The Great Gospel of John
Volume 3
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi
- Chapter 190 -
The Jewish merchants from Persia.
After a while of the greatest amazement, one of the travelers says, "Where then is our pilot, so that we can ask him about our great debt? It is certainly no joke to face such a danger in order to save a ship full of travelers!"
2
But the sailors come to the travelers and ask them whether they should wait here for a night and a day before the return journey, or whether they should now travel home on the calm sea to the port on the other side which was still a good 5-6 hours distance from here as the crow flies.
3
But the travelers inform the sailors to wait for them until they have completed their business with Caesarea Philippi.
4
Mark hears this and says to the travelers, "Dear friends! You can really save yourself the trip to the city; for there is nothing further or more of the whole city than a few huts of poor Jews and a number of burnt-out and terrible ruins! It sadly but justifiably succumbed to the flames all last night and today, and it was impossible for anyone to become master of the flames!
5
If you have something so sort out, you must do it now and here, since the highest political and spiritual authorities are now staying here with me!"
6
The travelers make a quite amazingly concerned face at this news and say, "Friend, if so, then there will be quite terribly little for us to do here, despite the present very highest lords over the world and the spirit! For we had significant trade agreements with the Greek merchants of this city, and they have taken much from us, but still owe us the whole last delivery! How will we get our money?
7
We are good artisans in the working of silk and camel hair, we have also delivered the finest sheep's wool in all colors and floral material for all sorts of temple clothing, and the last delivery had a value of ten thousand pounds of silver; for we are Jews, it is true, obligated to Jerusalem, but we live in Persia, have our great factories there and were constantly good and honest.
8
We kept the Law of Moses more strictly and accurately in our land than all the Jews in Jerusalem and always brought rich sacrifices to the temple; we maintained a synagogue which was not much inferior to the temple in Jerusalem in everything that concerns greatness and splendor!
9
We are good and very benevolent people to all the poor who are of Moses? religion, and have always kept the best up-bringing and order, as is known! Why has Jehovah then treated us so harshly?!
10
You see, we really would give half of the ten thousand pounds to the temple if we could get our justified money; yes, in addition we also would give another five thousand pounds to the very poor brothers in faith of this region, if we could only receive from the heathens all the money for the trade and the accounts!"
11
Mark says, "Yes, my dear guests and friends, despite your very respectable pledges, it will be very difficult for you! But speak to the supreme governor Cyrenius, who in now here with another three great Roman rulers! He can perhaps do something."
12
The travelers say, "Where is he, that we may go over and bring him in all subordination our affliction? Perhaps something wonderful will happen there?! For our rescue by the young sailor was obviously a miracle, and no small one at that! But our sailor has now lost himself somewhere and does not come into sight so that we can give him the fee for our rescue!"
13
Mark says, "Over there on the little hill by the sea, where the supreme governor and the other great people are, is the sailor also among them. You can head over there quite without embarrassment and decide everything with one another.
14
But there is also a certain person there who is covered in a sky-blue coat and wears under it an unsown, rose-red tunic, and over his shoulders flow very rich blond locks; if you can win Him over, then you can really speak about the greatest happiness! For He is capable of everything, and in a way nothing is impossible for Him! But in your situation it will be somewhat difficult to speak to him!"
15
The travelers ask, "What and who is he then? Is he perhaps even someone imperial from Rome, or perhaps a king of a great kingdom?"
16
Mark says, "Neither the one nor the other; but just go over there, and you will perhaps discover who hides under the blue coat!"