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CHAPTER 127
The Christines cross the sea to Decapolis. Jesus finds a retired place where he privately teaches the twelve. They remain three days, then go into a village by the sea.
Now, Jesus took the twelve and with them crossed the sea at night and came unto the borders of Decapolis,
2 That he might find a secret place where, all alone, he could reveal to them the things to come.
3 They went into a mountain pass and spent three days in prayer.
4 Then Jesus said, Behold, the time is near when I will walk with you in flesh no more.
5 Lo, I have taught that he who counts his life of so much worth that he would give it not in willing sacrifice to save his brother man, is worthy not to enter into life.
6 Lo, I am come as pattern for the sons of men, and I have not refrained from helpfulness.
7 When I had passed the seven tests in Heliopolis, I consecrated life and all I had, to save the world.
8 In the Judean wilderness I fought the strongest foes of men, and there I reaffirmed my consecration to the service of my fellow man.
9 In troubles and in trials I have wavered not; when false accusers came, I answered not.
10 God gave the saving Word to me, and I have often spoken it and healed the sick, drove unclean spirits out, and raised the dead.
11 And I have shown you how to speak the Word; and I have given you the Word;
12 In just a little while we turn our faces toward Jerusalem, and one of you who hear me now will then betray me into wicked hands.
13 The scribes and Pharisees will bring false charges up and hale me into court, and, by consent of Rome, I will be crucified.
14 Then Peter said, My Lord, it shall not be. The Roman soldiers will tread on twelve dead men before they reach our Lord.
15 But Jesus said, A savior of the world cannot resist.
16 I came to save the world and I have taken up your names before the highest courts of heaven, and you have been confirmed as saviors of the world.
17 And not a name, excepting that of him who shall betray, will ever be disgraced.
18 I go my way, and though my flesh shall pass, my soul will stand beside you all the way to guide and bless.
19 And wicked men will seize you in the streets, and as you kneel in prayer; will charge you with some legal crime, and think they serve their God by putting you to death.
20 But falter not; the load will heavy be, but with the consciousness of duty done, the peace of God will lift the load, dispel the pain and light the way.
21 And we will meet where carnal executioners come not; there we will serve the cruel men, who in their ignorance had tortured us to death.
22 Can we prevent this outrage and this slaughter of our lives? If not we are but creatures of the ebb and flow of carnal things. It would not be a sacrifice of life.
23 But we are masters of the things of time. Lo, we can speak, and all the spirits of the fire, water, earth and air will stand in our defense.
24 We can command and many legions of the angel world would come and strike our enemies to earth.
25 But it is best that not a power of heaven or earth should come to our relief. And it is best that even God should veil his face and seem to hear us not.
26 As I am pattern unto you, so you are patterns for the human race. We show by non-resistance that we give our lives in willing sacrifice for man.
27 But my example will not end with death. My body will be laid within a tomb in which no flesh has lain, symbolic of the purity of life in death.
28 And in the tomb I will remain three days in sweet communion with the Christ, and with my Father-God, and Mother-God.
29 And then, symbolic of the ascent of the soul to higher life, my flesh within the tomb will disappear;
30 Will be transmuted into higher form, and, in the presence of you all, I will ascend to God.
31 Then Jesus and the twelve went to a village by the sea.
CHAPTER 128
Jesus goes at night to a mountain to pray. His disciples and the villagers find him and he teaches them for three days. Feeds four thousand people. The Christines go to Cæsarea-Philippi. They consider the personality of Christ. Peter is chosen as apostolic leader.
Now, in the night while the disciples slept, lo, Jesus rose and went alone into a mountain pass, six miles away, to pray.
2 And in the morning when the twelve awoke they could not find the Lord, and all the people of the village sought, and when the sun had passed its highest point they found him in the mountain pass.
3 And multitudes of people came and brought their sick, and Jesus taught and healed.
4 And when the night came on the people would not go; they slept upon the ground that they might be a-near the Lord.
5 Three days and nights the multitudes remained, and none had aught to eat.
6 And Jesus had compassion and he said, If I should send the multitudes away they might not reach their homes, for they are faint, for some have journeyed many miles.
7 And his disciples said, Where shall we get enough of food to feed them all? There are four thousand men, besides the women and the little ones.
8 And Jesus said, How many loaves have you?
9 They answered, Seven, and some little fish.
10 And Jesus said, Go to, and seat the people as you seated them the other day when all the multitudes were fed, in companies of twelve.
