The Gospel of the Holy Twelve 30-39
Lection 30
The Bread of Life and the Living Vine
1. THE following day, the people who stood on the other side of the sea saw that there had been no other boat there save the one his disciples had entered and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone alone. And when the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took ship and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus.
2. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, “Rabbi, how came thou here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves and the fruit and were filled. Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for the meat that endures unto everlasting life which the Son of Man, who is also the Child of God, shall give unto you, for him has God the All-Parent sealed.”
3. Then said they unto him, “What shall we do that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe the truth and in me who gives unto you the Truth and the Life.”
4. They said unto him, “What sign shows thou then that we may see and believe thee? What does thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
5. Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not the true bread from heaven, but my Parent gives you the true bread from heaven and the fruit of the living vine. For the food of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life unto the world.”
6. Then they said unto him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread and this fruit.” And Jesus said unto them, “I am the true Bread, I am the living Vine; they who come to me shall never hunger and they who believe in me shall never thirst. And verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of God, ye have no life in you. But ye have seen me and believe not.
7. All that my Parent has given to me shall come to me and they who come to me, I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of God who sent me. And this is the will of God who has sent me, that of all which are given unto me, I shall lose none, but shall raise them up again at the last day.”
8. The Jews then murmured at him because he said, “I am the bread which comes down from heaven.” And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary whose parentage we know? How is it then that he says, ‘I came down from heaven?’”
9. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, “Murmur ye not among yourselves. None can come to me except Holy Love and Wisdom draw them and these shall rise at the last day. It is written in the prophets, they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore who has heard and has learned of the Truth, comes unto me.
10. Not that anyone has seen the Holiest at any time, save they which are of the Holiest; they alone see the Holiest. Verily, verily, I say unto you, They who believe the Truth have everlasting life.”
Lection 31
The Bread of Life and the Living Vine
Jesus Teaches the Thoughtless Driver
1. Again Jesus said, “I am the true Bread and the living Vine. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the food of God which comes down from heaven, that whosoever eats thereof shall not die. I am the living food which comes down from heaven; if any eat of this food, they shall live forever; and the bread which I will give is my truth and the wine which I will give is my life.”
2. And the Jews strove amongst themselves, saying, “How can this man give us himself for food?” Then Jesus said, “Think ye that I speak of the eating of flesh which ye ignorantly do in the Temple of God?
3. Verily, my body is the substance of God and this is meat indeed; and my blood is the life of God and this is drink indeed. Not as your ancestors who craved for flesh and God gave them flesh in his wrath and they ate of corruption till it stank in their nostrils; and their carcasses fell by the thousands in the wilderness by reason of the plague.
4. Of such it is written, ‘They shall wander nine and forty years in the wilderness till they are purified from their lusts, ere they enter into the land of rest; yea, seven times seven years shall they wander because they have not known My ways, neither obeyed My laws.’
5. But they who eat this flesh and drink this blood dwell in me and I in them. As the Father-Mother of Life has sent me and by whom I live, so they who eat of me who am the truth and the life, even they shall live by me.
6. This is that living bread which coming down from heaven gives life to the world. Not as your ancestors did eat manna and are dead. They who eat of this bread and this fruit shall live forever.” These things said he in the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a hard saying, who can receive it?”
7. When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, “Does this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son and Daughter of man ascend to where they were before? It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh and blood profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life.
8. But there are some of you who believe not;” for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who should believe not and who should betray him. Therefore he said unto them, “No one can come unto me except it was given from above.”
9. From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then Jesus said unto the twelve, “Will ye also go away?”
10. Then Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou have the words of eternal life. And we believe and we are sure that thou art the Christ, a Son of the living God.”
11. Jesus answered them, “Have not I chosen you Twelve and one also who is a traitor?” He spoke of Judas Iscariot son of Simon the Levite, for it was he who should betray him.
12. And Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem and there came a camel heavy-laden with wood. And the camel could not drag it up the hill where he went for the weight thereof and the driver beat him and cruelly ill-treated him, but he could make him go no further.
13. And Jesus seeing this said unto him, “Wherefore beat thou thy brother?” And the man answered, “I know not that he is my brother. Is he not a beast of burden and made to serve me?”
14. And Jesus said, “Has God not made of the same substance the camel and thy children who serve thee; and have ye not one breath of life which ye both have received from God?”
