Support for Christianity
84. THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE PHARISEES GETTING over to Baram’s house, they take in the big crowd, which is still quite shocked and perturbed at the great instant healing. Not having witnessed the great healing, the Pharisees are assuming the people to be still astonished at yesterday’s healing of the possessed, as these continue to exclaim as they did yesterday: ‘Glory be to David’s Son! This truly is the Son of David!’ [2] Hearing this, the old Pharisees get annoyed, saying to the people: ‘Why are you wondering all that much? We know better than you how this took place. He, this magician, drives out the devils by means no other than Beelzebub, the devil’s chief, and you would praise him as David’s Son.’ Here some of the weaker became hesitant, asking the Pharisees to clarify this, and how this is possible. And whether the devils’ chief can on occasion also accomplish godly deeds. [3] Not bargaining for this question, the old foxes did not know how to reply. But since the inquirers sensed the Pharisees to be out of their depth, due to the long silence, they said: ‘Why do you give us no advice upon our very reasonable question, that we might get to the bottom of how this purported magician drives out the devils, and how Beelzebub can work also godly deeds? It is relatively easy to accuse a person, regardless of exceptional procedures, to be a servant of the devil, thereby making him suspect, but it is quite another thing to provide proof. Why do you keep silent if you are sure of yourselves?’ [4] Say the Pharisees: ‘We keep quiet because, enlightened by God’s Spirit, we are always aware of what man needs to know, and when therefore to speak. It is not because we should not know this, but because we must not and therefore don’t want to give you verifiable proof. Your business is to just believe everything we teach and not to probe on your own, for God has placed us for this reason, to probe the innermost substance of all things, keeping secrets to ourselves and telling people only as much as is good for them. Do you understand us?’ [5] Say the people: ‘O yeah, we have understood you quite well, and having understood you thus for a long time, we have, following such vivid understanding, gone over to the Greeks, with whom there is no such mystery-junk. There we have an Aristotle, a Pythagoras, a Plato, a Socrates, and these writings are clear and true. But with yourselves all is constantly wrapped in the deepest fog-night, to the extent of no visibility by even a span forward or backward. [6] Why do you try to cast suspicion on this emissary Savior to us from God? He has done good to us and healed all our sick, and for this you denounce him a servant of Satan? [7] What then are you, who have never yet done us a favor ever so small? When have you, with your inane devices or pretended prayer, healed anyone’ [8] Say the Pharisees: ‘Have we perhaps no credentials?’ [9] Say the people: ‘That you have, of course, from the Temple, and highly boastful ones at that, but where are the deeds, which according to your qualifications, you are supposed to be capable of performing? Of these, nothing has seen daylight yet. [10] Yet this one came to us without credentials, but accomplishes deeds the like of which, one can quite properly say, man has not accomplished since the world’s existence. We can see quite clearly as to why you want to make this godly human suspect to us, in spite of your refusal to tell us the reason. Listen, we take it upon ourselves to rub it into your noses, and the reason is the following: [11] This divine human carries out deeds in all actual, wondrous reality, which according to your Temple credentials, you are supposed to be capable of. Yet up to date you have come up with no deed, for the 30 years you have been with us. [12] How much of the best money and other costly things did you not obtain from us, so that you would act in our behalf? Where are the effects? You indeed took our gold and silver, but we received nothing but empty promises, which never were fulfilled. When we asked you when they shall be fulfilled, you pointed to the rich harvests and, praise god, our healthy herds. We however referred you to the even richer harvests and healthier herds of the Greeks, who are cursed by you seven times every Sabbath before sunrise. There you said: “This abundance is affected by Satan, and that the bread from such harvests and the meat from such herds serves not for life but damnation.” But you nevertheless did not scorn the yearly tithes which the Greeks rendered you by way of all kinds of grain. Tell us therefore what you actually did with this wheat, blessed by Satan according to you?’ [13] Say the Pharisees, brimming with bitter fury by now: ‘We sold it to heathens, such as the Romans and Greeks, for them to receive that much more damnation on judgment day!’ [14] Say the people: ‘How very nice. It is said that the devil is stupid enough and his lies thick enough for grasping with the hand. Yet you are ten times more stupid. Your lies can be grasped with heavily shod feet. Was it not us who carted your sundry grains to the Jerusalem market, with our oxen and asses, and we surely will know to whom we sold it? And you have the hide to tell us that you sold the Greek grain to the heathens for their greater damnation. If you have to whitewash yourselves with lies, then lie more smartly and not make us even more stupid than yourselves, buying black for white and white for black without further ado. No, such lying-atrocity. Such has not been heard yet.’ [15] Say the Pharisees: ‘You know nothing and understand nothing. Do you not know that a Pharisee is incapable of lying? For Temple-law states for all who are ordained into God’s service that they are not able to lie even if they desired it, for in their mouth, even the thickest lie turns into the most luminescent Truth.’ [16] Here the people start laughing, saying jokingly: ‘Indeed, indeed, we too are aware of the Temple-law you quoted, where it also is supposed to say: “Where a Pharisee puts excrement in his mouth, it instantly turns into gold.” (GGJ Book 2, chap. 84) 85. THE LORD CALMS DOWN THE PEOPLE ITH the Pharisees realizing that the people saw through them, and that they now were the subject of derision, they began to spawn thoughts of retribution. I therefore said to the people: ‘Let them be, for they themselves are blind leaders of the blind, and where they come to a ditch with their charges, they fall into the ditch together with those they lead. In a land where they hold dominion as superiors, they can do you more harm than you can do them. But now you set them a trap, where they can easily fall in the ditch, more so than yourselves, for they bragged of having sold accursed grain to the Romans and Greeks for damnation. If you report this to the Roman chief, he will have them all over the barrel for it. But it ought in no way to come to that. But we intend retiring into the house for now, and I shall try to make also this spiritually totally bat-blind lot to see.’ [2] Following which I move into the house, and the Pharisees follow Me at once, and are inside greeted by My disciples. But behind them, a huge crowd followed as well, so that it came to a great crush inside the room. This however did not matter overmuch, as I and the disciples still had plenty of room. [3] When things quieted down inside the house, I opened My mouth and began to speak, mainly to the Pharisees, since I saw their evil thoughts only too well and clearly: ‘That it has come to this with you, no one is to blame, other than yourselves. Have you not of a truth been with these people here in Jesaira these 30 years, yet not noticed their kind of spirit. Now it is, at this time, too late to again force the wakeful spirit of these people into sleep. Your anger is therefore a vain one, for you and no one else is responsible. [4] I came here as an authentic Jew, and as such, truly in full possession of God’s Spirit and all its power. [5] When I came to shore and you were enticed by the fire on the boat to rush to shore with the people. I healed the blind, dumb and possessed before your eyes. The people, instantly recognized the divine power in Me and greeted Me as David’s Son. You yourselves internally recognized it the same way. Since however you deemed such recognition to set limitations upon yourselves, in everything, you asserted against your inner convictions: “Such deeds I carry out with the assistance of the devils’ chief.” Who was it you harmed therewith? See, no one other than yourselves. [6] Had you only thought about this thing with greater openness, examining it more closely, you should have instantly seen the sheer absurdity of your assertion, recognizing therewith that with this most untimely and foolish assertion, you of necessity lost the last shred of integrity and faith from this awoken population.’ [7] Say the Pharisees: ‘What then should we have done? Tell us, since you are so clever.’ [8] I said in a somewhat more somber tone: ‘You should have thought, judged and spoken thus: “Every nation that is divided against itself, perishes, and every city, or household at odds with itself, cannot endure.” This surely can be grasped with the hand. [9] If I however, being a perfect Jew too, according to your assertion cast out devils through Beelzebub, then tell Me through whom actually do your children, who even now travel every country as saviors, healing the sick and casting out devils? I say unto you: your children too, and not only these people, shall be your judges. [10] If I nevertheless, as clearly understood by this population, cast out the devils through God’s Spirit, then the Kingdom indeed has come unto you, for which reason you, as Jews, should be particularly happy in front of the Greeks, who are heathens since this sign reestablishes the Jews’ privilege which they had lost for already a long time. For only in this way can the authentic Jew show the whole world that he alone is the man upon this wide