The Gospel of the Holy Twelve 80-90

Lection 80

The Sorrow and Penance of Judas

1. NOW Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”
2. And they said, “What is that to us? See thou to that.” And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went out and hanged himself.
3. And the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because it is the price of blood.”
4. And they took council and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called Aceldama, that is, the field of blood, unto this day.
5. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Zachariah, the prophet, saying, “They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them for the potter's field, and cast them to the potter in the House of the Lord.”
6. Now, Jesus had said to his disciples, “Woe unto the man who receives the mysteries, and falls into sin thereafter.
7. For such there is no place of repentance in this cycle, seeing they have crucified afresh the Divine Offspring of God and man and put the Christ within them to an open shame.
8. Such are worse than the beasts, whom ye ignorantly affirm to perish, for in your Scriptures it is written, ‘That which befalls the beast befalls the sons of men.’
9. All live by one breath, as the one dies so dies the other, so that a man has no preeminence over a beast; for all go to the same place – all come from the dust and return to the dust together.”
10. These things spoke Jesus concerning them which were not regenerate, not having received the Spirit of Divine Love, who, once having received the Light, crucified the Son of God afresh, putting him to an open shame.

Lection 81

The Roman Trial Before Pilate

1. THEN led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, to Pontius Pilate, the Governor; and it was early, and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might keep the feast.
2. Pilate therefore went out unto them and said, “What accusation bring ye against this man?” They answered and said unto him, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he would change the customs and rites which Moses delivered unto us; yea, he made himself the Son of God.”
3. Then said Pilate unto them, “Take ye him and judge him according to your law.” For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
4. The Jews therefore said unto him, “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” So the saying of Jesus was fulfilled which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.
5. And they further accused him saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”
6. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called Jesus and said unto him, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Say thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?”
7. Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What has thou done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from here.”
8. Pilate therefore said unto him, “Art thou a King then?” Jesus answered, “Thou say that I am, yea, a King I am. To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice.”
9. Pilate said unto him, “What is truth?” Jesus said, “Truth is from heaven.” Pilate said, “Then truth is not on earth.” Jesus said unto Pilate, “Believe thou that truth is on earth among those who receive and obey it. They are of the truth who judge righteously.”
10. And when he had heard this, he went out again unto the Jews and said unto them, “I find in him no fault at all.” And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered them nothing.
11. Then said Pilate unto him, “Hear thou not, how many things they witness against thee?”
12. And he answered him never a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly, and again he said unto them, “I find no fault in this man.”
13. And they waxed the more fierce saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.” When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.
14. And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who himself was at Jerusalem at the time.
15. And when Herod saw Jesus he was exceedingly glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season because he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
16. Then he questioned with him in many words, but Jesus answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him, and many false witnesses rose up against him and laid to his charge things that he knew not.
17. And Herod with his men of war set him at naught and mocked him and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.
18. And Pilate went again into the Judgment Hall and said unto Jesus, “From where art thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto him, “Speak thou not unto me? Know thou not that I have power to crucify thee and have power to release thee?”
19. Jesus answered, “Thou could have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered me unto thee has the greater sin.”
20. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried out, saying, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend; whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
21. And Pilate called together the chief priests and rulers of the people. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”
22. And Pilate said unto them, “Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverts the people, and behold I have examined him before you and have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him and lo nothing worthy of death was found in him.
23. But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover; will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?”
24. Then cried they all again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber and, for sedition made in the city and for murder, was cast into prison.
25. Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. “Whether of the two will ye that I release unto you; Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Christ?” They said, “Barabbas.”
26. Pilate said unto them, “What then shall I do with Jesus which is called the Christ?” They all said unto him, “Let him be crucified.”
27. And the Governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out all the more saying, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”
28. Pilate therefore went forth again and said unto him, “Behold, again I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.” Again they cried out, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”
29. And Pilate said unto them, the third time, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go.”
30. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
31. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it.”
32. Then answered all the people, and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he delivered Jesus to their will.
 

