The Great Gospel of John
Volume 10
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Der Herr in der Stadt am Nebo
- Chapter 196 -
An image of the spiritual development of man.
The supreme judicial city officer said: "Lord and Master, it seems that everything in me becomes wider, and I see the big truth of Your teachings as well as the objects of this Earth in a hazy morning light, but there is still much haze in the lower regions, and I will have to wait for the rising of the sun of the spirit in me. That there must be an infinite greatness in You, even in the smallest of Your creatures, is more than sufficiently proven by Your teaching, because the fantasy and imagination of no human being can never reach that high or that low for us men to imagine such images that can only originate in the infinite wisdom and fullness of power of the one and only true Creator of all things."
2
On this, all those who were present said: "Lord and Master, we almost feel completely annihilated before Your greatness that You showed us with the greatest of ease by Your words, although only a small part of it. What will grow out of us if we will know You more perfectly in the future?"
3
I said: "Out of you will grow what grows out of a mustard seed, which is a very little seed when it is put in fertile and life bringing soil. It soon will grow as big as a real tree, under which branches even the birds of the sky will take up residence. And that mustard seed will then be capable to gradually increase its fruit up to infinity - a quality that is not only present in a mustard seed but also in all other seeds.
4
You are now still very simple seeds. My teaching that I give you is the well fertilized soil in which I sow you Myself, and when you will eagerly absorb the life's power of this teaching, you will also abundantly bear fruit in My Kingdom, for no eye has ever seen, no ear ever heard and no sense organ ever felt what those can expect in My Kingdom who believe in Me, love Me and keep My easy commandments.
5
But it is already around midday and our bodies need also to be strengthened. So, My dear friend, provide a sufficient quantity of wine and bread and also fish for us to eat, for after the midday meal Me and My disciples will leave you and I will travel further."
6
After I had said that, soon everything I asked for was there, and we cheerfully partook of a good midday meal.
7
After the midday meal, which lasted about 1 hour, the innkeeper and the supreme judicial city officer, as well as the 3 Apollo priests, the 2 Pharisees and the other Jews who were present here, asked Me to stay with them till the next morning.
8
And I asked My disciples and said: "If you want, we can stay here till tomorrow."
9
The disciples said: "O Lord, You know that everything is right for us what is right for You. Let us therefore stay here according to the wish of Your new dear friends, for it is already more than 1 hour after midday and we hardly will reach a place from here further to the south."
10
On this, the supreme judicial city officer said: "O Lord and Master, Your disciples spoke the truth about this, for from here to the next city, which is from here completely in the southeast at the springs of the brook Arnon, it is more than one long day trip, and between here and there stands only at some places a single, very poor shepherd's hut."
11
I said: "For what concerns the distance it would be possible for Me to reach that city with My disciples, but since you wish in your heart to be with Me till tomorrow, I also will follow your wish. Therefore, I will stay with you till tomorrow.
12
But this afternoon is very beautiful and pure. Let us therefore spend this time of the day outside, again on the mountain Nebo. So we will go there immediately."