|
The Gospel of the Holy Twelve
Translated from the original Aramaic
by Rev. G.J.R. Ouseley |
Section 9, Lections
81 Thru 89
The
Roman Trial Before Pilate
1.
THEN led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, to Pontius
Pilate, the Governor, and it was early, and they themselves went not into the
judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might keep the
feast.
2.
Pilate therefore went out unto
them and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and
said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up
unto thee. We have a law and by our law he ought to die, because he would
change the customs and rites which Moses delivered unto us, yea, he made
himself the Son of God.
3. Then said Pilate unto them, Take
ye him, and Judge him according to your law. For he knew that for envy they
had delivered him.
4. The Jews therefore said unto him,
It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. So the saying of Iesus was
fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
5. And they further accused him
saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
6. Then Pilate entered into the
judgment hall again and called Iesus and said unto him, Art thou the King of
the Jews? Iesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others
tell it thee of me?
7. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ?
Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me; what hast
thou done? Iesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were
of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.
8. Pilate therefore said unto him,
Art thou a King then? Iesus answered, Thou sayest that I am, yea, a King I am.
To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should
bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
9.
Pilate said unto him, What is
truth? Jesus said, Truth is from heaven. Pilate said, Then truth is not on
earth. Jesus said unto Pilate, Believe thou, that truth is on earth amongst
those who receive and obey it. They are of the truth who judge righteously.
10. And when he had heard this, he
went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at
all. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered them
nothing.
11. Then said Pilate unto him,
Hearest thou not, how many things they witness against thee?
12. And he answered him never a word,
insomuch that the governor marveled greatly, and again he said unto them, I
find no fault in this man.
13. And they waxed the more fierce
saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning
from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked, whether the
man were a Galilean.
14. AND as soon as he knew that he
belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also,
was at Jerusalem at the time.
15. And when Herod saw Iesus he was
exceedingly glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he
had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by
him.
16. Then he questioned with him in
many words, but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes
stood and vehemently accused him, and many false witnesses rose up against
him, and laid to his charge things that he knew not.
17. And Herod with his men of war set
him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him
again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together,
for before they were at enmity between themselves.
18. And Pilate went again into the
Judgment Hall and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Iesus gave him no
answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou
not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
19. Iesus answered, Thou couldest
have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above,
therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
20. And from thenceforth Pilate
sought to release him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go
thou art no Caesar’s friend, whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh
against Caesar.
21. And Pilate called together the
chief priests and rulers of the people. When he was set down on the judgement
seat his wife sent unto him, saying. Have thou nothing to do with that just
man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream, because of him.
22. And Pilate said unto them, Ye
have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people, and behold I
have examined him before you, and have found no fault in this man touching
those things: whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him,
and lo nothing worthy of death was found in him.
23. But ye have a custom that I
should release unto you one at the Passover, will ye therefore that I release
unto you the King of the Jews?
24. Then cried they all again,
saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. And, for
sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.
25. Pilate therefore, willing to
release Iesus, spake again to them. Whether of the twain will ye that I
release unto you; Iesus Barabbas, or Iesus which is called the Christ? They
said, Barabbas
26. Pilate said unto them, What then
shall I do with Iesus which is called the Christ? They all say unto him, Let
him be crucified.
27. And the Governor said, Why what
evil hath he done? But they cried out all the more saying, Crucify him,
crucify him.
28. Pilate therefore went forth again
and said unto him, Behold, again, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know
that I find no fault in him, and again they cried out, Crucify him, crucify
him.
29. And Pilate said unto them, the
third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in
him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
30. And they were instant with loud
voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of
the chief priests prevailed.
31. When Pilate saw that he could
prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed
his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this
just person: see ye to it.
32. Then answered all the people, and
said, His blood be on us and on our children. And Pilate gave sentence that it
should be as they required. And he delivered Iesus to their will.
LECTION
81. 2. -This verse, suppressed by corruption of the Gospel, doubtless refers
to the keeping the Passover within the gates without the slaying of So lamb, a
capital offence by the law (See " New Aspects of Religion," by
Dr. H. Pratt), or it might refer to keeping Passover the day before. There is
much uncertainty on this point, the Gospels in the A. V. setting forth two
different views, mutually contradicting each other, but neither of them implying
necessarily the eating of a lamb by Jesus and his Apostles.
LECTION
81. 9. -These words, or the substance of them, are also to be found in one
of the gnostic Gospels, which record many genuine sayings of the Master.
