Good Friday,

Saturday

and the beyond

Book 11

Max Seltmann

Recommended chronological reading list:

(with regard to Jesus’ life in flesh and Spirit, up to the time of the book of Revelation.  All books are written by Max Seltmann, unless otherwise indicated. The book marked with bold, is the book currently opened.)

1. Childhood years of Jesus (Jakob Lorber)

2. Book 1 – John the Baptist

3. Book 2 – John the Apostle in his youth with Jesus (Love overcomes Part 1)

4. Book 3 – Jesus’ Life

5. Book 4 – Jesus’ Life

6. Book 5 – Jesus’ Life

7. Book 6 – Jesus’ Life

8. Book 7 – Jesus’ Life

9. Book 8 – Jesus’ Life

10. Book 9 – Jesus prepares for His ministry Part 1

11. Book 10 – Jesus prepares for His ministry Part 2

12. Great Gospel of John, Volumes 1 – 10 (Jakob Lorber)

13. Great Gospel of John, Volume 11 (Leopoldt Engel)

14. Book 11 - Good Friday

15. Book 12 - Judas Iscariot in the beyond

16. Book 13 - On the road to Emmaus

17. Book 14 - The Risen One!

18. Book 15 - The New Life in man

19. Book 16 – At Bethany – story of Theophilus

20. Book 17 - Ascension

21. Book 18 - Pentecost!

22. Book 19 - Among the first Christians

23. Book 20 - Divine guidance of the first Christians

24. Book 21 - The chamberlain from the Orient

25. Book 22 - The God-spark and Saul's conversion

26. Book 23 - Awakening the Divine life

27. Book 24 - Experiences with Jacob, Part 1

28. Book 25 - Experiences with Jacob, Part 2

29. Book 26 - Experiences with Jacob, Part 3

30. Book 27 - Experiences with Jacob, Part 4

31. Book 28 - Naeme

32. Book 29 - John the Apostle as a guide (Love overcomes Part 2)

33. Book 30 - John the Apostle as a guide (Love overcomes Part 3)

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Table of Contents

1.  Golgotha 4

2.  The commander’s experience during the following night 7

3.  Spiritual events on Golgotha 8

4.  Judas before the Lord 10

5.  The Lord in the temple 11

6.  The Saturday before Passover 14

7.  In Lazarus’ inn 16

8.  How the Savior was already expected in a different temple 17

9.  Jesus among Jewish merchants 19

10.  Why did Jesus have to die? 22

Golgotha

Roaring and gruesome it sounded from the crowd: "Crucify - Crucify Him! - and through the excited people seemed to pass a wave of blood-intoxication.  Negotiations with Pontius Pilate were closely followed by a centurion of the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem; his calm is ironclad! - and yet he followed with inner interest the further sad events.  When Jesus - a picture of deepest sorrow - was led back, it seemed as if this centurion wanted to rush towards Jesus and intervene in the negotiations.  Then Jesus looked at him with eyes that shook the Roman to the core.  The centurion went out; it was too much!  He stayed in the foyer and awaited further orders.

Once again a roaring happen outside, and then came deadly silence!  The death sentence was pronounced and confirmed by the people!  With clenched teeth, the captain listened and then walked excitedly through the hall; there, a messenger appeared and ordered him to the governor.  Once here, he was ordered to "Execute the crucifixion on Golgotha"!  Silently the centurion took up the bitter commission; but after a short pause, he said to Pilate: "My brother!  In no criminal have I yet been able to observe this dignity, this majesty, as in this man!  What if this man is innocent?  What then?  You washed the guilt off your hands with water, but how will you wash the guilt off your conscience?  I serve my emperor, and you are his representative here!  So let it be done according to your command!  Dixi!  But, my brother, listen: if still on the way there or on Golgotha a witness of His innocence appears, I will prevent the execution!"  With these words, the centurion stepped out and gave his orders.  And thus the crucifixion proceeded.  On the way to the place of judgment, he ordered three captains of the temple guard not to leave his side.  Thus they then reached Golgotha with some disturbances!

