Lection 71

The Cleansing Of The Temple

1. AND the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up again from Bethany into Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.

2. And when he had made a scourge of seven cords, he drove them all out of the temple and loosed the sheep and the oxen, and the doves, and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

3. And said unto them, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s House an House of merchandise. Is it not written, My House is a House of prayer, for all nations? but ye have made it a den of thieves, and filled it with all manner of abominations.

Comment - LECTION 71.3. -Often translated as slaughterhouse in text having the characteristics of language past and not surviving chiefly on behalf of the revisionists alone.

4. And he would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel of blood through the temple, or that any animals should be slain. And the disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thine house hath eaten me up.

Comment - LECTION 71.1-4. -Twice the Lord is said to have performed this symbolic act. Surely, at his return, it will be his first work! For since the first ages till now the spirit of the world ruleth, and mammon is dominant, and every kind of wickedness in the name of religion, zeal for purity, etc.

5. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Iesus answered and said unto them, Again I say unto you, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

6. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his Body.

7. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and believed the scripture and the word which Iesus had said.

8. But the scribes and the priests saw and heard, and were astonished and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, seeing that all the people were attentive to his doctrines.

9. And when even was come he went out of the city. For by day he taught in the Temple and at night he went out and abode on the Mount of Olives, and the people came early in the morning to hear him in the Temple courts.

10. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, many believed in his Name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

11. But Iesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man.

12. And Iesus seeing the passover night was at hand, sent two of his disciples, that they should prepare the upper room where he desired to eat with his twelve, and buy such things as were needful for the feast which he purposed thereafter.

Lection 72

The Many Mansions In The One House

1. AND as Iesus sat with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane he said unto them: Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my parent’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Comment - LECTION 72.1. -In the language of the Churches of this day, there is but one mansion in the Father's house, and that is claimed by each of over 300 different sects as its own, and all outside are damned, not for their evil deeds, but because they cannot see as their rulers profess to see.

2. Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Iesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the All Parent but by me, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Parent also: and from henceforth ye know and have seen my Parent.

3. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew US the All-Parent and it sufficeth us. Iesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the All-Parent; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the All-Parent? Believest thou not that I am in the All-Parent, and the All-Parent in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the All-Parent who dwelleth in me doeth the works.

4. Believe me, that I am in the All-Parent and the All-Parent in me: or else, believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, They who believe on me, the works that I do shall they do also; and greater works than these shall they do; because I go unto my Parent.

5. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name, that will I do, that the All-Parent may be glorified in the Son and Daughter of Man. If ye shall ask anything in my Name, I will do it.

6. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the All-Parent, Who shall give you another Comforter, to abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth. whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth not, neither knoweth, but ye know; for the Spirit dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

8. They who have my commandments, and keep them, these are they who love me; and they that love me shall be loved of my Parent, and I will love them and will manifest myself to them.

9. Judas saith unto him, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Iesus answered and said unto him, If any love me, they will keep my words: and the Holy One will love them and we will come unto them, and make our abode with them.

10. They that love me not keep not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the All-Parent’s who sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, who is my Mother, Holy Wisdom, whom the Father will send in my name, she shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

11. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the All-Parent: for the All-Parent is greater than I.

12. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

13. But that the world may know that I love the All-Parent; as the All-Parent gave me commandment, even so I do. Even unto the end.

Lection 73

The True Vine

1. AFTER these things Iesus spake saying unto them: I am the true vine, and my Parent is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit is taken away: and every branch that beareth fruit, is purged that it may bring forth more fruit.

2. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the tree, ye are the branches: Whoso abide in me and I in them, the same bring forth much fruit; for without me ye do nothing.

3. If any abide not in me, they are cast forth as useless branches, and they wither away; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it will be done unto you.

4. Verily, I am the true Bread which cometh down out of Heaven, even the Substance of God which is one with the Life of God. And, as many grains are in one bread, so are ye, who believe, and do the will of my Parent, one in me. Not as your ancestors did eat manna and are dead; but they who eat this Bread shall live for ever.

5. As the wheat is separated from the chaff, so must ye be separated from the falsities of the world; yet must ye not go out of the world, but live separate in the world, for the life of the world.

6. Verily, verily, the wheat is parched by fire, so must ye my disciples pass through tribulations. But rejoice ye: for having suffered with me as one body ye shall reign with me in one body, and give life to the world.

