Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the LordAbbott, Edwin Abbott
Religion
Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord
Abbott, Edwin Abbott
Christian fiction; Jesus Christ -- Fiction
These words said Judas (but not so loud that Jesus could hear them) during
the first stir that followed the saying of Jesus about going up to
Jerusalem. But Jesus opened his mouth to speak again, and behold, he
prophesied things that passed all understanding; namely, that he should be
rejected by the rulers of the people, and delivered over to them, and put
to death with insult. But then he added that although this must needs come
to pass, yet in a few days afterwards, yea no more than one or two, it
should be with him as with Jonah, whose prayer was heard even from the
belly of hell, and according to the words of the prophet Hosea, who wrote
this saying, “Come and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and
he will heal us: he hath smitten and he will bind us up. After two days
will he restore us to life; in the third day he will raise us up, and we
shall live in his sight.”
We stood silent around him, all agape with wonder, and scarce believing
our ears. But he spake quietly and cheerfully, like unto one describing
what had already been accomplished, or as if he perceived that the thing
was as much according to nature as that a stone should fall downwards or a
spark fly upwards. For not long afterwards he spake as if this were an
ordinance of God, that “Whoso saveth his life shall lose it; but whoso
loseth it shall save it:” desiring, as I suppose, to teach us that in
death, no less than in life, there prevailed that great Law of God which
was ever in his mouth, “Give, and it shall be given unto you:” meaning
that whoso gave up his life unto the Father should receive it again
abundantly, both now and ever.
Notwithstanding, at this time our ears were deaf and our hearts were
hardened against all such words as these, and we feared to ask him
concerning them. Only Peter, mindful how Jesus had of late blessed him,
and therefore venturing somewhat more than the rest, would fain
expostulate. So after he had besought Jesus not to vex the hearts of us
his loving followers by prophesying evil things, he spake concerning the
death of Jesus, saying, “Be it far from thee, O Master; this shall not
happen to thee.” Then Jesus looked wrathfully upon Simon Peter, even as he
had looked before upon Jonathan the son of Ezra, and he rebuked Peter as
if he had been the Adversary himself tempting him; and he said, “Get thee
behind me, Satan; thou art a stumblingblock unto me; for thou savourest
not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Yet was there no
hate in his countenance, though he used the name of Satan; but there was
grief, and trouble, and many signs of inward perturbation; as if Peter had
assailed him where he was weakest, appealing to him in the name of the
disciples whom he must needs forsake. Yea, the tears seemed nigh at hand
even in the moment of the bitterest rebuking.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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