king!” But they just roared, “Away with him! Take him
away and crucify him!” “Is it my role to crucify your king?” asked
Pilate. The chief priests responded, “We recognize no king but
Caesar!”
Now the Jews had Pilate really upset. “Yours has always been a
seditious people,” he retorted, “forever in opposition to those who
wish to do you good!” “And who might they be?” the Jews demanded. “The way I heard it,” Pilate answered, “your God rescued you from
unbearable slavery under the Egyptians, and guided you across the
Red Sea as if by dry land. He supplied you with manna and quails in
the desert, quenched your thirst with water from a rock, and entrusted
you with His own law. Yet in spite of all this, you infuriated your God.
A molten calf was all you wanted, and this so enraged your God that
He would have wiped you out completely had Moses not intervened on
your behalf. And even though you were spared, you have the nerve to
implicate me as one who despises the emperor!” Then he got up out of
his judgment seat and started to leave. And the Jews all shouted, “We
recognize only Caesar, not Jesus. Magi from the east brought him
gifts that were fit for a king, and when Herod heard the Magi say that a
king had been born, he tried to have him put to death. But as soon as
his father Joseph learned of it, he took him and his mother and fled
into Egypt. When Herod found out about this, he had all of the
Hebrew infants of Bethlehem killed.” And when Pilate heard these words, his blood ran cold, and he had
the boisterous crowd pipe down. Then he asked them, “Do you mean
that this is the one that Herod sought?” “Yes,” the Jews replied, “the
very same.”
And they stubbornly persisted with deafening shouts that Jesus be
crucified, and their shouts prevailed. When Pilate sensed that he was
getting nowhere with this, but was only stirring up a greater
commotion, he took water in the sight of all, washed his hands before
the sun and said, “I am free of this man’s blood. You will have to bear
the blame.” And everyone responded, “Let his blood fall on us and our
children as well!” But none of the Jews there washed their hands, and
neither did Herod or any of his magistrates. Then Pilate got up, since
none of them would wash. And King Herod commanded that the Lord
be taken away, saying, “Do as I’ve instructed you!” And Pilate, wishing
to pacify the multitudes, ordered that the people’s will be carried out.
Pilate set Barabbas, the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion
and murder, free among them, for he was their chosen one.
Then Pilate gave the command, and the curtain across from his
judgment seat was pulled back. Then he said, “Jesus, your own people have convicted you for being their king. I have ordered that you be
beaten as the law of the righteous emperors directs, and hung upon a
cross in the very garden where you were taken. And the two evildoers,
Gestas and Dysmas are to be crucified alongside you.”
Now Joseph, a mutual friend to both Pilate and Jesus, was standing
there. And when he realized that they were about to crucify him,
Joseph approached Pilate and requested the Lord’s body, so that he
might bury it himself. Then Pilate sent a message to Herod,
requesting his remains. “Pilate, my good friend,” Herod answered,
“we would have buried him whether or not anyone had asked, seeing
that the Sabbath Day is almost here. You see, it stands written in the
Law, ‘The sun must not be allowed to set on anyone who has been put
to death.’” And Herod handed him over to the crowds on the eve of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
So they grabbed the Lord, shoving him as they drove him on,
saying, “Let us drag God’s Son along now that he is subject to us.”
They placed a purple robe on him and set him on the judgment seat.
“Judge fairly, oh King of Israel!” they sneered. Then one of them
brought a crown of thorns and placed it on the head of the Lord. Now
some of those who were standing there spat into his eyes, while others
slapped him in the face, and still others poked him with a stick. Some
pounded him and jeered, “Let us pay respect to the Son of God!” But Pilate (had) ordered that Jesus be beaten, so the governor’s
soldiers seized the Lord Jesus, led him away and ushered him into the
palace, which is called the Praetorium, where the entire company of
soldiers marshaled around him. They stripped his clothing off of him,
placed a bright red (and) a purple robe on him. Then they twisted
thorns into a crown and placed it upon his head. And after putting a
staff into his right hand, they dropped to their knees before him and
taunted him. Over and again they approached him in pretended
worship and gibed, “Oh, King of the Jews, how we glorify you!” Time
and again they took that staff and beat him over the head with it,
spitting all over him, and dropping to their knees in feigned worship to
him. Then at last Pilate turned him over to them to be crucified.
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS
(Matt 27:31-45; Mark 15:20-33; Luke 23:26-44;
John 19:17-24; GNc 10:1-11:1a; GPt 4-5a; AnaPlt 7a)
Golgotha (Gethsemane), Outside Jerusalem
Now after they had finished mocking him, they took the purple robe
away from him and put his clothing back on him. Jesus then left the
Praetorium, along with the two lawbreakers. Then Jesus was handed
over to the soldiers, who conducted him out (and) led him away to be
crucified.
He pushed on toward the Skull Place, which in Aramaic is called
Golgotha, carrying his own cross. And as they were heading out, (the
soldiers) leading him along the way, they ran into Simon of Cyrene,
father to Rufus and Alexander, who was on his way in from the
countryside. They laid the cross upon his back and forced him to carry
it behind Jesus. A great crowd followed after him, and some women
were weeping and wailing over him. And Jesus turned and said to
them, “Do not weep on my account, oh Daughters of Jerusalem, but
for yourselves and for your children! You see, the time is approaching
when you will say, ‘How blessed are the barren women; the wombs
that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will beg
the mountains, ‘Collapse on us!’ and the hills, ‘Shelter us!’ For if men
act this way while the tree is still green, what will they do after it has
withered?”
And they brought Jesus to a spot known as Golgotha, which means
the Place of the Skull. And these two lawbreakers were also being taken out to be put to death with him. Then (and) there they gave him
wine blended with myrrh (and) gall to drink, and after he had tasted it,
he refused to drink of it. They undressed him, wrapped him in a linen
cloth, and placed a crown of thorns upon his head. Then they brought (the) two criminals and crucified the Lord Jesus along with [the]
others; one to either side of him. But he held his peace and hid his
pain. “Forgive them, Father,” said Jesus, “for they do not know what
they are doing.”
Now it was about the third hour when they crucified him, and they
seated themselves there and kept watch over him. Now after Pilate
had passed sentence against him and the cross had been raised up, he
had a proclamation of the crime he was charged with readied and
affixed above his head upon the cross stating, as the Jews themselves
had laid to his charge, that he was the King of the Jews. The judgment
they wrote against him as his title on the notice read: THIS IS JESUS
OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS, KING OF ISRAEL. And many
there from among the Jews read this sign. (The place where Jesus was
crucified was near to the city, you see, and the notice was written in
Aramaic, Latin and Greek.) “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’” the
chief priests objected to Pilate. “Instead write, ‘This man claimed to
be the king of the Jews.’” “I have written what I have written,” Pilate
replied.
Two robbers were also being crucified along with Jesus--one to his
right, and another to his left--fulfilling the Scripture that says, “He was
reckoned among the lawbreakers.” Passers-by fired put-downs at him,
shaking their heads at him and heckling, “Oh! You who are to destroy
the temple and build it again in just three days. If you are the Son of
God, then deliver yourself--come down from the cross!” As the people
stood around and gawked, the leaders--the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders--derided him among themselves in like fashion,
ridiculing him relentlessly. “This man has delivered others,” they
taunted, “but he cannot even save himself. Let this man rescue himself if he is the Elect One, the Anointed of God. He is Israel’s King!
This Messiah, this King of Israel, ought to prove to us that he can
come down from the cross right now, for then we would believe in
him. He trusts in God, so if God likes him so well, then let God deliver
him now. He did boast, ‘I am God’s Son,’ you know.” The soldiers
also went up to Jesus and mocked him. They presented him with sour
wine and scoffed, “If you really are the Jewish King, then why not just
deliver yourself.” (Over him a written proclamation read: THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.) Even the robbers being crucified there
alongside him showered him with abuse.
Now after the soldiers had put Jesus on the cross, they piled his
garments up before him, and then they all laid claim to his clothes.
They divided them into four portions among themselves, one for each, and cast lots to see who would get what. Only his undershirt
remained, but from top to bottom it was seamless and of a single
woven fabric. So instead of ripping it apart, the soldiers agreed, “Let
the lot decide who gets to keep it.” This took place in order to fulfill
the word (of) Scripture as spoken through the prophet, “My clothing
they split among themselves and for my garments they cast their lots.”
