Volume 11 · Chapter 45

NEGOTIATING WITH THE ELDEST OF EPHRAIM We had a good rest in this ruin till the early morning. Then I sent a few of the disciples down to the city to buy food and to negotiate with the inhabitants so that they would allow us to stay in the building.

[GGJ.11_45,02] Soon the eldest of the city came to us with a few of his men, curious to know these peculiar people who asked for permission to stay in a house that up to now only served as a hiding place for birds and all kinds of animals. We received him very kindly, and since I was indicated as the head of the group, he asked Me if we were perhaps refugees or banished people who wanted to hide here in this remote region. I reassured him concerning this and clarified to him right away that we were just like him Hebrews but that we wanted to spend the winter in meditation in order to serve God worthily.

[GGJ.11_45,03] When he first showed a worrying expression on his face and a great desire to quick and easily refuse us, one of the group of My followers came forward, greeted him as an old friend with whom he visited the temple schools in Jerusalem. This recognition changed the man totally, and when he heard from his friend that I was the famous Savior of Nazareth whom he himself never met but about whom he had heard all the more, he apologized many times for being suspicious, and he gladly gave us permission to do as we pleased in these ruins. He also asked us to come and visit him.

[GGJ.11_45,04] I said: “Friend, your house is always hospitable but it would be too small for our group anyway, and we soon will have installed us very comfortably here. That is why it will be better for us to stay here. But do not make Me known to your subordinates and the inhabitants of the city before time so that you and we would not be disturbed by the attendants of the temple and hostile Jews.”

[GGJ.11_45,05] He promised it and assured us that he would tell no one who these walls are accommodating and would reject all the nosy questions. This old castle was the property of the community, and he as the person in charge had the right to have it at his disposal and did not have to give account to anyone about whom he gave permission to use it.

[GGJ.11_45,06] I told him that My followers would repair the walls again, and so he would have a good right before the community to act like this because he would receive a good building without expenses.

[GGJ.11_45,07] The chief was very happy about that and asked immediately if we needed any material, then he would bring it to us.

[GGJ.11_45,08] But I told him that he absolutely should not worry about that because we would do it ourselves.

[GGJ.11_45,09] Further he still asked if he could come back and it was obvious that this was gladly granted to him.

[GGJ.11_45,10] When the chief went away, together with his friend to whom he still wanted to ask all kinds of questions about Me, I divided the work. And it is easy to imagine that for Me, as a skilled carpenter, it was absolutely not difficult to quickly change the house in a simple, yet, according to the notions of that time, very comfortable habitation. We needed a few days for that, because, as already mentioned, nothing had to happen here that would attract attention. Of course, very zealous workers would otherwise need just as many weeks for this.