11 And when the people were sat down in companies of twelve the loaves and fish were brought.
12 And Jesus looked to heaven and spoke the Word; and then he broke the seven loaves in little bits, and likewise cut the fish.
13 And every bit of bread became a loaf, and every piece of fish became a fish.
14 The twelve went forth and gave to every one; the people ate and they were filled; and all the fragments that were left were gathered up, and there were seven baskets full.
15 And then the people went their ways, and Jesus and the twelve took boats and came to Dalmanatha by the sea.
16 Here they remained for many days, and Jesus told the twelve about the inner light that cannot fail;
17 About the kingdom of the Christ within the soul; about the power of faith; about the secret of the resurrection of the dead; about immortal life, and how the living may go forth and help the dead.
18 And then they went into their boats, and came unto the northern coast of Galilee, and in Chorazin where the kin of Thomas lived, they left their boats and journeyed on.
19 They came to Merom, where the crystal waters seem to catch the images of heaven and to reflect the glory of the Lord of hosts.
20 And here they tarried certain days in silent thought.
21 And then they journeyed on, and came into the land of Cæsarea-Philippi.
22 And as they walked and talked among themselves, the master said, What do the people say about the son of man? who do they think I am?
23 And Matthew said, Some say that you are David come again; some say that you are Enoch, Solomon, or Seth.
24 And Andrew said, I heard a ruler of the synagogue exclaim, This man is Jeremiah, for he speaks like Jeremiah wrote.
25 Nathaniel said, The foreign masters who were with us for a time, declared that Jesus is Gautama come again.
26 James said, I think that most the master Jews believe you are the reappearence of Elijah on the earth.
27 And John spoke out and said, When we were in Jerusalem I heard a seer exclaim, This Jesus is none other than Melchizedek, the king of peace, who lived about two thousand years ago, and said that he would come again.
28 And Thomas said, The Tetrarch Herod thinks that you are John arisen from the dead;
29 But then his conscience troubles him; the spirit of the murdered John looms up before him in his dreams, and haunts him as a specter of the night.
30 And Jesus asked, Who do you think I am?
31 And Peter said, You are the Christ, the love of God made manifest to men.
32 And Jesus said, Thrice blessed are you, Simon, Jonas’ son. You have declared a truth that God has given you.
33 You are a rock, and you shall be a pillar in the temple of the Lord of hosts.
34 And your confession is the cornerstone of faith, a rock of strength, and on this rock the Church of Christ is built.
35 Against it all the powers of hades and of death cannot prevail.
36 Behold, I give to you the keys to open up the doors of safety for the sons of men.
37 The Holy Breath will come upon you and the ten, and in Jerusalem you shall stand before the nations of the earth, and there proclaim the covenant of God with men.
38 And you shall speak the words of Holy Breath, and whatsoever God requires of men as earnest of their faith in Christ, you shall make known.
39 Then turning to the twelve he said, What you have heard this day tell not to any man.
40 Then Jesus and the twelve went up and were Susanna’s guests for many days.
CHAPTER 129
Jesus teaches the people. He takes Peter, James and John and goes to a high mountain and is transfigured before them.
The news soon spread that Jesus and the twelve were come, and many people came to see.
2 And Jesus said, Behold, you come to see, but that means naught. If you would have the benedictions of the Christ, take up your cross and follow me.
3 If you would give your life for selfish self, then you will lose your life.
4 If you will give your life in service of your fellow men, then you will save your life.
5 This life is but a span, a bauble of today. There is a life that passes not.
6 Where is your profit if you gain the world and lose your soul? What would you take in payment for your soul?
7 If you would find the spirit life, the life of man in God, then you must walk a narrow way and enter through a narrow gate.
8 The way is Christ, the gate is Christ, and you must come up by the way of Christ. No man comes unto God but by the Christ.
9 The kingdom of the Christ will come; yea, some of you who hear me now will not pass through the gates of death until you see the kingdom come in power.
10 For seven days the master and the twelve remained in Cæsarea-Philippi.
11 Then Jesus, taking Peter, James and John, went forth unto a mountain top to pray.
12 And as he prayed a brilliant light appeared; his form became as radiant as a precious stone;
13 His face shone like the sun; his garments seemed as white as snow; the son of man became the son of God.
14 He was transfigured that the men of earth might see the possibilities of man.
15 When first the glory came the three disciples were asleep; a master touched their eyes and said, Awake and see the glory of the Lord.
16 And they awoke, and saw the glory of the Lord; and more, they saw the glory of the heavenly world, for they beheld two men from thence stand forth beside the Lord.
