The Great Gospel of John
Volume 3
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi
- Chapter 94 -
Mathael talks about the movement of the stars.
1
(Mathael:) "You see, this sun presently shining in the sky is in a straight line hardly as far away from us as a good rider could cover in half a day; but the real sun is so far from the Earth in a straight line that, if it were possible, a good rider could hardly cover in ten thousand years this extremely long extended line even if he rode day and night without rest. How far do the beams of the natural sun reach and what an immeasurable space they fill, and how short in comparison are the beams of this false sun! They reach to the east only weakly, which one can make out very well from the greater darkness of the east, and the air is not as brightly illuminated as with the natural sun. The bright illumination of the air far surrounding this Earth means that we can never see a star during daytime.
2
If the light of the sun was not as strong, we would also see at least the great stars in the daytime; but as a consequence of the too strong and too immeasurably far-reaching sunlight seeing even the greatest stars by day is not possible. Do you understand that a little?"
3
Ouran says, "Yes, certainly, I understand now about half, but there can be no talk of me understanding the whole thing; for I have constantly known the least about the stars and their movements. So I can never bring together how it happens that soon after the setting of the sun a quantity of familiar stars come into view across the whole firmament. But afterwards still more come from the east, and those that were already there go down again in the west; but some remain in winter and in summer with small changes to their position in the firmament. It is particularly the case with the stars that adorn the northern sky; but the beautiful stars of the middle sky are very changeable and one sees different ones each season. Then there are also certain planets which never remain faithful to the otherwise well-known and constant constellations, but move from one firm constellation to another without so much as a by-your-leave.
4
The moon also seems to have no order to its rising and setting; one moment it goes direct north and then the next, directly south again. Well, friend, since you certainly understand somewhat more than I and my daughter, explain to us this riddle of the sky!"
5
Mathael says, "You know, in order to make that all so completely understandable to you, the time would run short here and you would obviously not have the patience to listen to me until the end, Thus let us postpone such a discussion for a more appropriate time; but I can at least tell you something small for your consolation and so listen to me very attentively!
6
You see, the stars, the sun and the moon do not rise and set, but only the Earth, which is no circular flat area but only a very great ball of several thousand hours circumference, turns around its middle axis in approximately 25 hours according to our sand clock measuring system, as the Lord Himself has explained previously. Through this turning everything that you asked me about comes to pass. There you have a very brief summary of the explanation.
7
Stars that you constantly see as firm constellations stand as suns themselves so endlessly far from the Earth, according to the explanation of the Lord Himself and according to my highly personal opinion given to me, that we cannot notice either the size of their distance and just as little their movement. Only in many millennia does a fixed star let any change be noticed; but many hundred years do not show any difference in the position of the fixed stars.
8
But those stars that constantly change their place stand much closer to this Earth, but are only smaller planets and not a sun, move around our sun and therefore their movement can be noticed. That is the most important things; everything else you shall find out from me at another opportunity soon! Are you satisfied with that?"
9
Ouran says, "I am satisfied in any case, but I have become such an old tree that is difficult to bend, and therefore you must always have a little consideration.
10
You see, from the earliest childhood to my now quite advanced old age I lived quite honestly and conscientiously in the old foolishness and found that one never heard anything better than what one believed, with sometimes quite notable confirmations of it; but here one encounters everything quite new, and everything old must be thrown overboard into the sea of the fullest nothingness - and that is quite difficult for me.
11
Now if I then hear a completely new religion, never dreamt-of previously, it constantly costs me then a certain effort, until the nothingness of the old man and the truth of the new became fully clear; you have to therefore have some patience, particularly with me. Gradually I will become a very reasonable disciple for you despite my very advanced age.
12
With my daughter you will have to make a much lesser effort; for this girl has an easy talent for picking things up. But it can still be done with me too, only naturally with somewhat slower steps; I will never catch a deer again, but I can still keep quite equal steps with a quite modest ox.
13
Yes, the stars, the stars, dear friend, the stars, the sun and the highest changeable moon! Those are quite unusual things, and in addition our Earth as well; whoever knows all about it very well would stand at the extreme heights of human wisdom! But until one brings all the impenetrable secrets and mysteries into daylight, particularly for the likes of us, oh friend, the good moon will have to climb over the horizon many times in its slow course! I feel that what I have heard from you now are complete truths; but they still lie so individually and unconnected in my head like the first building blocks of a new great palace that should be built. Every stone is good in itself, that is, a truth as solid as rock; but how these first foundation stones are later joined by a building master to make the base of the palace, that, friend, is still very far off for me, and I believe that this will be no easy piece of work for you!"