We are all made from the one substance (nature matter) in this world and we are given life through the one breath, which animates the animal body; but the human body has been designed differently and we have been given consciousness (intelligence) which distinguishes us from all other animals. It is the movement of this higher Intelligence in our spinal column and nervous system that makes man to stand erect and to be self-conscious. Animals are conscious, but not self-conscious, only mankind is self-conscious.
15. And the man marveled much at this saying and he ceased from beating the camel and took off some of the burden and the camel walked up the hill as Jesus went before him, and stopped no more till he ended his journey.
16. And the camel knew Jesus, having felt of the love of God in him. And the man inquired further of the doctrine and Jesus taught him gladly and he became his disciple.
Lection 32
God the Food and Drink of All
1. AND it came to pass as he sat at supper with his disciples, one of them said unto him, “Master, how say thou that thou will give thy flesh to eat and thy blood to drink, for it is a hard saying unto many?”
2. And Jesus answered and said, “The words which I spoke unto you, they are Spirit and they are Life. The ignorant and the carnally minded, they savour of bloodshed and death, but blessed are they who understand.
3. Behold the corn which grows up into ripeness and is cut down and ground in the mill and baked with fire into bread! Of this bread is my body made which ye see. And lo, the grapes which grow on the vine unto ripeness and are plucked and crushed in the winepress and yield the fruit of the vine, of this fruit of the vine and of this water is my blood made.
4. For of the fruits of the trees and the seeds of the herbs alone do I partake and these are changed by the Spirit into my flesh and my blood. Of these alone and their like shall ye eat who believe in me and are my disciples; for of these in the Spirit come life and health and healing unto man.
5. Verily, shall my Presence be with you in the Substance and Life of God, manifested in this body and this blood; of these shall ye all eat and drink who believe in me.
6. For in all places I shall be lifted up for the life of the world, as it is written in the prophets - from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, in every place, a pure Oblation with incense shall be offered unto my Name.
7. As in the natural so in the spiritual. My doctrine and my life shall be meat and drink unto you, the Bread of Life and the Wine of Salvation.
8. As the corn and the grapes are transmuted into flesh and blood, so must your natural minds be changed into spiritual. Seek ye the transmutation of the natural into the spiritual.
The Transmutation of the natural into the Spiritual is the Way of Life of Jesus Christ. As self-conscious beings, Christ wants us to take responsibility for the purity of our body, emotions, mind, and spirit. Purifying the body by refraining from eating meat will not bring enlightenment if the emotions are troubled or the mind is undisciplined or the spirit is impure. Transmutation of the natural into the Spiritual means that all 4 levels within the body must be purified and spiritualized; it is what Christ refers to as repentance and amendment. This is accomplished through a 4 step process which includes purifying the body, stabilizing the emotions, disciplining the mind, and purifying and stabilizing the spirit. The purified body is considered to be the "laying of the foundation" for our city built foursquare (27.12).
9. Verily, I say unto you, in the beginning, all creatures of God did find their sustenance in the herbs and the fruits of the earth alone, until the ignorance and the selfishness of man turned many of them from the use which God had given them to that which was contrary to their original use; but even these shall yet return to their natural food as it is written in the prophets, and their words shall not fail.
10. Verily, God ever gives of the Eternal Life and Substance to renew the forms of the universe. It is therefore of the flesh and blood, even the Substance and Life of the Eternal, that ye are partakers unto life; my words are spirit and they are life.
11. And if ye keep My commandments and live the life of the righteous, happy shall ye be in this life and in that which is to come. Marvel not therefore that I said unto you, ‘Except ye eat of the flesh and drink the blood of God, ye have no life in you.’”
12. And the disciples answered saying, “Lord, evermore give us to eat of this bread and to drink of this cup, for thy words are meat and drink indeed. By thy Life and by thy Substance, may we live forever.”
Lection 33
By the Shedding of Blood of Others is no Remission of Sins
1. JESUS was teaching his disciples in the outer court of the Temple and one of them said unto him, “Master, it is said by the priests that without shedding of blood there is no remission. Can then the blood offering of the law take away sin?”
2. And Jesus answered, “No blood offering of beast or bird or man can take away sin, for how can the conscience be purged from sin by the shedding of innocent blood? Nay, it will increase the condemnation.
