The Great Gospel of John
Volume 2
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
First journey of the Lord: Kis - landing place at Sibarah - Nazareth
- Chapter 25 -
The unworthy people.
There was much discussion about the events at Ostracine in Egypt where I spent My childhood and the mother was quite communicative and enjoyed the talks with the viceroy of Asia, as Cyrenius was also called.
2
James, Joseph's son, who was well-versed in writing, fetched a rather thick scroll from his cabinet and handed it to Cyrenius with the words: "Noble lord, here I have recorded everything from His birth until His fifteenth year; eventful actually only to His twelfth year, for after that he lost his divine gift so completely that not a trace of it could be detected. That is also why the three years -from 13 to 15 - look quite empty except for some rather wise words, nothing notable took place, and do I did not regard it as necessary to record the very ordinary happenings beyond His fifteenth year. Thus this account of His early years may be considered complete.
3
However, beside my notes there exist many false records, most likely the work of some old, idle fishwives and, therefore, I do ask everyone to regard my description as the only correct, true and comprehensive one. If I can thereby give you, noble lord, some pleasure, I would like you to graciously accept this my little effort as a small token of gratitude on my part for the many favours you have shown us."
4
Cyrenius joyfully takes the scroll into his hands, goes through the pages for a while reading some of it aloud and everybody enjoys it very much. But this gives particular pleasure to the lovely Sarah and also her mother.
5
Sarah, who was constantly moved to tears, at last saying with a kind of agitation: "What else is needed for grasping even with the hands what I had already discerned from my first healing? God! Such deeds, such signs - and still no belief, no insight, no recognition of the only too truly divine?! Lord, I as a poor weak sinner beg You, work no more signs here. For these Nazarene people with very few exceptions are not worth spitting on, let alone Your too holy words and deeds! I admit it openly that if I were given the authority, I would let these people fast and hunger until they gained insight and recognition of how greatly they had sinned by not recognising this holy time of its visitation and grace!"
6
Said I to Sarah: "Don't be offended on account of these foolish and blind ones, My one and only! I know them and their unbelief, and in accordance with your wish I shall work few or no more signs (Matt. 13:58). You My scribe Matthew make a note of the fact that on account of the prevalent unbelief, I worked very few further signs in My physical homeland, so that in remote future times all the world may know what knuckleheads and unbelievers these Nazarene citizens were in My time! We shall nevertheless stay a few more days and take it easy as idlers, as denounced by the citizens! Since they are so angry, let them be more so, that they might sooner ripen for Satan and his cursed kingdom!"
7
Says Cyrenius: "I very much regret that, on account of grave matters of state I am not able to remain here for more than a day; but if, oh Lord, I can do anything about this most shamefully unbelieving folk then say so and demand it, and I shall at once take appropriate measures! I will at once if it pleases You, have the entire town caned!"
8
Say I: "Lets leave all that. These are already caned and punished overabundantly through not believing on Me; for their faithlessness shall once be their inexorable judge, for whom they shall have not one refounder in a thousand. Verily, I say unto you, the Kingdom of God shall sooner be entered by fornicators, adulterers and thieves than by these faithless he-goats and clods! Oh, I tell you what I know only too well: these he-goats and clods are not as unbelieving as they make out to be; they merely don't want to believe in order that they can sin more freely. Because if they accept My doctrine coercively through the signs, their conscience of necessity would be convicted which would restrict them in their evil hustle and bustle; wherefore they rather believe nothing, and mutually, dismiss anything evident from their feelings, so that they may do as dictated by their evil lusts. Friend, here one could say much, but it is better to keep silent. Hence let us leave them as they are; for whatever is once of the devil, that is difficult to make godly along natural lines!"