CHAPTER VII

I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE

The true food of everlasting lift is the fulfilment of the Father's will

("Give us our daily bread")

AFTER this the Jews tried to condemn Jesus to death, and Jesus went away into Galilee, and lived with his relations. (jn 7:1)

The Jewish feast of tabernacles was come. (jn 7:2) And the brothers of Jesus got ready to go to the feast, and invited him to go with them. They did not believe in his teaching, and said to him: (jn 7:5)

"Now, you say that the Jewish service of God is wrong, that you know the real service of God by deeds. If you really think that no one but yourself knows the true service of God, then come with us to the feast. (jn 7:3) Many people will be there, and you can declare before them all that the teaching of Moses is wrong. If all believe you, then it will be clear to your disciples also, that you are right. Why make a secret of it? You say that our service is wrong, that you know the true service of God; well then, show it to all." (jn 7:4)

And Jesus said: "For you, there is a special time and place in which to serve God; but for me, there is none. (jn 7:6) I always and everywhere work for God. This is just what I show to people. I show to them that their service of God is wrong, and therefore do they hate me. (jn 7:7) Go you to the feast, and I will go when I think fit." (jn 7:8)

And the brothers went, but he remained behind, (jn 7:9) and only came up at the middle of the feast. (jn 7:10) And the Jews were shocked at his not honoring their feast, and delaying to come. (jn 7:11) And they discussed his teaching much. Some said that he spoke the truth, while others said that he only disturbed the people. (jn 7:12)

At the middle of the feast, Jesus entered the temple, and began to teach the people (jn 7:14) that their service of God was wrong; that God should be served not in the temple and by sacrifices, but in the spirit, and by deeds. All listened to him and wondered that he knew the whole of wisdom without having learnt. (jn 7:15) And Jesus, having heard that all wondered at his wisdom, said to them:

"My teaching is not my own, but His who sent me. (jn 7:16) If anyone wishes to fulfill the will of the Spirit which sent us into life, he will know that I have not invented this teaching, but that it is of God. (jn 7:17) Because he who invents from himself, follows his own mere imaginations; but he who seeks the mind of Him who sent him, he is right, and there is no wrong in him. (jn 7:18)

"Your law of Moses is not the Father's law, and, therefore, they who follow it do not fulfil the Father's law, (jn 7:19) but work evil and falsehood. I teach you the fulfilment of the will of the Father alone, (jn 7:21) and in my teaching there cannot be contradiction. But your written law of Moses (jn 7:22) is all full of contradictions. (jn 7:23) Do not judge by outside appearance, but judge by the spirit." (jn 7:24)

And some said: "While he has been called a false prophet, see, he condemns the law, and no one makes a charge against him. (jn 7:25) Maybe in very deed he is a true prophet; maybe even the authorities have acknowledged him. (jn 7:26) Only one reason makes it impossible to believe him, namely, that it is said, when he who is sent from God shall come, no one will know whence he is come; but we know this man's birth and all his family." (jn 7:27)

The people still did not understand his teaching, and still sought proofs.

Then Jesus said to them: "You know me, and whence I am, after the flesh. But you do not know whence I am, after the spirit. You do not know Him, from whom I am according to the spirit; and that is the only needful knowledge. (jn 7:28) If I had said that I am Christ, you would have believed me, the Man, but you would not have believed the Father who is in me, and in you. (jn 7:29) But it is necessaryto believe the Father only.