At that point one of the criminals started reproaching them, “It is
for our own evil deeds that we are suffering, but what crime has this
man, who has become Savior to us all, committed against you?” And
he so infuriated them that they ordered that his legs not be broken, so
that he might die in agony. These were the things that the soldiers did.
Even so, one of the crucified outlaws who was hanging there kept
raining insults down on him, “Are you not supposed to be the
Messiah? Deliver yourself and us as well!” But Dysmas, the other
thief, reproved him, saying, “Do you have no fear of God, seeing as
[we] are both suffering the same penalty? We are suffering justly, for
ours is an appropriate sentence, seeing that our punishment is in line
with our crimes. But this man has not sinned at all.” “Jesus,” he
pleaded, “When you come in your kingdom and the fullness of your
splendor, please remember me!” “Truly and most assuredly I say to
you,” Jesus answered him, “you will this very day see me in paradise!”
By now it was about the sixth hour, and from the sixth hour to the
ninth, darkness fell over the land of Judea, (and indeed) the entire
world, for the sun went dark and the stars appeared, but they had no
glint in them, and the light of the moon gave out, as though it had
been turned to blood. And all of them grew anxious and fearful, lest the sun had gone down already, knowing that he was still alive, for
against them it stands written, “The sun had better not set on the one who has been put to death.”
(Matt 27:31-45; Mark 15:20-33; Luke 23:26-44;
John 19:17-24; GNc 10:1-11:1a; GPt 4-5a; AnaPlt 7a)
Golgotha (Gethsemane), Outside Jerusalem
Now after they had finished mocking him, they took the purple robe
away from him and put his clothing back on him. Jesus then left the
Praetorium, along with the two lawbreakers. Then Jesus was handed
over to the soldiers, who conducted him out (and) led him away to be
crucified.
He pushed on toward the Skull Place, which in Aramaic is called
Golgotha, carrying his own cross. And as they were heading out, (the
soldiers) leading him along the way, they ran into Simon of Cyrene,
father to Rufus and Alexander, who was on his way in from the
countryside. They laid the cross upon his back and forced him to carry
it behind Jesus. A great crowd followed after him, and some women
were weeping and wailing over him. And Jesus turned and said to
them, “Do not weep on my account, oh Daughters of Jerusalem, but
for yourselves and for your children! You see, the time is approaching
when you will say, ‘How blessed are the barren women; the wombs
that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will beg
the mountains, ‘Collapse on us!’ and the hills, ‘Shelter us!’ For if men
act this way while the tree is still green, what will they do after it has
withered?”
And they brought Jesus to a spot known as Golgotha, which means
the Place of the Skull. And these two lawbreakers were also being taken out to be put to death with him. Then (and) there they gave him
wine blended with myrrh (and) gall to drink, and after he had tasted it,
he refused to drink of it. They undressed him, wrapped him in a linen
cloth, and placed a crown of thorns upon his head. Then they brought (the) two criminals and crucified the Lord Jesus along with [the]
others; one to either side of him. But he held his peace and hid his
pain. “Forgive them, Father,” said Jesus, “for they do not know what
they are doing.”
Now it was about the third hour when they crucified him, and they
seated themselves there and kept watch over him. Now after Pilate
had passed sentence against him and the cross had been raised up, he
had a proclamation of the crime he was charged with readied and
affixed above his head upon the cross stating, as the Jews themselves
had laid to his charge, that he was the King of the Jews. The judgment
they wrote against him as his title on the notice read: THIS IS JESUS
OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS, KING OF ISRAEL. And many
there from among the Jews read this sign. (The place where Jesus was
crucified was near to the city, you see, and the notice was written in
Aramaic, Latin and Greek.) “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’” the
chief priests objected to Pilate. “Instead write, ‘This man claimed to
be the king of the Jews.’” “I have written what I have written,” Pilate
replied.
Two robbers were also being crucified along with Jesus--one to his
right, and another to his left--fulfilling the Scripture that says, “He was
reckoned among the lawbreakers.” Passers-by fired put-downs at him,
shaking their heads at him and heckling, “Oh! You who are to destroy
the temple and build it again in just three days. If you are the Son of
God, then deliver yourself--come down from the cross!” As the people
stood around and gawked, the leaders--the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders--derided him among themselves in like fashion,
ridiculing him relentlessly. “This man has delivered others,” they
taunted, “but he cannot even save himself. Let this man rescue himself if he is the Elect One, the Anointed of God. He is Israel’s King!
This Messiah, this King of Israel, ought to prove to us that he can
come down from the cross right now, for then we would believe in
him. He trusts in God, so if God likes him so well, then let God deliver
him now. He did boast, ‘I am God’s Son,’ you know.” The soldiers
also went up to Jesus and mocked him. They presented him with sour
wine and scoffed, “If you really are the Jewish King, then why not just
deliver yourself.” (Over him a written proclamation read: THIS IS
THE KING OF THE JEWS.) Even the robbers being crucified there
alongside him showered him with abuse.
Now after the soldiers had put Jesus on the cross, they piled his
garments up before him, and then they all laid claim to his clothes.
They divided them into four portions among themselves, one for each, and cast lots to see who would get what. Only his undershirt
remained, but from top to bottom it was seamless and of a single
woven fabric. So instead of ripping it apart, the soldiers agreed, “Let
the lot decide who gets to keep it.” This took place in order to fulfill
the word (of) Scripture as spoken through the prophet, “My clothing
they split among themselves and for my garments they cast their lots.”
At that point one of the criminals started reproaching them, “It is
for our own evil deeds that we are suffering, but what crime has this
man, who has become Savior to us all, committed against you?” And
he so infuriated them that they ordered that his legs not be broken, so
that he might die in agony. These were the things that the soldiers did.
Even so, one of the crucified outlaws who was hanging there kept
raining insults down on him, “Are you not supposed to be the
Messiah? Deliver yourself and us as well!” But Dysmas, the other
thief, reproved him, saying, “Do you have no fear of God, seeing as
[we] are both suffering the same penalty? We are suffering justly, for
ours is an appropriate sentence, seeing that our punishment is in line
with our crimes. But this man has not sinned at all.” “Jesus,” he
pleaded, “When you come in your kingdom and the fullness of your
splendor, please remember me!” “Truly and most assuredly I say to
you,” Jesus answered him, “you will this very day see me in paradise!”
By now it was about the sixth hour, and from the sixth hour to the
ninth, darkness fell over the land of Judea, (and indeed) the entire
world, for the sun went dark and the stars appeared, but they had no
glint in them, and the light of the moon gave out, as though it had
been turned to blood. And all of them grew anxious and fearful, lest the sun had gone down already, knowing that he was still alive, for
against them it stands written, “The sun had better not set on the one who has been put to death.”
JOHN’S VISION OF THE CROSS OF LIGHT
(AcJn 97-102)
Mount of Olives
Now after the dance, dear ones, and the departure of the Lord, we
apostles were all like men gone astray, and we fled in all directions.
But even I, (John,) as I was watching him suffer, did not stay to
341
witness his passion. Instead I ran to the Mount of Olives, weeping
over what had happened. Now that Friday at about the sixth hour,
after he had been hung upon the cross, darkness overtook the earth.
Just then my Lord stood in the heart of the cave, filling the entire place
with light. Then my Lord expressed to me, “John, as far as those who are down in Jerusalem are concerned, I am being crucified. They are
lancing me with spears and sticks, and giving me gall and vinegar to
drink. Even so, I am right here speaking with you, so listen close to
what I say. I was the one who put it into your head to climb up this
mountain, so that you might hear some teachings that a student can
only receive from his master, and which a man can only learn from his
God.”
After saying this, he revealed to me a cross of light which had been
set up. Now there was an enormous crowd around this cross which
was not of a single stamp; but within this cross there was both a
unified form and a singular likeness. And I saw the Lord above this
cross, shapeless and consisting of nothing but a voice. Now this voice
was not like the one we were used to hearing, but heavenly,
captivating and kindhearted. “John,” the voice conveyed to me, “it is
essential that someone hear these things from me, because I am in
need of someone who will hear. It is for your benefit that I sometimes
call this shining cross the Word. Now at other times I refer to it as
Mind, or Jesus, or Christ, or the Door, or the Way, or the Bread, or the
Seed, or the Resurrection, or the Son, or the Father, or the Spirit, or
Life, or Truth, or Faith--and there are times when I call it Grace. It is,
in fact, for the sake of mankind that I couch it in such terms. Now as it
is understood in itself and as it is spoken to us, it is truly the
demarcation of all things, the raising up of, and the basis for those
things which have been set in place, but have hitherto remained
unsettled; namely the harmony in the wisdom and the wisdom in the
harmony. But to the right and to the left there exist powers,
principalities, authorities, demons, implementations, intimidations, fury, devils, Satan and the secondary basis, from which proceed the
essence of ephemeral things.
