Volume 11 · Chapter 41

THE TEMPLE SERVANTS PLAN EVIL After I had said this, Raphael, well-known to all, stood already next to Me and greeted Lazarus very kindly, and this one was also very glad to see Raphael and expressed his joy in lively words as well as My disciples and several friends of Lazarus who formerly were able to witness the exceptional miraculous power of the archangel.

[GGJ.11_41,02] Now they very speedily made preparations in the hall to receive the guests that were announced, and it became twice as busy in the whole house so that a conversation between us became difficult, and we went outside in order not to hinder the busy servants of the house who zealously and cheerfully followed Raphael’s instructions.

[GGJ.11_41,03] It is necessary to indicate for the already mentioned reason – for the freer spiritual development of My followers – that there were not so much apparent interventions of My power anymore, but everything that could be described now as miraculous and exceptional always had to look outerly more simple and human.

[GGJ.11_41,04] Now when I say that in the big hall of Lazarus and also in the adjoining rooms the tables were set in about half an hour at which a few hundred people had to be fed, and that in about the same time also the food was made ready for all of them, one will think that such work cannot be realized, also not by very zealous servants of which about 20 were available, since by natural means the preparation of the food alone had to take more time. Nevertheless, everything was ready without visible special help. However, the personnel were very skilled.

[GGJ.11_41,05] With this remark it has to be made clear that the nearing of the greatest event of all times was prepared without special intervention, for although the awakening of Lazarus seemed for those who were present highly miraculous, it was still not as overwhelming as for instance the changing of waste regions into fertile land and other things.

[GGJ.11_41,06] But this awakening formed the corner stone of My work as teacher and brought in its harvest.

[GGJ.11_41,07] He who has the ability to understand and makes effort to be awake in spirit, let him understand. He who is still in the grave, let him roll away its stone, so that the dead Lazarus can be awakened and can come out. Amen.

[GGJ.11_41,08] We stood outside before the house and on the road from Jerusalem we saw already a great number of people coming, and their destination was Bethany. These were Jews to whom it was told that Lazarus was alive again and who wanted to convince themselves of it. They came closer, and when they saw Lazarus and Me, they hurried with quick paces to us and looked with full amazement at both of us, the awakened one and the Awaker.

[GGJ.11_41,09] Lazarus said in a very kind tone to them: “Dear friends, you are amazed and do not understand that I am alive while I visibly and most certainly had died, but you know that nothing is impossible to God, and He, who brings everything to life, will surely also be able to awake this earthly dust again, even when the life went out of it. Look, I am really alive, and here stands the One who called me to life again. Can you still doubt that the power of God can accomplish all that – the power that truly lives in Him, the Messiah, and that manifests itself? Truly, he who still doubts will look like a very hard stone that cannot be moved in any other way than only by means of extremely raw powers to let him immediately fall apart again and flow downward along with the water without loosening even the smallest part of it.

[GGJ.11_41,10] You came to see me. So look at me and convince yourselves that I really am alive. But go then to this Master of all life and let yourselves be awakened to the true life and the true knowledge of all the secrets of God which He accomplishes in the Son of man, for the time is near that the good and the bad ones will be separated and the wheat has to be purified from the chaff so that this wheat can be sowed out to multiply itself and become an abundant fruit.”

[GGJ.11_41,11] Lazarus spoke these words full of inspiration and in My name so that the Jews were deeply moved and gathered around Me and My followers, and they longed to be instructed, which also happened.

[GGJ.11_41,12] But still more people were coming from the city so that soon almost 1,000 people were present who all convinced themselves of the miracle, and they loudly praised and glorified God who accomplished such things in Me.

[GGJ.11_41,13] When everyone was slowly calming down I gave Lazarus a sign, and he requested those who were present to come with him. And they all followed him to the rooms where the great festive dinner was prepared.