"I am here among you for the short space of my life. (jn 7:33) I point out to you the way to that source of life, from which I have come forth. And you ask of me proofs, and wish to condemn me. If you do not know the way, then, when I shall be no more, you will in nowise find it. (jn 7:34) You must not discuss me, but must follow me. Whoever shall do that which I say, he shall know whether what I say is true. He for whom the fleshly life has not become the food of the spirit, he who follows not the truth, thirsting for it as for water, cannot understand me. But he who thirsts for the truth, let him come to me to drink. (jn 7:37) And he who shall believe in my teaching shall receive the true life. (jn 7:38) He shall receive the life of the spirit." (jn 7:39)

And many believed in his teaching, and said: "That which he says is the truth and is of God." (jn 7:40) Others did not understand him, and still sought in prophecies for proofs that he was sent from God. (jn 7:42) And many disputed with him, (jn 7:43) but none could controvert him. (jn 7:44) The learned orthodox sent their assistants to contend with him, but their assistants returned to the orthodox priests and said: "We can do nothing with him." (jn 7:45)

And the high priests said to them: "But why have you not convicted him?" And they answered: "Never did any man speak as he." (jn 7:46)

Then the orthodox said: "It signifies nothing that it is impossible to controvert him, and that the people believe in his teaching. (jn 7:47) We do not believe, and none of the authorities believe. (jn 7:48) But the people is cursed, they were always stupid and unlearned; they believe everyone." (jn 7:49)

And Nicodemus, the man to whom Jesus explained his teaching, said to the high priests: (jn 7:50) "It is impossible to condemn a man without having heard him to the end, without understanding whither he is leading." (jn 7:51) But they said to him: "It is useless to discuss, or pay any attention to this affair. We know that a prophet cannot come from Galilee." (jn 7:52)

At another time, Jesus was speaking with the orthodox, and said to them: "There can be no proofs of the truth of my teaching, as there cannot be of the illumination of light. My teaching is the real light, by which people tell what is good and what is bad, and therefore it is impossible to prove my teaching; which itself proves everything. Whoever shall follow me shall not be in darkness, but shall have life. (jn 8:12) Life and enlightenment, which are one and the same."

But the orthodox said: "You alone say this." (jn 8:13) And he answered them and said: "And if I alone say this, yet I am right; because I know whence I came, and whither I go. (jn 8:14) According to my teaching, there is reason in life; whereas, according to yours, there is none. Besides this, not I alone teach, but my Father, the Spirit, teaches the same." (jn 8:18)

They said: "Where is your Father?"

He said: "You do not understand my teaching, and therefore you do not know my Father. (jn 8:19) You do not know whence you are and whither you go. (jn 8:21) I lead you, but you, instead of following me, discuss who I am. Therefore you cannot come to that salvation of life to which I lead you. And you will perish, if you remain in this error, and do not follow me." (jn 8:24)

And the Jews asked: "Who are you?"

He said: "From the very beginning, I tell you, I am the Son of Man, acknowledging the Spirit as my Father. (jn 8:26) That which I have understood of the Father, the same I tell to the world. (jn 8:27) And when you shall exalt in yourselves the Son of Man, then you shall know what I am; because I do and speak, not of myself, as a man, but I do and speak that which the Father has taught me. This I say, this I teach. (jn 8:28)

"And he who sent me is always with me; and the Father has not left me, because I do His will. (jn 8:29) Whoever will keep to my understanding of life, whoever will fulfil the will of the Father, he will be truly taught by me. (jn 8:31) In order to know the truth, it is necessary to do good to men. He who does evil to men, loves darkness, and goes into it; he who does good to men, goes to the light; so that, in order to understand my teaching, it is necessary to do good deeds. He who shall do good, shall know the truth; he shall be free from evil and death. (jn 8:32) Because everyone who errs becomes the slave of his error. (jn 8:34)

"And as the slave does not always live in the house of the master, while the son of the master is always in the house, (jn 8:35) so also a man, if he errs in his life and becomes a slave through his errors, does not live always, but dies. Only he who is in the truth remains always living. The truth is in this, to be not a slave, but a son. So that, if you err, you will be slaves and die. But if you are in the truth, then you shall be free sons, and shall be living (jn 8:36) .

"You say of yourselves that you are sons of Abraham, that you know the truth. But see, you wish to kill me, because you do not understand my teaching. (jn 8:37) It comes to this, that I speak that which I have understood from my Father, and you wish to do that which you have understood from your father." (jn 8:38)

They said: "Our father is Abraham."