17 And Peter asked the master who awakened them, Who are these men who stand beside the Lord?
18 The master said, These men are Moses and Elijah, who are come that you may know that heaven and earth are one; that masters there and masters here are one.
19 The veil that separates the worlds is but an ether veil. For those who purify their hearts by faith the veil is rolled aside, and they can see and know that death is an illusive thing.
20 And Peter said, Praise God! And then he called to Jesus and he said, My master and my Lord, this is the gate of heaven, and it is well that we remain.
21 May we go down and bring three tents; a tent for you, a tent for Moses, and for Elijah one? But Jesus answered not.
22 And Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus on the mount. They talked about the coming trial of the Lord;
23 About his death, his rest within the tomb; about the wonders of the resurrection morn; the transmutation of his flesh, and his ascension on the clouds of light;
24 And all symbolic of the path that every man must tread; symbolic of the way the sons of men become the sons of God.
25 The three disciples were amazed, and suddenly the ethers were surcharged with song, and forms as light as air, moved all about the mountain top.
26 And then from out the glory of the upper world they heard a voice that said,
27 This is the son of man, my chosen one to manifest the Christ to men. Let all the earth hear him.
28 When the disciples heard the voice they were afraid; they fell upon the ground and prayed.
29 And Jesus came; he touched them and he said, Arise, fear not; lo, I am here.
30 Then they arose, and as they looked about they saw no one; the men had gone. The master only stood with them.
31 As Jesus and the three came from the mountain top they talked about the meaning of the scene, and Jesus told them all; and then he said,
32 Till I have risen from the dead tell not to any one what you have seen.
33 But the disciples could not comprehend the meaning of the words, Till I have risen from the dead.
34 And Jesus told them once again about his death, and rising from the grave; about the kingdom of the soul that was to come in glory and in power.
35 But Peter said, The scribes have taught that e’er the king shall come Elijah must appear.
36 And Jesus said, Elijah has already come; but scribes and Pharisees received him not;
37 And men reviled him, bound him, cast him in a prison cell, and shouted with a fiend’s delight to see him die.
38 What men have done to him, that they will do to me.
39 Then the disciples understood that Jesus spoke of John whom Herod slew.
CHAPTER 130
Jesus and the three disciples return to Cæsarea-Philippi. The nine had failed to cure an epileptic child. Jesus heals it and rebukes his disciples for their lack of trust in God. The Christines return to Capernaum.
When Jesus, Peter, James and John were come unto the city’s gates a multitude of people thronged the way.
2 The nine apostles who went not with Jesus to the mount, had tried to heal an epileptic child who was obsessed, and they had failed; the people waited for the coming of the Lord.
3 When Jesus came the father of the child knelt down before him and implored his help.
4 He said, My master, I beseech that you will look in pity on my son, my only child; he is an epileptic child and suffers grievously.
5 Sometimes he falls into the fire and is burned; again he falls into the water and is like to drown; and many times a day he falls, he grinds his teeth, the foam pours from his mouth.
6 I took my child to your disciples, and they failed to give relief.
7 And as he spoke a servant brought the child before the Lord (the child spoke not, for he was dumb), and instantly he fell upon the ground, he foamed, he writhed in agony.
8 And Jesus said, How long has he been troubled thus?
9 The father said, From infancy; and we have sought in many lands for help, but found it not; but I believe that you can speak the Word and heal my son.
10 And Jesus said, Faith is the power of God. All things are possible for him who in his heart believes.
11 The father cried, in tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
12 And Jesus spoke the Word of power; the epileptic child lay in a swoon; he did not breathe, and all the people said, The child is dead.
13 But Jesus took him by the hand and said: Arise; and he arose and spoke.
14 The people were amazed, and many said, This surely is a man of God, for no such power was ever given to man.
15 Then Jesus and the twelve went to the house, and after they had taken food and been refreshed, the nine disciples said,
16 Lord, why could we not heal this child? We spoke the Word; but even that was powerless.
17 And Jesus said, Your great success in all your former work has made you careless, and you forgot to recognize the power of God.
18 Without the spirit of the Word, the Word is like an idle tale; and you forgot to pray.
19 There is no faith without the prayer of faith. Faith is the wings of prayer; but wings alone fly not.
20 By prayer and faith you can bring down the mountain peaks, and cast them in the sea; the little hills will skip about like lambs at your command.
21 This failure may be well for you. The greatest lessons that are learned in life come through the failures that are made.
