- Sermon 16 -
Fourth Sunday in Lent. The Feeding of the Five Thousand St. John VI, 1-15: "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (February 17, 1872) Here you have one of those deeds which created a great sensation among the Jews, even to such an extent that those who witnessed it wanted to proclaim Me king, thus forcing Me to evade their intentions by withdrawing alone to the solitude of a mountain. For Me, the Lord and Creator, the act as such was not so great and important, when I caused the five barley loaves and two fishes to continuously be replaced or complemented out of the substances of the air in such a way that they easily sufficed for five thousand people and of the bread there still remained twelve baskets full of leftovers. For the people encamped around Me it certainly was a miracle that strikingly proved My divine descent and might. However, by the Jews it was not regarded spiritually but according to their material interests, since following this act they wanted to proclaim Me king. I had to withdraw from them, for first of all, that was not the purpose of My life on earth and besides, My time for "being lifted up" had not yet come. That expression, whenever I used it, was likewise never understood until the crucifixion explained it and My ascension fulfilled the "being lifted up" also spiritually. The act of distributing the barley loaves and fishes had, however, its spiritual correspondence which actually is the essential. I told you already on another occasion that my whole earthly sojourn, especially My years of teaching and My words and deeds during that time, will be repeated at My Second Coming, although spiritually. Therefore, also this act is one of those now taking place in their spiritual correspondence. What once applied to the five thousand people, now applies to mankind in general. Then My sphere of action was the Jewish people, My contemporary and more receptive part of mankind, also its land as the world chosen for My activity. Now that My teaching has spread over the whole earth, lthough followed only by few whilst known to many, - each act from those days must now be regarded in the greater, spiritual, sense when repeated as I already mentioned to you earlier.
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- Sermon 32 -
Sixth Sunday After Trinity. The Feeding of the Four Thousand St. Mark VIII, 1-9: "In those days the multitude being very great, and havingcnothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on thecmultitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I sendcthem away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from afar. And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away." (April 7, 1872) This chapter deals with another feeding of the multitude gathered around Me, namely, four thousand people. In the end seven baskets with bread are left over, whilst at the start there were only seven loaves of bread and some fish available. Once before I worked a similar miracle, feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes, when twelve baskets with bread were left over. [6] Why does the Lord here ask the demon what his name is, since it should be known to the Omniscient that these obsessed men had not only one, but a whole legion of demons tormenting them? The Lord certainly did not ask for it, as if He wanted to know the name of these evil spirits; Why did He ask for it?
[7] He asked this demon to tell who he is; for the question makes it easier to recognize the nature of a being than the answer. Ask a fool, and he can give you an answer that will make you hesitate; But let the fool ask you something, and you will immediately recognize him by his question! But in the spiritual, a question is the only way of knowing oneself; and so the Lord did not ask here to get an answer, but to reveal who He is to the demons, in this spiritual way. [8] You also know similar situations and have already been able to observe them in the so-called somnambulists. For if you ask a somnambulist a question, it is not about getting to know the character of the somnambulists' life, but your question has the character of exposing your life to the somnambulists; then the somnambulists looks at you, recognizes you and then supplement the deficiency found in you with their life activity. [9] To be sure, this kind is only a middle stage between a purely worldly and purely spiritual question; nevertheless, it already has the spiritual character for the deeper thinker. [10] So, then, this question of the Lord to the demons is called as much as when He said, "Behold! I expose Myself", which says: "there is no evil in Me!" [11] And the demons behold this holy transparency, and they immediately recognized in Him the Lord of Eternity; and therefore they then say, "Ours is a legion!" - by this they do not indicate their actual number, but only manifest in a spiritual way that in the presence of the highest purity of God, their evil is overwhelmingly apparent. [12] The purity of the Lord, however, compels them to yield to Him. But even in the midst of Divine purity, the wicked see the Divine compassion and turn to it. At this moment they take refuge in humility and, according to their evil character, demand to be allowed to take up residence in the pigs; and the mercy of the Lord grants them what they ask, because of their humility. [13] But when they went into the pigs, only then does their pride, which they hid from the Lord, awaken, and they drive the pigs into the sea, that they perish and let them, the demons, free to roam about in the waters as monsters. [14] This is what this picture looks like. But who is this possessed person? - This possessed person is directly, the world in which these legions of demons dwell, as they inhabit this man. [15] The Lord comes to this obsessed world in His Word. The world wants to be free from its secret plague, and the Lord is making the world free. But its inner evil activity is worse in its free state than bound in her. [16] When it is bound, it complains of pressure and plague; but when I make them free, their activity flies into the pigs and plunges itself into the sea of destruction, and the slightly better people in the world also seek to take Me away on top of it all, because I do not care for their world industry commitment. Because these Gerasener (Gadarener) say the same as the carriers of the world, or even German (more clearly) spoken: they are the actual industrial grid. 46. RETURN TO SYCHAR. HEALING OF A LEPER. [1] AS already mentioned before, we were not actually at the top of the mountain, but lower down on the first rise because of the larger space there which was suitable for the large crowd that had followed Me from the city among which were many old and already rather weak people who in the considerable heat of the day would hardly have reached the peak of the mountain. But we were nevertheless rather high up and the descent was only slow as the twilight made it hard to see the path for some people with weak eyes. [2] As we thus slowly and carefully descended from the mountain into the plain, a man, covered in bad sores, was lying by the roadside. He immediately got to his feet, came to me and said in a plaintive voice: ‘O Lord, if it were only your will, you could make me clean.’ And I stretched out My hand over him and said: ‘So it is My will that you shall be clean.’ In a moment the sick man was cleansed of his leprosy, all the swellings, scabs and scales had vanished suddenly. As it had been a particularly bad case of leprosy, beyond help from any doctor, all the people were quite amazed when they saw how this man became so suddenly clean of his leprosy. [3] Now the cleansed man meant to praise Me loudly, but I warned him seriously, saying: ‘I tell you that for the time being you must not tell anybody about this, except the high priest. Go to him; he is walking behind us with My disciples. When he will have confirmed that you are cleansed, then go home and sacrifice on the altar what Moses has ordered.’ [4] The cleansed man did immediately what I bade him. The High Priest was also greatly astonished and said: ‘If a doctor had told me: “Look, I am going to cure this man,” I would have only laughed and said: “oh you fool, go to the Euphrates and try to bail it out. Each bucketful drawn will be replaced by a hundred thousand. However, it should still be easier for you to drain the Euphrates than to restore health to this man whose flesh has already begun to decompose.” And the man, whom we have now recognized as the Messiah, managed to do this with a single word. In truth, this suffices us. He is definitely Christ. We do not need any further proof. [5] In truth, if today someone should ask me for a shirt, I would not only add the coat, but all my clothes. For this prize I am truly willing to give away everything right to the shirt, and I now realize that His is a purely divine teaching. Yes, He Himself is as Jehovah now bodily with us. What more could we wish for? I will be a herald all night to announce His presence in all the streets and lanes.’ [6] Following these words he runs to Me, that is, close to the well, falls at My feet and says: ‘Lord, do stop just for a moment that I may worship You, for You are not only Christ, a Son of God, but God Himself clothed in the flesh, with us.’ [7] I said: ‘Friend, let that pass. I have already shown you how to pray. So pray silently, and that is sufficient. Do not do too much today and as a result maybe not enough tomorrow. There should be a right measure observed in everything. If you add the coat to the shirt, that is quite enough to make the poor your very good friend forever, but if you, when he only asks for a shirt, would add all your clothes, this would embarrass him and he will think that you either want to confound him or that you are out of your mind. And look, nothing good would have been achieved thereby. [8] However, if someone asks you for one shekel and you give him two, or maybe three, you will make the borrower’s heart glad and your own very happy. But if you give a thousand shekels to the one who came to you to borrow only one, he will be alarmed and think: “What does that mean? I asked him for one shekel only and he wants to give me all he possesses? Does he take me for insatiable, does he want to embarrass me or has he maybe become deranged?” And see, such a man will not become a gain for your heart not will such an attitude on your part be of benefit for his heart. Therefore, just a fair, full measure in everything. And that is quite sufficient.’ (GGJ book 1, chp. 43) [6] You My Jonael however, see to it that My teaching takes root here and then bears much fruit, just as a new tree of life bears much and good fruit. But I give you, through My name, also an extrasensory power from the Heavens, but do not allow your zeal to draw you into ill-advised use thereof, because then you would do more harm than good. I shall leave you an angel in your house for a while, from whom you shall learn the wise use of heavenly power. But tell no stranger that an angel from the Heavens dwells at Jonael’s.’ [7] At this point Irhael and Joram also come to Me weeping, unable to speak for love and gratitude. But I bless them and say, ‘Be comforted. Shortly I shall be coming to you again.’ [8] Both of them embrace My feet, covering them with tears, with Joram exclaiming: ‘O you holy time, hasten to bring the Lord of glory to us in His house for evermore. O Lord, remember those of us who love You from the fullness of our hearts, and come soon to stay with us for good.’ [9] I said: ‘Yes, I shall come again, but, as said, only in secret, because from now on no one must through My presence be coerced into believing in My having been sent from above, and therefore in My Word. (GGJ Book 1 chp. 82) 33. A FOOD AND CLOTHES MIRACLE [1] HEARING this all the poor people hurry with gratitude and faith into their half-destroyed houses and are amazed when they find the tables laden with plenty of good food and also all kinds of clothes for old and young, big and small and for both sexes separately. They ask each other how this has come about, but no one knows the answer. [2] When they find even their larder fully stocked, woman and children say to the men: ‘That has been done by God. He who in the desert had for 40 years manna rain and thus fed His children in an area of rock and sand where no grass grew. He would not have let us die since we have always prayed to Him. O, this is certain: God does not ever forsake the ones who implore Him. [3] David, the great king, prayed to God when he became wretched, and God helped him out of his great misery. God has never been known not to give a favorable hearing to those who sought His help. It would have been an unprecedented case if God had not granted our prayers in this our greatest distress, for God is always full of love for those who call to Him: “Abba, dear Father.” Therefore, let us from now on love Him above all. He alone is our deliverer. Our most holy Father sent us all this from the Heavens through His holy angels.’ [4] Says the old man who happened to belong to this particular family where the whole village used to gather to listen to his wisdom, for he was well versed in the Scripture: ‘My children, friends and brothers. It is written: “From the mouth of the little ones and babes I shall have myself praised.” And look, here we have it before our eyes and ears. The dear Father has looked at us in His great mercy and had done this for us. To Him be therefore all our love and praise from the mouth of our babes, for the praise from our mouths is not sufficiently pure to be pleasing to the Almighty. That is why He has prepared for Himself the mouth of our babes. But now let us go outside to the young who sent us to our houses and no doubt knew what God had done for us. He must be a great prophet. Maybe even Elias who is to come once more prior to the hoped-for and already long since promised Messiah.’ [5] Says a little child that has only recently started to talk: ‘Father, could not this Man himself be the great Promised One?’ [6] Says the old man: ‘O child, who loosened your tongue so clearly? For you did not speak like a child just now, but like a sage at the temple in Jerusalem.’ [7] Says the little child: ‘I do not know about that, only that prior to this talking was so difficult for me and now so very easy, that I do know. But why should this surprise you, since we are surrounded by God’s wonders?’ [8] Says the old man, pressing the little child to his heart: ‘Yes, yes, you are right. Everything here is a wonder, and you are surely not wrong if you even take the young Man to be the Messiah. For us He is certainly that. But let us now go outside to Him and dutifully render our gratitude also to Him in the name of Jehovah, for He was obviously sent to us by God. So let us hurry outside to Him.’ [9] Now they all hurry outside to Me and the little children are the first to throw themselves at My feet bedewing them with their innocent, purest tears of gratitude and joy. [10] But I gaze up at the firmament and say in a loud voice: ‘You Heavens! Do look down and learn from these little children how your God and Father wants to be praised! O creation, how endlessly vast and ancient you are and how countless the number of your wise citizens, and yet you could not find the way to the heart of your Creator, your Father, like these little children! Therefore, I tell you: who does not come to Me like these little ones, will not find the Father!’ [11] Thereupon I sat down and blessed and caressed the little children. And the little child said to the old man who called out in some confusion: ‘How is that? Why? How are we to understand this? Father, there is more than Elias here, more than your Messiah. Here is the Father Himself, the good Father who brought us bread, milk and clothing.’ [12] The old man begins to weep, but the little child leans his head against My bosom which he begins to kiss and caress, and after a while he says: ‘Yes, yes, I hear it, here in his bosom the true, good Father’s heart is beating. O, if I could only kiss it too.’ Says the old man: ‘But little one, do not be naughty.’ [13] I said: unless all of you become that naughty, you will never come as close to the Father’s heart as this dear little child.’ (GGJ Book 2, chp. 33) 22. THE 5 PHARISEES WASHING THE LORD’S FEET [1] IN the morning, the 5 Pharisees came over to me, greeting Me and My disciples in the friendliest terms, after their fashion, and even showed Me an especial honor by asking me whether I would find them worthy of washing My feet. [2] For in Bethlehem, it was still an old form of especial reverence the following morning for the host to wash his guest’s feet or alternatively for the principal guest to wash the feet of the host. Therefore I permitted the 5 Pharisees to wash and dry My feet. [3] Only after this action did the 5 Pharisees ask me, saying: ‘Verily, inexplicably supreme master, would you not tell us something of the method by which you achieve such unheard-of healings. There can be no doubt that in general terms, You obviously effect this through God’s power, but it is another question in what way, and in unheard-of perfection. Only of this give us a few hints, if You find us worthy, whereupon we shall be joyfully and everlastingly grateful to You, and undertake our journey back to Bethlehem.’ [4] I said: ‘Even if I were to tell you that, you would nevertheless not believe Me, for Moses’ threefold veil hangs also over your eyes, that you may not discern who it is that now speaks to you. Were you to know Him, you would not put such a question, but because you don’t know Him, you ask the way you do. [5] And were I to give you the right answer, you would still not accept it. Because you see indeed what is and happens in the world materially, but concerning the Spirit, its Kingdom and action, this is strange to you, wherefore you are unable to grasp or feel what is the being and action of God’s kingdom in man. [6] But go and do penance on account of your many sins, and you shall perceive that the Kingdom of God has come near unto you. [7] Love God with all your strength, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth, but loving also your poor brother and sister neighbors. Do not persecute your enemies, nor curse those that curse you, doing good to those offending you, and you shall heap coals of fire upon their heads and God shall regard such your works and reward you a hundredfold. [8] Do not lend your money to those who can repay you with high interest, but to the truly poor and needy, and your money shall be invested for high interest rates in Heaven, and your Father in Heaven shall be paying you interest and capital everlastingly. [9] Do not crave the world’s praise, thanks and reward for your good deeds, for doing so, what reward shall be due to you from Heaven? I Say unto you: he who receives any reward whatsoever for a good deed performed on a neighbor, forfeits his reward in Heaven. [10] He who works for Heaven shall be rewarded by Heaven, temporally, and once everlastingly, but he who works for the world shall receive the world’s base and perishable rewards. But in Heaven he shall find his earning-record void, and his reward shall be gone, and there shall be hardly an end to his spiritual poverty. [11] If you take this to heart and act accordingly, you shall soon be in the clear on how I heal your sick. Now you know all you need to know. Further asking would gain you nothing, even if you were told. [12] But see to it that neither I, nor My action and My disciples are broadcast, either in Jerusalem or in the city of David, for this would bring you no blessing. [13] But when you shall have partaken of the morning meal, you can start upon your homeward journey with cheer.’ [14] This My saying brought forth a baffled expression from the five, yet they dared ask no further question, bowing down before Me and then moving over to their dining room, hitting the road for their homeland after the morning meal. (GGJ Book 3, chp.22) 54. HOME DISCIPLINE [1] THEN we got into the house the children too wanted to keep Me company. [2] Ebahl nonetheless, keeping tight domestic discipline forbade it, especially to the girls and the two wives saying: “You have now seen, found out and heard enough; remember it and do accordingly and you shall not go unblessed, as the Lord also said unto you down at the sea. – But go back to your work now!” [3] The girls and the two mothers excuse themselves heavy heartedly and go to their rooms, of which Ebahl’s house had many, for it was the largest house in Gennesaret. [4] Whereupon I say to Ebahl: “Friend, why did you get rid of them? Behold, it is indeed good to keep up a good domestic discipline with the children, and it is highly laudable to protect the girls from the world; but behold, here where I am there is no threatening world but only a most blessed heaven, and this you should not deny your little ones!” [5] On hearing Me saying this, Ebahl said: “Oh, if they just don’t get tiresome to You, then I shall have them returned here at once! But my children love to gape about and chatter, and I removed them so as not to let them become irksome to You.” [6] Say I: “What could be bore-some to Me in this world other than men’s great malice? – Go and bring them all back!” [7] Ebahl went and brought them all back to Me again and the youngest girl promptly sat with Me and started to cuddle and hug Me. [8] However, Ebahl rebuked her and said that this was bad behavior. [9] But I said to him: “Friend, let her be; since she already has chosen the very best part! I say to you and all of you: Who does not come to Me like this little girl, will not find the way to the kingdom of God! She already has found it! With love, and this with the hottest love, you must come to Me if you want to harvest everlasting life! [10] This little girl proves by deed what she feels in her heart; but you make clever speeches and keep your heart cool! Do you still not realize who I could be and also actually be?” [11] Here all fall down and Ebahl took My feet and