A crowd of people, curious people, men and women, had gathered; the captain, however, let it be known that all children had to leave the hill immediately.  Then the request went out not to take part in this happening with any sound, word or even assault!  And a trumpet sounded! - Another call was issued by the captain, which read thus: "Behold this man!  On the basis of your accusation he was sentenced to death!  But I miss witnesses who counter your accusation!  For Jesus did not defend himself!  Has no-one the courage to do so?  By virtue of my authority I ask you and give you ten more minutes.  But you, condemned to death, prepare yourself!  Say goodbye, if you have friends!"

Astonished, the temple officers looked at the Roman ruler, their features were pale; and the centurion said to them: "Listen, if a miracle happens here, or witnesses appear for the innocence of the condemned, then you three come to the cross, even if all the world should perish!  For a guilty man looks different!  So let us wait and see!"

After a while, a sub-leader approached and reported that the ten minutes had passed.  Then the captain gave a sign, for his duty commanded him, and the crucifixion began and took it's course, as is well known.

When Jesus cried out the words: "Father!  Forgive them!  For they know not what they do!" -the centurion was seized with a longing that he rushed to the cross and with an aching heart sought another look from Jesus; and Jesus, heedless of his own pain, looked at him, smiling!  Then the Roman experienced a feeling of happiness within himself that was strangely at odds with this place of greatest injustice.  "I am forgiven!" - he thought and liberated, stepped to the Templars and said: "Look for what a pure man you prepare death!  How will you answer for this?  Have you ever seen a criminal ask forgiveness from his God and Father for those who do him the worst wrong?  Never has such a thing happened!  Other than in anger or obduracy or fear, I saw no-one condemned to such violent death."

The doom continued to take it's course.  Jesus endured His terrible pain  with dignity; and Mary, awakening from her swoon, looked up at her Son; her gentle mother's hands slid searchingly up the trunk of the cross, came to Jesus' feet, to the nails, and a cry rang out that shook everyone, people and soldiers, to the core.  Only a mother feels this way for her child!  Then a great movement went through all the people, the blood-lust was gone!  But Mary looked up, stood up and embraced the bleeding feet, and Jesus smiled at His mother!  Mary's heart was filled with the spirit of power and devotion to the unfathomable Divine will!  Also the disciple John now came closer and received his special consecration from the cross!  By and by many left the ghastly place and fled back to the city; but now the centurion commanded: "No-one leaves the place until I permit it!  It was your wish, now see that nothing worse befalls you!"  And immediately he also gave orders to his soldiers to prevent anyone from leaving the place of execution.

Filled with deep compassion, the centurion listened to the further words of the dying Jesus; then his heart drove him to the three women, and he was surprised by the sublimity of their soul-pain.  Greeting them, he approached and asked John for clarification about Jesus and His teaching.  John told him that their Master Jesus was a good friend of the Roman commanders Cyrenius, Cornelius and Julius, but that Jesus Himself had already indicated to all of them that He would die a sad and dishonoring death one day, and that no man could ever prevent it, since it was God's Holy Will! - "And even if this happens today, our Master, our Lord, as the Redeemer, will also victoriously overcome death!"

Astonished and moved, the centurion listened, reached out his hand to John and said: "I have often heard of the Nazarene, but I have not yet met Him.  However, if I had known Him before as I do today, I would not have performed this crucifixion!"  And to the Templars he called with threatening voice: "You Jews and temple-lights, with you still will be reckoned!

"Not so" - said John mildly - "see, it would have been easy for our Master to prevent all this!  For all the powers of heaven and earth are at His disposal!  His struggle yesterday in the garden of Gethsemane was certainly an even greater one than today!  There He wrestled with Himself, so that all of us, His disciples, became timid and did not understand Him anymore!  But Jesus said to His Almighty Father: "Not My will, but Yours be done!"  Now leave me alone with the women, all of us hearts are bleeding!  Thank you for your compassion, you who are a pagan!  You make our Master's death-struggle easier; therefore come to Bethany, to Lazarus!  There you will meet our Master's friends!"

John now strengthened the women; especially Mary Magdalene suffered, embracing the cross again and again.  Once again, Jesus' eye lit up amid the greatest pain - as if He gave thanks for the proofs of love received.