“So you see, this is the cross which through the Word has brought
all things together, severing off the transitory and lower things, and
consolidating all things into one. But this is not the wooden cross,
which you are going to see when you go down there, and neither am I
the one thereon, who you do not see now, but whose utterance you
now hear. I was taken to be something that I am not, for I never
revealed my true self to those many others. They will think of me as
something else instead; something that is base and utterly beneath
me. As a result, even as the place of rest is neither perceived nor even
discussed, I, the Lord over this place will be perceived and discussed
all that much less.
“Now the people you see crowded around the cross, which represents the baser essence, are not of a singular form, and the ones
that you see within the cross do not maintain a unified aspect. This is
because not every member of the one who has descended has been
assembled together with them. But after human nature has been lifted
up, when the kind who obey my voice approach me, then whoever is
able to hear me will unite with it. It is to remain above them, and will
no longer appear as it does now. No, it will be elevated above them,
even as I am right now. You see, I will never be as I once was as long
as you do not speak of yourself as belonging to me. But if you should
hear the things I have to say and take these words of mine to heart,
then you will become as I am now. But once I have taken you to
myself, you will become as I once was, for herein lies your source.
Therefore pay no mind to the multitudes, but steer clear of them
instead, for they are far removed from the mystery! Recognize that I
exist entirely within the Father, and that the Father exists within me.
“Accordingly, I never did suffer the things that these people will
claim that I suffered. You know that suffering that I showed you and
the others in that dance, well I want it to be spoken of as a mystery.
For you see, what I have shown you is in fact yourself as you truly are.
Even so, only I know myself as I truly am, and these other ones do not.
Do therefore allow me to hold on to what is mine. And it is through
me that you must perceive what belongs to you. As I have said to you
already, it is impossible to see me as I truly am unless you can see me
as one who is akin to me. “You have heard of my suffering, but that I was not the one who
suffered; that I felt no pain, yet my agony was real; that I was pierced,
yet I was not injured; hanged, and yet I was not hanged; that my blood
poured out, yet it did not flow and, in brief, in no way did I suffer the
things that they will claim that I suffered. Not at all. Even so, I have
endured things that they never mention. But even now I will reveal to
you the true nature of my sufferings, since I know that you will
understand. Recognize me as the Word--and that the Word was what
was put to death; that the Word was pierced, that the Word dripped
blood, that the Word was maimed, the Word was hung, the Word was
what endured the passion, the Word was nailed, and that the Word
was what died. This is how I have expressed it, making a place for the
man. Your reasoning, therefore, ought to begin with the Word. Then
you will come to perceive the Lord, and in the third place, the man,
and the sufferings that he has endured.”
After he finished telling me all of these things, as well as others that
I could not express to you as he would have me, he was raised up, and no one in that crowd there noticed it. But later on, after I had gone
back down, I laughed them all to scorn, because he had revealed to me
beforehand all that they were saying about him. Nevertheless, I held
this one thing very firmly in my mind: that the Lord put every single
detail into symbolic language, as a gift to be given to mankind, that
their hearts might be transformed thereby and thus receive
deliverance.
(AcJn 97-102)
Mount of Olives
Now after the dance, dear ones, and the departure of the Lord, we
apostles were all like men gone astray, and we fled in all directions.
But even I, (John,) as I was watching him suffer, did not stay to
341
witness his passion. Instead I ran to the Mount of Olives, weeping
over what had happened. Now that Friday at about the sixth hour,
after he had been hung upon the cross, darkness overtook the earth.
Just then my Lord stood in the heart of the cave, filling the entire place
with light. Then my Lord expressed to me, “John, as far as those who are down in Jerusalem are concerned, I am being crucified. They are
lancing me with spears and sticks, and giving me gall and vinegar to
drink. Even so, I am right here speaking with you, so listen close to
what I say. I was the one who put it into your head to climb up this
mountain, so that you might hear some teachings that a student can
only receive from his master, and which a man can only learn from his
God.”
After saying this, he revealed to me a cross of light which had been
set up. Now there was an enormous crowd around this cross which
was not of a single stamp; but within this cross there was both a
unified form and a singular likeness. And I saw the Lord above this
cross, shapeless and consisting of nothing but a voice. Now this voice
was not like the one we were used to hearing, but heavenly,
captivating and kindhearted. “John,” the voice conveyed to me, “it is
essential that someone hear these things from me, because I am in
need of someone who will hear. It is for your benefit that I sometimes
call this shining cross the Word. Now at other times I refer to it as
Mind, or Jesus, or Christ, or the Door, or the Way, or the Bread, or the
Seed, or the Resurrection, or the Son, or the Father, or the Spirit, or
Life, or Truth, or Faith--and there are times when I call it Grace. It is,
in fact, for the sake of mankind that I couch it in such terms. Now as it
is understood in itself and as it is spoken to us, it is truly the
demarcation of all things, the raising up of, and the basis for those
things which have been set in place, but have hitherto remained
unsettled; namely the harmony in the wisdom and the wisdom in the
harmony. But to the right and to the left there exist powers,
principalities, authorities, demons, implementations, intimidations, fury, devils, Satan and the secondary basis, from which proceed the
essence of ephemeral things.
“So you see, this is the cross which through the Word has brought
all things together, severing off the transitory and lower things, and
consolidating all things into one. But this is not the wooden cross,
which you are going to see when you go down there, and neither am I
the one thereon, who you do not see now, but whose utterance you
now hear. I was taken to be something that I am not, for I never
revealed my true self to those many others. They will think of me as
something else instead; something that is base and utterly beneath
me. As a result, even as the place of rest is neither perceived nor even
discussed, I, the Lord over this place will be perceived and discussed
all that much less.
“Now the people you see crowded around the cross, which represents the baser essence, are not of a singular form, and the ones
that you see within the cross do not maintain a unified aspect. This is
because not every member of the one who has descended has been
assembled together with them. But after human nature has been lifted
up, when the kind who obey my voice approach me, then whoever is
able to hear me will unite with it. It is to remain above them, and will
no longer appear as it does now. No, it will be elevated above them,
even as I am right now. You see, I will never be as I once was as long
as you do not speak of yourself as belonging to me. But if you should
hear the things I have to say and take these words of mine to heart,
then you will become as I am now. But once I have taken you to
myself, you will become as I once was, for herein lies your source.
Therefore pay no mind to the multitudes, but steer clear of them
instead, for they are far removed from the mystery! Recognize that I
exist entirely within the Father, and that the Father exists within me.
“Accordingly, I never did suffer the things that these people will
claim that I suffered. You know that suffering that I showed you and
the others in that dance, well I want it to be spoken of as a mystery.
For you see, what I have shown you is in fact yourself as you truly are.
Even so, only I know myself as I truly am, and these other ones do not.
Do therefore allow me to hold on to what is mine. And it is through
me that you must perceive what belongs to you. As I have said to you
already, it is impossible to see me as I truly am unless you can see me
as one who is akin to me. “You have heard of my suffering, but that I was not the one who
suffered; that I felt no pain, yet my agony was real; that I was pierced,
yet I was not injured; hanged, and yet I was not hanged; that my blood
poured out, yet it did not flow and, in brief, in no way did I suffer the
things that they will claim that I suffered. Not at all. Even so, I have
endured things that they never mention. But even now I will reveal to
you the true nature of my sufferings, since I know that you will
understand. Recognize me as the Word--and that the Word was what
was put to death; that the Word was pierced, that the Word dripped
blood, that the Word was maimed, the Word was hung, the Word was
what endured the passion, the Word was nailed, and that the Word
was what died. This is how I have expressed it, making a place for the
man. Your reasoning, therefore, ought to begin with the Word. Then
you will come to perceive the Lord, and in the third place, the man,
and the sufferings that he has endured.”
After he finished telling me all of these things, as well as others that
I could not express to you as he would have me, he was raised up, and no one in that crowd there noticed it. But later on, after I had gone
back down, I laughed them all to scorn, because he had revealed to me
beforehand all that they were saying about him. Nevertheless, I held
this one thing very firmly in my mind: that the Lord put every single
detail into symbolic language, as a gift to be given to mankind, that
their hearts might be transformed thereby and thus receive
deliverance.
