The Great Gospel of John
Volume 4
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi (cont.)
- Chapter 21 -
The nature of thirst for knowledge. On right singing.
Secretly, Cyrenius asked Me, what should be done with this person.
2
But I said: "Quite a lot! They still will become quite strong tools for us; but now they need a little rest, and this is why I let them fall into this indifferent state.
3
Believe Me! A soul, who becomes thirsty for a higher knowledge once, does not so easily falls into full sluggishness! With such a soul it is the same as with a young engaged man, who is dead seriously in love with his chosen maiden. But the maiden, since she is a maiden but not a honorable young woman, takes it with the love of her betrothed a lot easier and thinks by herself: 'If its not him, there are many others!'
4
But after a while the fiancé gets to know this and his heart becomes sad. Full of annoyance and fury he decides very seriously, to never again think about the disloyal loose girl; but the more he tries to forget about her, the more he thinks of her and secretly he wishes that all the bad things which he heard about the maiden by foreign mouth, are pure lies.
5
Finally he sees the maiden in company of someone else! Secretly he wants to explode because of his rage and with all force tries to forget about the disloyal girl: but then real glowing hot thoughts start to trouble him, so that no other healthy thought can exist alongside. Day and night he finds no rest nor sleep; he sighs and often cries bitterly and curses the disloyal girl.
6
Yes, why all this? Didn't he seriously decided not to think about the non-worthy anymore?
7
During his torture a good friend comes to him and says: 'Friend, you are doing your fiancee a little injustice! See, with her ostensible carelessness she only wanted to test your love; since she knew and had to know, that she was only a poor maiden while you are stuck in wealth. She hardly comprehended the possibility that you ever wanted to take her as a proper wife; she regarded your promised love more than half as a prank and thought to put you a little to the test, if you really love her as your words say, before giving you her hand! Since too often the poor maiden made the sad experience, that such rich youth, as you are, are only playing a loose game with the poor maiden. But your maiden has now realized that you are serious about her, and loves you therefore more than you ever could believe; since the time she gave her love to you, she wasn't disloyal in her heart to you. - Now you know, blind fanatic, where you stand with her! Do now what you want!'
8
Do you, Cyrenius, think, that the deeply hurt lover still does not want to see and hear anything from the poor but most beautiful maiden, as he decided a while ago? O, by no means! The words of his friend were most appreciated by him, and he couldn't wait for the moment in which he could give his hand to his fiancee for ever.
9
And the same will happen to our Zinka! He eats and drink as if not bothered by the miracles anymore; but within he is now much more active with it than ever before. Therefore no worry!
10
I know all the people and know everything that takes place in their hearts. In addition the steering of feelings in the heart are done only by Me; where it is necessary, I know what I have to do. Let us therefore be cheerful and eat and drink what has been placed in front of us; since for this afternoon we need a little more bodily strength and will only late tonight have our evening meal!"
11
All are now quite cheerful and glad, and many praise God the Lord. A few even started to sing; however, except for Herme, there were no good singers present. He was asked by a few that he should sing something; but he was quite hesitant since he was afraid for the criticism of the good-hearing Romans, and therefore he had to be ask several times.
12
But he (Herme) said: "My friends and lords! To God our Lord I sing a song in my heart; the Lord of Israel listens to it probably with pleasure! If I would sing the same song loudly to your ears, you would not like it because of a perhaps few impure tones. This would then fill me with embarrassment and annoyance, which would not be good for me nor for you; therefore I rather not sing the song of my heart loudly, but very quietly in my heart. To whom it is dedicated, certainly understands it!"
13
Says I: "You are right, Herme, just keep on singing in your heart! This kind of singing sounds in the ears of God a lot more pleasant than a loud, pointless noise by which only the carnal ear is tickled, while in the meantime the heart remains cold and untouched.
14
However, when occasionally also sung outwardly, it should only be done if the heart is to such an extend overfilled with the feeling of love, that it must get some air through the voice of the mouth, to so to speak not suffocate because of the too mighty surge of love for God. Then of course even the outwardly singing will please God; but it should be sung with a pure voice which elevates the soul even more.
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Because an unpure and not melodious voice is like murky marsh water poured on a blazing flame! Everyone can think for himself what the result will be."
16
When I gave this explanation about singing, the charming Jarah said to Me: "But Lord, how would it be - since we are sitting so cheerfully together - if Raphael would sing something for us?"
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Says I also jokingly to her: "Ask him about it! Perhaps he will do you a favour by doing something like that. I of course will not say or have anything against it."
18
Jarah immediately grabs Raphael and urges him that he should sing something.
19
And Raphael says: "You of course do not have any idea how we are singing; but this I tell you upfront, that you will not be able to endure my voice for very long, since it will and must sound too affecting, because it is build out of too pure elements. Your flesh cannot endure the sound of my voice; if I sing to you for an quarter of an hour, you will die due to the charm of the sound of my voice which cannot be compared to anything on this earth! Ask me now if you, most charming, want to hear me singing, and I will sing; but what the effect of my singing will be on your flesh, I nearly cannot predict!"
20
Says Jarah: "Sing at least one single tone; it surely will not kill me!"
21
Says Raphael: "Good, so I will sing one single tone to you, and all who are here should listen to it, and also those who are live quite a distance from here, so that they should investigate which sound they have heard! But I must prepare myself a few moments for it! However, be steadfast for it; since also this single tone will have an immense effect on you!"