The sky clouded over, and a gray, desolate darkness fell.  Jesus called for a drink; the chief could not do anything but to give Him bitter vinegar-water in a sponge.  It became darker and darker on Golgotha.  How gladly the people would have fled now, but their fear for the Romans kept all from doing so.  The captain turned to the Templars and said: "What do you say now, you who have demanded the death of this pure man?  Do you not see that this one is innocent?"

But the Templars were silent, and the captain continued: "Only because the Nazarene forgave me, I refrain from anything else!  But see that nothing worse happens to you!  For from this unjust deed of yours will spring an evil seed which must bring death to you all!"

A terrible earthquake suddenly shook the ground so that all present trembled with fear and dread.  Like rolls of thunder, Jesus' exclamation: "It is finished!" rang in their ears!  Jesus had endured after all!

Shaken, the captain shouted: "Oh - You! - God!  Whom I have come to know only today!  Thank You for shortening this suffering!  From now on I serve You!  For truly, this 'Jesus' must have been Your Son!"  Then he came to the bowed women.  Then there were even worse earthquakes, the earth shook!  Now there was no stopping: the crowd broke the chain of the fearful soldiers and rushed, as if driven by furies, towards the nearby city, where many a proud building fell victim to this earthquake.

Gradually the darkness faded, and the setting sun once again illuminated the sad place.  The captain had his men gather and ordered his sub-commander to bring sedan chairs for the three women, so that they could get home safely, for they were too weak to walk!  Then he commanded: "Guard this crucified one!  I hasten to the governor" - mounted his horse and rushed into the city to Pontius Pilate.  Without any announcement, he hurried to his home, gave him a detailed report and asked for a strong guard of the body of Jesus, because he did not trust the temple!  Then already a delegation of the temple came to Pilate and asked for the removal of the body of Jesus for burial.

But the centurion enforced that this should happen only under Roman guard!  Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea said: "Fear nothing!  We ourselves are His friends!  But if you want to be of service to us, you shalt receive our thanks!"  Doubting, the centurion looked at them and said: "You are friends of the Nazarene?  Where were you then when I demanded witnesses to His innocence?  Believe me, if I had been His friend, the temple would have been destroyed before Jesus would have been crucified!"  Pontius Pilate granted the removal of the body, as the centurion assured anew: "This Nazarene has innocently suffered death!"

The centurion hurried back to Golgotha, but he could not prevent a soldier from thrusting his spear into the side of the crucified.  He immediately informed his friends here of the permission to take him down and lay him in the grave, and sent for water, ointments and linen for the purpose.  With holy love his friends carried the body of their beloved Master to the rock tomb; after the burial, the captain had the tomb sealed and ordered strict guarding!  After everything was put in order, he joined the women and John, who were carried in the palanquins to Nicodemus' house at his invitation; and Nicodemus also invited the centurion to take part in the night meal at his house.  Arriving at his house, the women remained alone; for now they felt doubly how lonely they were!  But the others ate the supper, and the Roman centurion listened to the host and John told him many things about the life and work of Jesus.  He left them only late at night and hurried to his home.

The commander’s experience during the following night

Having arrived at his home, the captain remained sitting at his table until morning and let all the events pass him by once again.  It suddenly became completely bright around him!  A young man in shining clothes stood before him, bowed and spoke: "Dear friend!  The love for our God and Creator, who made us experience the greatest of all today, drives me to you to thank you for what you have done in the unconscious urge of your heart!  Behold in this Jesus, in this Son of Man, is none other than our God from everlasting to everlasting!  There was no other way for God, the Creator of all people and beings, after everything, everything was tried to save His Creation and all created beings in it from the inner ruin, than to become an earthly human Himself!  If Jesus had called worldly help or asked for witnesses, the opponent of God, Lucifer, would have triumphed!  This high meaning of Jesus' suffering and dying for the whole creation also came to the corresponding expression when the sun darkened and the earth shook!  All spirit-beings looked at Golgotha!  But we inhabitants of the heavens were powerless here, because the eternal Divine Love wanted it so!  Therefore understand this!  And also you will learn to recognize the often painful ways, but also the high goals, which God has prepared now for the salvation of the human souls!”

