Volume 11 · Chapter 71

THE PASSOVER LAMB. THE FEET WASHING. JUDAS BETRAYS THE LORD. THE EVENING MEAL OF THE LORD. WHEN noontime had come I told My followers to break up, and we walked back at comfortable pace to the big road between Jerusalem and Jericho. Now it was the day of the Passover lamb and My followers asked Me if and where I wanted to eat it with them. I answered that question in the affirmative and it was My wish that two of them should walk ahead of us into the city to prepare the lamb. After that I would follow with the others.

[GGJ.11_71,2] Now in the city there lived a man who belonged to those who were healed in the beginning of My time as Teacher when I personally appeared in Jerusalem for the first time. He was a loyal adherer of My teaching and was not afraid of the Jews and the jealous Pharisees. He had a small inn and wealthy guests visited the place, especially many Romans who traveled to Jerusalem, and therefore he had a good reputation with the people and was able to make a good living. This innkeeper had often invited Me through My disciples to stay with him.

[GGJ.11_71,3] I sent Peter and John to him to prepare the Passover lamb there. As a sign to know where his house could be found I told them that they should follow a man carrying a water jug which he would carry into that house.

[GGJ.11_71,4] They both were not unknown to the owner and when he heard about My request he immediately had his best hall in his house prepared, which he otherwise used for himself during family feasts, so that we could follow the tradition of the Passover lamb undisturbed. He himself, who was according to the temple an apostate Israelite who chose the side of the Romans, did not honor that tradition anymore, especially because he had a Greek wife with whom he lived according to My teaching without any kind of rules from the temple.

[GGJ.11_71,5] This is the owner of the tiled hall who was mentioned by the evangelists with the exception of John, because later it seemed very important to them to indicate where the evening meal had taken place, while John was only concerned about the words that were spoken on that occasion and not about the outer things.

[GGJ.11_71,6] When evening had come I arrived with My followers. After we were joyfully welcomed by our host and his family we were brought to the hall that was mentioned and he assured us that no one would disturb us there, and we installed ourselves to prepare the Passover lamb.

[GGJ.11_71,7] All that was said that evening was also precisely written down by the evangelist John and it can be read there. Just a few things should be mentioned here so that one should better understand how the events took place.

[GGJ.11_71,8] After we ate the lamb in the traditional manner, I stood up, girded Myself and began the foot washing in which the Son of man expressed the deepest humiliation because that was a task of the lowest servants and slaves. At the same time it shows that no one can walk My ways before I have cleansed the instruments for him which allow him to also walk these ways – so this means: his heart must be completely cleansed of all the dust of the roads of the world on which he walked up to then, and I am the One who will give him the means for that. Therefore, no one should fear these washings, otherwise he will have no part in Me.

[GGJ.11_71,9] So with this I gave the disciples a profound teaching by way of a symbol by which the latter is of course not the main thing but the core in it means everything.

[GGJ.11_71,10] As I cleansed My disciples, so also mankind should strive to cleanse one another so that they can truly follow Me with a pure heart, thus with washed feet.

[GGJ.11_71,11] Now it was the custom that after the meal the lord of the house would still hand over a morsel of bread while saying a verse from the Scripture to the one who received that morsel of bread. This custom has not been preserved till the present day but was generally practiced and considered by many as a kind of prediction for the future.

[GGJ.11_71,12] While I was preparing it, My soul was overtaken by a great sadness, and I spoke the words: “One of you will betray Me.”

[GGJ.11_71,13] The disciples, shocked by this statement which seemed obscure to them, besieged Me with questions as to what I meant and who might betray Me. But I declined every answer, and while I spoke to each one of them words of admonishment depending on their character I began to divide the pieces of bread. Peter, who was one of the first, was most disheartened by My statement. He indicated to John, who sat closest to Me, to inquire whom I meant.

[GGJ.11_71,14] The ‘leaning on the chest’ has been widely misunderstood because many explanations came into existence as the language was not well understood. We did not lie at the table like the Romans did as it is often indicated, but we were seated. The Jews did not accept that custom which was considered as pagan, just as they avoided everything that they might have in common with the pagans. The one to whom a special honor was given as a friend, sat at the right side of the lord of the house and was honored by him by preparing his food. When that happened, the lord of the house had to often turn to him – turning his chest to him. In the language of that time it meant that which is now translated as ‘leaning on the chest’ whereby a different meaning crept in that was not intended.

[GGJ.11_71,15] Now John asked me in a low voice who it was, and since he was My disciple who was nearest to Me, I said to him: “It is the one to who I will give the piece of bread”, after which Judas received it with the words: “What you do, do it quickly.”

[GGJ.11_71,16] The other disciples could of course not conclude from these words what I meant. But Judas, who was also shocked by My first statement since he thought that it was aimed at him, understood these words now completely as a request that approved his plans. He stood up quickly and went outside while triumphing inwardly.

[GGJ.11_71,17] He was now filled so much with the pride of a future co-ruler whom he wanted to be, as well as the immense desire to draw fame and honor to himself without considering anyone else that Satan with all the pride devils took possession of his soul, glowing with desire to rule and to destroy all adversaries.

[GGJ.11_71,18] Could I not have avoided all this?

[GGJ.11_71,19] Certainly. But here the Son of man stood before the choice to grab all the luster and all the honor of the world. So He had to come into a position to choose, and herein lay for Him the decision in the sense as indicated before.

[GGJ.11_71,20] This is why I said to Judas after he left: “Now the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and He will soon glorify Him.” So this means: the Son of man will truly be God’s Son, and the Father will soon unite with Him for all eternity.

[GGJ.11_71,21] Now I once more gave briefly My whole teaching to My disciples as you can read it precisely in John 14 and 17 with all the speeches and replies of the disciples, and the objections of Peter and Phillip and the replies to these.

[GGJ.11_71,22] With all these discussions it already became late, and now I took the bread again of which I had prepared the first pieces, and said to the eleven: “Let each one of you still take a piece that I prepare here. This is My body, the incarnated Word that has to become alive in you. Take also this cup, drink from it all of you, it is My blood that will be poured out for you for the forgiveness of your sins. He who will not eat My flesh and drink My blood will never become blessed. You know now how you should understand this and you will no more be offended at these words1. Eat and drink, and whenever you will do this, do it in remembrance of Me. Where two will do this in remembrance of Me and will come together in My name, I also will be amongst them.”

[GGJ.11_71,23] The disciples did now as I told them. Then we left the house after I also had thanked our host who lovingly said goodbye.