kisses them all over and says after a while of confused reverence: “Lord! I have felt it for quite some time, I only lacked the courage!” [12] Say I: “Now, do not punish the girl who gave you all the courage, to come to Me on the water! Here she again gave you the courage, to love Me! Oh, this little girl is exceedingly dear to Me! She already has what you still have to search for and will not find so soon! Strive therefore for the true, living love for God and your fellowmen and you will have an abundance of mercy and blessings!” (GGJ Book 4, chp. 54) [24] Only Jarah was saying, as the sun began to touch the horizon: “Lord You my love, we are not perhaps going to already return home from this charming height? Here I would so much like to see the sun rise!” [25] Say I: “We are staying the night, and only betake ourselves home on Sabbath morning; but like all the others you shall see God’s glory shine throughout the night!” [26] This so enraptured the little one that she sank at My feet in a kind of swoon which however quickly left her. (GGJ Book 4 chp. 73) 86. JARAH’S EULOGY [1] THIS loud singing awakens all the other sleeping ones, who immediately chime in with the disciples, and I let them do so to their hearts content, and Jarah hugged My feet, weeping with exceeding joy and happiness! After crying from joy at My feet for half an hour, and after the disciples had ended their morning greeting, the little one straightened up, saying with foreboding voice: “Oh earth – when shall you be this fortunate again, to be trod upon by these feet? Do you dumb mother of vice feel Who is He that treads you now? No, you don’t feel it and you can’t feel it, for you are too dead and too small! How should you be able to grasp what is too unthinkable big and holy even for unending space, with its countless my raids of beings!? Where should I begin and where finish to sing His glory even in a dew-drop? For it is He, God the eternal, Who created the dew-drop as much as he did yonder colossal worlds of light! Oh Lord, oh my God, annihilate me, for never shall my heart be able to contain the fervent love for You. [2] When I had not yet known Your glory, I loved You as a most perfect man. I indeed divined the Godly pure Spirit within You, and my heart loved this holy Spirit in You inexpressibly; yet I still thought of You as a son of the most High! But now all this has assumed a different aspect! You Yourself are the Most High! Beside You there is no other! Hence forgive this tiniest worm of the dust, that dared in its hereditary blindness to love You as a human!” [3] Say I: “My little child, there is nothing to forgive; stay with this love! For I say unto you all: He who does not love Me like you, My most beloved Jarah have loved Me, such one’s love shall not receive My regard! [4] He who does not love God as the most perfect Man, can love his neighbor, who is still an imperfect human, even less! If however it is written that God created man to His image, what should God be then – if man is in His image – other than also – albeit a most perfect, Man? Or do I look different from a man because you have, My little one, seen a couple of droplets of My glory?” (GGJ Book 4, chp. 86) 19. THE LORD VISITS LAZARUS IN BETHANY [1] I Myself met with My brothers and disciples in a very remote inn outside the temple. It was this the same inn in which I often stayed during feast days with Joseph and Maria. The joy of the brothers when I came to them was indescribable, since they sat together sadly and exchanged among themselves their opinion, if I ever would have mercy on them to take them back. [2] But I asked them and said to them: “Children, friends and brothers, do you have something to eat and to drink?” [3] Then all fell to My feet and begged Me for forgiveness. But I asked them to get up from the floor and speak very openly with Me, since they knew quite well that I never was cross about an open conversation. The brothers got up and thanked Me that I not have left them. (GGJ Book 15m, chp. 19) 56. HEALING OF THE POSSESSED MARY MAGDALENE (Luke 8:2 - And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,) [1] Soon thereafter, about an quarter of an hour later, it came to pass that the guide of the Romans, who otherwise was a free maiden for licentious men, because of enjoying too much wine, was struck by terrible cramps and screamed pitifully, her face became distorted and her limbs and muscles pulled frightfully. [2] The Romans were horrified by it because they regarded such an appearance as an extraordinary malum omen (bad portent). They said: “Woe us, the gods have become enraged by us, because we went to search for a foreign god! What are we going to do now?” [3] Said Lazarus: “Nothing, just stay where you are! For this person I already know for some time; she has this illness for several years now, and it quite often already happened to her, especially if she has enjoyed too much wine. We Jews call this being possessed by one or even several evil spirits. During earlier times, when their still existed many devout people, such evil spirits could be expelled from a person by the prayer of a devout; but in our time such nearly doesn’t exist anymore. Of course, our great Man could effectuate something like that immediately, if He wanted to! [4] See, this is what this appearance is all about, nothing else! How could your Gods become enraged, if they exist nowhere else than in the imagination of the people, who doesn’t know anything about a true God, since they never have heard anything about Him? Why not? This lies in the everlasting great wisdom plan of Him, who has created the people.” [5] This calmed down the Romans, and they again could look at the guide, who was in a wretched condition, and they even were able to call up some compassion for her in themselves. [6] The first Roman however, came to our table, where we were still sitting quietly, and from all the people he had selected especially Me and said: “But, dear friend, is there than nobody among you who could assist this unfortunate maiden in any way? You are sitting there so apathetically, while this poor girl battles with death! I surely want to help her, if I would know a cure for such illness; however we Romans, especially regarding such illnesses, are exceedingly badly devised.” [7] I said: “You have turned to Me without knowing who I am; but your partial trust that someone at our table could help the possessed, has lead you to Me. And I say to you, that your spirit has directed you to the right Man, who will help her for her bodily well-being and the well-being of her soul. Hence pay attention by which means I will help this maiden forever!” [8] Hereupon I got up from My chair, went to the maiden who was already completely stock-still, stretched My hands above her and threatened the seven evil spirits inside her. [9] But the spirits screamed loudly out of her belly: “O Jesus, You Son of David, leave us for still a short while in this our dwelling!” [10] But I threatened them again and in the same moment they left the maiden. [11] And the maiden got up and was so cheerful, fresh and healthy as if there was forever nothing wrong with her. But when she saw Me at her side and she was told that I helped her, she looked firmly at Me and said: “O, is this not the marvelous man, for whom my heart already a year ago started to beat more livelier! And especially