3. The priests indeed receive such offering as a reconciliation of the worshippers for the trespasses against the Law of Moses, but for sins against the Law of God there can be no remission, save by repentance and amendment.
4. Is it not written in the prophets, ‘Put away your blood sacrifices and your burnt offerings, and cease ye from the eating of flesh. Did I not speak to your fathers and command them when I brought them out of Egypt, concerning these things? This thing I commanded saying,
5. Obey my voice and walk in the ways that I have commanded you, and ye shall be my people, and it shall be well with you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear.’
6. And what does the Eternal command you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God? Is it not written that in the beginning God ordained the fruits of the trees and the seeds and the herbs to be food for all flesh?
7. But they have made the House of Prayer a den of thieves, and for the pure Oblation with incense, they have polluted my altars with blood, and eaten of the flesh of the slain.
8. But I say unto you, Shed no innocent blood nor eat ye flesh. Walk uprightly, love mercy, and do justly, and your days shall be long in the land.
9. The corn that grows from the earth with the other grain, is it not transmuted by the Spirit into my flesh? The grapes of the vineyard, with the other fruits are they not transmuted by the Spirit into my blood? Let these, with your bodies and souls be your memorial to the Eternal.
10. In these is the presence of God manifest as the Substance and as the Life of the world. Of these shall ye eat and drink for the remission of sins and for eternal life, to all who obey my words.”
11. Now there was at Jerusalem by the sheep market, a pool which is called Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters.
12. For at a certain season, an angel went down into the pool and troubled the waters; whosoever went first into the waters was made whole of whatever disease he had. And a man impotent from his birth was there.
13. And Jesus said unto him, “Bring not the waters healing?” He said unto him, “Yea, Lord, but I have no man when the water is troubled to put me in, and while I am trying to come, another steps down before me.” And Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up thy bed and walk.” And immediately he rose and walked. And on the same day was the Sabbath.
14. The Jews therefore said to him, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.” And he that was healed knew not that it was Jesus. And Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Lection 34
Love of Jesus for all Creatures
His Care for a Cat
1. WHEN Jesus knew how the Pharisees had murmured and complained because he made and baptized more disciples than John, he left Judea and departed unto Galilee.
2. And Jesus came to a certain tree and abode beneath it many days. And there came Mary Magdalene and other women and ministered unto him of their substance, and he taught daily all that came unto him.
3. And the birds gathered around him and welcomed him with their song, and other living creatures came unto his feet, and he fed them, and they ate out of his hands.
4. And when he departed, he blessed the women who showed love unto him, and turning to the fig tree, he blessed it also, saying, “Thou has given me shelter and shade from the burning heat, and withal thou has given me food also.
5. Blessed be thou, increase and be fruitful, and let all who come to thee, find rest and shade and food, and let the birds of the air rejoice in thy branches.”
6. And behold the tree grew and flourished exceedingly, and its branches took root downward and sent shoots upward, and it spread mightily, so that no tree was like unto it for its size and beauty and the abundance and goodness of its fruit.
7. And as Jesus entered into a certain village he saw a young cat which had none to care for her, and she was hungry and cried unto him, and he took her up and put her inside his garment, and she lay in his bosom.
8. And when he came into the village, he set food and drink before the cat, and she ate and drank and showed thanks unto him. And he gave her unto one of his disciples, who was a widow whose name was Lorenza, and she took care of her.
9. And some of the people said, “This man cares for all creatures; are they his brothers and sisters that he should love them?” And he said unto them, “Verily, these are your fellow creatures of the great Household of God; yea, they are your brethren and sisters, having the same breath of life in the Eternal.
10. And whosoever cares for one of the least of these and gives it to eat and drink in its need, the same does it unto me; and whoso willingly suffers one of these to be in want and defends it not when evilly entreated, suffers the evil as done unto me; for as ye have done in this life, so shall it be done unto you in the life to come.”
Lection 35
The Good Law, Mary and Martha
On Divine Wisdom
1. AND behold a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, “Master, what shall I do to gain eternal life?” He said unto him, “What is written in the law? How read thou?”
2. And he answering said, “Thou shall not do unto others, as thou would not that they should do unto thee. Thou shall love thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all thy mind. Thou shall do unto others, as thou would that they should do unto thee.”