The
Crucifixion
1.
THEN released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Iesus he
delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Iesus to
the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
2. And they stripped him and put on
him a purple robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns they put it
upon his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
3. Then came Iesus forth, wearing the
crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the
man!
4. When the chief priests therefore
and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And
Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in
him.
5. And they spit upon him, and took
the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him they
took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away
to crucify him.
6. And as they led him away, they
laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the county, and on him
they laid the cross that he might bear it after Iesus. And there followed him
a great company of people and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
7. But Jesus, turning unto them,
said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for
your children. For behold the days are coming in which they shall say, Blessed
are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave
suck.
8. Then shall they begin to say to
the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For it they do these
things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry.
9. And there were also two other
malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come unto a
place called Calvary, and Golgotha, that is to say a place of a skull, there
they crucified him; and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and other on
the left.
10. And it was the third hour when
they crucified him, and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and
when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And Jesus said, Abba Amma,
forgive them, for they know not what they do.
11. Then the soldiers, when they had
crucified Jesus, took his raiment and made four parts, to every soldier a
part; and also his vesture. Now the vesture was without seam, woven from the
top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but
cast lots for it, whose it shall be.
12. That the scripture might be
fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture
they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. And sitting down
they watched him there.
13. And a superscription was also
written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the King
of the Jews.
14. This title then read many of the
Jews, for the place where Iesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it was
written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. then said the chief priests of the Jews
to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that, he said, I am the King
of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.
15. And one of the malefactors which
were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thy self and
us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive
the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss.
16. And he said unto Iesus, Lord
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Iesus said unto him, Verily
I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
17. And they that passed by reviled
him, wagging heir heads and saying, Thou that wouldst destroy the temple, and
build it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down
from the Cross.
18. Likewise also the chief priests
mocking him, while the scribes and elders said, He saved a lamb, himself he
cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross
and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let Him deliver him now, if He
will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God.
19. The usurers and the dealers in
beasts and birds also cast the like things into his teeth, saying, Thou who
drivest from the temple the traders in oxen and sheep and doves, art thyself
but a sheep that is sacrificed.
20.
Now from the Sixth hour there was
darkness over all the land unto the Ninth hour, and some standing around,
lighted their torches, for the darkness was very great. And about the Sixth
hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lame sabachthani? that, is
to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me ?
21. Some of them that stood there,
when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias; others said, He
calleth on the Sun. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come
to save him.
22. Now there stood by the cross of Iesus
his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary
Magdalene.
23. When Iesus therefore saw his
mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,
Woman, behold thy son! And he said to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And
from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.
24. After this, Iesus knowing that
all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled,
saith, I am athirst. And from a vessel they filled a sponge with vinegar and
put it upon hyssop and put it to his mouth.
25. And Iesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Abba Amma, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.
26. When Iesus had therefore received
the vinegar, he cried aloud, It is finished; and he bowed his head and gave up
the ghost. And it was the ninth hour.
27. And behold there was great
thunder and lightning, and the partition wall of the Holy place, from which
hung the veil, fell down, and was rent in twain, and the earth did quake, and
the rocks also were rent.
28. Now when the centurion and they
that were with him watching Iesus, saw the earthquake and those things that
were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was a Son of God.
29. And many women were there, which
followed from Galilee, ministering unto them, and among them were Mary the
mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children and they
lamented, saying, The light of the world is hid from our eyes, the Lord our
Love is crucified.
30.
Then the Jews, because it was the
preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath,
for that was a Paschal Sabbath, besought Pilate that their legs might be
broken, and that they might be taken away.
31. Then came the soldiers, and brake
the legs of the two who were crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus,
and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs, but one of the
soldiers with a spear pierced his heart and forthwith came there out blood and
water.
32. And he that saw it bare record
and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might
believe. For these things were done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled—A
bone of him shall not be broken, and again—In the midst of the week the
Messiah shall be cut off.
LECTION
82. 10-12. -Eli Reclus, a French writer, has some interesting remarks on the
rite of human sacrifice as practised among the Khonds from time immemorial. The
coincidences in the details are very striking, shewing the similarity of
superstitious ideas in all countries and tribes of the primitive world-ideas
which survive even in our own times " civilized ., as we boast them to be,
but in reality savages when the skin deep "civilization" and culture
are suddenly brushed away by some violent popular outburst, as in England,
against the peaceful peoples of the Transvaal by which she brought herself to
the lowest depths of infamy, and unwittingly clothed herself in the colour
symbolic of dirt and mire.
v.