Comment - LECTION 73.1-6. -"I am the true Vine, ye are the branches" -in unity with the stem by the continual possession of the One Life, not by mere external unity, valuable as this is, and certainly not by a dead uniformity of opinion in all things. "Tot homines tut sententice."

7. Herein is my Parent glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the All-Parent hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Parent’s commandments, and abide in the spirit of love.

8. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

9. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Parent I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the All-Parent in my Name, ye may receive.

10. These things I command you, that ye love one another and all the creatures of God. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world’ therefore the world hateth you.

11. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my Name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

12. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Parent also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they, have seen and hated both me and my Parent. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

13. But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the All Parent, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father and the Mother the same shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Lection 74

Iesus Foretelleth Persecutions

1. THESE things have I spoken unto you that ye should be forewarned, They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that they do God’s service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the All Parent, nor me.

2. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to my Parent that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these thing unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

3. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send my Spirit unto you. And when the Spirit is come, the world shall be reproved of sin and of righteousness, and of judgement.

4. Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.

5. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come, she will guide you into all truth: and the same will shew you things to come and shall glorify me: for the same shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

6. All things that my Parent hath are mine: therefore said I, that the Comforter shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the All-Parent. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me; and, Because I go to the All-Parent?

7. Now Iesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I Said, A little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

8. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

9. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask my Parent in my name, ye will receive. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receiveth that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in a mystery, but I shall shew you plainly of the All-Parent.

10. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray my Parent for you; For the All-Parent in truth loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from God, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go unto my God.

11. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no mystery. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou comest forth from God.

12. Iesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Be hold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own home, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

13. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Arise, let us go hence.

Lection 75

The Last Paschal Supper

1. AND at evening the Master cometh into the house, and there are gathered with him the Twelve and their fellows; Peter and Jacob and Thomas and John and Simon and Matthew and Andrew and Nathanael and James and Thaddeus and Jude and Philip and their companions ( and there was also Judas Iscariote, who by men was numbered with the twelve, till the time when he should be manifested).

Comment - LECTION 75.1. -Jacob is the same as James -called "the great." Nathanael is Bartholomew. There is no proof that Jude was the same with Thaddeus, as is alleged by some. The number at first seems to have been twelve exclusive, or thirteen (to the world's eye) including Iudas Iscariot, till he should manifest his falsity by his treachery, when he went out directly before the holy supper, leaving Iesus with the twelve -the complete number of Apostleship, which, being even, admitted of no one among them being "Master," save Iesus, who was over them.

2. And they were all clad in garments of white linen, pure and clear, for linen is the righteousness of the saints; and each had the colour of his tribe. But the Master was clad in his pure white robe, over all, without seam or spot.

Comment - LECTION 75.2. -Whether the appearance of the Master and his disciples in symbolic festal garb may not have been seen only by the spiritual eye of some of the disciples or not, the lesson is the same. Reverence and love of beauty and order are to be seen in God's House -symbols of the glorious garments of that Being Who is the Eternal Mystery and Beauty manifest in all things.

3. And there arose contention among them as to which of them should be esteemed the greatest, wherefore he said unto them, He that is greatest among you let him be as he that doth serve.

4. And Iesus said, With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. and to institute the Memorial of my Oblation for the service and salvation of all. For behold the hour cometh when the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.

5. And one of the twelve said unto him, Lord, is it I ? And he answered, He to whom I give the sop the same is he.

6. And Iscariot said unto him, Master, behold the unleaven bread, the mingled wine and the oil and the herbs, but where is the lamb that Moses commanded? (for Judas had bought the lamb, but Iesus had forbidden that it should be killed).

7. And John spake in the Spirit, saying, Behold the Lamb of God, the good Shepherd which giveth his life for the sheep. And Judas was troubled at these words, for he knew that he should betray him. But again Judas said, Master, is it not written in the law that a lamb must be slain for the passover within the gates?

8. And Iesus answered, If I am lifted up on the cross then indeed shall the lamb be slain; but woe unto him by whom it is delivered into the hands of the slayers; it were better of him had he not been born.

9. Verily I say unto you, for this end have I come into the world, that I may put away all blood offerings and the eating of the flesh of the beasts and the birds that are slain by men.

10. In the beginning, God gave to all, the fruits of the trees, and the seeds, and the herbs, for food; but those who loved themselves more than God, or their fellows, corrupted their ways, and brought diseases into their bodies, and filled the earth with lust and violence.

