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91. JESUS IN THE TEMPLE [1] MEANWHILE the Pharisees, priests and servants of the temple were really upset and wondered what they could do about this big demonstration. They soon realized that it would be impossible to suppress them with arms since this would soon be followed by an uprising against the already unpopular rule of the temple. The people were exalted with enthusiasm which could not be subdued by force. So all they could do was to let it happen for the time being and to exploit it as much as possible for the prestige of the temple in case of an unexpected turnover. [2] Especially Caiaphas, the high priest, advised in a hurriedly assembled Council, to wait and see what I actually planned to do and in what direction I wanted to turn the whole movement. If I wanted to be proclaimed king, then the power of the Romans would soon be on their side, but if I wanted to go against the temple and its servants, then also I would accomplish little without embittering the people because the people would not allow them to remove their belief in Jehovah. For the moment it was mainly a question of waiting and to smartly make use of all possibly mistakes on My part. [3] However, the priests themselves decided not to be seen but to widely open the temple so that its sanctity would speak to the people. Thus they quickly opened all the gates, and also the holy place was not closed – the room which no Israelite was permitted to enter without preparation and where no priest would enter without special ceremonies, prayer and preceding washing. [4] The servants of the temple were quickly instructed to inform the again numerously present salesmen in the courtyards of the temple to avoid an irritating scene such as the one I already gave them before. But this precaution came too late because the money changers and the different kinds of salesmen became vigilant by the shouting outside the walls, and as soon as they heard what was going on they gathered their items, left the building with their merchandise and ran away because they still had well in mind what I had done before. [5] This second temple purification which was not directly the result of My appearance, gave rise to the misunderstanding that the earlier described temple purification had taken place at My entry while it happened much earlier, namely at the beginning of My teaching ministry. [6] Now when the people penetrated into the temple with much shouting, they mainly were looking for the priests, for they wanted that the high priest Caiaphas would anoint Me king with the sacred anointing oil after which they wanted to bring Me to the castle of Zion to honor Me, but the priests could not be found. The people penetrated unhindered through the courtyards into the holy place. [7] My followers were worried and came standing around Me because they saw and heard what the people intended to do with Me. Peter was worried and asked Me: “Lord, what will come of this? Do You want to be proclaimed king of Israel here?” [8] I told him to be silent and instructed the bystanders to make place for Me so that I could enter the temple unhindered after I had left the pack animal behind earlier. [9] The people obeyed, and followed by many people I went through the courtyards into the inner sanctuary, entered the holy place itself and went to the big sacrificial altar and ascended its steps. [10] Here, according to the rules of the temple, the common people could not follow but they had to stand outside in the halls from where they could watch the actions of the priests in the holy place. [11] The Pharisees and the superiors of the temple had rightly judged the lightly excitable mood of the people, for while they previously would not have hesitated to enforce their will on the priests in case they would not be willing, they were now impressed by the place itself, although by the absence of all the priests there was no personal enmity possible, and a striking silence followed the general excitement in expectation of what I would do. I also ordered My followers to stay behind, and so I was standing there alone, seen by the whole crowd. [12] Now I spoke with a loud voice to the people: “The hour has come now for everyone to learn to where the roads are leading which you have been taken up to now, and everyone has to decide whether he wants to go to the Father or not. You brought Me into this house where in former times the Spirit of God lived visibly, but now He retreated from these walls and the place became empty. However, now He chose another place, and every human being can build a temple for himself if he acts according to My words and My teachings that I gave you. [13] Let everyone be carried by humility and then enter directly into the erected House of God which became empty but which should be filled again with deeds of love. Every deed of love is a building stone for the temple, and that temple will be crowned with the sign of wisdom and power if love only will be its foundation. I came to you so that you can learn love from Me, which you have despised. Not the self-love which you have, but the love for fellowman which you do not have but which makes you divine and the only thing that can bring you to God. [14] But if you believe that I am your king and that this is what I want to be, then know that My Kingdom is not of this world but that it lives in all its glory in man and that it forms the inheritance which the Father has given to the Son and through Him to all people on Earth and all Heavens. So do not think that I will enter the castle of David to establish an earthly kingdom. He who wants to follow Me, let him follow Me in My deeds, then he will be blessed. The Son is from the Father, and since He is from the Father, He is in Him and the Father is in the Son, and he who follows the Son will therefore also follow the Father. [15] Bring all those to Me whose body and heart are broken, then I will heal them so that they will become healthy. But those whose mind is broken will take offence at Me and I will not be able to heal them, for he who takes offence at Me is full of anger and pride and lacks love because it seems foolish and hard to him. But I want to heal your hearts and so also your souls and bodies, for only in the heart lives faith, and when this is not present there is darkness because faith that grew out of insight is a light that drives away all darkness. So believe in Me and in the Father so that you may see and darkness