Jesus said to them: "If you were the sons of Abraham you would do his deeds. (jn 8:39) But see, you wish to kill me because I told you that which I had learnt from God. Abraham did not do in that way; (jn 8:40) therefore you do not serve God, but serve your father, another one."

They said to him: "We are not bastards, but we are all children of our Father, all sons of God." (jn 8:41)

And Jesus said to them: "If your father were one with me, you would love me, because I came forth from that Father. For I was not born of myself. (jn 8:42) You are not children of the one Father with me, therefore you do not understand my word; my understanding of life does not find place in you. (jn 8:43) If I am of the Father, and you of the same Father, then you cannot wish to kill me. But if you wish to kill me, then we are not of one Father.

"I am from the Father of good, from God; but you are from the devil, from the father of evil. You wish to do the lusts of your father the devil, who is always a murderer, and a liar, with no truth in him. Ifhe, the devil, says anything, he says what is of himself, and not common to all, and he is the father of lying. Therefore you are the servants of the devil and his children. (jn 8:44) Now you see how plainly you are convicted of error. If I err, then convict me; but if there is no error in me, then why do you not believe in me?" (jn 8:46)

And the Jews began to revile him, and to say he was possessed. (jn 8:48)

He said: "I am not possessed; but I honor the Father, and you wish to kill me; (jn 8:49) therefore you are not brothers of mine, but children of another father. It is not I that affirm that I am right, but the truth speaks for me. (jn 8:50) Therefore I repeat to you: he who shall comprehend my teaching and perform it, shall not see death." (jn 8:51)

And the Jews said: "Well, do not we speak the truth in saying that you are a Samaritan possessed, and that you convict yourself? The prophets died, Abraham died; but you say that he who performs your teaching shall not see death. Abraham died, and shall you not die? (jn 8:52) Or are you greater than Abraham?" (jn 8:53)

The Jews were still discussing as to whether he, Jesus of Galilee, was an important prophet, or unimportant, and forgot that he had told them that he said nothing of himself as a man, but spoke of the spirit that was within him.

And Jesus said: "I do not make myself to be anything. If I spoke of myself, of that which only seems to me, then all that I should say would mean nothing. But there is that source of everything which you call God; well, it is of Him that I speak. (jn 8:54) But you have not known, and do not know the true God. But I know Him, and I cannot say that I do not know Him; I should be a liar like you, if I said that I do not know Him. I know Him, and know His will, and fulfil it. (jn 8:55) Abraham, your father, saw and rejoiced over my understanding." (jn 8:56)

The Jews said: "You are only thirty years old, how were you living at the same time as Abraham?" (jn 8:57)

He said: "Before Abraham was, there was the understanding of good, there was that which I tell you." (jn 8:58)

Then the Jews picked up stones in order to kill him, but he went away from them. (jn 8:59)

Jesus said: "My teaching is the awakening of life. He who believes in my teaching, notwithstanding that he dies in the flesh, remains living, (jn 11:25) and everyone who lives and believes in me shall not die." (jn 11:26)

And yet a third time Jesus taught the people; he said: "Men surrender themselves to my teaching, not because I myself prove it. It is impossible to prove the truth. The truth itself proves all the rest. But men surrender to my teaching, because there is no other than it; it is known to men, and promises life. (jn 10:1)

"My teaching is to men as the shepherd's familiar voice is to the sheep, (jn 10:2) when he comes among them through the door, and gathers them, to lead them to the pasture. (jn 10:3) But your teaching, no one believes; because it is foreign to them, (jn 10:5) and because they see in it your own lusts. It is with men as with sheep, at the sight of a man who does not enter by the door, but climbs over the fence. The sheep do not know him, but feel that he is a robber. My teaching is the only true teaching; like the one door for the sheep. (jn 10:7) All your teachings of the law of Moses are lies, they are all like thieves and robbers to the sheep. (jn 10:8) He who shall give himself up to my teaching shall find true life; just as the sheep go forth and find food, if they follow the shepherd. (jn 10:9)