THE OVERTHROW OF HADES
(Dec 2:1, 4:1-5:1; DecLtA 2:1-5:3a; DecLtB 2:1-6:2)
The Underworld
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, life and resurrection of the world, and the
Son of the Living God, give us grace to speak of your resurrection, of
the miraculous deeds that you have performed in Hades, and of the
wonders that you have worked in the underworld. Grant us leave to
utter mysteries through your death upon the cross, for you have
adjured us all and strictly forbidden your servants to reveal to any man
the secrets of your divine majesty which you have wrought in Hades.
Now after being placed alongside our fathers in the abyss, the
shadow of death, that deep darkness wherein lie all who have died
since the creation of the world, something like the sun shone suddenly
upon us and illumined us all. And how great was that light--the
golden radiance of the sun and the hue of royal purple. And we could
see each other in that midnight hour.
And the father of the whole human race rejoiced together with
Abraham, the patriarchs and the prophets. And they all cried out to
one another, “This light is shining from a great illumination! This
light can be none other than the author of everlasting life, who has
promised to give us the light of eternity.” Then Isaiah, one of those
who was standing there, cried aloud, “Father Adam and all of those
who are gathered around, listen to the words I speak. In the days that I walked the earth, I prophesied the coming of this light by the
teaching of the Holy Spirit through whom I sang,
‘Land of Zebulun and Napthali beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles, the people sitting in the midst of darkness
have seen a great light;
And among those who dwell beneath the shadow of death,
A shining light has broken forth.’
Now it has finally come and illumined us who sit in death.” And when
they heard his words, they turned his way. “Who are you?” father
Adam asked him, “For you have spoken the truth.” “I am Isaiah,” he And even as we were celebrating in the light that had dawned in our
midst, our father Simeon came to us rejoicing and saying, “Give glory
to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; for when he was an infant in
the temple, I took him into my arms. And the Holy Spirit prompted
me to declare, ‘Now my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have laid it
out before us all--a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and for the
glorification of your people Israel.’” And after hearing this, the host of
saints rejoiced the more, even as Hades and the gates of death all
trembled.
Then we heard the rumbling voice of the Son of the Most High
Father as he thundered, “Oh Princes, raise the portal; hoist the
everlasting gates, and the King of Glory, Christ the Lord will come up and enter therein.” And behold, Satan, the luminary of death, rose up
even as the saints exulted, fled in terror to his officials and infernal
authorities and said, “My officers and nether powers, hurry up and
shut the gates! Secure them now with iron bars! Resist them all and
bravely fight, lest they should capture us and keep us bound in
chains.” Then all of his unholy minions were disturbed, and went off
with all diligence to shut the gates and to carefully fasten all the locks
and iron bars; and they brandished their weapons as they howled in a
most frightful and gruesome voice.
Then Satan, the Prince and Heir of Darkness, and Ringleader of
Death, approached Hades and gloated, “Most insatiable devourer,
hearken to my speech. Brace yourself to receive the one that I am
bringing down to you. For there is this one from among the Jewish
race named Jesus who calls himself the Son of God.” And to this voice
Hades replied, “That voice that cried out indeed belonged to none
other than the Son of the Most High Father. The entire earth, you see,
even down to the regions below, shook so hard at the sound of it that I
think that now both myself and my dungeons lie exposed.” And Satan,
that Leader of Death replied, “What has gotten you so teary-eyed? My
most ancient and vile friend, have no fear; I have turned the whole
race of Jews against him! They struck him with blows to the face just
as I commanded them. I even managed to turn one of his own
disciples against him! He’s the same as any man; so afraid to die. Just
look, it was out of fear that he cried aloud, ‘My soul is almost dead from sorrow.’ And I was the one who brought him down. For he is
nothing but a man, and he has just now been lifted up and hung upon
a cross, so get ready to secure him here. He caused me a great deal of
trouble when he walked up there among the living. He has wronged
me and taken his stand against me at every turn. He has cast out as many of my servants as he has come across. He has cured all whom I
had disabled through his word alone--the blind, the lame, the leprous,
and the like. He has even reclaimed the dead that I have delivered
over to you.”
“Is he really so powerful,” Hades challenged Prince Satan, “that he
does all this with his word alone? If he fears death so much, then who must he be to have such authority? Will you indeed be able to hold
your own against him, if he has this kind of clout? Look, through your
might you have brought down and subjected great people to my rule.
So if you have this kind of authority, and he manages to frustrate your
command, what kind of power must lie behind this man Jesus who is
so ‘afraid of death’? I am telling you the truth, if he shows this kind of
ability as a human being, then he must truly be all-powerful and
divine. None can stand against such strength! And if it is, as you
allege, that he said he feared death, he only said it to deride and to
ridicule you, with an eye toward seizing you with the hand of strength.
And woe, woe to you forevermore.”
“Oh Hades, most insatiable devourer,” answered Satan, Prince of
Tartarus, “tell me why you have such doubts? Why are you so afraid to
receive Jesus, our mutual nemesis? I am not afraid of him. I have
tempted him, stirred up the religious fervor and righteous indignation
of my ancient people, the Jews, against him, sharpened a spear to
pierce him with, mixed gall and vinegar for him to drink, readied a
tree to crucify him on, and gathered thorns to prick him with. Soon he
will be dead and I will be able to bring him here to you, subject both to
you and me! Therefore when he does get here, be prepared to hold him fast.”
“Oh Heir of Darkness,” Hades retorted, “Son of Damnation and
devil, you have just now told me that through his word alone he has
brought many back to life whom you had readied for burial. You have
informed me that he has himself drawn the dead from me. I have held
a great many here who managed to take the dead from me when they
lived upon the earth. It was not through their own power that they did
this, but through their prayers to God, and it was their Almighty God
Who drew them from me. Who then is this Jesus, who takes the dead
from me without such prayers? If, then, he has released other people
from the grave, by what means or strength are we to detain him here?
A short time ago I swallowed up this dead man named Lazarus, and
not long thereafter he was forcibly removed from my entrails by the
word of one from among the living, and I think it was the one of whom
you speak.” Then Satan, the Prince of Death said, “It was Jesus all right.” And after hearing this, Hades remarked, “If it is that same one
who by order of his word alone caused Lazarus to fly like an eagle from
my bosom after four days of death, then he is not a man from the
human race, but God in all His majesty. Were we to let this man in
here, then I fear that we could lose everyone else as well. Just look, I
can sense the unrest of all whom I have devoured since the world was
made. Oh, how my belly aches! The Taking of Lazarus from me seems
to me an ill omen, for he was not taken from me like an ordinary dead
man. No, the earth cast him forth as swift as an eagle. Now Satan,
Master of all Evils, I implore you, by your strength as well as mine, do
not bring him here to me! For I fear that even as we are expecting to
capture him, he will take us captive instead. Just look, if all it took
was his voice alone to destroy every bit of my power, what do you
suppose that he will do when he shows up here in person? For as soon
as I heard the word of his command I shook with horror and dread,
and all who serve me were likewise mortified. So I am now quite sure
that any man who could do all this must indeed be God Himself,
powerful in dominion, mighty in humanity, and Savior to all mankind.
Behold, I fear that his entire purpose for coming down here is to raise
the dead. And I am telling you, by the darkness that surrounds us all,
if you should bring him here to me, he will free all those who are
locked away in the cruelty of prison, shackled by the unbreakable
chains of their sins. He will bring them into the eternal life of his
divinity, and not so much as one from the dead will be left for me!”
“Do not be such a coward!” Satan retorted. “You had better ready
yourself, because he is hanging on the cross already and there is
nothing else that I can do.” “If there is nothing you can do,” Hades replied, “then recognize that your destruction is at hand. Now I will
no doubt remain cast down and in disgrace, but you will be placed to
suffer torments in my embrace.”
And all of a sudden, even as Satan and Hades were arguing it all
out, a voice thundered and spirits cried forth, “Raise your gates, you
rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting gates; the King of Glory is on
his way!” Now when Hades heard this, he cast Satan out of his
kingdom, saying to him: “Go and fight him if you can! Go on then, get out of my house! If you are such a mighty warrior, then go and battle
against the King of Glory,” Satan therefore left his presence. Then
Hades ordered his most wicked and demonic servants, “Now secure
the cruel gates of brass, and firmly fasten the iron bars. Tighten and
secure them all, and hold fast my bolts. Stand tall and keep your eyes open for anything. Take courage and resist, that we who hold captivity
might not ourselves be taken captive, for if he should get in here,
calamities will befall us all.”
