The Great Gospel of John
Volume 7
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord on the Mount of Olives. (cont.) Gospel of John, Chapter 8
- Chapter 13 -
Agricola's reference to the Lord.
At the other tables it was still very quiet; since all listened whether I would soon open My mouth to speak. However, since I also allowed Myself some rest, the tongues at the other tables started to get a little active. The Romans started to familiarise themselves somewhat with the poor family, and Agrikola asked the lovely daughter, if she did not at all have any clothes at all other than what she was wearing.
2
But the daughter said: "Noble, high Lord! In our poor home I have another a haircoat; but it is even worse than the linen dress I'm wearing. A while ago we were not so extremely poor, when my parents were still healthy and able to work. But when a few years ago my parents fell seriously ill, things went from bad to worse. With all diligence my brother could not earn more, that we could have bought anything else, except the scanty food and so we have ended up in great poverty without our fault, and within another two days we would have completely perished, if it were not for you and your friend over there, who saved us in a quite miraculous way; since I still do not know how this beautiful youth over there could have found our deplorable hut so quickly, as if he, God knows, was familiar with all the most secret corners of this big city. But who is this marvelous man and wondrously beautiful youth next to him? Aren't you going to explain this to me a little?"
3
Says Agrikola: "My dearest poor girl, you truly beautiful daughter of Zion, verily, this is not my call to make; since you see, I'm certainly a great and powerful Lord in the whole Roman empire, but nevertheless, I am nothing compared to this marvelous Man and also this beautiful youth! I probably could send an accredited messenger with a letter written by my own hand to the Emperor of Rome, and he would send many legions, and I could conquer the whole large Asia with a victorious war, - but what would that be compared to the infinite power of this marvelous Man?! If He wants something, then it is already an accomplished deed!
4
My dear daughter of Zion! Do you understand what this means? See, your parents were ill, as you said, for longer than two years! And only the will of this marvelous Man healed them in one moment, and also this marvelous Man knew how to direct this youth precisely to your house, where he would certainly find you. About three hours ago this marvelous Man predicted what will happen to your brother, and only then was it made possible for me to save your brother and you by His sole mercy, and as such did not I, but only He alone saved you; since I was only His blind tool.
5
You have earlier seen the many wondrously delightful beautiful youth and maidens outside. See, these delightful, most beautiful beings were all destined to be sold as miserable slaves! And see again, this marvelous Man freed them all and in addition dressed them from head to toe with beautiful clothes, and all this in one instance, which is why they greeted Him as a dear Father. If, however, this is absolutely true, then how does all my power compare to only one breath of His will?! Therefore you also have to foremost direct your full attention towards this marvelous Man; since what this Man is able to perform through only His will, man up to now could never have dreamt about. But what I have told you here open heartedly, is the highest truth. What do you say to that?"
6
Said all four: "Yes, if this marvelous man can do all that, as you as a most truthful witness have told us, then this marvelous man must be a great prophet! You see, we Jews are awaiting a Messiah, who is expected to become very powerful in word and deed! But before He will come, the great Prophet Elijah will come before Him and according to the opinion of many people also his disciple Elisha. (Elisha, at different places in Lorber also written as 'Elisäus'). And see, in the end this is actually Elijah or his disciple Elisha!"
7
Said Agrikola: "This your legend is not very well known to me, but much about your Messiah, who is main reason why I came from Rome to Jerusalem. Haven't you heard anything yet about the exceedingly famous Saviour from Galilee?"
8
Said the old man: "Most honourable Friend and Lord! We poor day labourers get come at most ten times per year to the temple; there we perform our small sacrifice and listen to any sermon, which we do not understand. If somewhere something new and extraordinary happens, then we in seclusion only learn very little or most likely nothing at all about it.
9
Besides, we were bedridden for over two years. Day after day, even on a Sabbath, our son had to work, in order to provide us with only the minimum necessities. On a Sabbath he worked for the Greek or Romans, who of course did not celebrate or sanctify the Sabbath, and this was pure luck for us; since otherwise we would be forced to completely fast each Sabbath, especially during the past two years.