3. And Jesus said unto him, “Thou have answered right; this do and thou shalt live; on these three commandments hang all the law and the prophets, for who loves God, loves his neighbor also.”
One of the reasons the teachings of Christ are called the New Testament is because His word fulfills all the past laws, commandments, and prophecies. “On these three commandments hang all the law and the prophets, for who loves God, loves his neighbor also…” and living by these three commandments automatically fulfills the ten commandments of the Old Testament. These three commandments are a higher expression of Truth because they offer positive and affirmative direction for living rather than the negative expression of “Thou shall not.” The fulfillment of these three commandments allows for people to make choices in life, but it also requires that within those choices people take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. Whereas, in the Old Testament people are told they must live “within the guidelines” of the ten commandments which does not give the individual choices or responsibility but rather boundaries.
4. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” And Jesus answering said, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves who stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed leaving him half dead.
5. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way, and when he saw him he passed by on the one side. And likewise a Levite also came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
6. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion on him. And went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
7. And on the morrow when he departed he took out money and gave it to the host, and said, ‘Take care of him and whatsoever thou spend more, when I come again, I will repay thee.’
8. Which now of these three, think thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?” And he said, “He that showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said unto him, “Go and do thou likewise.”
9. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village, and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word.
10. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him saying, “Lord, do thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she may help me.”
11. And Jesus answered and said unto her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.”
Like Martha, many people in our society are concerned about the details and appearance of their lives and business in the natural world. They spend a great deal of time being concerned about what they wear, how they look, what they drive, where they live, and what others think about them rather than being concerned about the state of their souls in the spiritual world. Christ goes on to say in verse 15, “Forsake the foolish (things in life) and live, and go in the way of understanding. By me shall your days be multiplied…” or in other words, by me (his life and teachings) your life shall be magnified.
12. Again, as Jesus sat at supper with his disciples in a certain city, he said unto them, “As a table set upon twelve pillars, so am I in the midst of you.
13. Verily I say unto you, Wisdom builds her house and hews out her twelve pillars. She does prepare her bread and her oil and mingle her wine. She does furnish her table.
14. And she stands upon the high places of the city, and cries to the sons and the daughters of men! Whosoever will, let them turn in here; let them eat of my bread and take of my oil, and drink of my wine.
15. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. The veneration of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy One is understanding. By me shall your days be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.”
Lection 36
The Woman Taken in Adultery
The Pharisee and the Publican
1. ON a certain day, early in the morning, Jesus came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them.
2. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned, but what say thou?”
3. This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not.
4. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her”.
5. And again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last; and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst.
6. When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, “Woman, where are those, thine accusers? Has no man condemned thee?” She said unto him, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee. From henceforth sin no more; go in peace.”
7. And he spoke this parable unto certain people which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a rich Pharisee, learned in the law, and the other a tax gatherer, who was a sinner.
8. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself: ‘God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax gatherer. I fast twice in the week and I give tithes of all that I possess.’
9. And the tax gatherer, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’
10. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Lection 37
The Regeneration of the Soul
1. JESUS sat in the porch of the temple, and some came to learn his doctrine, and one said unto him, “Master, what teaches thou concerning life?”
2. And he said unto them, “Blessed are they who suffer many experiences, for they shall be made perfect through suffering; they shall be as the angels of God in Heaven and shall die no more, neither shall they be born anymore, for death and birth have no more dominion over them.
3. They who have suffered and overcome shall be made Pillars in the Temple of my God, and they shall go out no more. Verily I say unto you, except ye are born again of water and of fire, ye cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4. And a certain Rabbi (Nicodemus) came unto him by night for fear of the Jews, and said unto him, “How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born again?”
5. Jesus answered, “Verily, I say unto you except a man be born again of flesh and of spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The wind blows where it lists, and ye hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell where it comes or where it goes.
6. The light shines from the East even unto the West; out of the darkness, the Sun arises and goes down into darkness again; so is it with man, from the ages unto the ages.
7. When it comes from the darkness, it is that he has lived before, and when it goes down again into darkness, it is that he may rest for a little, and thereafter again exist.
8. So through many changes must ye be made perfect; as it is written in the book of Job, ‘I am a wanderer, changing place after place and house after house until I come unto the City and Mansion which is eternal.’”