20. -In the
Gospel attributed to Peter there is mention of the same circumstance. And to
bring to mind, by symbolical art, this awful scene, among other reasons, the dark
unbleached candles are lighted on the Altar on the day and at the hour when the
Church commemorates the crucifixion of the Redeemer by an ingrate priesthood and
people, when the light of the sun is shut out or obscured, and the chancels are
draped in black.
v.
30. -It should
be observed that in this Gospel, the mystically central organ of the Sacred
Body, the "Heart" is emphasized rather than "his side," as
in the A. V. on which last reading the strange custom of having a side entrance
or porch to Churches is alleged to have been founded. The traditonal but corrupt
reading of Gen. vi.16 has doubtless originated the error. (See "Original
Genesis.")
v.
31. -They
pierced his Sacred Heart with a spear, and this is symbolised in Christian
Churches (which are generally cruciform either externally or internally where
they are not circular), where the choir (Cor.) is in the intersection of
nave and transept, and the altar of incense is (ought to be) in the midst
under the great dome, symbolizing that the Sacred Heart of the Crucified is
venerated from the centre to the extreme limits of Christendom-the Heart of God
which embraces all creatures in its boundless love.
The
Burial Of Jesus
1.
NOW, when the even was come, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable councillor,
who also waited for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate
and craved the body of Iesus. (He was a good man and just, and had not
consented to the council and deed of them).
2. And Pilate marvelled if he were
already dead, and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had
been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to
Joseph. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
3. And there came also Nicodemus, who
at the first came to Iesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes,
about an hundred weight. Then took they the body of Iesus and wound it in
linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
4. Now in the place where he was
crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was
never man yet laid. There laid they Iesus therefore, and it was about the
beginning of the second watch when they buried him, because of the Jews’
preparation day, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
5.
And Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary, and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. There at the tomb
they kept watch for three days and three nights.
6. And the women also, who came with
him from Galilee, followed after, bearing lamps in their hands and beheld the
sepulchre and how his body was laid, and they made lamentation over him.
7. And they returned and rested the
next clay, being a high day, and on the day following they bought and prepared
spices and ointments and waited for the end of the Sabbath.
8. Now the next day that followed,
the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir we
remember that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will
rise again.
9. Command therefore that the
sepulchre be made sure until the third day be past, lest his disciples come by
night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead,
so the last error shall be worse than the first.
10. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a
watch, go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went and made the
sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch till the third day
should be past.
LECTION
83. 5. -It has been maintained by some with no small degree of
reason and probability, that the day of Crucifixion was not Friday, the day
now observed by Christendom, but Wednesday (mid-week), by which date alone
would be truly fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel, and the only sign of the
truth of His mission which he would give to his generation. There shall no
sign be given it, but the sign of the prophet Ionas, for as Ionas was three
days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three
days and three nights In the heart of the earth." Against this plain
testimony there is of course the canonical record as we now have it including
the frequent explanatory notes which may have been incorporated in very early
times from the margin into the text, or interpolated in ignorance of the
original script, which no man living has ever Been from this to the 10th
century when all manuscripts were in the hands of the religious orders of the
Church, and from them proceeded. If these words of Jesus be a genuine portion
of the Gospel, as all admit they are, those notes of time, in the present
accepted Gospels must be spurious, or the work of scribes who sought with
honest and pious intent to harmonise the words of Scripture with the existent
beliefs and observances of their age. In the gospel as now given there is
absolutely nothing to militate against either of these views except the words
of Jesus above cited, which cast the weight in favour of this chronological
arrangement which interferes with nothing of Christian doctrine. Sunday, as
now the day of his public entry into Ierusalem, preceded by the last anointing
by Mary Magdalene on the eve before it. Monday, the day of evil counsel.
Tuesday, the day of the Pascal feast of Christ. Wednesday, the day of the
crucifixion, if not of the actual Jewish Passover. Thursday, Friday, Sabbath
days of watch, of mourning and
vigil. Sunday the day of the Resurrection, midnight or 8 a.m., early dawn
" (after three days and three nights were fulfilled) and of the rising of
many who slept and of their appearance in the holy City."
The
Resurrection Of Jesus
1.
NOW after the Sabbath was ended and it began to dawn, on the first day of the
week, came Mary Magdalene to the sepulchre, bearing the spices which she had
prepared, and there were others with her.
2. And as they were going, they said
among themselves, who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
For it was great. And when they came to the place and looked, they saw that
the stone was rolled away.