Lection 82

The Crucifixion

1. THEN he released Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus to the common hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
2. And they stripped him and put on him a purple robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
3. Then came forth Jesus, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said unto them, “Behold the man!”
4. When the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify him. Crucify him.” And Pilate said unto them, “Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.”
5. And they spit upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucify him.
6. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people and of women which also bewailed and lamented him.
7. But Jesus, turning unto them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold the days are coming in which they shall say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the paps which never gave suck.’
8. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry.”
9. And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come unto a place called Calvary and Golgotha, that is to say a place of a skull, there they crucified him; and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and other on the left.
10. And it was the third hour when they crucified him, and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And Jesus said, “Abba Amma, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
11. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his raiment and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his vesture. Now the vesture was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be.”
12. That the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.” These things therefore the soldiers did. And sitting down they watched him there.
13. And a superscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, “This is the King of the Jews.”
14. This title then read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, “Write not, ‘The King of the Jews’, but that, he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
15. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, “If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us.” But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Do not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing amiss.”
16. And he said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comes into thy kingdom.” And Jesus said unto him, “Verily, I say unto thee, today shall thou be with me in Paradise.”
17. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads and saying, “Thou that would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
18. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, while the scribes and elders said, “He saved a lamb; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let Him deliver him now if He will have him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
19. The usurers and the dealers in beasts and birds also cast the like things into his teeth, saying, “Thou who drives from the temple the traders in oxen and sheep and doves, art thyself but a sheep that is sacrificed.”
20. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour, and some standing around, lighted their torches, for the darkness was very great. And about the sixth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lame sabachthani?” That is to say, “My God, My God, Why has Thou forsaken me?”
21. Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, “This man calls for Elias”; others said, “He calls on the Sun.” The rest said, “Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.”
22. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
23. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he said unto his mother, “Woman, behold thy son!” And he said to the disciple, “Behold thy mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.
24. After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am athirst.” And from a vessel they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it to his mouth.
25. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Abba Amma, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.”
26. When Jesus had therefore received the vinegar, he cried aloud, “It is finished”; and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. And it was the ninth hour.
27. And behold there was great thunder and lightning, and the partition wall of the Holy place from which hung the veil fell down and was rent in two; and the earth did quake, and the rocks also were rent.
28. Now when the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was a Son of God.”
29. And many women were there which followed from Galilee, ministering unto them, and among them were Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children and they lamented, saying, “The light of the world is hid from our eyes, the Lord, our Love is crucified.”
30. Then the Jews, because it was the preparation that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath, for that was a Paschal Sabbath, besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
31. Then came the soldiers and broke the legs of the two who were crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already, they broke not his legs, but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his heart and forthwith there came out blood and water.
32. And he that saw it bore record and his record is true, and he knows that he said true, that ye might believe. For these things were done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled – “…a  bone of him shall not be broken…” and again – “…in the midst of the week the Messiah shall be cut off.”

Lection 83

The Burial of Jesus

1. NOW, when the evening was come, Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable councilor, who also waited for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus. (He was a good man and just and had not consented to the council and deed of them).
2. And Pilate marveled if he were already dead; and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
3. And there came also Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred weight. Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
4. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulcher wherein was never man yet laid. There they laid Jesus, and it was about the beginning of the second watch when they buried him because of the Jews’ preparation day, for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.
5. And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. There at the tomb they kept watch for three days and three nights.
6. And the women also who came with him from Galilee, followed after bearing lamps in their hands and beheld the sepulcher and how his body was laid, and they made lamentation over him.
7. And they returned and rested the next day, being a high day, and on the day following they bought and prepared spices and ointments and waited for the end of the Sabbath.
8. Now the next day that followed, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was yet alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
9. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day be past, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away, and say unto the people, ‘He is risen from the dead’, so the last error shall be worse than the first.”
10. Pilate said unto them, “Ye have a watch, go your way, make it as sure as you can.” So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch until the third day should be past.

Lection 84

The Resurrection of Jesus

1. NOW after the Sabbath was ended, and it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher bearing the spices which she had prepared, and there were others with her.
2. And as they were going, they said among themselves, “Who shall roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” For it was great. And when they came to the place and looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away.
3. For behold there was a great earthquake; and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lighting and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.
4. And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear not, for I know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said.
5. Come see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold he goes before you into Galilee. There ye shall see him; lo, I have told you.”
6. And they entered in and found not the body of Jesus. Then Mary ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.”
7. And they ran and came to the sepulcher, and looking in, they saw the linen clothes lying, and the napkin that had been about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped up in a place by itself.
8. And it came to pass as they were much perplexed, behold, two angels stood by them in glistening garments of white, and said unto them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen; and, behold, he goes before you into Galilee. There ye shall see him.
9. Remember ye not how he spoke unto you, when he was yet in Galilee, that the Son of Man should be crucified and that he would rise again after the third day?” And they remembered his words. And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulcher, for they trembled with amazement, and they were afraid.
10. Now at the time of the earthquake, the graves were opened; and many of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the city and appeared unto many.
11. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping, and as she wept, she again stooped down and looked into the sepulcher and saw two angels in white garments, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said unto her, “Woman, why weep thou?”
12. She said unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
13. Jesus said unto her, “Woman, why weep thou? Whom seek thou?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him away from here, tell me where thou has laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said unto her, “Mary.” She turned herself and said unto him, “Rabboni”; which is to say, “Master.”
14. Jesus said unto her, “Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father and my Mother, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, ‘I ascend unto my Parent and your Parent, to my God and your God.’”
15. And Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her, and commanded her to announce his resurrection from the dead.

