Correspondence Between Abgarus and Jesus
- Letter 3 -
Abgarus' third letter to the Lord
Abgarus, a small toparch in Edessa, to Jesus the Saviour, Who has appeared in the land around Jerusalem, all hail into eternity.
2
Out of Your lovely merciful letter, that You oh Lord, Lord God of Eternity, have previously and most graciously, before this my letter, sent to me a dust-covered worm and to my sons overwhelming comfort, have I clearly seen, that in You must live the Highest Love; for otherwise it would simply be impossible, that You, as the only Lord of all heavens as well as the earth, me, a worm before You, for my son who loves You over all to have thought of so well, to have given him such an almighty source of comfort! I can to You, oh Lord, for that probably do nothing, than to sink before Your most Holy name in the dust of my nothingness and offer to You my and my sons thanks. Graciously take this our most fervent thanks as a pledge of our most burning love, and think of us always in Your, for me, inconceivable mildness.
3
My very sick son's love to You has expressed to me a loving desire for You a couple of days ago. Lord, forgive me that I again through this letter make it known to You! I very well know that our thoughts are already much sooner known to You, before my son and I have thought of them; but putting that aside I write You, as if one writes a person, and I do that after the advice of that poor young person which was recommended to me by You, who is now already positioned with me, and who said to me, that everyone must come to You this way, who wants to receive something from You!
4
This young person professed to have seen You; he has in fact a very simple, but otherwise, how it appears to me, a very correct and appropriate gift of description. This young person has become very valuable to me as a result of his ability, and recently to our joy described to us Your appearance in a very graphic manner, that I and my son, who is still alive, but already quite weak, believed to have literally seen You. However, in my city lives a very great artist painter; he painted for me at once, after the description of the young person, Your head with chest. My son and I were surprised and greatly pleased by this picture, then the poor young person professed, that You, oh Lord, look just like it!
5
That is why I am using this opportunity, through the trusted bearer of this my due letter of thanks to send You Your self-image, on that You would verify it Yourself, and then let me know through the messenger, whether this picture possibly looks like You?
6
Oh Lord Jesus, You good Saviour of all mankind! For that reason do not be angry with us; for not a contemptuous curiosity, no, but rather pure mighty love to You drove us to have it made, this the most valuable gem of our heart, so that we can make for ourselves some kind of picture of You, because You have fulfilled our hearts into the deepest depth with Your love, and You became our greatest wealth, our greatest solace, and our hearts most precious brides-ornaments in life and in death!
7
Oh Lord, never stop remembering us in Your heart; may Your Holy Will be done for us!
The Lord Jesus' third answer to the King Abgarus, which was send within ten days through the same messenger of the king.
8
My blessing, My Love and My Grace to you, My beloved son Abgarus!
9
I have here in Judea said very often to them, whom I helped of all kinds of ills of the body: See, your belief did that! But, I have never asked anyone: Do you love Me? And thus far no one has said out of the depth of their heart: Lord, I love you!
10
You though already believed long before, without having seen Me, that I am the only One, and now you love Me, like one who has long been re-born out of the Fire of the Spirit.
11
Oh Abgarus! Abgarus! If only you would, and you could grasp it, how much I love you for that, and what a great joy you make to My eternal Fathers-heart, a greater bliss would consequently overwhelm you, that you could never live again!
12
However, be steadfast in all, what you will gradually hear of Me from the wicked Jews, who soon will deliver Me into the hands of the hangman. However, when you hear all this, and do not become annoyed over it, then will you spiritually be the first, after your son, who will have a living part in My resurrection from death.
13
Truly, truly I say unto you: those who believe in My teaching, that it has come out from God, they shall also be raised from the dead on the Youngest Day, under these circumstances everyone will find his just sentence. But those that love Me like you do will never taste death! Just as quickly as the fastest thought, so also will they be transfigured out of this life of the body into the very brightest eternal life, and will take up residence with Me, their Father for eternity! However, carefully keep such a secret with you, until I have been resurrected!
14
Then soon after that a disciple will come to you, like I promised you in the first letter, and will except for your son, who will go before Me without pain into My Kingdom, make you and your entire household bodily and spiritually healthy.
15
In regard to the resemblance between My outer form and through your messenger send picture of Me, is true or not, will your messenger, who has already seen Me now for the third time, most loyally inform you of. Whoever wants a picture of Me with your like intentions, there is no sin in it! Since love bears all. But woe unto them who make an idol out of Me. But keep the picture a secret!
16
Written in Judea through one of My disciples, who is close to My heart, and again send through the same messenger.
17
My well being to your household. -Amen.