22 As the disciples sat in thoughtful meditation Jesus said, Let these words sink into your hearts:
23 The time has nearly come when you must bear your load alone; that is, without my presence in the flesh.
24 For I will fall into the hands of wicked men, and they will slay me on a mount beyond Bezetha wall.
25 And men will lay my body in a tomb where, by the sacred Word, it will be guarded and preserved three days; then I will rise again.
26 The twelve were sad; they did not understand, and yet they feared to ask him to reveal the meaning of his word.
27 Next day the Christine master and the twelve began their journey of return, and soon were in Capernaum.
CHAPTER 131
Jesus and Peter pay the half-shekel tax. The disciples contend for the supremacy. Jesus rebukes them. Teaches them many practical lessons. The parable of the good shepherd.
As Jesus and the twelve were resting in the house, the tax collector came to Peter saying, Man, do Jesus and yourself pay this half-shekel tax?
2 And Peter said, We pay whatever is assessed.
3 And Jesus said, From whom do publicans collect this special tax? from strangers or from native sons?
4 And Peter said, The strangers only are supposed to pay this tax.
5 Then Jesus said, We all are native sons and we are free; but lest we cause contention we will pay the tax; but neither had the shekel wherewithal to pay.
6 And Jesus said, Go to the sea; cast in a hook and catch a fish and you will find within its inner parts a shekel, which take up and pay the tax for you and me.
7 And Peter did as Jesus said; he found the shekel and he paid the tax.
8 Now Jesus heard the twelve dispute among themselves. The spirit of the carnal self was moving in their hearts, and they were questioning among themselves who was the greatest in the sight of God and man.
9 And Jesus said, You men, for shame! the greatest is the servant of the rest. And then he called to him a little child; he took it in his arms and said,
10 The greatest is the little child, and if you would be great at all you must become as is this child in innocence, in truth, in purity in life.
11 Great men scorn not the little things of earth; he who regards and honors such a child, regards and honors me, and he who scorns a child, scorn me.
12 If you would enter through the kingdom gate you must be humble as this little child.
13 Hear me, you men, This child, as every other child, has one to plead its cause before the throne of God.
14 You scorn it at your peril, men, for lo, I say, its counterpart beholds the face of God at every moment, every day.
15 And hear me once again, He who shall cause a little one to stumble and to fall is marked, accursed; and it were better far if he had drowned himself.
16 Behold, offenses everywhere! Men find occasions for to sin and fall, and they grow strong by rising when they fall;
17 But woe to him who causes other men to stumble and to fall.
18 Be on your guard, you men of God, lest you constrain another man to fall; beware lest you fall into sinful ways yourselves.
19 Now, if your hands cause you to sin, you better cut them off; for it is better far to have no hands and not be guilty in the sight of God and men, than to be perfect in your form and lose your soul.
20 And if your feet should cause offense, you better cut them off; for it is better far to enter into life without your feet than fall beneath the curse.
21 And if your eyes, or ears, cause you to sin, you better lose them all than lose your soul.
22 Your thoughts and words and deeds will all be tried by fire.
23 Remember that you are the salt of earth; but if you lose the virtues of the salt, you are but refuse in the sight of God.
24 Retain the virtues of the salt of life and be at peace among yourselves.
25 The world is full of men who have not in themselves the salt of life, and they are lost. I come to seek and save the lost.
26 How think you? if a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, will he not leave the ninety and the nine,
27 And go out in the desert ways and mountain tops to seek the one that went astray?
28 Yes, this you know; and if he finds the one that went astray, lo, he is glad, and he rejoices over it far more than over all the ninety and the nine that did not go astray.
29 And so there is rejoicing in the courts of heaven when one of human birth who has gone forth into the ways of sin is found and brought back to the fold;
30 Yea, there is joy, more joy than over all the righteous men who never went astray.
31 And John said, Master, who may seek and save the lost? and who may heal the sick, and cast the demons out of those obsessed?
32 When we were on the way we saw a man who was not one of us, cast demons out and heal the sick.
33 He did it by the sacred Word and in the name of Christ; but we forbade him, for he did not walk with us.
34 And Jesus said, You sons of men, do you imagine that you own the powers of God?
35 And do you think that all the world must wait for you to do the works of God?
36 God is not man that he should have a special care for any man, and give him special gifts.
37 Forbid not any man to do the works of God.
38 There is no man who can pronounce the sacred Word, and in the name of Christ restore the sick, and cast the unclean spirits out, who is not child of God.
39 The man of whom you speak is one with us. Whoever gathers in the grain of heaven is one with us.
40 Whoever gives a cup of water in the name of Christ is one with us; so God shall judge.