Now the saints could hear the conflict between Satan and Hades,
for they did possess knowledge, though they did not yet recognize one
another. “Ruler of Death,” our holy father Adam answered Satan, “tell
me why you shake with fright? Behold, the Lord is coming to
demolish all that you have contrived. He will lay hold of you and bind
you up forevermore.” And when the saints heard the voice of our
father Adam, and the boldness with which he had answered Satan,
they were strengthened in their joy, and they all came running up to
father Adam and crowded around him. Then our father Adam stared
out over the great multitude and wondered in astonishment if all in
the world were a descendant of his.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Dec 2:2; DecLtA 2:3; DecLtB 5:2)
The Underworld
After this another man, an anchorite from the wilderness, stepped
into their midst. “And who might you be who clothe yourself in such
raiment?” the patriarchs asked him. “I am John,” he replied, “the last
of the prophets. I made straight the ways of God’s Son, and ventured
out ahead of that very Lord to clear the rugged and barren places into
tidy paths. Mine was the finger that pointed him out to the people of
Jerusalem, revealing that he was the Lamb of the Lord and the Son of
God. I am the voice of the Most High, the prophet, and I am going out
before his face to prepare his ways before he comes, to deliver the
knowledge of salvation to his people, that their sins might be forgiven
them.
“And when I saw him drawing near, the Holy Spirit prompted me to
declare, ‘Behold, it is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the
sins of the world!’ I baptized him in the Jordan river with my own
hand, and I saw the Holy Spirit alighting upon him as a dove. Then I
heard a voice from the sky, ‘This is truly the Son of My love, the one in
whom I take delight.’ And he let me know that he would go down into
the nether realms. And now I have indeed come down to this place,
and gone before him to let you know that the risen Son of God is about
to arrive from on high to visit us who sit in darkness, underneath the
shadow of death. He has sent me here to say to you that the only
begotten Son of God is coming down; to advise you that all who put
their faith in him will be saved, and to caution you that all who refuse
to believe will be condemned. So now I’m here to let you know: as soon as you see him, worship him, for this will be your only chance for
repentance, because in the vain world above, you sinned through all
your idol worshipping, and it will not be possible for you to repent at
any other time.”
(Dec 2:1, 4:1-5:1; DecLtA 2:1-5:3a; DecLtB 2:1-6:2)
The Underworld
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, life and resurrection of the world, and the
Son of the Living God, give us grace to speak of your resurrection, of
the miraculous deeds that you have performed in Hades, and of the
wonders that you have worked in the underworld. Grant us leave to
utter mysteries through your death upon the cross, for you have
adjured us all and strictly forbidden your servants to reveal to any man
the secrets of your divine majesty which you have wrought in Hades.
Now after being placed alongside our fathers in the abyss, the
shadow of death, that deep darkness wherein lie all who have died
since the creation of the world, something like the sun shone suddenly
upon us and illumined us all. And how great was that light--the
golden radiance of the sun and the hue of royal purple. And we could
see each other in that midnight hour.
And the father of the whole human race rejoiced together with
Abraham, the patriarchs and the prophets. And they all cried out to
one another, “This light is shining from a great illumination! This
light can be none other than the author of everlasting life, who has
promised to give us the light of eternity.” Then Isaiah, one of those
who was standing there, cried aloud, “Father Adam and all of those
who are gathered around, listen to the words I speak. In the days that I walked the earth, I prophesied the coming of this light by the
teaching of the Holy Spirit through whom I sang,
‘Land of Zebulun and Napthali beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles, the people sitting in the midst of darkness
have seen a great light;
And among those who dwell beneath the shadow of death,
A shining light has broken forth.’
Now it has finally come and illumined us who sit in death.” And when
they heard his words, they turned his way. “Who are you?” father
Adam asked him, “For you have spoken the truth.” “I am Isaiah,” he And even as we were celebrating in the light that had dawned in our
midst, our father Simeon came to us rejoicing and saying, “Give glory
to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; for when he was an infant in
the temple, I took him into my arms. And the Holy Spirit prompted
me to declare, ‘Now my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have laid it
out before us all--a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and for the
glorification of your people Israel.’” And after hearing this, the host of
saints rejoiced the more, even as Hades and the gates of death all
trembled.
Then we heard the rumbling voice of the Son of the Most High
Father as he thundered, “Oh Princes, raise the portal; hoist the
everlasting gates, and the King of Glory, Christ the Lord will come up and enter therein.” And behold, Satan, the luminary of death, rose up
even as the saints exulted, fled in terror to his officials and infernal
authorities and said, “My officers and nether powers, hurry up and
shut the gates! Secure them now with iron bars! Resist them all and
bravely fight, lest they should capture us and keep us bound in
chains.” Then all of his unholy minions were disturbed, and went off
with all diligence to shut the gates and to carefully fasten all the locks
and iron bars; and they brandished their weapons as they howled in a
most frightful and gruesome voice.
Then Satan, the Prince and Heir of Darkness, and Ringleader of
Death, approached Hades and gloated, “Most insatiable devourer,
hearken to my speech. Brace yourself to receive the one that I am
bringing down to you. For there is this one from among the Jewish
race named Jesus who calls himself the Son of God.” And to this voice
Hades replied, “That voice that cried out indeed belonged to none
other than the Son of the Most High Father. The entire earth, you see,
even down to the regions below, shook so hard at the sound of it that I
think that now both myself and my dungeons lie exposed.” And Satan,
that Leader of Death replied, “What has gotten you so teary-eyed? My
most ancient and vile friend, have no fear; I have turned the whole
race of Jews against him! They struck him with blows to the face just
as I commanded them. I even managed to turn one of his own
disciples against him! He’s the same as any man; so afraid to die. Just
look, it was out of fear that he cried aloud, ‘My soul is almost dead from sorrow.’ And I was the one who brought him down. For he is
nothing but a man, and he has just now been lifted up and hung upon
a cross, so get ready to secure him here. He caused me a great deal of
trouble when he walked up there among the living. He has wronged
me and taken his stand against me at every turn. He has cast out as many of my servants as he has come across. He has cured all whom I
had disabled through his word alone--the blind, the lame, the leprous,
and the like. He has even reclaimed the dead that I have delivered
over to you.”
“Is he really so powerful,” Hades challenged Prince Satan, “that he
does all this with his word alone? If he fears death so much, then who must he be to have such authority? Will you indeed be able to hold
your own against him, if he has this kind of clout? Look, through your
might you have brought down and subjected great people to my rule.
So if you have this kind of authority, and he manages to frustrate your
command, what kind of power must lie behind this man Jesus who is
so ‘afraid of death’? I am telling you the truth, if he shows this kind of
ability as a human being, then he must truly be all-powerful and
divine. None can stand against such strength! And if it is, as you
allege, that he said he feared death, he only said it to deride and to
ridicule you, with an eye toward seizing you with the hand of strength.
And woe, woe to you forevermore.”
“Oh Hades, most insatiable devourer,” answered Satan, Prince of
Tartarus, “tell me why you have such doubts? Why are you so afraid to
receive Jesus, our mutual nemesis? I am not afraid of him. I have
tempted him, stirred up the religious fervor and righteous indignation
of my ancient people, the Jews, against him, sharpened a spear to
pierce him with, mixed gall and vinegar for him to drink, readied a
tree to crucify him on, and gathered thorns to prick him with. Soon he
will be dead and I will be able to bring him here to you, subject both to
you and me! Therefore when he does get here, be prepared to hold him fast.”
“Oh Heir of Darkness,” Hades retorted, “Son of Damnation and
devil, you have just now told me that through his word alone he has
brought many back to life whom you had readied for burial. You have
informed me that he has himself drawn the dead from me. I have held
a great many here who managed to take the dead from me when they
lived upon the earth. It was not through their own power that they did
this, but through their prayers to God, and it was their Almighty God
Who drew them from me. Who then is this Jesus, who takes the dead
from me without such prayers? If, then, he has released other people
from the grave, by what means or strength are we to detain him here?