"A thief only comes to steal, rob, and destroy, but the shepherd comes to give life. And my teaching alone promises, and gives the true life. (jn 10:10)

"There are shepherds to whom the sheep are the chief interest in life, and who give up their lives for the sheep. These are true shepherds. (jn 10:11) And there are hirelings who do not care about the sheep, because they are hirelings, and the sheep are not theirs; so that if a wolf comes they abandon their charge and flee from them, and the wolf devours the sheep. (jn 10:12) These are false shepherds. And so there are false teachers, such as have no concern with the life of people; while true teachers give up their lives for the life of men. (jn 10:13)

"I am such a teacher. (jn 10:14) My teaching is this,to give up one's life for the life of men. (jn 10:17) No one shall take my life from me, but I myself freely give it up for men, in order to receive true life. The commandment to do this I received from my Father. (jn 10:18) And as my Father knows me, so I also know Him; and therefore I lay down my life for men. (jn 10:15) Therefore the Father loves me, because I fulfil His commandments. (jn 10:17)

"And all men, not only those here now, but all men, shall understand my voice; and all shall come together into one, and all men shall be one, and their teaching one." (jn 10:16)

And the Jews surrounded him, and said: "All that you say is difficult to understand, and does not agree with our writings. Do not torment us, but simply and straightforwardly tell us, whether you are that Messiah who, according to our writings, should come into the world." (jn 10:24)

And Jesus answered them: "I have already told you who I am, but you do not believe. If you do not believe my word, then believe my works; by them understand who I am, and wherefore I am come. (jn 10:25)

"But you do not believe me because you do not follow me. (jn 10:26) He who follows me, and does that which I say, he understands me. (jn 10:27) And he who understands my teaching and fulfils it, receives the true life. (jn 10:28) My Father has united them with me, and no one can disunite us. (jn 10:29) I and the Father are one." (jn 10:30)

And the Jews were offended at this, and took up stones to kill him. (jn 10:31)

But he said to them: "I have shown you many good works, and have disclosed the teaching of my Father. For which, then, of these good works do you wish to stone me?" (jn 10:32)

They said: "Not for the good do we wish to stone you; but because you, a man, make yourself God." (jn 10:33)

And Jesus answered them: "Why, this is just what is written in your writings, where it says that God Himself said to the wicked rulers: 'You are gods.' (jn 10:34) If He called even vicious men gods, then why do you consider it sacrilege to call that the son of God, (jn 10:35) which God in His love sent into the world? (jn 10:36) Every man in the spirit is the son of God. If I do not live in God's way, then do not believe that I am a son of God. (jn 10:37) But if I live after God's way, then believe from my life that I am in the Father, and then you will understand that the Father is in me and I in Him." (jn 10:38)

And the Jews began to dispute. Some said that he was possessed, (jn 10:20) and others said: "A man who is possessed cannot enlighten men." (jn 10:21) And they did not know what to do with him, and could not condemn him. (jn 10:39) And he went again across the Jordan, and remained there. (jn 10:40) And many believed in his teaching, and said that it was true, as the teaching of John was. (jn 10:41) Therefore many believed in it. (jn 10:42)

And Jesus once said to his disciples: "Tell me how the people understand my teaching about the son of God and the son of man." (mt 16:13)

They said: "Some understand it like the teaching of John, others like the prophecies of Isaiah; others, again, say that it is like the teaching of Jeremiah. They understand that you are a prophet." (mt 16:14)

"And how do you understand my teaching?" (mt 16:15)

And Simon Peter said to him: "In my opinion, your teaching consists in this, that you are the chosen Son of the God of Life. You teach that God is the life in man." (mt 16:16)

And Jesus said to him: "Happy are you, Simon, that you have understood this. No man could disclose this to you; but you have understood this, because God in you has disclosed it to you. Not fleshly understanding, and not I, my words, have disclosed this to you; but God my Father has directly disclosed it. (mt 16:17) And upon this is founded that society of men for whom there is no death." (mt 16:18)