Lection 85

Jesus Appears to Two at Emmaus

1. AND behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
2. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
3. And he said unto them, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk and are sad?”
4. And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said unto him, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and has not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?” And he said unto them, “What things?”
5. And they said unto him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this, three days have passed since these things were done.
6. Yea, and certain women, also of our company, made us astonished which were early at the sepulcher; and when they found not his body, they came saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
7. And certain of them who were with us went to the sepulcher and found it even so as the women had said; but him they saw not.”
8. Then he said unto them, “O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and then to enter into his glory?”
9. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself.
10. And they drew nigh unto the village where they went, and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, “Abide, with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And he went in to tarry with them.
11. And it came to pass as he sat at table with them, he took bread and the fruit of the vine, and gave thanks, blessed, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
12. And they said one to another, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the twelve gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.”
13. And they told what things were done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
14. Now while they had been going to Emmaus, some of the watch came into the city and showed unto Caiaphas what things had been done.
15. And the elders took council with the high priest and said, “Behold, while the soldiers slept, some of his disciples came and took his body away; and is not Joseph of Arimathea one if his disciples?
16. For this cause then did he beg the body from Pilate that he might bury it in his garden in his own tomb. Let us therefore give money to the soldiers, telling them to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the ears of the governor we will persuade him to not secure them.”

Lection 86

Jesus Appears in the Temple
Blood Sacrifices Cease

1. THE same day, at the time of sacrifice in the Temple there appeared among the dealers in beasts and in birds, one clothed in white raiment, bright as light, and in his hand a whip of seven cords.
2. And at the sight of Him, those who sold and bought fled in terror, and some of them fell as dead men, for they remembered how before his death Jesus had driven them away from the Temple enclosure, in like manner.
3. And some declared that they had seen a spirit. And others that they had seen Him who was crucified and that He had risen from the dead.
4. And the sacrifices ceased that day in the Temple, for all were in fear, and none could be had to sell or to buy, but, rather, they let their captives go free.
5. And the priests and elders caused a report to be spread, that they who had seen it were drunken and had seen nothing. But many affirmed that they had seen Him with their own eyes, and felt on their backs the scourge, but were powerless to resist, for when some of the bolder among them put forth their hands, they could not seize the form which they beheld nor grasp the whip which chastised them.
6. And from that time, these believed in Jesus, that He was sent from God to deliver the oppressed and to free those that were bound. And they turned from their ways and sinned no longer.
7. To others, He also appeared in love and mercy and healed them by his touch and delivered them from the hands of the persecutor. And many like things were reported of him, and many said, “Of a truth the Kingdom is come.”
8. And for some of those who had slept and risen, when Jesus rose from the dead, appeared and was seen by many in the holy City, great fear fell upon the wicked, but light and gladness came to the righteous in heart.