A short time ago I swallowed up this dead man named Lazarus, and
not long thereafter he was forcibly removed from my entrails by the
word of one from among the living, and I think it was the one of whom
you speak.” Then Satan, the Prince of Death said, “It was Jesus all right.” And after hearing this, Hades remarked, “If it is that same one
who by order of his word alone caused Lazarus to fly like an eagle from
my bosom after four days of death, then he is not a man from the
human race, but God in all His majesty. Were we to let this man in
here, then I fear that we could lose everyone else as well. Just look, I
can sense the unrest of all whom I have devoured since the world was
made. Oh, how my belly aches! The Taking of Lazarus from me seems
to me an ill omen, for he was not taken from me like an ordinary dead
man. No, the earth cast him forth as swift as an eagle. Now Satan,
Master of all Evils, I implore you, by your strength as well as mine, do
not bring him here to me! For I fear that even as we are expecting to
capture him, he will take us captive instead. Just look, if all it took
was his voice alone to destroy every bit of my power, what do you
suppose that he will do when he shows up here in person? For as soon
as I heard the word of his command I shook with horror and dread,
and all who serve me were likewise mortified. So I am now quite sure
that any man who could do all this must indeed be God Himself,
powerful in dominion, mighty in humanity, and Savior to all mankind.
Behold, I fear that his entire purpose for coming down here is to raise
the dead. And I am telling you, by the darkness that surrounds us all,
if you should bring him here to me, he will free all those who are
locked away in the cruelty of prison, shackled by the unbreakable
chains of their sins. He will bring them into the eternal life of his
divinity, and not so much as one from the dead will be left for me!”
“Do not be such a coward!” Satan retorted. “You had better ready
yourself, because he is hanging on the cross already and there is
nothing else that I can do.” “If there is nothing you can do,” Hades replied, “then recognize that your destruction is at hand. Now I will
no doubt remain cast down and in disgrace, but you will be placed to
suffer torments in my embrace.”
And all of a sudden, even as Satan and Hades were arguing it all
out, a voice thundered and spirits cried forth, “Raise your gates, you
rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting gates; the King of Glory is on
his way!” Now when Hades heard this, he cast Satan out of his
kingdom, saying to him: “Go and fight him if you can! Go on then, get out of my house! If you are such a mighty warrior, then go and battle
against the King of Glory,” Satan therefore left his presence. Then
Hades ordered his most wicked and demonic servants, “Now secure
the cruel gates of brass, and firmly fasten the iron bars. Tighten and
secure them all, and hold fast my bolts. Stand tall and keep your eyes open for anything. Take courage and resist, that we who hold captivity
might not ourselves be taken captive, for if he should get in here,
calamities will befall us all.”
Now the saints could hear the conflict between Satan and Hades,
for they did possess knowledge, though they did not yet recognize one
another. “Ruler of Death,” our holy father Adam answered Satan, “tell
me why you shake with fright? Behold, the Lord is coming to
demolish all that you have contrived. He will lay hold of you and bind
you up forevermore.” And when the saints heard the voice of our
father Adam, and the boldness with which he had answered Satan,
they were strengthened in their joy, and they all came running up to
father Adam and crowded around him. Then our father Adam stared
out over the great multitude and wondered in astonishment if all in
the world were a descendant of his.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Dec 2:2; DecLtA 2:3; DecLtB 5:2)
The Underworld
After this another man, an anchorite from the wilderness, stepped
into their midst. “And who might you be who clothe yourself in such
raiment?” the patriarchs asked him. “I am John,” he replied, “the last
of the prophets. I made straight the ways of God’s Son, and ventured
out ahead of that very Lord to clear the rugged and barren places into
tidy paths. Mine was the finger that pointed him out to the people of
Jerusalem, revealing that he was the Lamb of the Lord and the Son of
God. I am the voice of the Most High, the prophet, and I am going out
before his face to prepare his ways before he comes, to deliver the
knowledge of salvation to his people, that their sins might be forgiven
them.
“And when I saw him drawing near, the Holy Spirit prompted me to
declare, ‘Behold, it is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the
sins of the world!’ I baptized him in the Jordan river with my own
hand, and I saw the Holy Spirit alighting upon him as a dove. Then I
heard a voice from the sky, ‘This is truly the Son of My love, the one in
whom I take delight.’ And he let me know that he would go down into
the nether realms. And now I have indeed come down to this place,
and gone before him to let you know that the risen Son of God is about
to arrive from on high to visit us who sit in darkness, underneath the
shadow of death. He has sent me here to say to you that the only
begotten Son of God is coming down; to advise you that all who put
their faith in him will be saved, and to caution you that all who refuse
to believe will be condemned. So now I’m here to let you know: as soon as you see him, worship him, for this will be your only chance for
repentance, because in the vain world above, you sinned through all
your idol worshipping, and it will not be possible for you to repent at
any other time.”
ADAM AND SETH
(Dec 3:1; DecLtA 3:1; DecLtB 4:2b-3)
The Underworld
And when Father Adam heard these words, he cried out in a loud
voice, “Hallelujah!” which is to say, “Truly the Lord is on his way.”
And hearing that Jesus had been baptized in the River Jordan, Father
Adam, the first man formed, embraced those who were standing
around him. And through his bitter tears he sobbed to his son Seth,
“Let your sons the patriarchs and prophets know all that you heard
from Michael the archangel; with regard to what took place when I
was ill and sent you to the gates of paradise to beseech God to send
His angel to give you oil from the Tree of Mercy with which to anoint
my body.” Then Seth, going before the righteous patriarchs and
prophets proclaimed, “Patriarchs and prophets, hearken to my speech.
When my father Adam, the first man formed, grew terminally ill, he
sent me out to the gate of paradise to pray to God, hoping that He
would send an angel out to lead me to the Tree of Mercy, that I might
take some of the oil therefrom and anoint him therewith, so that he
might recover thereby. So I prayed to the Lord, and in tears did I call
upon the Guardian of Paradise to give me some. Then Michael the archangel came out and questioned me, ‘Seth, why are you weeping?
Tell me, then, what you are seeking? For the Lord has sent me here to
you, seeing that I have been set over the human race. Is it because
your father is ill and you want some of that oil that raises up the sick,
or else access to the tree that produces it? It is impossible for you to
receive it just yet. But Seth, let me tell you, do not toil through tearful
prayer and supplication for the oil of that Tree of Mercy with which to
anoint the body of your father, which is stricken by such pain. Realize
in advance that the body of your father Adam will not at this time be
given this oil of mercy, but only after the passing of many ages. You
see, you will only be able to receive it in the final days and times, after
the fulfillment of the five thousand five hundred years. For the dearly
beloved Son of God will come down out of heaven and enter this
world, that he might raise up not only the body of Adam, but indeed
those of all the departed. And when he comes, he will be baptized by
John in the River Jordan. Then, when he rises up and out of the
water, he will anoint the bodies of all who believe in him with the oil of his mercy. That oil of mercy will be for those who are to be delivered
unto eternal life, those who are born of water and Divine Inspiration.
And when he goes down into the heart of the earth, Jesus Christ, the
beloved Son of God, will then rise up, carry our father Adam into
paradise, and deliver him at last to that Tree of Mercy. And he will
purify himself and his children with water and the Holy Spirit. Then
he will be free of every disease, and then will begin the eternal reign of
those who have trusted in him. But none of this can happen yet, so go
back and say to your father, ‘Five thousand and five hundred years
from the time that the world was brought into being, God’s only
begotten Son is going to come down to this realm and take on a
human form, and he will be the one to anoint him with the oil of His
mercy.’”
And when Seth was heard to say these things, the patriarchs, the
prophets and all of the assembled saints, filled with joy and exultation,
started to mock and reprove Hades, chiding, “Oh, Hades, who devours
all things but is never filled, open wide your gates that the King of
Glory might come inside.”
DAVID
(Dec 5:2; DecLtA 5:2a; DecLtB 6:1a)
The Underworld
Then another came forward who was set apart by a regal
appearance. His name was David, and he cried out, “You who are
blind, do you not know that when I lived in the world above, I was the
one who spoke that word, ‘Lift up your gates, you rulers?’ I made
known the mercy of God even as I walked the earth, foretelling of the
future joy, and also of his coming here, saying, ‘Let them throughout
all the ages, confess to the Lord of his tender mercies and wonderful
works on behalf of the sons of men, for he has shattered the gates of
brass, destroyed the bars of iron, and raised them from their wicked
ways.’”
JEREMIAH
(DecLtB 6:1b)
The Underworld
Then each of the righteous forefathers started to recognize one
another and to recite their respective prophecies. The holy Jeremiah,
going over what he had said, then addressed the other patriarchs and
prophets, saying, “When I lived in the world above, I forespoke of the
Son of God, of his coming to this earth, and of the way that he would
speak to men.”
