[The sections of this entry correspond to the chapters in the King James Bible as follows: 11 = 12; 12 = 13; 13 = 14; 14 = 15; 15 = 16.]
11
Then Jesus joined Lazarus and his sisters for an early Easter dinner at the Dives household. This was about one week before the official holiday began.
Because he had risen from the dead, Lazarus was able to make many people accept the divinity of Jesus. He was the main cause of the resurgence of his friend’s popularity. Therefore, in addition to targeting Jesus, the church also conspired to re-kill Lazarus.
Now, despite how hazardous it was for him to be seen in public, Jesus decided to celebrate Easter in the heart of Eldorado. When the populace heard this, they gathered in masses, chanting in joyful expectation. And when Jesus appeared, riding on a colt, the people worshiped him as God.
Now there were members of the church’s leadership in the crowd, and when they saw the enthusiastic welcome that Jesus received, they said among themselves: “Look how our efforts have failed. The whole world has gone after him.” And one of the bishops said: “This is out of control. We must make his liquidation our top priority.”
Yet two of the close friends of Jesus happened to be standing near these churchmen when they spoke, so they overheard this threat. These friends then hastened over to Jesus and informed him of the danger:
“The Chrisitan church is plotting your death,” they cried.
Jesus answered: “Then the hour is come, and God shall be glorified.”
Seeing that his friends were confused by this remark, Jesus added as follows: “Truly, truly, I tell you: Unless a kernel of wheat dies, it cannot produce its life: but if it falls into the ground and dies, it brings forth much fruit. As I told you before: The body degrades, but the spirit is endless. Break the shell of the body, and the spirit surges to true life. You are all divine, because of my breath that I have given you; let us not fear death but welcome the change. It is a metamorphosis from gloom to glory. For that reason, I say: He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall have bliss eternally. It is unbecoming for an immortal to fear demise. How laughable, then, if I were to pray on my knees, saying: ‘Take this cup of doom away from me!’ Rather, let death come betimes and do its worst. I shall slip into my burial shroud like a bride into her wedding dress.” Then he shouted to the sky: “Yes, glorify me this hour! Now, glorify me again!”
And the whole sky kept thundering.
“Do you hear!” Jesus said; “it is the judgment of this world: now its prince is cast out, and I shall draw all life unto myself.”
At this point, even many of the Christians began to believe in Jesus. But, because of their church leadership, they feared to admit this; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Then Jesus shouted this final word: “If anyone hears my voice, and does not believe, I do not judge that soul; for I came not to judge, but to save the world!”
12
Now, as the day of Easter was drawing near, Jesus knew that his hour to depart this life had arrived. So, as he dined with his friends that evening, at a certain point he stood up and said: “I give you now my latest and last commandment: Love one another. This is how anyone shall be able to tell who are my true followers: You shall love one another.”
13
Later, during that same feast, one said to Jesus: “It would strengthen our faith, if you would permit us to see your Father.”
Jesus answered: “How have you been following me so long, and yet you still know nothing about me? No one begat me. I came here myself, on my own volition. I am my own progenitor. The only aspect that changed about my being, since the time when I made the world, is that I chose to put on flesh, so that you could see me, and so that we could interact for a spell. For I desired to share with the world my eternal life. In former epochs, I was invisible. Yet a little while, and the world shall see me no more. But you will see me when you enter the existence I am offering. Today is the life of the flesh; tomorrow is the life of the spirit. Then we shall be in love, and I shall manifest myself unto you.”
After this, it was quiet for a while, as the friends of Jesus thought about these words.
Then Jesus rose again and said: “I leave you with peace. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives: my peace shall be lasting. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Just now you heard me say: I shall go away, but later we will meet again. If you love me, rejoice: for this consummation of mine shall be ecstatic. Beyond tonight, I will not talk much with you: because this world’s prince comes, and I must undertake to meet him. He has no power over me; but fate has never been altogether fixed.”
14
Jesus added: “I told you my final commandment: love one another. Now I tell you, there is no greater love than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
15
Jesus also added: “After I leave you, I will send my spirit to comfort you. When my body breaks, my breath will rush forth and remain with you forever.
“A woman when she is in travail feels sorrow, because her hour is come; but as soon as she delivers her child, she forgets all the anguish of her labor, in light of her joy for the child that she brought into the world. Likewise, you shall feel sorrow and anguish, until your life in the spirit begins. That life shall be an existence as wind, which blows in freedom wherever it likes.
“When I am gone, ask me for anything, and I will give it to you.
“Now, I have spoken in parables, riddles, and dark sayings; but the day shall come when I will speak to you plainly.
“I am sincere when I say: Ask me anything, and I will give it to you. I want your pleasure to be full.
“I love you, because you believed that I am God.
“It is time for me to leave. If you have tribulation, be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.
“I have many more things to say to you, but you could not bear them now.”
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