The Great Gospel of John
Volume 4
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi (cont.)
- Chapter 14 -
Herod's order to arrest Jesus.
1
(Zinka:) "That and how she celebrated him for me and thousands, is known; but to you all it will not be known, that among the disciples of Johannes the legend exists, that Johannes has rose again and moved to Galilee and again is busy with his activities where he originally started. Such legend also came to the ears of Herodes and Herodias, who, after the death of Johannes, started to strangely waste away together with the old dragon of a mother. This filled the hearts of Herodes and Herodias with great and mighty fear, and therefore Herodes send me, as a proven friend of the victim, out to bring him back to Herodes, so that Herodes could repay him for the great suffering which he brought over him. Also Herodias cried over every hour in which she listened to her mother, and now like to reconcile with the offended Johannes again!
2
I just know it too well that Johannes did not rose again; but I myself heard from the mouth of Johannes, that a great prophet has risen in Galilee, whom he is not worthy undoing his shoe laces. I said this to Herodes and he said to me: 'Go anyway and bring him to me, of whom Johannes spoke with such great respect; since he can possibly help us as well!' I also told him what I have heard about the great prophet, namely that he performs extraordinary signs to emphasize his teachings. I told him that the prophet from Galilee awakes the dead and moves mountains and controls a storm and similar unheard of things. I further told Herodes, that I can only achieve very little or even nothing at all against the power of such a prophet, because he could kill thousands with a single thought. But Herodes and Herodias did not backed down from their desire and Herodes only said: 'Three-hundred heavy silver groschen to the one who brings him to me!', with the addition: if it was not possible to bring him alive, he would like to see him as dead!
3
Quite bravely I said to him: 'If he doesn't come voluntary, we will without fear go and look for him! Until we have killed him, we will not have been alive for a very long time; since he knows about the most secret thoughts of the people and also about their intentions, therefore he will kill us before we even have seen him! When this is the case, I really do not see the reason, why we should go after him!' But he said to me: 'I want it, and my will is good; if the prophet is good he will also recognize my will as good and will come to me! That I will not do to him what I have in my blindness done to Johannes, prove my tears for the good Johannes. Go and carry out my will!'
4
Thereupon we went out and are therefore here, - until know completely unsuccessful, although we are already travelling around Galilee for nine weeks with the same intentions! In the meantime I have send numerous messengers to Herodes to clearly explain to him our fruitless mission; but to no avail! He knows it from other sources that either the risen Johannes or the great prophet are present in Galilee and performing great signs; we therefore should do everything to get hold of him. Every tepidness from our side will be most strictly avenged.
5
And thus our search routes has brought us here, since we heard that great signs should have occurred around Caesarea Philippi! We actually found nothing here other than the totally burned down city, an area which was devastated by the cardinal storm from yesterday and you the most rigorous Romans!
6
Provide for us and free us from the fool who cannot be trusted in his fury, and we will be grateful to you, of that you can be completely sure of! What I have told you now, is the fullest truth; you know now precisely how things are standing. Act now according to what is right and in fairness! Once you Romans are our masters, we are no longer interested in Herodes! We are prepared to serve you a thousand times more faithfully than the old fool and brute! Since with you there is at least some of a human attitude, where Herodes is a monster when struck by his fury!"