may leave you. [16] Truly, I say to you: without true faith no one can be blessed. And I told you what and wherein you should believe. So act according to My words as I have acted according to these words of Mine. Then all will be able to do what I have done, and no one on Earth will be able to say anymore that the ways to reach bliss are inaccessible to him. [17] But to show you what the power of the Father can achieve in man, bring Me the sick who suffer in their bodies, so that I may heal them.” [18] After these words I stepped down from the altar and I went in the courtyards where many sick people were lying and wanted to give offerings, hoping to become healthy by the prayers of the priests which was a general custom, especially at Passover. However, only for those who could give an offering in gold coins, otherwise the priests would not give such sick person any priority. So many a people grabbed his last possessions together to make that last attempt to gain his health, but then he would leave the temple without having regained his health. [19] I went to these sick people, and I asked them very seriously: “Do you believe that the God of your fathers can heal you if you will ask Him for it? Or do you think that you can become healthy by the help of humans?” [20] Then many desperate sick people cried out: “Master, only God can help us, and here in the temple we surely are closest to Him.” [21] But others kept silent, and so I asked also them for their opinion. [22] Then one of them answered Me: “Master, they told us: when the high priest does not pray to God in the most holy place for us we cannot be helped, for only he is the intercessor with God. So we have to wait till that will happen.” [23] On this I said: “Then do you believe that God cannot come to any person if he asks Him for it? Why do you first need an intercessor? Believe, then you also will be helped.” [24] Then again the first speaker said: “Master, we believe what is said to us, and still we are not helped. What else should we still believe?” [25] I answered: “You should believe that God, the Father of eternity, is endlessly good and comes to everyone who calls on Him in all earnestness. You should believe that God does not first need men to send them His power but that this power can be attracted by everyone by his love for God, which will then unfold in man and can be put to work. Can you believe that?” [26] While the sick man was firmly looking at Me, he said: “Master, I believe it, because You said it to me, for no one spoke to us like You did.” [27] I said: “My words are the truth, and since they are the truth, they are also the life and the power of life. As a human being I always acted according to them and so I have become a Master of life. Therefore, I say to you all: Go and do likewise, and do not sin anymore, neither in words nor in actions. Do not sin by doing something that goes against the love for God and fellowman, then you will stay healthy and become true masters of life. Stand up and walk!” [28] After these words, all the illnesses left the bodies of those who were sick, and they stood up, healthy and strong of body. The people who were standing around burst out again with loud shouting of joy and praised Me beyond measure. Many fell down before Me and tried to grab My hands and clothes to kiss them. I did not stop them but let them all come to Me. [29] Many tried again to penetrate to the high priests to carry out their intention to anoint Me, but they hid themselves so well that no trace of them could be found, and therefore, those who were sent had to return without any result. [30] When these forced their way to Me to wildly surround Me, I ordered them to stay calm and said to those who wanted so much to have a king: “Tell Me, can someone who stands before God and carries His power, still be placed higher on Earth than He is already standing before God?” [31] The leader of the group said somewhat perplexed: “Master, he himself probably not, but those who adhere to him want nevertheless a visible sign of his power – also outerly, so that the people will become happy under his powerful hand and not be oppressed.” [32] I said:” When Samuel anointed Saul as king on the demand of the people, what did the people gain by that? Certainly not peace or quietness, but battle and unrest. And why? Because the people became tired of the soft yoke that the Lord put on them according to their actions, and they strove for the mighty hand of a visible ruler. Furthermore, there was no shortage of kings, and also now you have received a king in Herod. Do you now believe that a new king which you seek in Me will bring you peace if he also wanted to be an outer, mighty king? Herod and the Romans would try to destroy all his adherers and also him. Misery, war and need would be stirred up if I would become your earthly king. And how could this agree with My teaching: ‘Love your fellowman as yourself’ if I would bring you war and murder? So give up what is exterior to Me – My Kingdom is not of this world – and establish in yourselves the true kingdom of peace. There I gladly always want to be and remain your king.” [33] After these words, those who were in favor of a king, became surly, left Me and thought that I was no hero of whom the people of Israel could also expect an outer salvation. [34] Those who shouted to have a king went now among the people and did not hide their resentment at My refusal. Nevertheless the rest of the people did not turn away from Me at all, because My deeds made a too big impression on them to immediately reject Me because of the fact that I refused to be king of the Jews. [35] After the great commotion, the people calmed down, and I as well as My disciples took the opportunity to explain again My teachings to many. So now there were large separate groups scattered in the courtyards of the temple. [36] Then it happened that 2 Greeks arrived, who also came to the Feast but who did not witness the whole scene from the beginning. However, it was forbidden for non-Jews to come into the holy place for which reason warning signs were put at the boundary to indicate up to which point non-Jews were allowed to come. [37] The Greeks saw Philip standing at the boundary and they told him that they would like to see Jesus and if possible to speak with Him. However, Philip did not dare to let the two come to Me because he thought that the prohibition should be respected. That is why he told Andreas and they both went to Me while I