him, whom I loved so endlessly and still love, when I only once saw him in passing by, came to help me now! O friend, you should rather have let me die, than to see you again for the biggest torture of my heart, without ever having the hope, to also be loved by you! Since you are a pure person and I am a rejected whore!” [12] Hereupon she fell to My feet, kneeling she clasped My feet and wetted them with tears of love and remorse. [13] Then some of My disciples came forward and wanted to pull her away from My feet, and remarked to her that this was not appropriate. [14] But I said to the disciples: “What are you concerned about?! Am I not the Lord over Me and now also over her? If it becomes too much for Me, I will tell her what is appropriate or not appropriate! I say to you: This maiden has sinned a lot, but she loves Me more than all of you together; therefore she will be forgiven a lot. And I still say to you, that everywhere, where My gospel is preached, this incident and this maiden must be mentioned.” [15] Thereupon the disciples retreated and were content. [16] But I said to the maiden: “Stand up now; since you have been helped and all your sins are forgiven! But go now and do not sin anymore, so that thereupon not something worse will happen to you! For if an evil spirit leaves a person, he travels through dry steppes and deserts and searches for a dwelling, and if he does not find anything, he returns. He then finds his old dwelling clean and swept, so that he has a great desire to move in again. However, if he discovers that he alone is too weak, he gathers another seven spirits who are worse than he is, and all of them are then moving by force into the cleaned dwelling, and this second state of a person is then much worse than the first. Therefore, be aware, that same doesn’t happen to you! Hence, stand up, go and do not sin anymore!” [17] Here the maiden got up and because of all the love and gratitude she nearly couldn’t help herself. After a while however, she asked Me, whether she could not stay here at the inn for only one night, since it was already late in the night. [18] And I said to her: “I did not speak to your body, but with your soul and with its manifold worldly desires; with your body you can stay wherever you want!” [19] With that the maiden was content and sat at the table again, but her eyes not for one moment turned away from Me. (GGJ Book 18, chp. 56) 100. MARY OF MAGDALON AND THE LORD [1] NOW Mary of Magdalon came to Me and said: “O Lord and Master, can I also still be blessed and ever receive eternal life? For I am a great sinner, and in Your very holy presence it seems to me more and more that I am too unworthy for Your very smallest mercy.” [2] I said: “Do remain in the pure love, and sin no more. This must be your concern. I surely will take care in your place for all the rest. I have set you free from your impure spirits and I have said to you that your sins are forgiven because you have proven a great love to the poor and now you also love Me above all. However, to whom I say: your sins are forgiven, they are also truly forgiven, but he should no more sin in the future, because if he would sin again, he will set out for a still worse condition than the first one. But I can see the earnest will in you to sin no more, and then you also will remain in My love and mercy. And whoever remains in My love and mercy, has already eternal life in himself, and by that eternal happiness. [3] Whoever, out of love for Me will do everything what neighborly love requires, for him I also will do everything that lies in My power. And in My power lies not only much, but everything. If you, dear Mary, know this now, then be cheerful and do from now on that which is good. Then I will never leave you.” [4] On this, Mary of Magdalon was deeply moved and fell at My feet, thanked Me and wet My feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. My old disciples thought that this scene took a little too long and according to their opinion also somewhat inappropriate, and they grumbled among themselves. [5] However I noticed it and said to them: “Why are you irritated because of that? I am already a long time with you. You have never shown Me such love and I have also not demanded it from you. But I say to you now also: wherever My gospel will be preached to the people, this Mary should also be clearly mentioned, for she has proven Me a great favor of love. Remember that also. You, Mary, stand up now and be assured of My full love and mercy.” [6] Then Mary stood up and thanked Me once more, her heart completely filled with love. [7] Now the disciples asked Me and her to forgive their little impatience. [8] I said: “Learn to be patient with the weak, then in My eyes you will show by that more power for your souls, than when you will only fight and overcome heroes. [9] But now the sun has already climbed high above the horizon and the morning meal is ready. We will take it and will then go from here to Bethany.” [10] Then we quickly went into the house and took the morning meal where also our Mary joined in. [11] After the morning meal Lazarus made up the account and took the profit as well as the other treasures and valuables with him. Seven mules were needed to carry it, since also the treasures of the various converted priests, which Lazarus was keeping, were also included. [12] Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and the old rabbi commended themselves in My mercy and love, thanked for everything and went together with the magicians into the city where they had some things to do. The magicians however went to their companions who were anxiously waiting for them. The 2 Romans who lived in Emmaus went with the 7 Egyptians to Emmaus from where the last mentioned ones returned after a few days to their country. All the others who were present went with us to Bethany. [13] It is not necessary to mention here in more details who elsewas present, since those were already mentioned a few times during the related events on the Mount of Olives. [14] Mary of Magdalon asked Me if she could also follow us to Bethany, and she asked Me how long I would stay in Bethany. 15] I said: “I will rest there for 3 days, for I have worked much, and after much work, one may grant himself some rest. When you will have arranged everything at home, come to us in Bethany.” [16] Then Mary went directly home in order to arrange everything there, even for a few days, because she intended to stay with Me during that time. (GGJ Book 18, chp. 100) 28. THE ANOINTING IN BETHANY (Luke 7:36-50) [1] THEN I turned to the Roman Marcus again and asked him if he had also understood that. [2] Marcus said: “I surely did. But with my thoughts I am still busy with the moon that in a certain way is a punishment place for the worldly people who are lusting too much for the world. You promised us to tell and explain us something more about it. That is why we are asking You now if You would like to keep Your promise to us.” [3] I said: “That I will also do, for whatever I have promised, will come to pass. However, for this, the right time has to come also. Look, it is still day now because the sun has not set yet. So let us wait until it becomes night and the stars will lighten the Earth. Then I can explain this better to you than in broad daylight when your sight is still too much dimmed by worldly