The Great Gospel of John
Volume 1
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Second day in Sychar
- Chapter 86 -
The Lord back in Cana of Galilee. The unwitting self betrayal of the unchaste ones. The Lord speaks about unchastity here and in the beyond. Sensual stimulants - Satan's trick.
After these Words the journey continues, and we reach the little town of Cana without trouble. Arriving there, we at once move over to the house where I had worked the first public miracle. An hour hardly passes when nearly all of the place knows that I and all who journeyed with Me arrived happily and in good shape; and all rush over to see, greet and welcome the arrivals. And seeing me they cannot find sufficient words of praise and glorying at the decisive way I cleansed the Temple at Jerusalem! Because many had come to the feast from Cana and had seen what I had effected in Jerusalem, and had also heard how I had healed many sick there, praising Me tremendously.
2
I asked them if there were no sick here. But they said that strangely enough there were not one sick at this place.
3
Then I said that they were indeed healthy as far as their body was concerned, but not in their soul, 'For whoever practices harlotry and fornication is very sick in his soul. Through this sin a person's heart hardens from day to day, becomes ever more unfeeling and merciless towards its fellowmen and in the end loves nothing but itself and the object of its lust, not for the sake of the object though, but only for the sake of satisfying its lust. Such a heart then flees God's Word which admonishes it against its evil desire and in the end even becomes hostile to those who carry the Word of God in their heart and live accordingly. Many of you suffer form this sickness and that is why I returned to you to heal you from this very bad and fatal disease. Those of you who know that they suffer from this deadly disease should entrust themselves to Me and I shall heal them.'
4
At this My announcement many promptly leave the house, for the offenders fear that I may divulge their secret and so they take to their heels. Among them were some adulterers, some guilty of incest and many of both sexes guilty of self-abuse, and they were relieved to be out of My sight.
5
Not that there were not many who would have liked to be healed of this vice, but it was the disgrace! Because they counted as honourable, well-regarded people, and it would have been embarrassing to have their neighbours find out about their infirmity of flesh. Yet they did not consider that they gave themselves away by taking to their heels in response to My offer.
6
Many who remained behind said, 'No, I could never have thought that about this or that one.' Others however could not resist laughing, saying, 'Quite smart of You! These would have given no answer even if asked for ten years straight, yet You only offered most kindly to heal them of this affair, and look how they all shot through! They probably thought that He Who could convert water into wine could also call them by their name, You there sinned this way and so many times, - and you there this way and this often! And this they could not bear of course and thus made off! But they did not consider that this way they gave themselves away most of all! We don't wish to judge them, since we know our own weaknesses, and know it is better to first sweep before your own house, but it is funny how they thought that by running off they would not be recognised the way you described the sins! No, these are sillier than Persian rhinos'!
7
Say I, 'Let them go, the blind fools. Before men they feel ashamed, but before God Who at all times sees and tries the hearts and kidneys of men they are not ashamed. I tell all of you: This worldly sense of shame is idle. How long will it last in this world anyway? Soon the body will be taken from them whose flesh gave them so many sweet hours. Then they will arrive naked in the other world where everything they did ever so secretly in this world will be revealed in all detail. Only there a true and lasting shame will be theirs of which they will not be able to rid themselves as easily as here.
8
In truth, I tell all of you: Those who are lascivious, unchaste and fornicators shall not enter the Kingdom of God unless they have drastically changed their most wicked way of life. For behold, all other sins man commits outside his body and can, therefore, rid himself of them more easily - for what takes place externally does not cause as much damage to a person as that which takes place within him. Fornication takes place within man, damages his soul and spirit and is thus the most dangerous of all evils. Therefore, shun it above all and flee it like the plague, for the appetite for sensual pleasure is Satan's trick. Woe betide him who has allowed Satan thus to take hold of him. He will find it extremely difficult to free himself from Satan's claws. Unspeakable suffering and pains will be his share. Do heed all this, or else the time and the days will come which you will not like at all. But now let us retire.'
9
Several who had travelled with Me moved over to their dwellings; My disciples however and mother Mary and My brethren, i.e. Joseph's five sons, remained with Me.