This lection explains the reality of reincarnation and the regeneration of the soul through many cycles. It states that as the sun rises and sets, so does man live many lives from the ages unto the ages. In order for us to perfect and to regenerate our souls, we need many lifetimes of suffering (spiritual struggle) in which to learn from our challenges in the experiences of life. So through many changes must ye be made perfect. Our soul, living in many different bodies, will die every death, live in bodies as male and as female, be rich and be poor, and live in fortunate and unfortunate circumstances. A given life is designed around what is most needed for the soul's growth and it is configured as our destiny even before we are conceived. It resides with us throughout life, and it holds us to our appointment with death. When we are made perfect through suffering, we will be free from the cycle of death and rebirth, and “…they shall be as the angels of God in Heaven and shall die no more, neither shall they be born anymore, for death and birth have no more dominion over them.”
However, humans will continue to reincarnate and continue to suffer until they are born again of water and of fire. Jesus explains this parable two verses later when he says, "Except a man be born again of flesh and of spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Once again, this teaching corresponds to the metaphor of building the foursquare city, which also corresponds to the fourfold destiny that governs our individual lives: physical, psychic, mental, and noetic destiny.
Being reborn of the flesh means purifying the physical body and the emotions of all negative impulses and impurities. The second stage in this parable, that of being reborn of spirit, takes place after the body and the emotions are properly and thoroughly purified, pacified, and stabilized. When the body (earth) is purified and the emotions (water) are stable and manageable, the foundation is set and only then can we deal with the mind (air) and the spirit (fire). The body and emotions are of nature, and the mind and spirit are of intelligence.
When the physical body is full of corruption and the emotions are unstable, the forces of nature pull strongly on the corporeal body dominating its dark impulses and desires, allowing for the ego-personality to rule our life and our thoughts. We mistakenly identify the concept of "who we are" with our bodily impulses, emotional desires, and ego-personalities, allowing for these nature forces to influence the decisions we make in life rather than allowing the light of intelligence and the spirit to influence us.
To be reborn of the fire and spirit means that we must die to "who we think we are" so we can discover "who we really are." This means that when the body is purified and the emotions are stable, we must “die” or “disengage” ourselves from the influence of the ego/personality. When this is accomplished, we must then discipline the mind and with its focused light (fire), we must purify and stabilize our spirit. The process described in this paragraph is what the alchemist means by transforming lead (physical corruption) into gold (purified spirit). In the pure and stable spirit, we will encounter our true spiritual identity and Self knowledge.
This can be accomplished through a light and breath meditation (See: Meditation) which will release density and corruption from the body as well as release darkness from our feelings and our desires. When we have attained lightness in our bodies and balance between feeling and desire in our emotions, we will be prepared to engage the ego-personality. According to the Gnostic teachings, the ego is called the "counterfeit spirit," and it is wrapped around our souls before we are born.
In the beginning practice of meditation, we quickly recognize the totally self-centered manipulations of the ego-personality and its sidekick, the rational mind. The ego's prime focus in life is to satisfy the desires and the agenda of the body and the emotions. The rational mind will justify anything the ego does to this end, be it right or wrong. The rational mind is a deficient portion of the mental structure that is under the influence of the ego and the nature body. Like an unruly pet, the ego and rational mind must be trained to function, not in response to the impulses of the nature body, but for the light of our spiritual Intelligence which is comprised of our doing self in life (feeling-desire), our thinking self (rightness-reason), and our knowing self in the Spirit (Self-identity/Self-knowledge).
The reasoning mind is higher intelligence, and it is allied to rightness, our conscience. This is our true perceiver in the mental structure of consciousness, but we cannot hear its reasonable wisdom as long as the ego chatters in our head and the body distracts us with desire. The chatter can be stopped through focused meditation. When this is properly accomplished, higher reason establishes itself as our guide and turns our light away from the world and toward spirit so we can experience Self-realization. As with the alchemist, Self-realization and transformation of the body are also found in the Taoist teachings - being reborn of fire (focused mind and purified desire) is the same as ching (vital life) being transformed into chi (light energy) and being reborn of spirit (a purified and stable spirit) is what occurs when chi is transformed into shen (spirit).
