Volume 11 · Chapter 66

ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM THE next morning, even before sunrise, they were all awake and we immediately went outside.

[GGJ.11_66,2] There I called My disciples, the 12 apostles, around Me and said to them the following: “My loved ones, this day will become for the Son of man a day of great honor because the Father wants it this way for the sake of the people. Nevertheless, this will not touch you more than the spirit in you will allow, so that you will not become proud. So close your hearts for all the whisperings of vanity and lust for power so that the enemy will not have any power over you and would make you his instruments.”

[GGJ.11_66,3] Then the disciples asked, when Judas was present again among them since he secretly came back in the morning: “Lord, what do You mean exactly, and how can we protect us against the enemy?”

[GGJ.11_66,4] I said: “Beware and open your souls for the light of wisdom, then you will understand about which the prophets have spoken. Love God only and not the world, then you will be able to protect yourselves against all attacks.”

[GGJ.11_66,5] On this, I turned in the direction of Jerusalem and called out loud: “But you, daughter of Zion, be prepared to receive your King.”

[GGJ.11_66,6] After these words, the sun was shining brightly with a glow as was never seen before, and at that same moment My disciples – except Judas who excitedly stood aside – saw with spiritual eyes how a big city was forming in the air, an image of the earthly Jerusalem but much more beautiful. The gates were widely opened and an immense crowd of glorious human figures stood there in full expectation as if they were waiting for a Ruler who would come in.

[GGJ.11_66,7] This spiritual vision lasted for only a short time. Then the image disappeared, and I said to them: “The Son is expected there and He will from now on rule in eternity. It is just also for the Son of man to be raised. Come and follow Me.”

[GGJ.11_66,8] Peter asked Me if I wanted to leave without saying goodbye and without informing Lazarus and his sisters.

[GGJ.11_66,9] I said: “Do you know why this is necessary? I know what is necessary for Me to do. So do not worry about anything. Lazarus and his sisters will know how to find Me at the right time, just like still many others for whom this day is necessary.”

[GGJ.11_66,10] Now the disciples did not say anything anymore but they were very surprised and were whispering among each other, wondering what My strange way of acting might mean, for they did not see Me acting like this for a long time. But John rebuked them to refrain from saying any word and to silently do what I would want so that not the least would be done against My will. They all promised, and especially Peter assured solemnly that he would follow Me in Hell even if he would not know why I would go that way.

[GGJ.11_66,11] Judas, who heard these words, said smilingly: “Friend, the Lord knows which way He has to go. Not to Hell, but for the glory and honor of His people He walks the way as the One who is sent by God.”

[GGJ.11_66,12] Full of enthusiasm he looked at Me, because My loud words seemed to be the confirmation of all his wishes so that he saw the way opened to all honor which he would receive as the one who prepared the way of the Messiah who would have much to thank him for.

[GGJ.11_66,13] Peter looked surprised at Judas who displayed such a proud and self-confident attitude, but he kept silent because all the things that happened this morning seemed very strange to him, and 245 together with the other eleven he silently continued his way.

[GGJ.11_66,14] We were now halfway on the road from Bethany to the gates of Jerusalem. Before us on the left there was a little village that was named Betphage but which has now completely disappeared. Here I asked My disciples if two of them would like to do Me a favor of love. They all volunteered for it. But I chose John and Peter and instructed them to go to the little village which they saw before them. There at the first house they would find a grazing she-ass that was tied-up with her colt.

[GGJ.11_66,15] “Bring Me the colt, for I need it. When they will ask you who has sent you, then answer only this: ‘It is the Lord, and He needs the animal’. Then it will be given to you.”

[GGJ.11_66,16] The two obeyed immediately and went to the village while we sat down along the road under the shrubs and flowering trees to wait for the return of those who were sent.

[GGJ.11_66,17] Now in Betphage lived a man, named Migram, who had been a Roman lance bearer. He took part in many campaigns of war and acquired a respected position in the army because of his bravery and cleverness, for which reason he was held in esteem by his superiors. When a heavy injury, by which he dragged his right leg, forced him to leave, he was richly rewarded and dismissed with complete exemption of taxes. He formerly knew the old Marcus, visited his friend and looked for healing in his baths, and when he left, he bought the earlier mentioned she-ass and took it to his little house where it served his master as a loyal animal that carried the produce of his little garden to Jerusalem to sell them there.