10
If you, high Lord and Friend, appraise this, you will quite easily understand, how a very poor family, living in the middle of this large city, can learn as little about great and extraordinary events and occurrences, as if they were living somewhere at the end of the world! If, based on the grounds as indicated, we do not know anything about the widely known Galilean, we surely cannot blamed for it.
11
The only thing we came to know about a year ago, is, that a prophet by name John in the dessert along the Jordan preached against the Pharisees and bluntly told them the truth. But what further happened to him we don't know. Perhaps this marvelous man is this prophet?"
12
Said Agrikola: "No, this your marvelous Man is not the prophet; but to your fortune you will know Him still better today. Therefore eat and drink and be properly strengthened to be able to endure the great disclosure which will made to you; since it is not that easy to get to know this marvelous Man!"
13
Thereupon these poor people continued eating and drinking. While eating and drinking, they noticed the beautiful and heavy bowls, and even more so the golden wine jugs and drinking mugs.
14
The daughter looked at these things with increasing attention and finally said to Agrikola: "But listen, great and mighty Lord, isn't this pure silver and gold? You surely have brought this from Rome? O, this must have cost a fortune!"
15
Said Agrikola: "Yes, my beautiful daughter of Zion, it would have cost a lot, if you had to buy the silver and gold and let somebody produce those dishes thereof! But these dishes didn't cost Him anything, who produced them in the most wonderful manner, but nevertheless, they are incalculably valuable. You see, to Him, who is almighty, is nothing impossible! - Do you understand this?"
16
Said the beautiful Jewish girl: "Yes, I understand that; but God alone is almighty! Was God Himself here, or did He send an angel, who performed such miracles here? Since such things have always occurred among the Jewish people the time?"
17
Said Agrikola: "My dear and truly most beautiful child! Yes, yes, God Himself was here, is still here and reveals Himself wonderfully to those, who truly and purely love Him! If you muster a lot of love in your heart for Him, then He will reveal Himself to all of you! - Do you believe me, loveliest girl?"
18
Said the young, increasingly beautiful Jewish girl: "But God is a spirit, which nobody ever can see and at the same time keep his live; since it is written in Moses: 'Nobody can see God and live.'"
19
Said Agrikola: "You are quite right; but it also is written in the other prophets. That the eternal spirit of God - this means God Himself - will during present times for the sake of man incarnate Himself and walk as a man among them, to teach them the right ways of life. And as such a good person can see God and listen to Him, and at the same time not only keep his earthly life, but in addition also receive the eternal life of his soul, so that he henceforth for ever will not see nor feel death. If this body in time is falling away, the soul of man will continue to live for ever and enjoys at the same time the highest bliss. - How do you like that?"
20
Says the beautiful Jewish girl: "Yes, we all would like that very much; but to receive such unheard of mercy, we are too insignificant and also too great sinners! Since firstly, we were not able to properly sanctify the Sabbath and therefore belong for a long time in the row of the great sinners, and secondly we were not able to cleanse ourselves thereof, because we never had the means for it. And therefore God will not look at us if He in some way embodied will visit the people on this earth. He came to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; but these were tremendously devout and sinless people. What are we in comparison to them? I would be able to love God beyond all measure; but He is way too holy and cannot accept the love of a sinner."
21
Across the table I said to the Jewish girl: "O dear daughter, God does not look at the sins of people, especially your kind, but only at the heart! Who truly loves God, for him all sins are forgiven, irrespective if he had as many as all the grass on earth and all the sand in the sea. Your sins are only within your imagination and not in reality. However, before God everything is repulsive which is great in the world; but you are small in the world and as such not repulsive to God. Keep on to loving God deeply and He will also love you and will give you eternal life! - Do you understand that?"
22
Said the Jewish girl: "I understand that; but lead me to the place where God is, so that I can see, love and worship Him!"