God's New Bible

The Great Gospel of John
Volume 3

Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi

- Chapter 165 -

On the dangers of haughtiness.

But when he came up to Mathael, he (Ouran) said, "Today one cannot talk to the Lord! I asked Him very modestly whether the high guests that were announced were arriving, but I received such a strict lecture for my words that I will certainly remember them all the better since they were just so harsh and dry! Today the Lord is like another person! Yesterday He was love and kindness itself, but today everyone that comes near Him will receive a very measured lesson! I don't understand it at all!"
2
Mathael says, "But I do! How could it ever occur to me in my dreams to ask the very highest, all-mighty Lord which "high" guests are coming from somewhere or other?! What are we people, and who is He?! And He makes nothing of Himself in our presence, is full of love and humility, and we wanted to speak before Him about some high guests?! That, my very dearest father-in-law, was truly a little too strong, and the Lord could not possibly give you another answer to this question; for if you had asked me the same thing I hardly know whether my answer would not have been even coarser and harsher! But the Lord, as the constantly gentlest person, dispassionately allows a mistake only so that we should recognize that we have erred. Go over there and admit it, and you will immediately receive other words from Him!"
3
Ouran says, "You are completely right again; oh, if I have erred, the mistake must be made good again immediately!"
4
With these words Ouran immediately left his tents again, headed over to Me and said, "Lord, I made a great mistake earlier with my vain question before You! Forgive me; for I did not do it through my own will but - speaking honestly - through my habitual foolishness, as You, oh Lord, will have seen quite accurately!"
5
I say, "My friend; whoever recognizes his mistakes and repents, is forgiven forever, and whoever then turns to Me is doubly forgiven!
6
But whoever recognizes his mistakes, but keeps them in his nature, he is not forgiven, even if he came to Me a hundred times!
7
For I tell you: whoever comes to Me and says: Lord, Lord!, he is not my friend by a long shot, but instead only he who does My will; this will however does not want you to elevate yourselves above other people because of a position!
8
Yes, you should always be faithful to your position, act well and just - but never forget for an instant that those over whom you perform your duty are completely equal to you in birth and are thus your brothers!
9
True love for your neighbor however can be learnt through the true love that you have for Me as little children.
10
When it is necessary, make use of your reputation and the honor of your position, but you yourselves be full of humility and love, and your judgment over your brothers and sisters who have gone astray will always be just according to My order!
11
I told you what I have told you only in order to show you My order and My will; for I tell you: whoever does not get rid of every smallest mote of arrogance will in the future not have My kingdom revealed to him in the spirit, and he will not go there before he has removed the very last mote of arrogance from himself!
12
Now go and tell this to everyone who you discover has any trace of arrogance!"
13
After these words Ouran bowed again deeply according to his custom and quickly headed to his people. And Mathael asked him how I took his words.
14
Ouran then says, "The Lord was very merciful to me and showed me the truth and the order and the justice in true humility, and I am as happy again as before."
15
Mathael says, "Yes, father and brother in true humility! Our position is truly an eminent position in comparison with millions of our brothers and sisters - but also a difficult position in the face of the almighty God! One must be very careful that one does not get caught up in the eminence of the high position, where one then becomes very proud and arrogant and considers oneself to be more than a person who has been anointed by God to serve his brothers as best he can and so in a certain way to be a servant of servants.
16
And whoever exalts himself because of our position and standing will be easily humiliated, as we can easily see in the whole line of kings of Judea. But how it was then will remain also until the end of the world! It is very difficult to rejoice in gold and jewels and nonetheless be more humble in the heart than any of one's servants! Only the mercy and great compassion of the Lord can keep a king in the middle of his earthly splendor at the same point in the order of heaven!"
17
Ouran says, "Yes, you are right! But now the three ships are coming very close to the shore; let's go there so that we can greet the arrivals!"
18
Then everyone hurries down to the lower berth.

Footnotes