11. Not by shedding innocent blood, therefore, but by living a righteous life, shall ye find the peace of God. Ye call me the Christ of God and ye say well, for I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

12. Walk ye in the Way, and ye shall find God. Seek ye the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. Live in the Life, and ye shall see no death. All things are alive in God, and the Spirit of God filleth all things.

13. Keep ye the commandments. Love thy God with all thy heart, and love thy neighbour as thyself. On these hang all the law and the prophets. And the sum of the law is this—Do not ye unto others as ye would not that others should do unto you. Do ye unto others, as ye would that others should do unto you.

14. Blessed are they who keep this law, for God is manifested in all creatures. All creatures live in God, and God is hid in them.

15. After these things, Iesus dipped the sop and gave it to Judas Iscariot, saying, What thou doest, do quickly. He then, having received the sop, went out immediately, and it was light.

16. And when Judas Iscariot had gone out, Iesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified among his twelve, and God is glorified in him. And verily I say unto you, they who receive you receive me, and they who receive me receive the Father-Mother Who sent me, and ye who have been faithful unto the truth shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Comment - LECTION 75.15-16. -That Twelve is the complete number of the Apostleship and that Iesus sat down "with his twelve" at the holy supper before his crucifixion, seems evident from the received gospels, and still more so, from the fragments lately brought to light. Iudas Iscariot appears then to have been among the twelve but not of them, therefore before the Eucharistic rite is celebrated "he goes out."  If there were any ill omen at all about the number thirteen it would therefore be thirteen as the number of Apostles present, exclusive of the Master and Head. But to thirteen, inclusive of the presiding host, no ill omen could attach, but the reverse.

17. And one said unto him, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom unto Israel? And Iesus said, My kingdom is not of this world, neither are all Israel which are called Israel.

18. They in every nation who defile not themselves with cruelty, who do righteousness, love mercy, and reverence all the works of God, who give succour to all that are weak and oppressed—the same are the Israel of God.

Lection 76

The Washing Of Feet.
New Commandment.
The Eucharistic Oblation.

1. AND the Paschal Supper being ended, the lights were kindled, for it was even. And Iesus arose from the table and laid aside his garment, and girded himself with a towel, and pouring water into a basin, washed the feet of each of the fourfold Twelve, and wiped them with the towel with which he was girded.

2. And one of them said, Lord, thou shalt not wash my feet. And Iesus said, If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me. And he answered, Lord, wash not my feet only, but my head and my hands.

3. And he said unto him, They who have come out of the bath, need not but to wash their feet, and they are clean every whit.

4. AND then putting on the overgarment of pure white linen without spot or seam, he sat at the table and said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me Lord and Master, and if then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given this example, that as I have done unto you, so also should ye do unto others.

Comment - LECTION 76. 4. -There are two other alternative versions of these circumstances of the last supper in the A. V .-First, that of St. John who, in the received version, expressly affirms that Iesus was crucified on the very day of the Passover and consequently the Eucharist was instituted the day before and not on the feast day Itself' and the Passover was on the morrow after the trial on the day of the crucifixion. Secondly, that of the three other gospels, which all affirm that the Eucharist was Instituted on the Passover the pascal lamb was slain. If the latter, it must be remembered that the Essenes (of whom Iesus was apparently one), were by Jewish regulation allowed a separate table at which no lamb or other flesh-meat was eaten, as they were vowed abstainers from blood sacrifices and the eating of flesh. If the former it was not the Passover at all, and Iesus was not bound as a Jew to eat of a lamb. In neither of these cases, therefore, was Jesus under the alleged necessity of killing a lamb and eating of flesh-meat in order to fulfill the law. In any case the causing of an innocent lamb to be killed and the eating of such is contrary to all that is known of the character of Iesus the Christ, whose tender love extends to all creatures. If Iesus was not an Essene, then nothing can be said against the accuracy of this version of the holy supper, and the charges brought against him in the account of the trial as now given by the Spirit.

5. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another and all the creatures of God. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Love is of God, and God is love. Whoso loveth not, knoweth not God.

6. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another and shew mercy and love to all creatures of God, especially to those that are weak and oppressed and suffer wrong. For the whole earth is filled with dark places of cruelty, and with pain and sorrow, by the selfishness and ignorance of man.