stood in a circle of many observers who listened to My words, and they presented the request of the 2 Greeks and also said that they did not dare to come to Me because of the people. Then I told them to send the Greeks to Me. Now they both went to tell them. Nevertheless, the Greeks were afraid to violate the prohibition and therefore they remained standing at the boundary. [38] The temple Jews, priests and Pharisees noticed that the mood was much more peaceful now, and some of them came among the people disguised as spies to examine the situation. They soon made common cause with those who wanted to have a king and who were now very displeased about Me – this in order to agitate the people against Me and to stir up hostility. One of the disguised agitators stood now close to Me and directly spoke in a displeased manner to those who stood around, saying how I could order gentiles to enter the Jewish holy place and to make it unclean in this manner. Was this worthy of a Messiah whom I wanted to be and despise the holy customs? Some of them who also did not like My invitation, agreed with the speaker so that there was a mumbling going on. [39] I very well noticed this and said to John and Lazarus, who always remained close to Me, as well as to the other disciples: “Now the time has come that the Son of man will be glorified, for now He has conquered Himself entirely. Truly, truly, I say to you: unless the grain of wheat falls into the soil and dies, it will remain alone, but when it dies, it will produce many fruits. So also, My actions which you can see now, will produce many fruits.” [40] Referring to the Greeks, who respectably stood at some distance, I spoke now loudly: “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world, will receive it for life eternal. If someone wants to serve Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, the servant will be also. And he who serves Me will be honored by My Father.” [41] Now the speaker who previously spoke quietly against Me, continued to agitate by saying: “A nice Messiah is this, who invites heathens and everyone to serve Him so that the Father may honor Him. Who is His Father anyway? Hating my life to receive an unknown eternal life? No thanks. Then I surely prefer what I know.” [42] In the same manner also the other disguised temple Jews were against Me and tried cautiously to set up the people against Me. [43] Now My soul felt that My hour had come and became sad because of the upcoming suffering that was at hand and because the people was so unstable. Therefore, I said to those who stood near to Me: “Now My soul is sad. And what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But this is why I came into this hour. O Father, glorify Your name!” [44] Then a voice sounded as if from the sky which actually sounded in the hearts of all who could somehow still be awakened to a spiritual life: “I have glorified Him and will glorify Him again!” [45] Those who heard this inner sensation, said now, according to what measure their spirit was awake: “It was thundering”. Others said: “An angel spoke to Him.” [46] However, none of them felt the voice in themselves but put it outside of them according to what measure they were awakened. [47] Therefore, I said to them: “This voice did not sound for My sake but for your sake, for now comes the judgment over this world. Now the prince of darkness, who was a prince of this world, is being cast out. No one is standing anymore between the Father and His child but only the Son of man. And when I will be raised from the Earth, I will draw them all to Me so that they will come to the Father.” [48] Then the speaker and those who agreed with him, answered again: “We heard from the law that Christ will remain eternally. Then how can You say that the Son of man will be raised? Who is that Son of man about whom you speak? Can anyone rise higher than being eternal and bringing us his kingdom?” [49] Now I answered them since I well perceived that My words were continuously turned around by these stubborn ones: “The Light is still with you for a short time. Walk while you still have the light so that darkness will not overtake you. Whoever walks in darkness does not know where he goes. Believe in the Light as long as you still have it so that you may be children of the Light and not become children of darkness.” [50] After I had spoken these words I turned away from this group and we went to the courtyards of the gentiles, the very limit up to where the non-Israelites could not come. [51] Meanwhile the priests and superiors of the temple were very well informed about the fact that the people had become peaceful and that I refused to openly overthrow the government in order to let Me be proclaimed lord and king. They further knew that at this moment there was some kind of resentment because of it and they quickly tried to make use of this mood. All the priests and Levites were quickly called up to form a marvelous procession. Trumpet players walked ahead, and heralds proclaimed to the people that the high priest was commanded by the Lord to offer a great exceptional expiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people because the Lord was pleased with them and He forgave all the sins which were committed by the people during the past half year. They went out with all glittering and great festive glamour, and Caiaphas himself made the offering on the big burning altar of the temple. [52] Through this action the temple had reached their goal since the people were still very much attached to old ceremonies and to everything that was related to the temple. In this way a great counterforce was used which made a deep impression because it was so unique, and even within half a day nothing could be noticed anymore of the great excitement of the people that arose at My entry. The temple showed itself very merciful on this day and the days after, and much food and money was given to the poor in the courtyards. Prayers were said and all possible effort was made to arouse a good mood towards the temple and its representatives and to prevent in this way the frightening danger that was threatening by My influence. [53] The glittering procession came forward at the moment that we reached the courtyards. With great curiosity everyone was looking at the unusual spectacle and we made use of this opportunity to leave the mighty building and return to the house of Lazarus. (GGJ Book 25, chap. 91)
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