The Great Gospel of John
Volume 3
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi
- Chapter 34 -
The five cured men want to have Jesus identified.
At this Mathael said again, "He is amongst us, but there are two who look very similar so that it is hard for the outward senses to decide which actually He is. I think that it is he who spoke many times with Cyrenius. But it could also be the other; for both faces emanate a certain degree of wisdom! This man we have already heard, and his word was great, clever and serious, but this person could speak just as well; but the other has not said anything yet, perhaps because he does not want to be recognized before the right time. Which of us has the courage to speak to the silent one?"
2
This silent one was Jacob major (the greater one), who looked physically very similar to Me and also wore the same clothes as I tended to wear.
3
At Mathael"s order the other four finally rose from the ground and discussed which of them the silent one was and how he could be addressed. In the end all five lost courage and Mathael turned to the friendly Cyrenius and secretly asked him if the silent one was not the eminent powerful savior, or if it was actually Me; for they wanted to know for sure so that they would not incorrectly give someone the honor!
4
Cyrenius says, "I have still not received any precise order from Him to describe Him to you; He looks above all at the heart of a person. But your hearts are now certainly in the best order of the world, and nothing else is needed at the moment; but if it is His will and when it is right for your healing, He will make Himself known to you. But I think rather that will not escape your eminent wisdom who is the true and powerful one if you observe us carefully over the course of this day."
5
At this the five were satisfied and now began to look around the area, and asked each other where they were. They already knew that they were close to the Sea of Galilee; but they could not tell in which part.
6
Then Cyrenius says to them, because he has listened the most, "You are now in the area of the town of Caesarea Philippi and are on the land of the old Roman soldier Mark who gave you wine, bread and salt from his stores. He is not here at the moment because he has to prepare something in his house for this afternoon; but when he returns you will get to know him better in your present brighter condition; for when he gave you bread, wine and salt, you were more on the other side than this side and have certainly noticed very little of his really honorable personality."
7
Mathael says, "True, true, you are quite right! Truly the inner clear condition has remained which we had at the beginning of our awakening; only everything looked much more terrible and quite especially gloomy. But now everything has taken on a more friendly appearance and the whole area has become much brighter and friendlier, we have also become friendlier, brighter and more cheerful, although we cannot neglect our inner true opinions.
8
The truth, friend, remains eternally the truth! But this world is very changeable and also its children, everything from today to tomorrow. One cannot rely on anyone; for today one is our friend, and tomorrow he is either no longer or some doubt has put an evil reputation about you in his ear, and he has stopped being your friend and will be a sharp judge of you in secret!
9
And so there is no constancy on this world, neither in things nor among people! Yet the Lord will navigate everything for the best for man!"