The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
New events in Kis
- Chapter 237 -
Philopold's arrival. The Lord's prophecy. The trial of the Temple robbers continues. Faustus' effective sentencing.
When this furor died down a little, the now familiar Philopold arrived from Cana, coming up to Me at once to appraise Me of how he brought everything in order in Cana.
2
But I greeted him most amicably, saying to him, ' I am aware of it all; you are My disciple, go over to My other disciples, and these shall have much to tell you. This night however I have much to attend to. Tomorrow however we two shall have much to discuss, for you are to become an effective weapon for Me.'
3
Philopold now moves over to the disciples, even as the keepers are announcing the arrival of those summoned from Capernaum and Chorazim, asking what is to be done.
4
But I say ' Take them to their children first and give them to eat and drink. Meanwhile we shall have an extraordinary session with the Pharisees.'
5
The keepers leave and Faustus asks Me whether it would not be better for Me to examine the twelve, whilst he acts merely as actuary.
6
But I say, 'No, brother, this won't do; for as far as they are concerned, you are the only one with the official rank, wearing for that reason the emperor's token ring of authority, together with sword and baton; hence you must examine them yourself. But what, and how you ask, I shall place on your tongue, and they shall not be able to wriggle out! Let us therefore hasten to the task, for it is not early night.'
7
We move out to the Court House, where the twelve and their thirty main accomplices are detained in custody under strong guard, tarrying in the great fear for the arrival of the Chief Justice; for they were now precluded from an opportunity to get hold of a dozen or so false witnesses, to lie for them under oath. Especial grace was promised by the Temple to all servants who bore false witness for the Temple, when circumstances made it necessary. These had to be of course fully informed in advance, which in the present case was impossible.
8
We entered the court room in company with Kisjonah, Baram, Jonael, Jairuth and the angel Archiel, together with the assistant Judge and several scribes.
9
Already at our entering, the infuriated first Pharisee asks Faustus, 'What manner is this towards us, Priests of God, after we already complied with all demands: to treat us like common criminals, in not setting us at liberty. As surely as we are servants of God: if we are not set free at once, then God will show you!'
10
Says Faustus, 'Keep your silence, or I may be forced to silence you; for we have quite extraordinary things to settle with you. Hearken to me now with attention!
11
I have already remarked to you earlier on that your immense treasures appear to me to be the very self-same, about which I had made questionable mention to you earlier; I am now quite sure in all but one aspect about this would-be assassination attempt, during the transfer to the Emperor in Rome of tax moneys and other treasures from the Pontus and Asia Minor. And this one aspect consists in:
12
According to the report, the taxation moneys and various treasures were escorted by a quarter legion of Roman soldiers; it could not therefore have been a light matter for you to overpower such powerful escort, and to either completely wipe it out or at least force its retreat.
13
It is now clear to me that these moneys and treasures were whisked from their Roman escort either through trickery or power of arms, either on your own part or on the part of still more cunning colleagues. For this we need no further proof, for we already have over a hundred witnesses to testify for it. But, as said, I only lack the method and means, and the correct sum, what size it had been to enable me to dispatch an exact report wit the moneys and other treasures to the Emperor in Rome.'
14
Says the first of the Pharisees, 'Lord, this slander of us is too great for us to let rest upon us. And if you had a thousand witnesses against us it would not help you, for our case is too firm, and you shall not with all your power bend one hair. Hence save yourself all further effort, for from here on you shall not be dignified with further answers, unless for your undoing.
15
If you have not come to know the Pharisees by now, then you soon shall get to know them! For such immense blot we cannot allow to rest upon us. We yielded on account of the forestry infringement, although we need not have done so in accordance with our laws. But for the sake of peace we accepted your most unjust verdict. But from here on we break it off, and if you should unscrupulously dare but touch one cent, be it gold, pledge or treasure, you shall not only have to restore it a hundredfold, but also there shall be an end to all your glory! Because they shall in the Temple have by now found out how most brazenly they carry on with us here.'
16
Says Faustus, 'Well then, it is in this fashion that you intend to get yourselves off the hook? Good! Then I know exactly what I have to do with you. Your trial is at an end; the matter is verified through a hundred witnesses, and your guilt surfaced. I say to you no more, giving you an ultimatum - the executioners stand outside.
17
Should your thirty accomplices wish to talk, their lives shall be spared. If however, they too refuse to talk, then this very night the axe shall be theirs as well as yours. This ought to convince you how much I fear you!'
18
To these cold-blooded, forceful words of Faustus, the thirty accomplices step forward yelling, 'Lord, preserve our lives, we intend to give detailed descriptions of how this matter took place.'