Lection 87

Jesus Appears to the Twelve

1. THEN the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, “Peace be unto you.” But they were frightened and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
2. And he said unto them, “Behold, it is I myself, like as ye have seen me aforetime. A spirit can indeed appear in flesh and bones as ye see I have. Behold my hands and my feet, handle and see.”
3. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his heart. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
4. For Thomas, called Didymus, one of the disciples, had said unto them, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his heart, I will not believe.” Then said he to Thomas, “Behold my hands, my heart, and my feet; reach here thy hands, and be not faithless, but believing.”
5. And Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God!” And Jesus said unto him, “Thomas, because thou have seen me, thou have believed; blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.”
6. Then said Jesus unto them again, “Peace be unto you, as Abba Amma has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost; preach the Gospel and announce ye unto all nations the resurrection of the Son of Man.
7. Teach ye the holy law of love which I have delivered unto you. And whosoever forsakes their sins, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever continues in their sins, they are retained unto them.
8. Baptize them who believe and repent, bless and anoint them, and offer ye the pure Oblation of the fruits of the earth which I have appointed unto you for a Memorial of me.
9. Lo, I have given my body and my blood to be offered on the Cross, for the redemption of the world from the sin against love, and from the bloody sacrifices and feasts of the past.
10. And ye shall offer the Bread of Life and the Wine of Salvation for a pure Oblation with incense, as it is written of me; and ye shall eat and drink thereof for a memorial, that I have delivered all who believe in me from the ancient bondage of your ancestors.
11. For they, making a god of their belly, sacrificed unto their god the innocent creatures of the earth, in place of the carnal nature within themselves.
12. And eating of their flesh and drinking of their blood to their own destruction, corrupted their bodies and shortened their days, even as the Gentiles who knew not the truth, or who knowing it, have changed it into a lie.
13. As I send you, so send ye others also, to do these things in my Name.”  And he laid his hands upon them.
14. “In the like manner as the Apostles, so also be ordained Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors, a Holy Priesthood.” And afterwards he laid his hand upon those whom they chose for Deacons, one for each of the fourfold twelve.
15. “And these are for the rule and guidance of the Church Universal, that all may be perfected in their places in the Unity of the Body of the Christ.”

Lection 88

The Eighth Day after the Resurrection

1. AND after seven days again, his disciples were within the Upper Room; then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you.” And he was known unto them in the holy Memorial.
2. And he said unto them. “Love ye one another and all the creatures of God. Yet, I say unto you, not all are men who are in the form of man. There are men or women in the image of God whose ways are ways of violence, of oppression, and wrong, who choose a lie rather than the truth.
3. Nay, verily, until they are born again and receive the Spirit of Love and Wisdom within their hearts, then only are they sons and daughters of Israel, and being of Israel, they are children of God. And for this cause came I into the world, and for this I have suffered at the hands of sinners.
4. These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning me.”
5. And Jesus said, “I stood in the midst of the world, and in the flesh was I seen and heard, and I found all men glutted with their own pleasures, and drunk with their own follies, and none found I hungry or athirst for the wisdom which is of God. My soul grieves over the sons and daughters of men because they are blind in their hearts; and in their souls, they are deaf and hear not my voice.”
6. Then he opened their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and said unto them, “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead after the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in my name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.
7. And, behold, I send the promise of my Parent upon you, even of my Father One with my Mother, whom ye have not seen on the earth. For I say unto you, Of a truth, as the whole world has been ruined by the sin and vanity of woman, so by the simplicity and truth of woman shall it be saved, even by you shall it be saved.
8. Rejoice therefore and be ye glad, for ye are more blessed than all who are on earth; for it is ye, my twelve thousand who shall save the whole world.
9. Again I say unto you, when the great tyrant and all the seven tyrants began to fight in vain against the Light, they knew not with whom or what they fought.
10. For they saw nothing beyond a dazzling Light, and when they fought they expended their strength one against another, and so it is.
11. For this cause I took a fourth part of their strength, so that they might not have such power and prevail in their evil deeds.
12. For by involution and evolution shall the salvation of all the world be accomplished; by the Descent of Spirit into matter, and the Ascent of matter into Spirit, through the ages.”