[GGJ.11_66,18] This Migram had heard much about Me from Marcus, was initiated in My teaching, and as a Roman who did not bother about the Jews of Jerusalem, since he only dealt with the representatives and citizens of Rome, was openly a follower of Me. So when the two disciples came to his house and saw there also the two animals, loosening at once the rope of the youngest one, the owner came quickly out of his house, together with a few others who visited him to buy his fruits, and he asked them rudely what they had in mind by taking the animal.

[GGJ.11_66,19] John answered immediately according to My words, and when Migram joyfully heard that he could do Me a favor, he at once also wanted to loosen the old she-ass in order to personally bring her and the colt to Me. The disciples said that the Lord only wanted the colt. But in his zeal he did not listen to that and drove the animals quickly ahead to reach the place where I was so that the disciples could hardly follow him.

[GGJ.11_66,20] When Migram brought Me the animals which he offered Me with joy, I said to him: “Migram, I can see your good will and I will reward what you immediately did for Me when I sent My followers to you. But now, the animal that My disciples required from you, prepare it for Me for riding.”

[GGJ.11_66,21] He immediately did this by folding his cloak, which he wore according to Roman custom, and spread it over the back of the animal. Also a few of My followers did the same in order to make it a comfortable seat.

[GGJ.11_66,22] While we were still busy with these preparations, a big group of people came along the road from Jerusalem. When they saw us, they rushed to us, and in the shortest time we were surrounded by several hundred people who fervently welcomed Me, greeting Me as the Savior of Israel. These were mostly Jews who came for the Feast, and some of them knew Me from My travels through the country, and thus they met Me and My disciples before, knowing us as benefactors. These people praised Me as their King, especially since many of them were miraculously fed by Me and had already the intention at that time to declare Me King for which reason I withdrew from them.

[GGJ.11_66,23] While these were enthusiastically crying out at Me, Lazarus with his sisters and his closest personnel, who had gone out to look for Me, rushed towards Me through the bystanders and were glad to have found Me. When those who were present saw Lazarus, whom they knew very well and whose name was on everyone’s lips since his awakening, there was no end to their jubilation. And we were all surrounded while they were shouting: ‘hosanna’ and ‘hail’. I did not turn down this honoring but I silently mounted the prepared animal which moved now on the road into the direction of Jerusalem.

[GGJ.11_66,24] But the crowd continued to grow because everyone was attracted by the noise and followed the procession. The people pulled off flourishing branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. Then they spread out their clothes to let the pack animal walk over them. These were all marks of honor with which former kings were greeted. When we came near the slope of the Mount of Olives from where one had a wide view over Jerusalem, we saw thousands of people standing at the gates, and the Kidron Valley was full of people.

[GGJ.11_66,25] Jerusalem was a big city but at the time of Passover it could not accommodate the big number of strangers. It was therefore common that the poorer people, and also those who came too late to still find an accommodation in the overcrowded inns, stayed in the Kidron Valley in the open air or in tents, for apart from the temple, also the Kidron Valley was considered holy ground. All those people, who also found now a place in the valley and heard the rumor that I would come to Jerusalem, rushed to us to welcome Me by which they loudly praised My deeds and especially the awakening of Lazarus who was now visibly walking beside Me, and so they supported the general praising.

[GGJ.11_66,26] When we came at the gate of Jerusalem, which formed the main entrance from the Mount of Olives, the Roman guards of the gate tried to close it because the guards were afraid that an uprising was being prepared. But they were prevented by the enormous throng of people who wanted to leave the city because from the courtyard of the temple they partly saw the coming procession and they also heard the shouting. When moreover the Romans saw that the people were peacefully coming near with tree branches and palm leaves in their hands, they abandoned every resistance and rather looked with amazement at the procession as something unknown to them and which was probably part of the Feast. So we all could come into the city unhindered and went immediately in the direction of the temple.