Volume 11 · Chapter 38

THE PLAN OF THE PHARISEES Some of the Jews, who belonged to the friends of Lazarus and who were the most irritated by the shameless performance of the Pharisees, went to the inn on the Mount of Olives – knowing that the Pharisees were still there – because they did not want to deny themselves the inner pleasure of pulling away the fat morsel from the jaws of those hungry wolves. One can easily imagine with what kind of fright and unbelief they received the news while they were just guzzling in the idea of being already the owners of the inn while they behaved very arrogantly domineering in front of the innkeeper who was very sad because of this future prospect. They also directly ordered the best wine and even invited in abundance, completely against their habits, the servants of the temple guard. The whole group was already in a merry, cheerful mood when the Jews came in and greatly sobered up the already strongly drunken heads.

[GGJ.11_38,02] Now when they heard that I was there, they thought, after they withdrew to deliberate, that probably a tremendous Essene deceit had been carried out in Bethany by Me, and someone who strongly looked like Lazarus was put in his place to take away the share of the temple, for I must have been a common lover of the two sisters and would of course do everything to be of service to My lovers.

[GGJ.11_38,03] They believed in no way in a true awakening. And so their first concern was how they could grab Me, the false Lazarus and the two sisters in their power. They also thought out a very clever plan, namely that I and the false Lazarus should be called out of the house by two of them. These should not show any doubt but rather joy at the awakening and so try to lure us two somewhat away from the house. Then the temple guards would appear and take us immediately into custody.

[GGJ.11_38,04] This plan was so good that the Pharisees who were chosen to greet Me and Lazarus were in high esteem and that it would be against every decency and custom not to come to meet these high priests when they thought to honor a house with their presence. If we were real Jews of that time we immediately had to put the house and personnel at the disposal of these high guests, otherwise it would be considered as the deepest contempt for the temple and its representatives.

[GGJ.11_38,05] The Jews went away at once, together with the innkeeper who was overly rejoiced when the Pharisees were informed about such unpleasant news. They soon came back to tell what they had done, firmly trusting that He who ordered death could certainly also destroy the maliciousness of the temple.

[GGJ.11_38,06] But I admonished them with soft words for what they had done, which could be called human but which was nevertheless not according to My order because it was not appropriate to feel a malicious pleasure, not even for such hard-hearted evildoers, and that in this way their heart would become inaccessible to feel compassion for the darkness of those people. They were very saddened by this rebuke and they only calmed down when I assured them that in this case no one was hurt by what they did but that they should refrain from doings such things in the future. This they also promised and were then again very cheerful.

[GGJ.11_38,07] Meanwhile, the Pharisees and the servants of the temple came near but were still far enough away from the house to look out for a hidden place as an ambush without being noticed. They deliberated again about their plan and how they especially wanted to take Me into their power in order to immediately accuse Me as a deceiver and agitator of the people.

[GGJ.11_38,08] They were at a distance of about 10 minutes from Bethany at a curve in the road which still hid the houses for them. The two high priests wanted now to go with a servant who had to announce their coming in the house when their plan suffered a serious setback.

[GGJ.11_38,09] Because the well-known big watchdogs appeared and charged at them with furious barking and surrounded the whole group in such frightening manner that none of them dared to move. These dogs, which I gave to Lazarus, behaved so completely indifferent since his death and could not be motivated again to perform their function as protector and guardian for which reason the temple servants could do what they liked completely unhindered. But now that Lazarus was alive, their old power and alertness returned as well, which became noticeable to the Pharisees in a highly unpleasant manner. The very big animals ran with baring teeth around the little group, and when one of the helpers dared to hit at one of the animals, he immediately was put to the ground and was in danger of being devoured. This one example was sufficient to withhold the temple servants from using their weapons, especially because the animals contented with keeping the whole group back without attacking them, but also without allowing them to move from their place.