The Great Gospel of John
Volume 10
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
The Lord in Golan
- Chapter 83 -
The captain asks how he should handle the priests.
When the good wine had made their tongues looser, they were all the more in the mood to talk, and they revealed things about which even My disciples were very surprised.
2
While the 2 were discussing about very good subjects, also one of the 2 rabbis came to us in the dining hall to strongly show our innkeeper that also he, as Jew, should bring the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob an offering because the pious prayer of His 2 servants in this old city of Golan persuaded Him to protect all his possessions from destruction.
3
This representation of things by the rabbi made one of the two neighbors simply burst out from vexation, and so he quickly rose from his chair, went to the brutal rabbi and said (a neighbor of the innkeeper): "Friend, did not one of your old wise men or prophets at some occasion predict that the time will come when no more lying or lazy priests will be tolerated?
4
Are you really not ashamed as priest to appear with a very great lie before us men who are devoted to the truth?
5
When and where did you pray to your God to spare the possessions of this honorable neighbor and friend of mine?
6
Look, we saw you and your colleague, who is precisely like you, in full fear and fright on the big square at night, lamenting and with chattering teeth, and you both sought out a place that seemed the safest to you.
7
Why did you actually not stay in your synagogue of which you yourself say that God exalts your prayers from there? Did you pray for the well being of your people at the strong wall at the square?
8
O, we know you as clear and well as our own idol worshippers, and we say: we do not want to have anything to do with you anymore. Go away, otherwise a very mighty One among us may force you to go away."
9
Now the rabbi saw the captain, said no more word and left our inn quickly.
10
On this, the neighbor said: "All praise to the one, only true God of the true Jews, for we are rid of one of the dirtiest atheists."
11
The captain said: "Yes, yes, he ran away like a thief, and his colleague will avoid to visit us, but our pagan priests who will have heard by now that I am staying here, will probably not avoid to visit me. If they come, how must I as a Roman captain behave? For in the name of the emperor I must be the protector of the priests, but how must I do that, now that I have come to know the one, true, living God, that I love Him above all and despise and hate our polytheism and their priests above all, which is full of errors and shameful deceit?"
12
I said: "Not so My friend. Look, also the priests of your gods - who of course actually never existed, but only originated from the fantasy of men who wanted to rule over their fellowmen - have to be considered in this time to be much less guilty of the existence of dark paganism than those who preached paganism in the beginning when men were still fully believing in the one, true God, and were for this reason converting more extensively and more people through false signs.
13
They do not believe in their gods themselves but they nevertheless keep the people into the old superstition, in the first place to earn their bread with the people, in the second place because they do not possess the truth, and in the third place because they are also compelled to do so because of the state laws and also because of their oath that they gave to a supreme priest on the name Pantheon in which all your gods are included.
14
But if this is how your priests are, you surely will also perceive that they are not so much to be hated but to be pitied. So try to bring them also on the way of the truth. And when they walk upon it, take care that they will receive another work. Because it is the same for the emperor, whether one is Jew or gentile, as long as he will give him his due. And so you should not be worried for what concerns the emperor that he might perhaps call you to account because of a few priests of Zeus and Apollo who turned to the true Judaism that lives in God.
15
Besides, through My doing, the most important rulers in this part of the world have turned to the living Judaism in their heart for already many years. Like the supreme governor Cyrenius, his youngest brother Cornelius, the statesman Agricola in Rome, and several men at his side - although only since half a year and a little longer.
16
Since the men that I mentioned now, and still many others, did not yet have to endure hard measures from the emperor, you all the less will have to fear it, because I assure you of My special protection if you will stay loyal to Me. And I have also given you the power to heal the sick and free the possessed of their tormenting spirits in My name. And you do not need anything more at this time."
17
When the captain heard this from Me, he became very happy from joy in his heart and said: "Lord of my existence and life, all glory, all honor and all thanks go to You only for such great mercy that was never deserved by me. We will all execute Your will - like Your angels in Heaven are doing - and Your holy name will always be highly glorified and praised."