The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
First mission of the messengers. Great teaching mission
- Chapter 141 -
Missionary and behavioural hints for the apostles. Perpetual prophecy and about true and false prophets. The first sending out of the apostles to Israeli locations. Promise of more light upon the apostles' return.
But I say yet more unto you: You are aware of how, as always was, there also are prophets today and there always shall be to the end of the world and to every nation upon earth, regardless of which faith. Because through the prophets alone, regardless of whether all ties between heaven and earth may have already been severed, a secret bond nevertheless is kept up which no dark power is capable of breaking.
2
There indeed always were, are and will be false prophets among the true; but this affects very little if at all the authenticity of a prophet awoken through heaven, because the true prophet shall expose the liar to the world and he shall not escape punishment from heaven.
3
When a true prophet comes to a house and is accepted as such, then he who has received him as a true prophet, or as a messenger in the prophet's name, hearing and heeding his word in his heart, shall receive a prophet's reward in the beyond in God's kingdom. And whoever receives one righteous in the name of one righteous, i.e. where such stands in the reputation of one righteous and merits such title, or where in the absence of such repute, the one receiving him acknowledges him as such without subjecting him to a test as to whether he in fact is one righteous, such shall once receive the reward of a just one in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 10:41)
4
And yet again I say unto you more: behold these little ones here surrounding Me lovingly! Whoever shall, in the name of a disciple, pass even a cup of water unto the least of these little ones, I tell you of a truth, such trifling deed shall nevertheless not go unrewarded. (Matt. 10:42)
5
Now you have everything you have need of in the matter for which I have chosen you. Go now to all the cities I showed you and acquaint those residing, there with the kingdom of God, and do how and what I have commanded you; your reward shall not be an inconsiderable one.
6
When you shall have accomplished in the cities of Israel, of which there are not many, that which you were commanded, then return unto Me again, that I may initiate you into the deeper mysteries in the kingdom of God; for unto you it is given to understand such mysteries, with which the kingdom of God is imbued.'
7
Says Peter, 'Lord, are we twelve to move in company or individually into one or the other city, as well as the markets and villages?'
8
Say I, 'That's up to you; but better it is for you to go at least by two's or three's, so that one can act as witness for the other; and My Spirit in you shall act more powerfully when you assemble by two's or three's in My name, teaching and acting thus.
9
But that you should remain together in full number firstly is not necessary and would secondly make it harder to be taken into a house, due to space and care. Hence split up into either two's or three's! But choose the cities, markets and villages first and be agreed among yourselves as to who is to tackle them respectively!
10
In this way you can appear in more cities and win much time, enabling you the sooner to return unto Me again. If you are active, you shall easily have finished in seven weeks or earlier still; but be gone now, as every hour counts!'
11
Say Judas Iscariot, 'Lord, the sun is close to setting; the day hardly lasts another half hour and it is far to all places from here; to reach just the nearest village would take two hours treading. Would it not be just as good if we break forth early in the morning?'
12
Say I, 'No, My friend, every minute's delay is a threat! You shall, even today still, after sunset reach a market beyond the mountain towards the East, where they shall need your help and you shall then be well received there; but do not remain there more than three days, nor at another place too easily so! Stay together till then, but then split up at the aforementioned market!'
13
Following these words, the twelve quickly hit the road and the residents of this destroyed little village, miraculously rebuilt afterwards through My grace, gave them two guides who took them to the shortest road to the market.