images. For this time, we surely will find something else about which we still can exchange a few words before evening. At the beginning of the evening we will then visit those particular Pharisees and scribes and exchange a few words with them.” [4] The Roman Marcus was satisfied with that and we took again some wine and bread. [5] We rested for about half an hour when a servant of Lazarus came into the hall to us and said that outside there was a pretty woman who arrived with a couple of servants and who had the fervent desire to see and to speak to the Lord. He asked if she could be send in or if they had to show her another habitation. [6] I said: “I know the women who arrived. So let her in.” [7] Then the servant left and Lazarus and the disciples asked Me what kind of woman she was. [8] And I said: “You know that young woman, Mary of Magdalon who was also with us on the Mount of Olives this morning. She quickly arranged her household and hurried to come here. Thus, let no one of you be irritated because of the fact that she came here.” [9] I barely had spoken out these words when the young woman came into the hall, nicely dressed and adorned. She fell immediately at My feet, opened right away a golden little pot that was filled with very costly nard ointment and anointed My feet with it, because with the Jews it was since old customary one of the highest marks of honor when someone descended from a royal house to anoint his feet with nard ointment. [10] When My disciples saw that, they said among each other: “Has this woman become insane? That ointment could have been sold for at least 200 pieces of silver, and that money could then be distributed among the poor. Indeed, the Lord does not need such worldly marks of honor.” [11] But I looked at the grumbling disciples and said: “Why is this irritating you again? You will always have the poor with you, but not Me as I am now amongst you. This woman has performed now a good work to Me, and wherever this gospel will be preached, also this woman and this incident should be clearly mentioned. I am among you now for a long time and you have never given me a pitcher of clear water to wash My feet. This woman however, has already washed My feet with her tears this morning and she now came back to anoint My feet. How can you be irritated because of that? Now, when it is written that I am a son of David, then it is also My due that someone gives Me this royal honor.” [12] After these words of Me, no one said anything anymore and all praised the woman and her deed. [13] Then the woman stood up and wanted to leave. [14] But I said: “Stay now with Me, for from now on, you also must be and remain a witness of My deeds and mercy. [15] Then the woman, being full of joy stayed, and Lazarus served her kindly and she allowed also her servants to be served. And after that, we talked with each other almost until the evening, and during this opportunity the young woman related to us frankly about her experiences. [16] When the woman told us in a modest way for almost 1 hour about her experiences, some of the Pharisees who were converted to Me were of the opinion that what the woman said was not so decent for this exalted company. In fact, they only made this remark because in the very good story of the woman many things were delicately woven between, which were also very closely in relation to them. [17] But I commended the openness and frankness of the woman and said to the Pharisees and scribes: “My friends, who are now somewhat exited. Be not offended because now by the mouth of this woman many things are coming into light of which you in a great measure are guilty of and which guilt you carry in your flesh. But if the words of the woman, who did not mention any names, is already disturbing your mind, why does My omniscience not do that? I say to you: on the other side in the kingdom of the spirits they will shout aloud from the rooftops what you so zealously are trying to hide in this world. Therefore, it is still better to suffer in this world a small judgment and submit to a little humiliation than to stand in shame on the other side before the eyes of all angels. [18] Whoever wants to pretend to be a better person on this Earth than he really is, still possesses a hypocritical spirit. With this, one cannot really enter God’s Kingdom. However, he who wants to subsist before Me, must also show himself to the world as he really is. Then also in My eyes and those of the angels he will not have to experience a further judgment if he has changed all his ways. [19] Look at this woman. She really sinned a lot, but because she is full of openheartedness, and besides has done many works of neighborly love, many things are now forgiven to her and she is now dearer to Me than many righteous ones who have never sinned. For I did not come into this world because of the righteous ones, but only because of the remorseful sinners, just like a doctor who will only go to those who need him and not to the healthy people who do not need a doctor.” [20] After these words of Me, the somewhat irritated Pharisees and scribes did not say anything anymore and they were satisfied with this correction. [21] Then the woman asked Me to be patient with her. Then she would do her utmost best to still make up for everything that was sinfully committed by her. [22] But I said in a friendly way to her: “There is not much left that you should make up for, but others have a lot of things that they should make up for to you. But now I say to you: forgive all who have sinned at you and against you, just as I also have forgiven you. Then I also will forgive their sins committed to you. But now, eat and drink and strengthen yourself.” [23] The woman said: “Oh Lord. You only are for me the best bread and the very strongest and sweetest wine from the Heavens. You only are the real and most true strengthening of the life of my soul and body. Please be always charitable and merciful to me and do not leave me, poor sinner.” [24] I said: “My dear daughter, these words were not inspired by the flesh, but by the spirit of love in the heart of your soul. [25] Yes, I am a true bread from the Heavens and so also a true wine. Whoever will eat this bread and drink this wine, will eternally not be hungry and thirsty. Therefore, I am true food and a true drink. Whoever will eat and drink Me in the spirit and in truth, will not see death, nor feel or taste it. So eat and drink now also bodily of this earthly bread and the earthly wine.” [26] Only then the women took bread and ate, and drunk also some wine. (GGJ Book 19, chp. 28) 71. THE HEALING OF THE SICK HELENA HEN the innkeeper continued to speak to his house staff that was present now: “Now we have convinced ourselves that the to us still unknown servant of the one true God has done a real miracle to let us know the one true God, and He also gave me other proofs that are not less wonderful, and from which I have concluded that He must be an extremely wondrous Man, because He is aware of the most hidden and secretly kept arrangements and circumstances of our house, even more accurately than we ourselves. [2] So He also knows of the sickness of our dearest daughter Helena which is incurable up till now, and He also promised me that He would heal her if I would remove all the dead idols – great and small – from the house and would then adhere with my whole