The Great Gospel of John
Volume 10
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord on the way to Bethsaida
- Chapter 141 -
The Lord predicts His death and resurrection.
The eldest said: "O Lord and Master and true Father of men, yes, only now I understand for the first time what it means: 'Love God above all.'
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So the one who truly loves His children and perceives the wisdom of the Father, loves God above all as the only true Father of all men. And so, neighborly love is the highest virtue of life in this world, and we will make effort to practice it everywhere with all our strength."
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After these words of the elder, the woman of the innkeeper came to tell us that the morning meal was ready. The innkeeper asked Me if he should let the fried fishes be brought on the table that was not set yet.
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I said: "When I satiated a few thousand of people in the desert with little bread and fishes, there also was not a set table. If one can eat bread and wine from an unset table, then why not a few fried fishes? So let the fishes be brought on this unset table now, then we will eat them."
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This I arranged especially for the 3 Jews, because a table that was covered with a completely clean tablecloth was still very important to them, for according to their law, a Jew who would take a warm meal from a table that was not covered with a clean tablecloth could become impure.
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So the 3 looked at Me while they secretly thought within themselves: 'What, do You not keep all the precepts of Moses anymore?"
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But I said: "Then what do you think? Did the Israelites in the desert also eat from tables with clean tablecloths when they ate the manna?"
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The eldest said: "Lord and Master, they certainly did not have that."
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I said: "So then we also can eat fishes that are put on an unset table. What is pure to Me, let that also be pure to you. For it is also written that one should not eat bread with unwashed hands, and despite that, you just put the bread in your mouth in My presence with unwashed hands and you nevertheless remained pure for Me. And when you are pure for Me, then who will accuse you of impurity? Maybe a blind Pharisee in the temple in Jerusalem? Innkeeper, let the fishes be brought in, then we will eat them and remain pure."
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With that answer of Mine, the 3 Jews were completely satisfied, and they ate the fishes with us without any further objection.
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These 3 Jews stayed another 3 full days with Me. And I and the 3 disciples, who stayed with Me, explained many things to them from the Scripture, especially for what concerns the creation and the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel, and we put them also in the right light about the natural things of this Earth.
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On the 4th day they went to Aphek on My advice to also there convince themselves as to what I had done there for the gentiles who became believing. Before they took leave from Me, the eldest asked Me if they also should travel to Jerusalem to open there the eyes of the blind temple servants regarding Me.
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I said: "Leave this out, for when they do not want to listen to Myself and do not believe in Me despite the many signs that I have done before their eyes, they will even less listen to you nor believe your words. And they surely would throw you in jail and let you be chastised. So leave this out and stay where you are. Proclaim My gospel at a right opportunity to the gentiles and give them the light of the truth that I gave you. But do not add anything and do also not leave out anything.
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I gave it to you freely, so give it likewise freely to everyone who hungers and thirsts for it. However, do not throw these pearls to the real worldly pigs of men.
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But close to Easter I will go Myself one more time to Jerusalem, and then will happen with Me what I have explained to you in detail from the prophets. When you will hear about it, do not be offended and remember that I told you beforehand and that also through this the Scripture will be fulfilled up to the last stroke .
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When I will arise from the dead of the body on the 3rd day, I will come again to you all, as I am standing before you all now, and then I will strengthen you all with My Spirit.
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So we will not see each other for a short time and then we will see each other again, and this will comfort you.
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Then I blessed the 3 old Jews and they went to Aphek as I mentioned before.
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It is obvious that these 3, when they came near the city, were more and more amazed about the great sign, and when they were completely in the city and in the same inn, and were also received by the innkeeper with great friendliness, the 3 as well as the innkeeper and all those who were with them could hardly stop glorifying and praising My name.
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And what did I do during those remaining few days in our lovable little village?
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Every day travelers came and took up accommodation with the innkeeper and informed zealously to know how this region could have been made that flourishing. Some things were told to a few of them, but to most of them not, because those travelers were mostly businessmen who had no sense for these spiritual things, and so no one of us made effort to initiate such purely worldly men into the truths of life. And also the inhabitants of the village realized that one should not throw pearls as common feed to worldly pigs.
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The 7th day arrived, and close to the evening My disciples, who were sent out, came all back in a good mood to Me in the village, and they hardly could stop to relate how for the greatest part they had done good things in My name.
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And I said: "You know that I know how you have worked, and so you are worthy of the reward to be My disciples, but now you should rest and strengthen yourselves with food and drink."
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Wine and bread was brought at once, and after that also fish.
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After the evening meal, the returned disciples went immediately to rest. However, I stayed awake until the morning with the innkeeper and the 3 disciples who had stayed with Me.