The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Second day in Sychar
- Chapter 54 -
At Sychar. The Lord with Jonael's noble family. The disciples' annoyance, along the road with the marvelous scene with Jonael's daughters. The Lord's telling rebuke. The whereabouts of the kingdom of God. 'Abide within love'.
After the local's departure, I call back Jonael's wife and daughters who, when they had seen Me with the local, had fled in fear from the corridor back into the house.
2
They hurry back in response to My call, hastening towards Me with the friendliest, cheerfully reverent faces, thanking Me with tears in their eyes for giving them back their innocence, smeared through the evil man.
3
But I lay My hands on their heads, bless them and ask them to walk by My side all this day! But they excuse themselves, saying: 'Oh Lord, we are not worthy of such enormous grace! We are only too happy if we can follow You as the last ones among this great company!'
4
But I say: 'I am aware of your proper humility, calling upon you to walk in My proximity for that very reason, wherever I shall be taking to the road in this district today!'
5
The daughters thank Me for such incomprehensible favour. But Jonael asks the daughters, saying: 'My dear daughters! Where did you get these marvelous dresses, which truly become you in a heavenly fashion!?'
6
Only then do the daughters become aware of wearing dresses of the finest brocade and their heads are adorned with the most precious diadems, giving them the looks of princesses.
7
As the seven of them become aware of such splendour they are fully beside themselves! Their hearts are aflame with love and wonder, and with sweetest confusion they are unable to work out what had taken place with them. Only after long astonishment do they ask Jonael how this went on, because they were not aware of anyone handing them such regal clothing and diadems.
8
But Jonael, himself quite delighted by the great charm of his daughters, says, 'Thank Him Who blessed you! He has bestowed it on you miraculously!'
9
Here the children swarm all over Me, crying for love and joy and unable to speak. But the disciples behind Me are saying: if this only were happening indoors. But here in front of several thousand onlookers the thing is creating too much of a stir!'
10
But, perceiving that they spoke thus I turned around and said to them; 'I have been with you for a long time, yet you never gave My heart the joy which these seven daughters have done! I verily say unto you these are already along the right way and have taken the best part; if you don't take this way you hardly shall find the portals of My kingdom! Because the children who come to Me thus shall also stay, but those coming with only adulation and praise shall have only My reflection but not Me amongst them!
11
But My true kingdom is only where I am Myself in actual fact. Comprehend this also! But the Lord is a Lord also over all the world and does not have to consider what is fitting before a foolish world! Have you understood this?!'
12
Peter replies: 'Lord, have patience with our great foolishness! You are aware of our education not deriving from heaven but from this world. It is all bound to be set right however, because we also love you above everything, otherwise we would not have followed You!'
13
Say I: 'Do therefore indeed remain within love and take no account of this world, but of Me from the Heavens!' - With this the disciples are happy, praising Me in their hearts.