Touched and astonished, the captain stood up, extended his hand to the stranger and said: "Dear friend!  I do not ask you: "Who are you?" or "How did you get in here through locked doors?" - for I have already experienced too much of the miraculous today, and my inner being is more aroused than ever!  But I want to ask you: "Where is Jesus now?" - since, according to His own statement, He wants to reveal Himself to us as "The Conqueror of Death" despite His death on the cross!  If this is true, and He died only so that "nothing mortal" would be in Him in the future, surely He must live somewhere!  But how and where?  This question leaves me no peace!  And, if you can, help me to get clarity!"

"My dear friend and brother" - said the angel - "first become completely calm inside, so that I can show you the grace of our God - His Holy mercy - and His redeeming love!  Go into yourself!  Immerse yourself in the loving looks that our Lord and Master has bestowed upon you, and pay attention to everything that you then experience!  I will put you into a spiritual state by the power and goodness of God, so that you can follow me!  But only if you follow me voluntarily, this will be possible for me; but without your free will, I may not do it!

And now, if you will, command your servants not to enter this room now; for your body must not be touched during the time when your inner man wanders with me into the spiritual realm."

The captain did as he was told and then spoke the words: "Yes!  It is my will!  Guide me, that clarity may be in me - and rest and peace!"

The angel now touched the Roman's forehead and heart, and he fell into a deep sleep!  The soul detached itself as a beautiful figure from the resting body and hurried with the angel with the speed of thought to Golgotha!

Spiritual events on Golgotha

At the place of judgment they experienced an immense rush of a great hosts of spirits!  In an all over shining light, Jesus stood and showed His still bleeding hands and feet to the spirits dwelling in barren, gray darkness.  As if by silent command, a small alley opened between the spirits for the two arrivals, and soon they were standing by Him!  Expectant silence was around Jesus when He spoke: "All that you saw and heard from Me was love, holy love!  And all My actions were done out of this Spirit of Divine Love!  But now I want to give you all a new proof of My redeeming love.  And so you, who were crucified with Me, and to whom I promised: "This very day you shall be with Me in Paradise" - come forth without hesitation!

You have been a witness of My suffering, now you shall be a witness of My victory!  But I attach one condition to My promise: that you should forgive those who have slain you!  Here the robber knelt down, stammering plea after plea for forgiveness for his great guilt - and promised to wipe out all that was still in him as hatred and evil!  Then Jesus lifted him up and said: "So go and fetch My lost brother, who in blind passion and despair put an end to his own life!  You will find him in the temple!" -

The robber asked, "Oh You divine Master!  Your will be done!  Give me courage and strength to do it for the sake of Your great love!"  Jesus blessed and dismissed him.

Then He said to the others: "All of you who dwell in and by your dark graves!  Turn to Me, into the light!  All you who hear Me today may believe that I am He in Whom your fathers hoped!  Today you may behold Him, Who opens the door for you, which was closed until now!

Listen: I do not want to step among you to judge, no - but to redeem!  Therefore enter into yourselves!  It is the time of grace of your being!  If you recognize "Me" today and accept "My Word", then all of you - even the darkest - may go with Me to the temple and be witnesses, how I also complete My mission there!  Who walks with Me, enters out of the elements of death into the "free, eternal Life!"

But there is one thing you all have to leave behind: Your hatred - your desires and passions still rooting in you!  For behold: As I worked and created in self-denying love, so in the future it is only possible for those who also act in this selfless love, to associate with Me.  If you want to follow Me, reconcile yourselves in your heart with everyone, and the consequence will bring you the proof that we join hands in the forgiving love-spirit.  Therefore come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened and long for Him who can bring you help in your distress:  He who gives you the bread of life!  Who wants to lead you out of this cold, dark existence, into a life of love and joy!  Amen!"