[GGJ.11_41,14] This did not happen in an unusual way so that nothing special should be reported here. The only thing to be mentioned is that it were not My close disciples, the 12 apostles, who performed the role of instructing and teaching the many Jews who were driven by curiosity, but this was done by the other disciples and followers who followed Me for already a long time and who were also well instructed in My teaching.

[GGJ.11_41,15] We – this means Lazarus with his sisters and the apostles, and of course also I – sat somewhat aside at the end of the hall. Then Lazarus came up with the question what the Pharisees planned to do now after that the big dogs had dealt with them so terribly and chased them back to Jerusalem.

[GGJ.11_41,16] I said to him: “They immediately ran to the temple and there they called their colleagues together. They are now having a big meeting and they bring forward their complaints which imply that there is a big deception going on.

[GGJ.11_41,17] There is a lot of talking back and forth between the members of the Council because there are many with them who convinced themselves of the actual miracles. Also, the news came in from the Pharisees whom we met with Mucius, and related that the region at the Nebo did actually change and that they met a trading caravan that reported about the miracles that took place in Aphek. All these things I did – as undisputable reliable people have declared – so that, if these things are based on truth, it may not be impossible that Lazarus had died and was awakened, for to change whole regions was still a greater work than to bring back to life a body that only became without soul.

[GGJ.11_41,18] Now there is a heavy dispute because the Pharisees who are hostile to Me try to explain that a deceit has been taken place. However, then they are in disagreement with the friends of the Pharisees who were sent out, assuring them that they do not let them be deceived, for as sober thinking men they were especially suitable to examine everything and that this was the reason why the assignment was entrusted to them.

[GGJ.11_41,19] Now one of the first scribes stands up and says: “There is no doubt that this Man performs great wonders, and for this reason the temple made great effort to win Him, but always without success. But it is equally sure that He always worked against the servants and pushed the contempt to the extreme in front of the people regarding us, the servants of God.

[GGJ.11_41,20] But if we want to live in peace with the Romans, it is absolutely necessary that the people obey us blindly, for it is the duty and the right of the temple to lead them. Therefore, I advice that we will try to grab this Jesus of Nazareth as fast as possible as an agitator of the people and hand Him over to the justice of the Romans and ask from them that He would be punished according to our law of the temple and be made harmless.”

[GGJ.11_41,21] Caiphas, the high priest, says: “If the Romans would not master this land, this Man would have been in chains and cords for already a long time, but even among the highest Romans He has mighty friends who will protect Him. Therefore, an opportunity must be found that He would deliver Himself to us by some deed which would give us the right to grab Him and at which the criminal law can be applied. But He is clever enough not to react against the Romans but only against us. That is why He is more dangerous than anyone else who could be grabbed and judged as agitator of the people.”

[GGJ.11_41,22] Nicodemus, who is also present – in order to insert a word in My favor – says: “Dear friends, you know that a great deal of the people adheres to Jesus, for maybe only the smallest part has been made known here of how many people He has made healthy. Would it not be better to leave Him to the people for the sake of His miraculous power which spreads a great blessing?”

[GGJ.11_41,23] Now a storm of indignation comes up in the Council because of such impertinence to propose this to the High Council, and our Nicodemus has to hear many insults and allegations of suspicion. But he listens to all this very calmly, for I command him now in his heart to keep quiet and to come here.

[GGJ.11_41,24] Now Caiphas speaks again after it became quiet again: “Truly, you all know nothing and do not think about anything. It is better for all of us that this Man dies for the people before the whole people will go to ruin. And therefore I command that everyone must be prepared to search for the right opportunity about which I spoke, because what has to happen, let it happen soon.”

[GGJ.11_41,25] The members of the Council agree on these words and close their meeting. However, Nicodemus leaves quietly and unnoticed and will soon arrive here.

[GGJ.11_41,26] Look, now you know what the situation is down there in the temple, but do not worry. They will not be able to carry out their plans before I will give Myself into their hands.”