3. For behold there was a great
earthquake; and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back
the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lighting
and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake and
became as dead men.
4. And the angel answered and said
unto the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Iesus, which was
crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
5. Come, see the place where the Lord
lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I
have told you.
6.
And they entered in and found not
the body of Jesus. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple
whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the
sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
7. And they ran and came to the
scpulchre, and looking in, they saw the linen clothes lying, and the napkin
that had been about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped up
in a place by itself.
8. And it came to pass as they were
much perplexed, behold, two angels stood by them in glistening garments of
white, and said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not
here, he is risen, and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall
we see him.
9. Remember ye not how he spake unto
you, when he was yet in Galilee, that the Son of Man should be crucified and
that he would rise again after the third day? And they remembered his words.
And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled with
amazement, and they were afraid.
10. NOW at the time of the
earthquake, the graves were opened; and many of the saints which slept arose,
and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the city and
appeared unto many.
11. But Mary stood without at the
sepulchre weeping, and as she wept she again stooped down, and looked into the
sepulchre and saw two angels in white garments, the one at the head, and the
other at the feet, where the body of Iesus had lain. And they said unto her,
Woman, why weepest thou?
12. She saith unto them, Because they
have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she
had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Iesus standing, and knew not
that it was Iesus.
13. Iesus saith unto her, Woman, why
weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith
unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him,
and I will take him away. Iesus said unto her, Mary, She turned herself and
saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
14. Iesus saith unto her, Touch me
not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father One with my Mother, but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Parent and your Parent; to my
God and your God.
15. And Mary Magdalene came and told
the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things
unto her, and commanded her to announce his resurrection from the dead.
LECTION
84. 6. - 0n this passage the celebrated writer M. Renan, bases his
assertion that "but for Mary Magdalene Christianity would never have
existed." It was she who first proclaimed the central fact -the
Resurrection of the Lord. There is a true and a false side to his words.
Jesus
Risen Again Appears To Two At Emmaus
1.
AND behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which
was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all
these things which had happened.
2. And it came to pass, that, while
they communed together and reasoned, Iesus himself drew near, and went with
them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
3. And he said unto them, What manner
of communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk and are
sad?
4. And the one of them, whose name
was Cleophas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem
and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And
he said unto them, What things?
5. And they said unto him, Concerning
Iesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be
condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he
which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this three days have passed
since these things were done.
6. Yea, and certain women also of our
company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they
found not his body, they came saying, that they had also seen a vision of
angels, who said that he was alive.
7. And certain of them who were with
us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but him
they saw not.
8. Then he said unto them, O fools
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; Ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and then to enter into his glory?
9. And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning
himself.
10. And they drew nigh unto the
village whither they went; and he made as though he would have gone further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide, with us, for it is toward evening,
and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
11. And it came to pass as he sat at
table with them, he took bread and the fruit of the vine, and gave thanks,
blessed, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they
knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
12. And they said one to another, Did
not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he
opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the twelve gathered together, and them that were with
them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
13. And they told what things were
done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
14. Now while they had been going to
Emmaus, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto Caiaphas what
things had been done.
15.
And they assembled with the
elders and took council and said, Behold, while the soldiers slept, some of
his disciples came and took his body away; and is not Joseph of Arimathea one
if his disciples?
16. For this cause then did he beg
the body from Pilate that he might bury it in his garden in his own tomb. Let
us therefore give money to the soldiers, saying, say ye, His disciples came by
night and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the ears of the
governor we will persuade him, and secure you.
LECTION
85. 15. -These words though not fully given in the A. V. have been made
the basis of an attempted explanation by M. Renan, who could not receive the
alternative view that the body of Jesus was dematerialized, rose, and then
appeared in spiritual form, which view is held by believers of modern
manifestations
Iesus
Appears In The Temple and
Blood Sacrifices Cease
1.
THE same day, at the time of sacrifice in the Temple there appeared among the
dealers in beasts and in birds, One clothed in white raiment, bright as light,
and in his hand a whip of seven cords.
2. And at the sight of him, those who
sold and bought fled in terror, and some of them fell as dead men, for they
remembered how before his death Iesus had driven them away from the Temple
enclosure, in like manner.
3. And some declared that they had
seen a spirit. And others that they had seen him who was crucified and that he
had risen from the dead.
4.
And the sacrifices ceased that day
in the Temple, for all were in fear, and none could be had to sell or to buy,
but, rather, they let their captives go free.
