The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord at the home of Kisjonah, the tax collector, in Kis
- Chapter 148 -
The disciples want to see the Lord vindicated. 'After this life there still comes an eternal life.' The Lord's pronouncement over Chorazim, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Vision of a future judgment. 'I thank Thee Father... that Thou hast revealed it unto babes.' 'I and the Father are One.'
With these threats, My disciples stepped over to me and said, 'Lord. How can You listen to this? Do You not have power in abundance to destroy such vermin? The Sycharites were chased away several times when they tried to confront You; yet You had not worked as much at Sychar as at Capernaum!'
2
Say I, 'I naturally would have power for it to excess. But the Lord of life does not need to hold judgment here; because after this life there comes another which, whether good or bad, shall have no end, - the duration being the same. And for yonder eternal time I of a truth now pronounce a just judgment and condemn all the cities in which I had worked so much, yet receive now such reward, as you have just heard!
3
They have with all My preaching not improved (Matt. 11:20) and have remained dumb in their hearts for all My deeds. Hence beware, Chorazim, beware, Bethsaida! Had such deeds been done at Tyre and Sidon, they should in their days have repented in sack-cloth and ashes! (Matt. 11:21)
4
Yet I say unto you: on judgment day in the other world, they shall fare better than these. (Matt. 11:22)
5
As for you, proud Capernaum, who have been upraised to heaven, you shall be cast down to hell! For had such deeds been done at Sodom as have been done here, that city would still stand today! (Matt. 11:23)
6
And yet again I say to you: on the day of judgment in the world to come, it shall be more tolerable for the Sodomites than for you, proud, hard and immeasurably ungrateful city! For this have I healed thousands of your sick and resurrected your dead, so you would now curse Me?! Woe betide you on judgment day in the beyond! There you shall find out Who was He Whom you cursed!'
7
Following this My condemnation, many received a vision and saw how such cities as condemned now by Myself would fare on judgment day, seeing My figure in the clouds and seeing a curse leaving My mouth and strike the condemned cities.
8
When this vision had passed from most of the unaffected, simple persons of both sexes surrounding Me lovingly, these fell down before Me, lauding and praising Me.
9
But I raised My hands above them, blessed them and said, 'I too, as Man, now praise Thee, Father and Lord of heaven and earth, for having hidden it from the worldly wise and clever and for revealing it unto babes! (Matt. 11:25) Of a truth, holy Father, it is thus well pleasing to You and Me! (Matt. 11:26) For, that which You work, I also work, as we have been One from eternity! I never was any other but You, holy Father and that which is Thine, has also been Mine from eternity!'
10
These last words caused all of them to be gripped by great fear. For there had by now been many disciples following Me who had no further doubts about My Deity; yet it was over these that the fear came most of all.