7. I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and give them light for their darkness and let the spirit of love dwell within your hearts, and abound unto all. And again I say unto you, Love one another, and all the creation of God And when he had finished, they said, Blessed be God.

8. Then he lifted up his voice, and they joined him, saying, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. And when they had ended, one brought unto him a censer full of live coals, and he cast frankincense thereon even the frankincense which his mother had given him in the day of his manifestation, and  the sweetness of the odour filled the room.

9. Then Jesus, placing before him the platter, and behind it the chalice, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, gave thanks for the goodness of God in all things and unto all, and after that he took in his hands the unleavened bread, and blessed it; the wine likewise mingled with water and blessed it; chanting the Invocation of the Holy Name the Sevenfold, calling upon the thrice Holy Father-Mother in Heaven to send down the Holy Spirit and make the bread to be his body, even the Body of the Christ, and the fruit of the vine to be his Blood, even the Blood of the Christ, for the remission of sins and everlasting life, to all who obey the gospel.

Comment - LECTION 76.9. -"Bread," i.e. unleavened cakes of pure meal such as in use at the Passover. "Wine," here and through the Gospels, as used by Jesus and His disciples, means "the fruit of the Vine." which is pure wine mingled with four or two parts of pure water, the latter mystically representing the humanity, and the former the Divine Spirit. The strong fermented wine of modem use was never used on such festive occasions, nor even generally, except thus mingled with water. It is to be noted that the Saviour consecrated the Eucharist by Invocation of the Holy Spirit, and this has been faithfully followed by all Churches of the East, the words of institution being merely recited before, as a historical preamble, giving the authority for the action, and in no case as the words of consecration, according to the corrupt use of the West.

10. Then lifting up the Oblation towards heaven, he said, The Son who is also the Daughter of man is lifted up from the earth, and I shall draw all men unto me; then it shall be known of the people that I am sent from God.

11. These things being done, Iesus spake these words, lifting his eyes to heaven. Abba Amma, the hour is come, Glorify thy Son that Thy Son may be glorified in thee.

12. Yea, Thou hast glorified me, Thou hast filled my heart with fire, Thou hast set lamps on my right hand and on my left, so that no part of my being should be without light. Thy Love shineth on my right hand and on my left, so that no part of my being should be without light. Thy Love shineth on my right hand, and Thy Wisdom on my left. Thy Love, Thy Wisdom, Thy Power are manifest in me.

13. I have glorified Thee on earth, I have finished the work Thou gavest me to do. Holy One, keep through Thy Name the Twelve and their fellows whom Thou hast given me, that they may be One even as we are One. Whilst I was with them in the world I kept them in Thy Name, and none of them is lost, for he who went out from us, was not of us, nevertheless, I pray for him that he may be restored. Father-Mother, forgive him, for he knoweth not what he doeth.

Comment - LECTION 76.13. -In the received Gospel Iudas is consigned to eternal perdition, but it appears rather that he who was all compassion and prayed for his murderers, prayed also for the man who was overmastered by his passions, blinded by envy, jealousy, greed of money, or, as some say, by desire to push matters to their conclusion, and procure some decisive miracle that would establish the claim of his Master to set up a temporal kingdom.

14. And now come I to Thee, and these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I give them Thy word, and the world hath them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15. I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from evil, whilst yet in the world, Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy word is Truth. As thou sendest me into the world, so also I send them into the world, and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the Truth.

16. Neither pray I for these alone, but for all that shall be added to their number, and for the Two and Seventy also whom I sent forth, yea, and for all that shall believe in the Truth through Thy word, that they also may be one as Thou Most Holy art in me and I in Thee, that they may also be one in Thee, that the world may know that Thou hast sent me.

17. Holy Parent, I will also, that they whom Thou hast given me, yea all who live, be with me where I am, that they may partake of my glory which thou givest me, for Thou lovest me in all, and all in me, from before the foundations of the world.

18. The world hath not known Thee in Thy righteousness, but I know Thee, and these know that Thou hast sent me.

19. And I have declared unto them Thy Name that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and that from them it may abound, even unto all Thy creatures, yea, even unto all These words being ended, they all lifted up their voices with him, and prayed as he taught them, saying:

20. Our Father-Mother: Who art above and within. Hallowed be Thy sacred Name, in Biune Trinity. In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all. Thy holy Will be done always, as in Heaven, so on Earth. Give us day by day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of Thy living Vine. As we seek to perfect others, so perfect us in Thy Christ. Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we many shew the same. In the hour of trial, deliver us from evil.