9. And Nicodemus said unto him, “How can these things be?” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Art thou a teacher in Israel and understand not these things? Verily, we speak that which we do know and bear witness to that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
10. If I have told you of earthly things and ye believe not; how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly things? No man has ascended into Heaven but he that descended out of Heaven, even the Son-Daughter of man which is in heaven.”
Lection 38
Jesus Condemns the Ill Treatment of Animals
1. AND some of his disciples came and told him of a certain Egyptian, a son of Belial, who taught that it was lawful to torment animals, if their sufferings brought any profit to men.
2. And Jesus said unto them, “Verily, I say unto you, they who partake of benefits which are gotten by wronging one of God's creatures, cannot be righteous; nor can they touch holy things or teach the mysteries of the kingdom whose hands are stained with blood or whose mouths are defiled with flesh.
3. God gives the grains and the fruits of the earth for food; and for righteous man, truly there is no other lawful sustenance for the body.
4. The robber who breaks into the house made by man is guilty, but they who break into the house made by God, even of the least of these, are the greater sinners. Wherefore I say unto all who desire to be my disciples, keep your hands from bloodshed and let no flesh meat enter your mouths; for God is just and bountiful who ordains that man shall live by the fruits and seeds of the earth alone.
5. But if any animal suffer greatly, and if its life be a misery unto it or if it be dangerous to you, release it from its life quickly and with as little pain as you can. Send it forth in love and mercy, but torment it not; and God the Father-Mother will show mercy unto you, as ye have shown mercy unto those given into your hands.
6. And whatsoever ye do unto the least of these my children, ye do it unto me. For I am in them and they are in me; yea, I am in all creatures and all creatures are in me. In all their joys I rejoice, in all their afflictions I am afflicted. Wherefore I say unto you, be ye kind one to another and to all the creatures of God.”
7. And it came to pass the day after, that he came into a city called Nain and many of his disciples went with him and many people.
8. Now, when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her.
9. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, “Weep not, thy son sleeps.” And he came and touched the bier and they that bore him stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”
10. And he that was esteemed dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother. And there came an awe upon all and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet is risen up among us; and God has visited his people.”
Lection 39
The Kingdom Of Heaven (Seven Parables)
1. Again Jesus was sitting under the Fig tree, and his disciples gathered round him; and round them came a multitude of people to hear him, and said unto them, “Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of Heaven?”
2. And he spoke this parable saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is like to a certain seed, small among seeds, which a man takes and swath in his field; but when it is grown, it becomes a great tree which sends forth its branches all around, which again, shooting downward into the earth, take root and grow upward until the field is covered by the tree so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof and the creatures of the earth find shelter beneath it.”
3. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a great treasure hid in a field, the which when a man finds it, he hides it; and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has and buys that field, knowing how great will be the wealth from it.
4. Again is the kingdom of Heaven like to one pearl of great price which is found by a merchant seeking goodly pearls, and the merchant finding it, sells all that he has and buys it knowing how many more times it is worth than that which he gave for it.
5. Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a woman who takes of the incorruptible leaven and hides it in three measures of meal until the whole is leavened and being baked by fire becomes one loaf. Or, again, to one who takes a measure of pure wine and pours it into two or four measures of water, until the whole being mingled becomes the fruit of the vine.
6. Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a City built foursquare on the top of a high hill and established on a rock, strong in its surrounding wall, and its towers and its gates which lie to the north and to the south and to the east and to the west. Such a city falls not, nor can it be hidden; and its gates are open unto all who having the keys, will enter therein.”
7. And he spoke another parable, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto good seed that a man sowed in his field, but in the night, while he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat and went his way. But when the blade sprung up and brought forth fruit in the ear, there appeared the tares also.
8. And the servants of the householder came unto him and said, ‘Sir, did thou not sow good seed in thy field? Where then has it tares?’ And he said unto them, ‘An enemy has done this.’
9. And the servants said unto him, ‘Will thou then that we go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘Nay, lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the good wheat with them.
10. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will tell the reapers to gather up first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them and enrich the soil, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
11. And again Jesus spoke, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is like unto the sowing of seed. Behold a sower went forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and devoured them.
12. And others fell upon rocky places without much earth, and straightway they sprang up because they had no deepness of earth; and when the sun rose they were scorched, and because they had no root, they withered away.
13. And others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. And others fell upon good ground, readily prepared and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. They who have ears to hear let them hear.”
