The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Second day in Sychar
- Chapter 61 -
At Sychar. Continuation of miraculous surprises. The angels as the builders of the glorious chamber. The exceedingly astonished merchant senses the 'Son of God' in Jesus.
On reaching the first storey he notices the aforementioned wing and enchantedly runs through the open door, looks at the great hall and collapses in wonder. But some of the white youths immediately step over, helping him up and fortifying him. Recovering a little, he comes towards Me again and asks Me with a voice tremulous with wonder, 'Oh Lord, please tell me once and for all whether I am awake or whether I am sleeping and actually dreaming!'
2
Say I: 'The way you ask you seem indeed to be more asleep than awake; but you nevertheless are awake, and what you are seeing is solid reality! Outside in the grove you told Me yourself how you had heard how I had quickly restored Joseph's old house, currently occupied by Irhael as owner. Now then, if I could re-erect Joseph's house, then surely I should be able to renew Esau's old fort?!'
3
Says the merchant: 'Yes, yes, this can now be seen and is true; yet it is nevertheless unbelievable that a man should accomplish such things! Hear me, Lord; If You are not a prophet like Elijah, then You must be either an archangel in human form, or in the end Jehovah Himself! Because such things are possible only to God!'
4
Say I: 'Yes, yes, if you had seen no sign you would not have believed Me! Now you believe Me of course, but in such faith you are not free in spirit! But so that you would nevertheless become freer in spirit I say unto you: not I but these many youths did this; such power they have from God the Father. These you may ask how they went about it!'
5
Says the merchant: 'That's right! I had already asked Jonael outside where these gloriously beautiful young beings came from, but did not get an answer, and was simply referred to You. When I came over to You I strangely enough forgot all about it; I became concerned only with Yourself, and our discourse took quite a different direction. Only now does it come back to mind, and I should like You to give me a proper explanation as to where these fairest youths come from.'
6
Say I: 'In order not to put you off any longer I say unto you that these are angels of God, if you will accept that. But if you don't want to accept this then take them for anything you like, except for the devil and his servants!'
7
Says the merchant: Oh Lord, what, what is happening to me? I asked You only earlier on whether I am indeed awake, or whether I sleep and dream; but now I ask you whether I still live. Because such things surely cannot take place on the actual earth!'
8
Say I: 'Oh, indeed you live upon the earth! I have opened your inner vision, so now you may also behold the spirits of heaven! But now ask no more, because it is time for lunch! All is readied, so let us move over to the tables!'
9
Says the merchant: 'Yes, yes, right so! But I shall not be able to eat much for wonder upon wonder! No, just this morning I would not have been able to suspect anything like it. This came upon me much too fast and unexpected. It is hardly three hours since You entered my grove from Sychar, yet what has not taken place since then?! - The most incredible! - And yet it is! But who other than the witnesses shall believe what happened, even if a thousand testimonies upheld it?! Lord, Lord, You great Master, taught and guided by God Himself, I believe it because I am now seeing it with my own eyes. But tell a thousand others and they will not only disbelieve but be offended and call the testifier an outrageous liar! Hence do not pass it on anywhere, for this thing is too marvellously great! - Who has ever beheld a glory like this hall?! The walls like pure precious stones, the ceiling gold, the floor silver, the many tables of Jasper, hyacinth and emerald, the shelves of gold and silver, the drinking vessels like purest diamond and the platters akin to finest flaming ruby; the benches around the tables again of precious metal and the upholstery of deep red silk, and the aroma of the foods and drinks as if from the heavens! And all this in - say - three hours! No, this is incredible many times over!
10
Lord! You must be either God Himself or at least definitely God's Son!'
11
Say I; 'Indeed, indeed! But now to the meal! After the meal you shall find out more; but now I add no more before the meal. Just behold the many who are hungering and thirsting, as it is quite warm today! Hence let them first be refreshed and fortified, then everything spiritual shall come into its own again!'