Lection 89

Jesus Appears at the Sea of Tiberias

1. AFTER these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and in this way he showed himself. There were together Simon, Peter, and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and James and John and two other of his disciples.
2. And Peter said unto them, “I go fishing.” They said unto him, “We also go with thee.” They went forth and entered into a ship immediately, and that night they caught nothing. And when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
3. Then Jesus said unto them, “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered him, “Nay, Lord, not enough for all; there is naught but a small loaf, a little oil, and a few dried fruits.” And he said unto them, “Let these suffice; come and dine.”
4. And he blessed them, and they ate and were filled; and there was a pitcher of water and he blessed it likewise, and lo, it was the fruit of the vine.
5. And they marveled, and said, “It is the Lord.” And none of the disciples did ask him, “Who art thou?” Knowing it was the Lord.
6. This is now the sixth time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus said to Peter, son of Jonas, “Love thou me more than these?” He said unto him, “Yea, Lord, thou know that I love thee.” He said unto him, “Feed my lambs.” He said unto him again the second time, “Peter, son of Jonas, love thou me?” He said unto him, “Yea, Lord thou knows that I love thee.” He said unto him. “Feed my sheep.”
7. He said unto him the third time, “Peter, son of Jonas, love thou me?” Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, “Love thou me?” And he said unto him, “Lord, thou know all things; thou know that I love thee.”
8. Jesus said unto him, “Feed my Flock. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art a rock from the Rock, and on this rock will I build my Church, and I will raise thee above my twelve to be my vicegerent upon earth for a centre of unity to the twelve, and another shall be called and chosen to fill thy place among the twelve, and thou shall be the Servant of servants and shall feed my rams, my sheep, and my lambs.
9. And yet another shall arise and he shall teach many things which I have taught you already, and he shall spread the Gospel among the Gentiles with great zeal. But the keys of the Kingdom will I give to those who succeed thee in my Spirit and obey my law.
10. And again I say unto thee, when thou was young thou girded thyself and walked where thou would, but when thou shall be old, thou shall stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee where thou would not.” This spoke he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.
11. And when he had spoken this he said unto him, “Follow me.” Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following. Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord and what shall this man do?” Jesus said unto him, “If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.”
12. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that disciple should not die; yet Jesus said not unto him, “He shall not die, but, ‘If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee?’”

Lection 90

What Is Truth?

1. AGAIN the twelve were gathered together in the Circle of palm trees, and one of them even Thomas said to the others, “What is Truth? For the same things appear different to different minds, and even to the same mind at different times. What, then, is Truth?”
2. And as they were speaking Jesus appeared in their midst and said, “Truth, one and absolute, is in God alone, for no man, neither any body of men, know that which God alone knows, who is the All in All. To men is Truth revealed, according to their capacity to understand and receive.
3. The One Truth has many sides, and one sees one side only, another sees another, and some see more than others, according as it is given to them.
4. Behold this crystal, how the one light is manifest in twelve faces, yea, four times twelve; and each face reflects one ray of light, and one regards one face, and another, another, but it is the one crystal and the one light that shines in all.
5. Behold again, when one climbs a mountain and attaining one height, he says, ‘This is the top of the mountain, let us reach it’; and when they have reached that height, lo, they see another beyond it until they come to that height from which no other height is to be seen, if so be they can attain it.
6. So it is with Truth. I am the Truth and the Way and the Life, and have given to you the Truth I have received from above. And that which is seen and received by one, is not seen and received by another. That which appears true to some, seems not true to others. They who are in the valley see not as they who are on the hilltop.
7. But to each, it is the Truth as the one mind sees it, and for that time, until a higher Truth shall be revealed unto the same; and to the soul which receives higher light, shall be given more light. Wherefore condemn not others, that ye be not condemned.
8. As ye keep the holy Law of Love which I have given unto you, so shall the Truth be revealed more and more unto you; and the Spirit of Truth which comes from above shall guide you, albeit through many wanderings into all Truth; even as the fiery cloud guided the children of Israel through the wilderness.
9. Be faithful to the light ye have, until a higher light is given to you. Seek more light, and ye shall have abundantly; rest not, till ye find.
10. God gives you all Truth, as a ladder with many steps, for the salvation and perfection of the soul, and the truth which seems today, ye will abandon for the higher truth of the morrow. Press ye unto Perfection.
11. Whoso keeps the holy Law which I have given, the same shall save their souls, however differently they may see the truths which I have given.
12. Many shall say unto me, ‘Lord, Lord, we have been zealous for thy Truth.’ But I shall say unto them, ‘Nay, but, that others may see as ye see, and none other truth beside.’ Faith without charity is dead. Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
13. How shall faith in what they receive profit them that hold it in unrighteousness? They who have love have all things, and without love there is nothing worth. Let each hold what they see to be the truth in love, knowing that where love is not, truth is a dead letter and profits nothing.
14. There abide Goodness, and Truth, and Beauty, but the greatest of these is Goodness. If any have hatred to their fellows, and harden their hearts to the creatures of God’s hands, how can they see Truth unto salvation, seeing their eyes are blinded and their hearts are hardened to God’s creation?
15. As I have received the Truth, so have I given it to you. Let each receive it according to their light and ability to understand, and persecute not those who receive it after a different interpretation.
16. For Truth is the Might of God, and it shall prevail in the end over all errors. But the holy Law which I have given is plain for all, and just and good. Let all observe it for the salvation of their souls.”