The Great Gospel of John
Volume 10
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord in Abila
- Chapter 55 -
The trip to Abila.
When we came to our innkeeper, a great number of people stood before the entrance of the house. They once more wanted to see Me and speak to Me since they themselves were witnesses of My deeds and also heard already a few things about My teaching.
2
But I sent them to our captain Pellagius and told them that they would receive My complete teaching from him.
3
The captain promised them that he would instruct them in everything.
4
The people were satisfied with that and they slowly dispersed. We entered the house where the midday meal stood already on the table. We partook of the meal and were meanwhile full of good memories.
5
When we soon finished the meal, and I had announced to all those who were present that in 1 hour I would depart with My disciples to Abila, the captain asked Me if he, together with his subofficers and Veronica, could escort Me to that city and also to the other places and cities that were under his command.
6
I allowed him, about which he was very glad, and he immediately took preparations for the departure.
7
We left the house of the innkeeper 1 hour later and he also escorted Me a long way outside of the city, together with his healed son, the Greek innkeeper, the known smith and the veterinarian.
8
When I had taken leave of the 4 outside of the city, I also gave the power to the smith to cast out evil spirits with men, for which he could not stop glorifying and praising Me.
9
Then with a rather fast pace we traveled over a good main road to Abila. And 1 hour before sunset we reached that city which was not so small.
10
That city also was mostly inhabited by gentiles. Only 10 Jewish families lived in that city and were poorly accommodated, and they had to serve the gentiles and live from them. All 10 families had only 1 ancient and deteriorated house to live in. Therefore, in that city they did not have their own inn and no synagogue.
11
When we came near the city I said to the captain: "Now go with your companions before us into the city, and let the 10 Jewish families know that I will come to them and will stay overnight with them. All the rest will become clear later on by itself."
12
When the captain heard what I said, he walked immediately with his followers before us, went directly to the Jews and told them what they could expect.
13
However, the very poor Jews said to the captain: "O high ruler in the name of the emperor, that would be all good and fine but where can those more than 40 people find a suitable accommodation in this deteriorated house? There are enough deteriorated rooms but who wants to live there? There are more than enough frogs, vipers, salamanders and scorpions, but one cannot accommodate people there. What concerns our own rooms, we hardly have enough room for ourselves to live in, especially at night, and it would be difficult to give in addition to us a decent accommodation to a few people more. And we cannot take care of them at all since we ourselves are extremely poor.
14
And so try to dissuade that great Lord and Master - about whose miraculous deeds we have already heard - from finding and taking accommodation with us for the night, for there are several well equipped inns in this city."
15
Then the captain said: "I will tell Him your need, of which I surely know, but I also know beforehand that I will not be able to dissuade Him, because once He has decided and said something, happens. He already will know your awkward situation and your need for a long time, and He most certainly comes to you to help you and to bring true consolation, but not to torment you or to burden you with great worries. So kindly meet His will, then you will find great love and mercy with Him."
16
The oldest one of the house said: "Yes, yes, let Him come as He pleases. When He is here, it will be obvious to Him at once what our situation is. We are all truly glad that He wants to come to us, but we are sad because for such mercy we cannot offer anything in return."
17
While the captain was still talking with the eldest, I already came with the disciples before the Jewish house, which was an old cracked castle and was located on a height outside the city wall.
18
The captain saw Me at once. He quickly came to Me and wanted to explain the situation of the Jewish house and its inhabitants.
19
But I said to him: "Friend, spare your words, since I know everything for already a long time. But indeed - as you already indicated to these people - I precisely came to them because I very well know the situation of their house and themselves. So let us go immediately to the eldest."