21. For Thine are the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory: From  the Ages of ages, Now, and to the Ages of ages. Amun.

22. THEN our Master taketh the holy Bread and breaketh it, and the Fruit of the Vine also, and mingleth it, and having blessed and hallowed both, and casting a fragment of the Bread into the Cup, he blessed the holy Union.

23. Then he giveth the bread which he had hallowed to his disciples saying, Eat ye, for this is my Body, even the Body of the Christ, which is given for the Salvation of the body and the soul.

24. Likewise he giveth unto them the fruit of the Vine which he had blessed saying unto them, Drink ye, for this is my Blood, even the Blood of the Christ which is shed for you and for many, for the Salvation of the Soul and the Body.

25. And when all had partaken, he said unto them, As oft as ye assemble together in my Name, make this Oblation for a Memorial of me, even the Bread of everlasting life and the Wine of eternal salvation’ and eat and drink thereof with pure heart, and ye shall receive of the Substance and the Life of God, which dwelleth in me.

26. And when they had sung a hymn, Iesus stood up in the midst of his apostles, and going to him who was their Centre, as in a solemn dance, they rejoiced in him. And then he went out to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

Comment - LECTION 76.26. -It is not stated whether there was any musical accompaniment, as is usual in the religious dances and processions of the East, but if so it was probably of the simplest, such as the Pipe, used on such occasions.

27. Now Judas Iscariot had gone to the house of Caiaphas and said unto him, Behold he has celebrated the Passover, within the gates, with the Mazza in place of the lamb. I indeed bought a lamb, but he forbade that it should be killed, and lo, the man of whom I bought it is witness.

Comment - LECTION 76.27. -The Mazza, or unleavened cake, to which may the word "Mass" be traced as applied to the Eucharist, or "Breaking of Bread" -but preferable perhaps is the interpretation of "ite missa est" -the oblation ( = prayer) is gone, "sent up."

28. And Caiaphas rent his clothes and said, Truly this is a Passover of the law of Moses. He hath done the deed which is worthy of death, for it is a weighty transgression of the law. What need of further witness? Yea, even now two robbers have broken into the Temple and stolen the book of the law, and this is the end of his teaching. Let us tell these things to the people who follow him, for they will fear the authority of the law.

29. And one that was standing by as Judas came out, said unto him, Thinkest thou that they will put him to death?

30. And Judas said, Nay, for he will do some mighty work to deliver himself out of their hands, even as when they of the synagogue in Capernaum rose up against him, and brought him to the brow of the hill that they might throw him down headlong, and did he not pass safely through their midst? He will surely escape them now also, and proclaim himself openly and set up the Kingdom whereof he spake.

Comment - LECTION 76.30. -Here was perhaps more probably the sole motive actuating Judas -his ambition- the desire to see a miracle, and the early sovereignty set up before the time.

Lection 77

The Agony In The Garden

1. AND as they went to the Mount of Olives, Iesus said unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

2. Simon answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Comment - LECTION 77.2. -Here the Lord addresses Simon, not Peter. In the A. V. confusion has arisen owing to the same name being given to two Apostles, and Peter is made to reply. It does not seem likely that one who thrice betrayed the Lord should by him have been placed in the highest authority, as it subsequently appears that Peter was.

3. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both unto prison and unto death. And Iesus said, I tell thee, Simon, the cock shall not crow this night, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

4. Then cometh Iesus with them, having crossed the brook Kedron, unto the garden called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. (Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place, for Iesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.)

5. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me.

6. And he went little farther and fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father-Mother, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.

7. And there appeared an angel unto him, from heaven strengthening him. And he cometh unto the disciples and finding them asleep, saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

8. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

9. He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, O my Father-Mother, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.

10. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.

11. And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

12. And he left them and went away again and prayed a third time, saying, O my Father-Mother, not my will but Thine be done, in earth as it is in heaven.

13. Then cometh he unto his disciples and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Lection 78

The Betrayal by Judas Iscariot

1. AND it came to pass while Iesus yet spake, behold there came a multitude, and Judas that was called Iscariot went before them. For Judas, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

2. Iesus therefore, knowing all things that should a come upon him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus saith unto them, I am he.

3. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. And  when they arose, then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Iesus of Nazareth. And Iesus answered, I have told you, I am he; if therefore ye seek me let these go their way.

4. Now he that betrayeth him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

5. And forthwith he came to Iesus and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. And Iesus said unto him. Friend, wherefore art thou come? Is it with a kiss that thou betrayest the Son of man?

6. Then Iesus said unto the chief priests and captains of the temple and the elders, which were come to him, Why ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

7. Then came they and laid hands on Iesus. And Simon Peter stretched forth his hand, and drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priest’s and smote off his ear.

8. Then said Iesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place; all they that take the sword shall perish by the sword. And Iesus touched his ear and healed him.

9. And he said unto Peter, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Parent, and He shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

10. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. And they that had laid hands on Iesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest. But they brought him to Annas first because he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest for that same year.

11. Now Caiaphas was he who gave council to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the sins of the people.

 12. And the scribes and the elders were assembled together, but Peter and John and Simon and Jude followed far off unto the high priest's palace, and they went in and sat with the servants to see the end.

13. And they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and when they were set down together, Peter sat down among them and warmed himself, and Simon also sat by him.

14. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

15. And after a little while, another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Simon said, Man, I am not.

16. And about the space of one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow was with Iesus of Nazareth for his speech betrayeth him.

17. And Simon denied the third time with an oath, saying, I know not the man. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

18. And the Lord turned and looked upon Simon. And Simon remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. And Simon went out and wept bitterly.

Comment - LECTION 78.12-18. -The belief that Peter denied his Master is probably owing to two of the Apostles bearing the same name, Simon Peter and Simon the Canaanite. Here we are given the right version. The error is one that might have been easily made. It is worthy of notice, that this ancient Gospel attributes to Simon (not to Simon Peter) the thrice denial of Iesus, and his fully exonerates Peter from the baseness generally attributed to him, and to which  there is no allusion in his writings, but rather the reverse in the accepted gospel, where he was first to draw the sword in defense of his Master.

Lection 79

The Hebrew Trial Before Caiaphas.

1. THE high priest then asked Iesus of his disciples and of his doctrine, saying, How old art thou? Art thou he that said that our father Abraham saw thy day?

2. And Jesus answered, Verily before Abraham was I am. And the high priest said, Thou are not yet fifty years old. How sayest thou that thou hast seen Abraham? Who art thou? Whom makest thou thyself to be? What dost thou teach?

Comment - LECTION 79.2. -In a preceding Lection (LII.) the Jews at that time adjudged him then to be forty-five, and here Caiaphas, who must certainly have known his age, declared him to be "not yet 50," ie. about 49. This is borne out by the A. V. and by the testimony of S. Irenaeus, A.D. 120-22, and the testimony of S. Iohn the Apostle and his immediate disciples.

3. And Iesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I even taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why asketh thou me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them; behold, they know what I said.

4. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying. Answerest thou the high priest so? Iesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well why smitest thou me?

5. Now the chief priests and elders, and all the council sought false witnesses against Iesus to put him to death; but found none; yea, many false witnesses came, yet they agreed not together.

6. At the last came two false witnesses. And one of them said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days. And the other said, This man said I will destroy this temple and build up another.

7. And the high priests arose and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witnesses speak against thee? But Iesus held his peace. Now it was unlawful among the Hebrews to try a man by night.

8. And they said unto him, Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

9. And they asked him further saying, Dost thou abolish the sacrifices of the law, and the eating of flesh as Moses commanded? And he answered, Behold, a greater than Moses is here.

10. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said; and I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of Heaven.

11. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.

12. Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

13. Now when morning was come all the chief priests and the elders of the people, even the whole council held a consultation, and took council against Iesus to put him to death.

14. And they gave forth their sentence against Iesus, that he was worthy of death, and that he should be bound and carried away, and delivered unto Pilate.

Lection 80

The 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.

Comment - LECTION 80.1. -The heading of this Lection in the A. V. is most misleading. "Penance," implying reparation of some kind (even though not of the right kind), is the more correct description of the act.

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 for 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 potteries field, and cast them to the potter in the House of the Lord.

6. Now, Iesus had said to his disciples, Woe unto the man who receiveth the mysteries, and falleth 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 befalleth the beast befalleth the sons of men.

9. All live by one breath, as the one dieth so dieth the other, so that a man hath 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 spake Iesus 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.

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