ISAIAH
(DecLtA 5:2b; DecLtB 5:1)
The Underworld
Following him, Isaiah likewise said to them, “When I lived upon the
earth, I spoke of this through the Divine Inspiration, for did I not say
to you, ‘The dead will arise, and all who are entombed will again rise
up; and the peoples of the earth, (and) those beneath will rejoice as
one, for the dew of the Lord will heal them all’? And again I said, ‘Oh
Death, where is your sting? Oh Hades, where is your victory?’”
(Dec 3:1; DecLtA 3:1; DecLtB 4:2b-3)
The Underworld
And when Father Adam heard these words, he cried out in a loud
voice, “Hallelujah!” which is to say, “Truly the Lord is on his way.”
And hearing that Jesus had been baptized in the River Jordan, Father
Adam, the first man formed, embraced those who were standing
around him. And through his bitter tears he sobbed to his son Seth,
“Let your sons the patriarchs and prophets know all that you heard
from Michael the archangel; with regard to what took place when I
was ill and sent you to the gates of paradise to beseech God to send
His angel to give you oil from the Tree of Mercy with which to anoint
my body.” Then Seth, going before the righteous patriarchs and
prophets proclaimed, “Patriarchs and prophets, hearken to my speech.
When my father Adam, the first man formed, grew terminally ill, he
sent me out to the gate of paradise to pray to God, hoping that He
would send an angel out to lead me to the Tree of Mercy, that I might
take some of the oil therefrom and anoint him therewith, so that he
might recover thereby. So I prayed to the Lord, and in tears did I call
upon the Guardian of Paradise to give me some. Then Michael the archangel came out and questioned me, ‘Seth, why are you weeping?
Tell me, then, what you are seeking? For the Lord has sent me here to
you, seeing that I have been set over the human race. Is it because
your father is ill and you want some of that oil that raises up the sick,
or else access to the tree that produces it? It is impossible for you to
receive it just yet. But Seth, let me tell you, do not toil through tearful
prayer and supplication for the oil of that Tree of Mercy with which to
anoint the body of your father, which is stricken by such pain. Realize
in advance that the body of your father Adam will not at this time be
given this oil of mercy, but only after the passing of many ages. You
see, you will only be able to receive it in the final days and times, after
the fulfillment of the five thousand five hundred years. For the dearly
beloved Son of God will come down out of heaven and enter this
world, that he might raise up not only the body of Adam, but indeed
those of all the departed. And when he comes, he will be baptized by
John in the River Jordan. Then, when he rises up and out of the
water, he will anoint the bodies of all who believe in him with the oil of his mercy. That oil of mercy will be for those who are to be delivered
unto eternal life, those who are born of water and Divine Inspiration.
And when he goes down into the heart of the earth, Jesus Christ, the
beloved Son of God, will then rise up, carry our father Adam into
paradise, and deliver him at last to that Tree of Mercy. And he will
purify himself and his children with water and the Holy Spirit. Then
he will be free of every disease, and then will begin the eternal reign of
those who have trusted in him. But none of this can happen yet, so go
back and say to your father, ‘Five thousand and five hundred years
from the time that the world was brought into being, God’s only
begotten Son is going to come down to this realm and take on a
human form, and he will be the one to anoint him with the oil of His
mercy.’”
And when Seth was heard to say these things, the patriarchs, the
prophets and all of the assembled saints, filled with joy and exultation,
started to mock and reprove Hades, chiding, “Oh, Hades, who devours
all things but is never filled, open wide your gates that the King of
Glory might come inside.”
DAVID
(Dec 5:2; DecLtA 5:2a; DecLtB 6:1a)
The Underworld
Then another came forward who was set apart by a regal
appearance. His name was David, and he cried out, “You who are
blind, do you not know that when I lived in the world above, I was the
one who spoke that word, ‘Lift up your gates, you rulers?’ I made
known the mercy of God even as I walked the earth, foretelling of the
future joy, and also of his coming here, saying, ‘Let them throughout
all the ages, confess to the Lord of his tender mercies and wonderful
works on behalf of the sons of men, for he has shattered the gates of
brass, destroyed the bars of iron, and raised them from their wicked
ways.’”
JEREMIAH
(DecLtB 6:1b)
The Underworld
Then each of the righteous forefathers started to recognize one
another and to recite their respective prophecies. The holy Jeremiah,
going over what he had said, then addressed the other patriarchs and
prophets, saying, “When I lived in the world above, I forespoke of the
Son of God, of his coming to this earth, and of the way that he would
speak to men.”
ISAIAH
(DecLtA 5:2b; DecLtB 5:1)
The Underworld
Following him, Isaiah likewise said to them, “When I lived upon the
earth, I spoke of this through the Divine Inspiration, for did I not say
to you, ‘The dead will arise, and all who are entombed will again rise
up; and the peoples of the earth, (and) those beneath will rejoice as
one, for the dew of the Lord will heal them all’? And again I said, ‘Oh
Death, where is your sting? Oh Hades, where is your victory?’”
THE SAINTS
(DecLtA 5:3a; DecLtB 6:2)
The Underworld
And when the saints heard what Isaiah had said, they all started
prodding Hades, “Open up your gates, for now you are vanquished.
From now on, you are to be weak and defenseless.” Then all of the
saints, basking in the light of the Lord before the eyes of our father
Adam, responding to all that the patriarchs and prophets had said,
cried out, “Hallelujah! Blessings on the one who comes bearing the
Lord’s name.” Now their shouts started Satan trembling and seeking
some means of escape, but because Hades and his minions had him all
bound up and kept in the underworld--surrounded and guarded on
every side--all his efforts were for nought. “What has got you
shaking?” they taunted. “We are not about to let you out. Take what
you’ve got coming to you from the one you attacked each and every
day. And of this you can be sure: he will bind you up and deliver you
into my hands.”
(DecLtA 5:3a; DecLtB 6:2)
The Underworld
And when the saints heard what Isaiah had said, they all started
prodding Hades, “Open up your gates, for now you are vanquished.
From now on, you are to be weak and defenseless.” Then all of the
saints, basking in the light of the Lord before the eyes of our father
Adam, responding to all that the patriarchs and prophets had said,
cried out, “Hallelujah! Blessings on the one who comes bearing the
Lord’s name.” Now their shouts started Satan trembling and seeking
some means of escape, but because Hades and his minions had him all
bound up and kept in the underworld--surrounded and guarded on
every side--all his efforts were for nought. “What has got you
shaking?” they taunted. “We are not about to let you out. Take what
you’ve got coming to you from the one you attacked each and every
day. And of this you can be sure: he will bind you up and deliver you
into my hands.”
JESUS SURRENDERS HIS SPIRIT
(Matt 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:45b-46; John 19:25-30;
John 19:26-30 in Codex Evangelii Johannei Templariorum;
GPt 5:2-5; GNc 11:1a)
Jerusalem
And right about the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a thundering
voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!”--which means “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?” Now when some of those who were
standing nearby heard this, they said, “Listen up, he is calling Elijah!”
And one of them said, “Give him gall and vinegar to drink.” And right
away one of the men raced to get a sponge. Then, after stirring up the
mixture, he saturated the sponge with sour wine, poked a stick
through it, and gave it to Jesus to drink. But he (and some) others
said, “Leave this man alone for now. Let us see if Elijah comes to take
him down (and) rescue him.”
Now Jesus’ mother was standing by the cross, as was his mother’s sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and also Mary Magdalene. And
when Jesus saw his mother there, and his beloved disciple close at
hand, he said to her, “Precious woman, do not weep, for I am on my
way back to my Father, where there is eternal life. Your son is right
here at your side! He is going to take my place.” And to the disciple
he said, “Here is your mother!” And this follower took her into his
home from that time forward.
After that, knowing that all was now fulfilled so as to satisfy the
Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jug of vinegared wine was
sitting there, so they steeped a sponge in it, attached it to the stalk of a
hyssop plant, and raised it up to Jesus’ lips, bringing all things to a
close, and piling their sins upon their heads. And many, thinking it
nighttime, went around carrying lanterns, and they lay down. And
after he had taken a drink, Jesus cried with a deafening shout, “My
Power! My Power! You have forsaken me! It is finished now!” And
when Jesus had again cried in a loud voice, “Father, baddach ephkid
rouel” which translates as, “Father, I place my spirit into your hands!”
he breathed his last, lowered his head, surrendered his spirit and was
taken up.
(Matt 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:45b-46; John 19:25-30;
John 19:26-30 in Codex Evangelii Johannei Templariorum;
GPt 5:2-5; GNc 11:1a)
Jerusalem
And right about the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a thundering
voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani!”--which means “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?” Now when some of those who were
standing nearby heard this, they said, “Listen up, he is calling Elijah!”
