The Great Gospel of John
Volume 2
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus in the Vicinity of Caesara Philippi (Matthew 16)
- Chapter 236 -
The Pharisees as critics.
Upon joining us, ample room was made for them at a table adjoining ours.
2
Whereupon Marcus comes over to Me, asking whether to serve up the rescued ones with salt, bread and wine.
3
Say I: "Ask them and your heart, if they want something, and if your heart is willing to give! If they want and your heart is willing to give, then give! Since behold, for this is also a main rule of true neighbourly love! The neighbour must ask, either verbally by calling for help, or in the worst case by easily observable silent need and your heart must immediately firmly wants to become active accordingly; then the neighbourly love was carried out truly according to God's order and the effect for the spirit of the giver will not remain outstanding. - Do you understand such?"
4
Says Marcus: "Yes, Lord, I understand this perfectly and will immediately follow such your instructions."
5
Say I: "Go, but don't give Me away too soon! One must not rush them overmuch yet, as deep night still resides in their hearts; and their souls are not for a long time yet, ready to grasp fundamental truths. "
6
Whereupon Marcus quickly moves over to the rescued ones, asking them what bodily fortification they would prefer.
7
Says one: "Friend, we are of a truth hungry and thirsty, but our whole means consists of nine copper pieces. For this, not mus can be ordered, in this usually bread-deprived region. If you can give us something worthwhile however, then we shall hand you the nine pieces!"
8
Says Marcus: "If that's the situation, then your nine pieces shall not be necessary either, and you shall still be served enough to eat and drink."
9
After which Marcus at once summons his wife and children, bidding them to amply serve these newly arrived guests with bread, salt and wine; for nothing better would be easily obtainable at this hour of midnight. In the morning however, they shall receive better service. All is brought in as commanded, and the rescued ones help themselves heartily, praising the bread and the wine profusely.
10
Some are saying: "This is Egyptian king's wine". Others think it to be Persian, one of them saying it is genuine Rome wine.
11
But Marcus says: "None of those, as the wine was grown here." This intrigues them all, for the Galilean wine was notoriously the worst.
12
After plenty of wine consumption however, the newly arrived become quite cheerful, starting to unpack the truth as they say, not feeling compromised before those of us adjacent to them.
13
Julius, sitting nearest their table, jokingly asks one of the young Pharisees whether he ever had any engagement in Genezareth.
14
Says the asked one: "Lord, whoever you may be Caesarean or Genezarethan, I couldn't care less now but this hole of a town is too lousy even for the devil, let alone for an honest person like myself. This nest is certainly is not going to see me a second time. A certain Roman Centurion lives there, and that's enough. Because by that name everything of Satan is spoken. Whatever mortal ever has approached that one has gotten to know Satan personally. I have never actually personally met him, but I have tasted his commands, but assume that his person has to resemble his inhuman orders to a hair's breath.
15
That Julius appears to e a resolute enemy of Jerusalem's inhabitants, otherwise surely he could not proceed so barbarically, and with such Satanic mercilessness towards people like us!
16
It is of course true that one cannot be particularly fond of the clerics, if one is made aware of their malice, trickery and every sort of deception. Yet one has to generally allow for special circumstances and only call a verdict when all the circumstances under which a person is attached to an association are known as a person joined up voluntarily, then indeed one can rightly say. 'Bolenti non fit injuria'. But how many are there not who, notwithstanding their being members of a shady fraternity, nevertheless were coerced into it under duress.
17
A right type of judge, with a heart and head in the right place, first finds out whether the likes of us become voluntary and unfortunate members of such fraternity! If a volunteer, then one can rightly be punished for every action conforming to the miserable regulations of such an offensive college. If however and adherent like us, as they say are 'forced with red hot iron' and has to, with similar coercion, bring the aims of the institution to fruition, then surely one should be treated differently from a voluntary, common rogue.
18
Supposing some honest, strong young man falls into robbers' and murderers' hands, and is taken to their cave. There they persuade him into joining with threats of gruesome torture, death, including for the slightest attempt at fleeing.
19
But it happens that such band falls into the hands of the law; would it be fair for the young man to share the fate of those who persuaded him by such means? One should on the contrary try to help such unfortunate by every means, and not together with the others crucify him and break his legs. It is effortless to judge and condemn, particularly for the one wielding sward and power; but under what system?
20
In my view, it would be better to let ten thugs go on account of insufficient evidence, than condemn the one I cited. For such sentence would be the most blatant transgression against mankind's most holy human rights! If making a happy man somewhat unhappy is already damnable, how much more so an already lamentably distressed through no fault of his own, instead of doing everything humanly possible to extricate him from his involuntary predicament!
21
And behold, friend, we young Templers are not better off by a hair's breath. As sons of rich parents, we too were coerced into Temple ordination, without being actual descendants of the Levitic tribe; because one can now purchase such birth for money as often as desired.
22
We simply now are levites and cannot, with best of will in the world free ourselves from this standing. We could of course flee, and as robust young men join the soldier-ranks of Rome; but therewith we would also bring all condemnation over our kin, and no God would have saved them from the accursed water. Whosoever has been made to drink that poison-water at any time has died, and that in a most despicable and painful manner in the world.
23
There is indeed talk of a couple some thirty years ago who, after being made to drink the Satanic water, did not die; quite possible, - we were not there!
24
Whoever therefore knows our similar circumstances, yet seeks to treat us in a most bestial manner, has very little right to call himself human! There the lofty Roman 'Fiat jus, pereat mundus' hasn't much going for it.
25
At Genezareth however, our present company received a treatment from that certain Chief Julius worthy of a rapacious beast, and it will be understood why we shall for all the future avoid that spot, under Julius command."