Silence, holy silence followed these words.  Then an old man, bent by the burden of his sins, came forth, strode toward Jesus, fell down on his knees, and stammered: "Oh You who will bring us light and life, how joyfully we all greet Your coming!  How did our captivity lasted for ever!  How does Your words so full of promise sound like heavenly music!  Oh You who sayt that You love us, in You we would gladly see the Savior!  The Savior!  The Anointed One!  But now that we want to follow You, barriers pile up within us!  We cannot follow You, because only You have fulfilled ‘The Law’!  But we feel guilty, burdened with guilt!  Oh God!  Oh Jehovah!  Your law crushes us!  And yet, as spirits, we saw all Your deeds, saw Your suffering, Your innocent death!  We experienced that You gave help, mercy and forgiveness to a fellow crucified one!  Oh show us all how redemption can come to us too!  See, all of us here would like to come to You, but the serpent of Eve is the fetter that binds us to the lower!  Oh Lord! Oh Jesus!  Help!  Help us as You have so graciously helped others!"  Tears burst from the old man's eyes.

Jesus approached him, laid His pierced right hand on his head, and said: "Then take courage in your heart - and freely, but full of repentance, confess your guilt, and from now on enter into the true life of unselfish, serving love!  Only for this reason I come to you, who were witnesses of My greatest condescension and could see in Me the new Spirit of grace!  Now take hold of this new Spirit and turn to Me!  For in Me, you see God and Jehovah!"

Judas before the Lord

Again, silently, an alley was formed among the innumerable spirits, - and the robber Dismas came hand in hand with Judas!  Trembling, Judas came before his Master.  But Jesus looked at him with eyes of heartfelt love and said: "Judas!  Do you realize now, after all your sufferings, that 'The True Life' is to be found only in love?  Behold, I have been able to help thousands, and these thousand times thousands will soon be helped, in that they already want to see and embrace the new life of grace!  But you have not heeded My words! - My teaching, for which countless hearts longed, and which should also serve your heart for salvation!  That is why I now show you My wounds!  These wounds become a signpost to the all-forgiving grace to all those who go astray.  To all these here, I could say: 'Oh go with Me! I show you the way to life!' But to you, I now say: You must find the way to Me on your own!  For you know My word, My teaching and My deeds!  Judas, I can neither advise nor help you!  I can only forgive you!"

Judas fell down before his Master and wanted to grip His feet, then Jesus spoke to him again: "Judas, poor man!  When we were still human, I could have helped you, you were still ignorant!  But here, in the kingdom of spiritual life, only your own free will determines!  You now have knowledge and can find the way to My essence only through your mind, which is to be bent even deeper!  Hate, anger and offended self-love still live in you.  Your worldly intellectual life still rules.  But that is why I forgave you, because you acted in blind worldliness!  But now understand that My kingdom is a spiritual kingdom!  The kingdom of eternal life!  And so heed My words!"

Jesus said to the others: "Now let us go to the temple.  Whoever is willing, let him come with us!"  Again an alley was formed.  Jesus passed through the midst of the armies of spirits, and an endless procession followed Him and entered the temple.  It was as if the walls widened: everyone found room in the temple; but Jesus went into the Holy of Holies.  Only two remained on Golgotha: Judas and the robber from the cross.

The Lord in the temple

There was great confusion in the temple, for the precious curtain that was to cover the Holy of Holies was torn and could not be sewn back together; no matter how many times it was tried, it tore again.  Now Jesus came into the temple with the great procession of spirits following Him and entered the Holy of Holies. But none of the priests, no earthly man, had any idea of the tremendous spiritual event which was now to take place here in the temple.  The angel with the Roman centurion had again his place near Jesus; and both followed with highest interest all speeches and actions.  Angels with trumpets approached the Lord; and at a sign of Rafael, who led the others, they let their trumpets sound insistently!

Then the tombs opened, the catacombs under the temple, and spirit-beings in the garb of the priests and high priests appeared everywhere.  One of them stepped forward and asked in a loud voice: "What does all this mean?  Rafael, the messenger of God, answered him: "These are the trumpets of the Last Judgment!  Now He has come to receive all the souls that were entrusted to you!  The Lord now takes back the pounds over which you were set in your office!  Rejoice if you are found righteous, otherwise it will not be for the best!"