Earth who stands in manifest association with God, working deeds through the might of God’s Spirit that are possible to no other man. [11] When the outsiders see such in a Jew, they shall congregate around the mighty Jew by the thousands times thousands and say: “The Jew alone is of God. Through him works God’s omnipotence most miraculously – he is powerful and wise, and shall be our lord forever.” [12] If then the true Jew ever shows himself thus strong, then his entire household and nation ought to be that strong. How could anyone then enter such a strong man’s house to rob him of its contents? Be it that he first binds the strong one, which is impossible, and then robs the contents, as the Romans actually have done to us in our house, finding us drunk and asleep in our house, binding, robbing and making us slaves, which serves the Jews right, as they have departed from God completely. [13] But God has mercy on His people, and again wants to help them, wherefore I have been sent to you from God. Since however, as you can see for yourselves, this now obviously is the case, why do you scatter where I am gathering? [14] For he who is not for Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters and manifestly is against the Spirit of God, who wants to make you free. [15] Wherefore I say unto you, after all that has already come over you: all sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven man, but never so the blasphemy against God’s Spirit, for you knew quite well that I healed the possessed through God’s Spirit, but for despicable worldly gain and honor you nevertheless blasphemed against God’s Spirit in Me, wanting to save you. And thus you have received the deserved reward also from the heathens.’ [16] Say the Pharisees: ‘We did not blaspheme God’s Spirit, but only yourself, and you yourself surely are not with flesh and blood going to be the Spirit of God? For you are no more than ourselves, a son of man.’ [17] I said: ‘Yes indeed, that I am by appearance, but in reality perhaps somewhat more. But if I am no more than a son of man like you, that does not excuse your blasphemy in the least. For I as a son of man surely am not working such deeds any more than you. But within this son of man standing before you, the Spirit of God alone is manifesting, and it is this One against whom you have blasphemed, for not I but God’s Spirit has accomplished such before your eyes, and you blasphemed against it. [18] Indeed, whosoever speaks against Me as a mere human, such shall be forgiven, but he who speaks against the Holy Spirit, such shall not be forgiven, neither here, nor in the beyond. [19] Because where a tree is by its whole nature already bad, there the fruit also is bad, but if a tree is already by its nature good, its fruit also shall be good. By the fruits therefore the tree is recognized. You are the tree, and there, the Jews turned into heathens are your fruit. Judge for yourselves whether it is good or bad.’ (GGJ Book 2, chap. 85) 86. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF POSSESSION SAY the Pharisees: ‘This is not our fruit. This is the fruit of vagabonds such as yourself, who come from the whole world from time to time, in the shape of all kinds of artists and magicians. To our faces they indeed carry on this miserable trade, but comes night, and they turn into proselytes for heathen philosophy, having great persuasive powers for casting suspicion on us and the Temple, together with its God-given ordinances, to the most scandalous degree. See, such heathen-Jews as dwell here in Jesaira are then the fruit of such individuals. We have at all times spoken good and true, and taught them according to Moses, rightly and fairly. But if Beelzebub turns the people away from us through individuals like you, is this our fault? Wherefore it is not us who are the evil tree, when Satan destroys and robs the fruit on our branches. Our teaching and speech is good, but your talk and deeds originate with the devils' chief, and seduce the gullible population. Therefore you ought to be stoned, together with your followers.’ [2] While the infuriated Pharisees spoke such words, the people began to murmur and betray intentions of laying hands on the Pharisees. [3] But I said to the people: ‘Let it be. It is enough that these evil ones are everlastingly defeated. This is why they should be spared for now. But they are now to receive My well-deserved testimony.’ [4] Say the people: ‘Yes, Lord, we implore You to show these wretches who and what they actually are.’ [5] I now turn to the Pharisees again, saying in full earnest: ‘O you generation of adders! How can you speak good, since in your hearts you are evil through and through? But with whatsoever the heart is filled, the mouth overflows. A good person at all times brings forth the good from the good treasure of his heart, but an evil person brings forth from his treasure. Yet I say unto you that men shall once be called to account for every evil and useless word they uttered, on the day of judgment. It will be as written in the book of Job: “For by thy words you will be justified, and by your word you will be condemned”. [6] I have showed you before why I came here and also to other places, but the evil sense in your heart cannot accept this, and still less grasp it, that you should become free and blessed. [7] For all the good that I do you freely, you want to stone and kill Me. O you generation of adders, you brood of vipers! True indeed is every evil testimony the prophets foretold you, verily only too true: “With dead ceremony and mere lips you honor God, but your heart is far from Him.” [8] There were however a few Pharisees and Scribes among themwhose heart was struck somewhat by My speech. These cut a somewhat human face, saying: ‘Master, we cannot fully dismiss your teaching, but we were prevented yesterday and today from being witnesses of your wondrous deeds. Work another such sign, as we want very much to see one. Perhaps this will suffice our intellect, and we could in the end embrace your doctrine ourselves.’ [9] But I turned to the people and spoke thus: ‘This evil and adulterous generation wants a sign. But no sign shall be given it, other than that given to the prophet Jonah once. For just as Jonah was in the whale’s belly 3 days and 3 nights, so likewise shall the Son of Man be in the middle of the Earth 3 days and 3 nights. (Note: Here, at the outset, middle of the Earth signifies the grave. Spiritually however it indicates that the soul of the Son of Man shall descend to the captive souls of the departed and there make them free). [10] Here the Pharisees looked at one another, saying: ‘What’s this, what will he do? How shall he get to the middle of the Earth? Where is that? Is this not everywhere and yet nowhere? Who can know how big the Earth is, and where its middle is? This person is insane, or an evil spirit is trying to get hold of him, for it is said that any man about to go insane, can work diverse wonders. How would he compare himself with Jonah, who preached at Nineveh?’ [11] Here I say again, as if to the people: ‘Verily, verily, the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And see, a greater than Jonah is here. Likewise, the queen of the South shall appear in the beyond with this generation and shall condemn them. For she (Semiramis) came from the end of the Earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see, here is more than Solomon.’ [12] Say the Pharisees: ‘Very well then, since you believe we all are of the devil, and that we shall be condemned by one and all on judgment day then drive the devils out of us, as you did with the blind and dumb yesterday, and we shall then be as well able to praise you as the one healed by you.’ [13] But they did not speak thus out of a sincere desire to be rid of their many evil spirits, with which they already were fully at one, but only to make out some case against Me. Because once an evil spirit has made everything subject and subservient to himself within a man, he does not manifest in an obvious fashion, but acts in a clever and worldly way, so that none should believe such person to be possessed, notwithstanding that he is possessed more thoroughly than some other who is still being tormented by some spirit because not yet master in his house.’ [14] Therefore also I said to the Pharisees and Scribes: ‘This can for several reasons no longer be effected in you, for the evil spirits have for a long time been completely at one with your soul and therefore fully comprise your very own evil and adulterous life. Were I to take them away, I should also remove your life with it. But were I to somehow still maintain your actual original life, this would still be of no use to you, for your entire nature now is of the devil through and through. Because even where through My power such unclean spirit departs from such people, he then wanders through arid regions, looking for rest and finding none, i.e. the devil seeks to tempt virtuous men and knocks, but he finds no admission, and these for him and his purposes are arid regions and deserts, where no herb grows for him. He then says to himself: “I shall return again to my old house, for in the steppes and deserts there is for me no place of rest, while in the dwellings already harboring the likes of me I shall find no admission.” When resolved thus, the devil comes back to his former dwelling, and he of course finds it empty, swept and garnished. Whereupon he withdraws, calling 7 other spirits, who each are more wicked than he. With their help he then easily obtains access to his former dwelling, and all live in such house. And with such person, the last state then is much worse than the first. [15] And this is how this generation would fare. Therefore it shall not be made more damnable through Me than it already is. [16] On hearing such, the Pharisees are aglow with rage, and would have liked to tear Me to pieces but for fear of the people. (GGJ Book 2, chap. 86)
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