5. And the priests and elders caused
a report to be spread, That they who had seen it were drunken, and had seen
nothing. But many affirmed that they had seen him with their own eyes, and
felt on their backs the scourge, but were powerless to resist, for when some
of the bolder among them put forth their hands, they could not seize the form
which they beheld, nor grasp the whip which chastised them.
6. And from that time, these believed
in Iesus, that he was sent from God, to deliver the oppressed, and free those
that were bound. And they turned from their ways and sinned no longer.
7. To others he also appeared in love
and mercy and healed them by his touch, and delivered them from the hands of
the persecutor. And many like things were reported of him, and many said, Of a
truth the Kingdom is come.
8. And some of those who had slept
and risen, when Iesus rose from the dead appeared, and were seen by many in
the holy City, and great fear fell upon the wicked, but light and gladness
came to the righteous in heart.
LECTION
86. 4. -"The sacrifices ceased that day" -here is not meant for
any permanence (as generally believed) for they went on, we are told, for
forty years, till the destruction of the Temple by the Romans.
Jesus
Appeareth To His Disciples.
1.
THEN the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus
and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were
affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
2.
And he said unto them, Behold, it
is I myself, like as ye have seen me aforetime. A spirit can in deed appear in
flesh and bones as ye see me have. Behold my hands and my feet, handle and
see.
3. And when he had so said, he shewed
unto them his hands and his Heart. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw
the Lord.
4. For Thomas, called Didymus, one of
the disciples, had said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print
of the nails, and thrust my hand into his heart, I will not believe. Then
saith he to Thomas, Behold my hands, my heart, and my feet; reach hither thy
hands, and be not faithless but believing.
5. And Thomas answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God! And Iesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast
seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet have
believed.
6. Then saith Iesus unto them again,
Peace be unto you, as Abba Amma hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he
had said this he breathed on them and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost; preach the Gospel, and anounce ye unto all nations; the resurrection of
the Son of Man.
7. Teach ye the holy law of love
which I have delivered unto you. And whosoever forsake their sins, they are
remitted unto them, and whosoever continue in their sins they are retained
unto them.
8.
Baptise them who believe and
repent, bless and anoint them, and offer ye the pure Oblation of the fruits of
the earth, which I have appointed unto you for a Memorial of me.
9. Lo, I have given my body and my
blood to be offered on the Cross, for the redemption of the world from the sin
against love, and from the bloody sacrifices and feasts of the past.
10. And ye shall offer the Bread of
life, and the Wine of salvation, for a pure Oblation with incense, as it is
written of me, and ye shall eat and drink thereof for a memorial, that I have
delivered all who believe in me from the ancient bondage of your ancestors.
11. For they, making a god of
their belly, sacrificed unto their god the innocent creatures of the earth, in
place of the carnal nature within themselves.
12. And eating of their flesh and
drinking of their blood to their own destruction, corrupted their bodies and
shortened their days, even as the Gentiles who knew not the truth, or who
knowing it, have changed it into a lie.
13. As I send you, so send ye others
also, to do these things in my Name, and he laid his hands upon them.
14. In the like manner as the
Apostles, so also be ordained Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors, a Holy
Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hand upon those whom they chose for
Deacons, one for each of the fourfold twelve.
15. And these are for the rule and
guidance of the Church Universal, that all may be perfected in their places in
the Unity of the Body of the Christ.
LECTION
87. 1. -The power to come in, or to go out through closed doors, has been
shown in modern times to be no impossibility, but a proven fact in psychological
phenomena. The words here do not necessarily imply that such
manifestation took place. It is not said, "they were locked," but the
power of the Spirit to materialize, and dematerialize, Bond appear in human form
(under certain conditions) is too well known to be denied." Report of
Dialectical Society on Spiritual Phenomena," etc.
LECTION
87. 2. -The contradiction in the A.V. is here no longer seen. That a spirit
can appear in flesh and bones has been testified over by thousands of
competent witnesses in this as well as other ages. There is no death, and the
returning spirit can appear in any form. Of these things we are
witnesses.
v.
8.-A similar
passage to this occurs in the "Pistis Sophia," an ancient gnostic
Gospel.
The
Eighth Day After The Resurrection
1.
AND after seven days again, his disciples were within the Upper Room; then
came Iesus, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, Peace be
unto you, and he was known unto them in the holy Memorial.
2. And he said unto them. Love ye one
another and all the creatures of God. Yet I say unto you, not all are men, who
are in the form of man. Are they men or women in the image of God whose ways
are ways of violence, of oppression and wrong, who choose a lie rather than
the truth?