family to the one, true God and give Him all the honor. However, I still did not dare to violate the dead idols myself out of fear that I first would be betrayed by someone and then would be punished by the priests and courts of law, but I said to this wonderful servant of the one true God: ‘You remove them from the house, with witnesses, then we cannot be responsible for it’. And look, this He has done in one moment, and thus all our numerous idols in the house have been totally destroyed in a most wonderful way. We all are witnesses of that and cannot be called to account by the priests and still less by a Roman court of law for that, which you all will be able to realize as well as I do. [3] But now that this Man let such unexpected things suddenly happen before our eyes today, let now also our daughter be healed and let the one, only true God be made known and shown to all of us, so that we all can give the honor only to Him and act and live according to His will.” [4] All those who were present agreed on that, and the innkeeper with his wife and his children turned now to Me and asked Me to, if that would be possible, heal their sick daughter. [5] And I said: “Since you and your whole family are believing, it also will be done according to your belief. Go now to the room of your daughter and convince yourself if she is already healed. Then bring her here, so that also she can taste this wine of life and would come to know the One who has healed her.” [6] After I had said that, they all left hastily the dining room to see if Helena was already healed. When they came to her, they saw that she was completely healthy, and she related that a fire streamed through her and that the fever and all pain and all her former weakness had suddenly left her. This produced a great rejoicing. The daughter left then also immediately her sickbed, dressed herself and was brought with shouts of joy to Me. [7] When she was told that I was the One who had healed her, she knelled at My feet and moistened them with her tears of gratefulness. Also all the others thanked Me for the miraculous healing of Helena. (GGJ Book 20) 36. THE LORD HEALS THE SICK HELPER OF THE INNKEEPER [1] BUT you have a sick helper who is your favorite, because he always has served you in the most loyal and zealous way and who cannot stand up from his sickbed since already 1 full year because he is afflicted by gout. If you want and believe, I can help him.” [2] The innkeeper said: “O Lord and Master, if You would like to show me this mercy, I want to do everything that You want me to do for You.” [3] I said: “Then it will happen according to your faith. Go and see if your helper is still in pain.” [4] Then the innkeeper went immediately to the room where the sick helper was, and see, the helper was healthy, and he told the innkeeper that he had clearly the impression that there had been lightning around him, and after that in one moment all pain and weakness had left him, so much so that he now immediately wanted to stand up from his sickbed. God must have done a miracle to him. [5] The innkeeper said: “You surely can stand up now and come then into the big hall. There you will see the One who made you miraculously healthy.” [6] The helper did quickly what the innkeeper told him to do, and the latter came with a very thankful heart immediately back to us. [7] When the innkeeper came to us again and had expressed his thanks to Me, the healed helper came also soon after him, and together with him came also the other personnel of the house and servants and maidservants, and they asked who of us was the One who had healed the chief helper miraculously of his gout. [8] The innkeeper pointed with his hand to Me and said: “This God-Man here, of whom I must say that no one of us is in the least worthy that He came to us and walked through the doorstep of my house. Thank Him, all of you for all the mercy that He has given us, and give Him always the honor before all men.” [9] After these words, the innkeeper kneeled down immediately at My feet, thanked Me and praised Me loudly. Then also the others of the personnel did the same, the servants and maidservants, which caused a great noise in the house that could also be heard by the Pharisees, although their room was far away from our hall. And one of them came to see what was happening. (GGJ Book 21, chp. 36) - Sermon 16 -
Fourth Sunday in Lent. The Feeding of the Five Thousand St. John VI, 1-15: "After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (February 17, 1872) Here you have one of those deeds which created a great sensation among the Jews, even to such an extent that those who witnessed it wanted to proclaim Me king, thus forcing Me to evade their intentions by withdrawing alone to the solitude of a mountain. For Me, the Lord and Creator, the act as such was not so great and important, when I caused the five barley loaves and two fishes to continuously be replaced or complemented out of the substances of the air in such a way that they easily sufficed for five thousand people and of the bread there still remained twelve baskets full of leftovers. For the people encamped around Me it certainly was a miracle that strikingly proved My divine descent and might. However, by the Jews it was not regarded spiritually but according to their material interests, since following this act they wanted to proclaim Me king. I had to withdraw from them, for first of all, that was not the purpose of My life on earth and besides, My time for "being lifted up" had not yet come. That expression, whenever I used it, was likewise never understood until the crucifixion explained it and My ascension fulfilled the "being lifted up" also spiritually. Meaning of the healing of the centurion's servant versus that of the son of the royal officer at Cana
[7] Says John: ‘But the sign You worked at Cana on the son of the royal officer does not seem to be greater and more important than what You did for the centurion outside Capernaum?’ [8] I said: ‘If you think this, you are quite wrong, for the son of the royal officer represents the entire, extremely depraved world and how it is now given help from a distance through My teaching and My spiritual influence. The servant of the centurion, however, represents for the present just the palsied servant whom I healed and only then also some community or society in My name which because of all kinds of political considerations completely lacks activity according to My teaching in one or the other point and thereby gradually becomes inactive also in the other points. That is then also a palsy of the souls which can be helped only by a firm belief in My word. [9] See, My dear brother John, this constitutes a considerable difference between the two signs. The first one represents the entire world’s condition of spiritual sickness, and I tell you, in an even more profound sense also of all infinity. The second sign, however, represents only that which I have just explained to you. Thus you now know what you have to describe and what Matthew.’ (GGJ Book 1, chp.100) “1. When all who were with Me had finished supper, whilst Judas slept on a straw mattress in the outhouse, those same Jews who the previous day had put the priest, scribes and Pharisees to the test, brought a great many possessed and a great many others suffering all kinds of ills, imploring Me to heal them all.