And one of them said, “Give him gall and vinegar to drink.” And right
away one of the men raced to get a sponge. Then, after stirring up the
mixture, he saturated the sponge with sour wine, poked a stick
through it, and gave it to Jesus to drink. But he (and some) others
said, “Leave this man alone for now. Let us see if Elijah comes to take
him down (and) rescue him.”
Now Jesus’ mother was standing by the cross, as was his mother’s sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and also Mary Magdalene. And
when Jesus saw his mother there, and his beloved disciple close at
hand, he said to her, “Precious woman, do not weep, for I am on my
way back to my Father, where there is eternal life. Your son is right
here at your side! He is going to take my place.” And to the disciple
he said, “Here is your mother!” And this follower took her into his
home from that time forward.
After that, knowing that all was now fulfilled so as to satisfy the
Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jug of vinegared wine was
sitting there, so they steeped a sponge in it, attached it to the stalk of a
hyssop plant, and raised it up to Jesus’ lips, bringing all things to a
close, and piling their sins upon their heads. And many, thinking it
nighttime, went around carrying lanterns, and they lay down. And
after he had taken a drink, Jesus cried with a deafening shout, “My
Power! My Power! You have forsaken me! It is finished now!” And
when Jesus had again cried in a loud voice, “Father, baddach ephkid
rouel” which translates as, “Father, I place my spirit into your hands!”
he breathed his last, lowered his head, surrendered his spirit and was
taken up.
SIGNS ACCOMPANYING JESUS’ DEATH
(Matt 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45b, 47-49; John 19:31-37;
GNc 11:1b; GPt 5:6; GNaz 10, Quote by Jerome, Epistle to Hedibia
120.8,
GNaz 10, Quote by Jerome, On Matthew 4, Regarding Matthew 27:51,
AnaPlt 7b; Dec 5:3a; DecLtA 5:3b; DecLtB 7:1)
Golgotha (Gethsemane), Jerusalem
And just then the curtain of the temple ripped in two from top to
bottom. The ground then shook and the temple’s enormous lintel
fractured and collapsed, shattering into pieces. And the entire earth
was swallowed up by the underworld, such that the very sanctuary of
the temple, as they refer to it, could not be seen by the Jews as they
fell. The rocks cracked open and they saw an abyss in the earth below;
and they heard the rumbling of thunders that came upon it.
And once again, the voice of the Son of the Most High Father came
thundering (in Hades,) “Oh you Princes, hoist your gates, and you
everlasting gates, be lifted up; the King of Glory is coming in.” And
seeing that the voice had twice cried out, Satan and Hades then
inquired, “Who is this King of Glory?” just as if they did not know.
And the voice of the Lord answered them, “It is the great and powerful
Lord, the Lord who is almighty in battle.” “I recognize those words
that were shouted,” David answered Hades, “for I spoke those same words through his Spirit. And now I will say to you as I said before, ‘It
is the strong and mighty Lord, the Lord who is great in battle, he is
indeed the King of Glory.’”
And during that horrific event, the bodies of many of the righteous
who had died already were seen raised back up to life. They came out
of their graves and, following the resurrection of Jesus, entered into
the Holy City and appeared to many of its citizens, as the Jews have
themselves admitted. They reported that they had seen Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; the Twelve Patriarchs, Moses, and even Job, who
they say died some thirty-five hundred years before. I, (Pilate,) saw
great numbers appearing bodily, and they were grieving for the Jews,
both for the great iniquity that had happened on their account, as well
as the subsequent devastation of their nation and their law.
And after the centurion who was standing before Jesus, and those
who were keeping guard with him, had witnessed the earthquake and
all of the other signs that had taken place, hearing his shout and
seeing how he had died, they grew fearful and gave glory to God,
shouting out and confessing, “This righteous man must have been the
Son of God!” And when all who had gathered to see this event saw
what had happened, they beat their breasts and left for home. But
those who knew him were watching him from a distance, (and) among
them were some women, Mary of Magdala, Mary, mother of the lesser
James, and of Joses and Salome. These women had traveled with him
all over Galilee, attending to his every need. There were also many
other women who were watching these things from afar who had
followed him and made the journey from Galilee all the way up to
Jerusalem.
Now it was the day of Preparation for the following day’s high
Sabbath, and the Jews, not wanting any bodies left hanging on the
crosses on the Sabbath Day, asked Pilate to order that their legs be
broken and their corpses removed. So the soldiers came and broke the
legs of the first man crucified alongside Jesus, then those of the second
one. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was dead
already, they left his legs unbroken. One of the soldiers, however, did
pierce Jesus through his side with a spear, and out of him flowed
blood and water. Now all of these things came to pass to bring to
fulfillment the Scripture that says, “Not even one of his bones will be
broken.” And, as it says in another place, “They will look on the one
whom they have pierced.” And the man who has given this account
actually saw it happen, and his is a faithful witness. He knows that he is telling the truth, such that you might also believe.
(Matt 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45b, 47-49; John 19:31-37;
GNc 11:1b; GPt 5:6; GNaz 10, Quote by Jerome, Epistle to Hedibia
120.8,
GNaz 10, Quote by Jerome, On Matthew 4, Regarding Matthew 27:51,
AnaPlt 7b; Dec 5:3a; DecLtA 5:3b; DecLtB 7:1)
Golgotha (Gethsemane), Jerusalem
And just then the curtain of the temple ripped in two from top to
bottom. The ground then shook and the temple’s enormous lintel
fractured and collapsed, shattering into pieces. And the entire earth
was swallowed up by the underworld, such that the very sanctuary of
the temple, as they refer to it, could not be seen by the Jews as they
fell. The rocks cracked open and they saw an abyss in the earth below;
and they heard the rumbling of thunders that came upon it.
And once again, the voice of the Son of the Most High Father came
thundering (in Hades,) “Oh you Princes, hoist your gates, and you
everlasting gates, be lifted up; the King of Glory is coming in.” And
seeing that the voice had twice cried out, Satan and Hades then
inquired, “Who is this King of Glory?” just as if they did not know.
And the voice of the Lord answered them, “It is the great and powerful
Lord, the Lord who is almighty in battle.” “I recognize those words
that were shouted,” David answered Hades, “for I spoke those same words through his Spirit. And now I will say to you as I said before, ‘It
is the strong and mighty Lord, the Lord who is great in battle, he is
indeed the King of Glory.’”
And during that horrific event, the bodies of many of the righteous
who had died already were seen raised back up to life. They came out
of their graves and, following the resurrection of Jesus, entered into
the Holy City and appeared to many of its citizens, as the Jews have
themselves admitted. They reported that they had seen Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; the Twelve Patriarchs, Moses, and even Job, who
they say died some thirty-five hundred years before. I, (Pilate,) saw
great numbers appearing bodily, and they were grieving for the Jews,
both for the great iniquity that had happened on their account, as well
as the subsequent devastation of their nation and their law.
And after the centurion who was standing before Jesus, and those
who were keeping guard with him, had witnessed the earthquake and
all of the other signs that had taken place, hearing his shout and
seeing how he had died, they grew fearful and gave glory to God,
shouting out and confessing, “This righteous man must have been the
Son of God!” And when all who had gathered to see this event saw
what had happened, they beat their breasts and left for home. But
those who knew him were watching him from a distance, (and) among
them were some women, Mary of Magdala, Mary, mother of the lesser
James, and of Joses and Salome. These women had traveled with him
all over Galilee, attending to his every need. There were also many
other women who were watching these things from afar who had
followed him and made the journey from Galilee all the way up to
Jerusalem.
Now it was the day of Preparation for the following day’s high
Sabbath, and the Jews, not wanting any bodies left hanging on the
crosses on the Sabbath Day, asked Pilate to order that their legs be
broken and their corpses removed. So the soldiers came and broke the
legs of the first man crucified alongside Jesus, then those of the second
one. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was dead
already, they left his legs unbroken. One of the soldiers, however, did
pierce Jesus through his side with a spear, and out of him flowed
blood and water. Now all of these things came to pass to bring to
fulfillment the Scripture that says, “Not even one of his bones will be
broken.” And, as it says in another place, “They will look on the one
whom they have pierced.” And the man who has given this account
actually saw it happen, and his is a faithful witness. He knows that he is telling the truth, such that you might also believe.
אין תגובות:
הוסף רשומת תגובה