The Great Gospel of John
Volume 4
Jesus' Precepts and Deeds through His Three Years of Teaching
Jesus near Caesarea Philippi (cont.)
- Chapter 11 -
Cyrenius' friendly answer to Zinka.
On this remark Cyrenius' eyes widened and he said with a subdued voice to Me: "This person has truly not fallen on his head and it seems if he has quite a lot of soul. He should be helped! What do You think, o Lord, should the man and also his colleagues be turned to us?"
2
I say quite openly: "Not even a somewhat strong tree is cut down with one blow! But with some patience one can achieve a lot. You should also not, the one you want to lead, let him look into the full midday sun. Because if you give him all at once too much light, he will be blinded for a longer period of time; however, if you bit by bit make him used to the light, he will be able to see everything with great clarity in the brightest light and will after that not become blind again.
3
This person has provided me with a good service, since he, as an eye- and ear-witness, has correctly stated in front of My disciples, how My precursor Johannes who has preached and baptized in the area of the Jordan, has been arrested and killed by Herodes. Not for Me, but for the sake of My disciples he also should state, why did Herodes ordered Johannes to be arrested and thrown into prison. Ask him this question!"
4
Says Cyrenius by turning to Zinka: "Friend, my judgement should not be understood in such a way, that I also allow the servants and attendants of a brute to be punished, if they in their souls are not remotely of the same inclination as he is, - but only then, if they were like him and stubbornly and in a certain way already wilfully want to carry out the evil intentions of their despotic brute! But people like you, who only too well recognize the inhuman of their inhuman master and deeply abhor it in their hearts, I will always understand to treat them according to what is right and what is fair!
5
But why God in many instances allows evil to triumph in this world, while at the same time virtue suffers and is crushed up to the bodily death, for that, friend, a marvellous answer exists, but lies for your current state of mind much too deep, that you and your colleagues, who's mind appears even much more outwardly than yours, could understand it; but there will come a time - perhaps in the near future - that you will comprehend it very precisely, even with your whole soul, why the Herodesse also must exist!"
6
Says Zinka: "Lord, you just showed me the mercy to address me with the word 'friend', but do not let this purposeful word become an empty sound, as it is unfortunately mostly the case among people! But if you have used this word in the true sense, then show me the friendship and allow also my twenty-nine friends to be freed from the heavy ties! That not I nor they will run away, will firstly be prevented by the strong guard, and secondly mainly by your friendly word. Believe me - I speak freely and openly -: With the deepest aversion we all are what we unfortunately are! If you could free us from this yoke, you would have accomplished the most humane and most just deed!"
7
Says Cyrenius: "Leave it there; I will worry about that! Look around and you see many which have been saved from the downfall! There will be only a few, who according to our strict roman law would not have earned either the sharp hatchet or even the cross; and look at them, how they as true people stand before us like the purest gold and nobody wishes to leave our company! I hope that you will feel in the near future likewise; since with God all things are very easily possible, of which I have the most living conviction.
8
But now allow me to direct a very important question to you, which consists of the following: You have provided us all with a rather weighty service, by completely openly telling us, why and how the worthy seer of God has been killed by Herodes; now, you were probably also present when he was captured!? Couldn't you also tell me the actual reason why Herodes arrested Johannes, since he certainly didn't do him any harm? He must have had some reason for doing it!"