2. And I asked them in a lovingly earnest manner whether they believed that the Nazarene carpenter's son was able to do so. Because these people knew Me so to speak from birth. 3. But they answered and said, 'What have we to do with the carpenter's son?! If the carpenter's son was chosen of God to become a prophet to the people of Israel, then he is a prophet even if a thousandfold carpenter's son; because each man is what he is out of God and never what his parents were! And so we believe without doubt that you are firstly a God-tutored prophet and that you hence secondly can help everyone, as you helped the son of the city councilor and the centurion's servant!' 4. And I answered them, 'Now then, since your faith in Me and your assessment of Me are such, be it done to you according to your faith!' 5. Upon this word, all the spirits left the possessed and those suffering all kinds of sickness and plagues became well instantly. [Mt. 8:16].” (GGJ I, chap. 102) "1. We nevertheless press on eastwards and soon reach a tiny village, some twenty furlong distance from the castle. The entire community joyfully rushes out to meet us, asking softly what they can do for us. But I say: ‘Do you not have sick among you? They affirm it, saying, ‘Yes, we have one fully suffering the gout!’
2. Say I: ‘Bring him here then, so he may be made whole! Says one of them: ‘Lord, this will be hard! This sufferer is so paralytic that he has not been able to leave his bed for nearly three years, and his bed is hard to move, being fastened to the ground. Would you be prepared to go and see him? Say I: ‘Since the bed is hard to move, why don't you wrap the sick in a mat and bring him over here!’ In response several of them hasten to the house where the gout-stricken is lying, wrapping him in a mat and bringing him to Me in the street and saying: ‘Lord, here is the poor sufferer.’ 3. But I ask the sick one whether he believes that I can heal him. The sick looks Me over and says, ‘Dear friend, you look indeed like you could; you sure seem to be a proper healer! Yes, yes, I believe it!’ 4. Say I thereto: ‘Now then, get up and walk! Your faith helped you; but beware of a certain sin henceforth, so as not to relapse into gout, which would be more acute the second time than now!’ 5. And the sick gets up forthwith, taking up the mat and walking. Noticing only then that he is completely healed, he falls on his knees before Me, thanking and finally saying; ‘Lord, in you there is more than human power; praised be God's power in You! Oh, blessed the body that bore You, and over-blessed the breast that fed You!’ 6. But I say unto him; ‘And blessed they who hear My Words, keeping them in their hearts and living accordingly! (GGJ I, chp. 66) John 11:1-44
“[1] MARIA was still crying, lying in My arm. And to test the Jews I now asked them: “Where did you lay him down? For they had to know that this place was very well known to Me. [2] But they said (the Jews): “Lord, come and see”, and they turned around to show Me the way. [3] Also Maria dried her tears, released My arm and walked in front to show Me the way. [4] Did the One who knows all ways need a guide? And My eyes were full of tears. [5] Then the Jews said among each other: “See how He loved Him”. [6] Nota bene: If people would know about all the things that are contained in this event and what it means in the spiritual world they would never doubt anymore that God is entirely love. [7] It has to be preserved for future writers when the hearts will have become more receptive and purer to make those deepest secrets of heart of the eternal Spirit of God more clear and to describe them with understandable words for the believing, childlike mind so that they will realize how infinitely great and inexhaustible the source of My love is. Amen. “[1] THEN I had said that aloud to the scribe, the one sister of Lazarus, namely Martha, came almost out of breath to us on the hill and brought us the message that a helper had fallen of a high scaffolding on which he had to do something, and that now he gave no more sign of life. She asked Me to help him.
[2] And I said: “Well now, let him be brought here by the other helpers, then I will see what I will do.” [3] After these words, Martha hurried back down again, and the helper who fell down dead was carried on a stretcher and within a few moments he was lying before Me. [4] And I said: “Did I not tell you beforehand that soon we would have something else to do?” [5] Then I said to the scribe who fixed his eyes on the dead man: “Examine him, because you also are an expert in this field, and see if this helper is indeed entirely dead.” [6] Then he looked and felt the dead man from head to toe and diagnosed that he was completely dead, because he fell from the scaffolding on his head. His scull was pushed in and his neck completely broken. [7] When the scribe saw such certain deadly injuries with the dead man, he said: “Lord and Master, only God can make him alive again. With human help he cannot be brought to life again.” |
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