3. Nay, verily, till they are born
again, and receive the Spirit of Love and Wisdom within their hearts. Then
only are they sons and daughters of Israel, and being of Israel they are
children of God, And for this cause came I into the world, and for this I have
suffered at the hands of sinners.
4. These are the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which
were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me.
5. And
Jesus said, I stood in the
midst of the world, and in the flesh was I seen and heard, and I found all men
glutted with their own pleasures, and drunk with their own follies, and none
found I hungry or athirst for the wisdom which is of God. My soul grieveth
over the sons and daughters of men because they are blind in their heart, and
in their soul are they deaf and hear not my voice.
6. Then opened he their
understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them,
Thus it is written, and thus it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead after the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in my name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And
ye are witnesses of these things.
7. And, behold, I send the promice of
my Parent upon you, even of my Father One with my Mother, Whom ye have not
seen on the earth. For I say unto you of a truth, as the whole world have been
ruined by the sin and vanity of woman, so by the simplicity and truth of woman
shall it be saved, even by you shall it be saved.
8. Rejoice therefore and be ye glad,
for ye are more blessed than all who are on earth, for it is ye, my twelve
thousand who shall save the whole world.
9. Again I say unto you when the
great tyrant and all the seven tyrants began to fight in vain against the
Light, they knew not with Whom or What they fought.
10. For they saw nothing beyond a
dazzling Light, and when they fought they expended their strength one against
another, and so it is.
11. For this cause I took a fourth
part of their strength, so that they might not have such power, and prevail in
their evil deeds.
12. For by involution and evolution
shall the salvation of all the world be accomplished: by the Descent of Spirit
into matter, and the Ascent of matter into Spirit, through the ages.
LECTION
88. 5. -Most affecting is this, the experience of all who in this world of
madness and unreason attempt to declare the whole counsel of God. It broke the
heart of Jesus, it crushes the heart of every prophet or apostle worker for
good, filled with his spirit- " Jerusalem, Jerusalem I would - but ye
would not."
Jesus
Appeareth At The Sea Of Tiberias
1.
AFTER these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of
Tiberias, and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon,
Peter, and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and James
and John and two other of his disciples.
2.
And Peter saith unto them, I go a
fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth and entered
into a ship immediately, and that night they caught nothing. And when the
morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not
that it was Jesus.
3. Then Jesus said unto them,
Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, Nay, Lord, not enough for all;
there is naught but a small loaf, a little oil, and a few dried fruits. And he
said unto them, Let these suffice; come and dine.
4. And he blessed them, and they ate
and were filled, and there was a pitcher of water also, and he blessed it
likewise, and lo, it was the fruit of the vine.
5. And they marvelled, and said. It
is the Lord. And none of the disciples dost ask him. Who art thou? knowing it
was the Lord.
6. This is now the sixth time that Iesus
shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So
when they had dined, Iesus saith to Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith unto him again the second time, Peter,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord thou knowest that I
love thee. He said unto him. Feed my sheep.
7. He saith unto him the third time,
Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto
him the third time, Lovest thou me ? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest
all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
8. Iesus saith unto him, Feed my
Flock. Verily verily, I say unto thee, thou art a rock from the Rock, and on
this rock will I build my Church, and I will raise thee above my twelve to be
my vicegerent upon earth for a centre of Unity to the twelve, and another
shall be called and chosen to fill thy place among the twelve, and thou shalt
be the Servant of servants and shalt feed my rams, my sheep and my lambs.
9. And yet another shall arise and he
shall teach many things which I have taught you already, and he shall spread
the Gospel among the Gentiles with great zeal. But the keys of the Kingdom
will I give to those who succeed thee in my Spirit and obeying my law.
10. And again I say unto thee. When
thou wast young thou girdedst thyself and walketh whither thou wouldst, but
when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall
gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This spake he, signifying
by what death he should glorify God.
11. And when he had spoken this he
saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom
Iesus loved following. Peter seeing him, saith to Iesus, Lord and what shall
this man do? Iesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what
is that to thee? follow thou me.
12. Then went this saying abroad
among the brethren that disciple should not die: yet Iesus said not unto him,
He shall not die, but, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee.
LECTION
89. 2. -"That night they caught nothing" -henceforth their
labours were to be in the Spiritual Kingdom to save souls -not destroy them-
by bringing them within the Church of Christianity, from barbarism and
darkness to reason and light and love.