With a serious look and a bowed head, the high priest went to Jesus, whose garment shone like freshly fallen snow shone in the sun.  But when the high priest saw the stigmata, he was terrified and fell at the Lord's feet as if dead.  And the many priests, seeing that their leader did not rise again, also fell on their knees and anxiously awaited the things that were to take place.  Jesus turned to all sides, raised His pierced hands and bowed His head.  Dead silence was among the spiritual hosts; for they did not hear the voices of the Templars present here, still living in the flesh!  Now fine, tender music sounded, swelling up in volume, to the strongest sound, in order to fade away again softer and more quietly.

Then the high priest awoke, and Jesus said to him: "Get up!  Today I come Myself!  I have awakened you from your rest, your spiritual sleep!  I, The Life, have broken through the barriers!  I have overcome death to show everyone the way to true, eternal life!  The news of My existence on earth reached deep into the spirit-realm.  And many could already refresh themselves at the Spring of life, instructed by My angels!  But you?  Where would you be?  How is it that you do not know Me, and that first the trumpet call had to sound, to open your dark cells?"

At last the priest was moved and asked: "Are you the Lord, God? - Zebaoth? - or sent by Him?  Your eyes looks mild, but your hands and feet bear the symbol of a crucified man!  Who are You?  When I saw You earlier in the light, the feeling overwhelmed me: You - are - God!  But now I see Your wounds - You cannot be "God".  And not the One in Whom we hope, Who is to come to redeem us and Who will come only in the company of high, holy angels!  But I see nothing but people, many people around you!  That You have entered our resting-places does not prove to me that You are The Almighty!  And Your robe, so beautiful and pure, is no proof for me either!  For many a man has come to us and wanted to be a messenger from God!  But we did not believe him.  But I am responsible as a servant of this holy temple, and so I must surely demand from you to tell us who you are!  The trumpets that sounded like trumpets of judgment can also be false ones, and the music, the beautiful, glorious music, can also be magic music to lure us out of the temple!  Therefore now you speak!  For I, the High Priest, have the right here, since we are in the Holy of Holies!  Long ago already the curtain tore (in the spiritual it seems to them), therefore I do not expel you also from this sanctuary, since God tolerates you in it!"

Jesus said: "Eliashib! You poor, deluded one!  How long will you linger here?  Do you not realize that this temple of yours is only a sham or an apparition?  Have you not yet realized that your service here in your "sham temple" is completely worthless?  Have you not noticed that one and the same sacrifice is always used on the altars?  Has it not yet occurred to you that you and your many priests are only doing what pleases you?  Say, when are you going to start doing the will of Jehovah?  But have you ever bothered to search out the will of God?  Yes, when you were anointed, you had the best of resolutions; and because you sincerely asked in your heart that God would always stand by you in your new ministry, that is why I am coming to you right now and remind you of it!  I have never forgotten what I told you and promised you!

But you soon forgot your Lord and God, your Creator, and yet you felt comfortable in your high office!  But I say to you and to all of you: your hours here are numbered!  Because you had no sense for the Eternal Divine, it could happen that you slept and rested on the cushions and beds of rest in your illusory temple; and could never hear the news of the great, holy events on your earth!  You even heard the saying of Simeon: "Lord!  Now let Your servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen the Saviour!"  Had you been awake, you too could have seen "the glory" in the Son of God!  Look above you!  You will see many acquaintances, who already enjoy bliss, because they recognized the great time of grace, which has dawned for all, who in Me - recognize and behold Him of Whom the Scripture speaks, and Who brings freedom and life to all those who love Him, believe in Him and want to follow Him!

Therefore My call goes out to you once again: "Leave this wrong attitude of yours!"  For you have been in the spirit-realm for a long time!  And I Myself, as spirit and Conqueror over death, come to you now, to lead you to the true life!  I tell you that you are poor - poorer than you think!  And only through Me, as your Messiah, you can come to the consciousness: "God still loves you today!  See My hands and feet, pierced on the trunk of the cross!  They are the visible proof of My obedience to the will of God and of My forgiving love for all of you.  The invisible, by far better proof, however, will become yours only in your heart, if you feel that I expiated all your guilt!  I require only faith from you and that you follow Me there where the true life of a servant of God in selfless love-activity awaits you!  So I ask you, Eliashib: Can you believe Me?"

"No, I don't believe you!" - the high priest replied sharply - "If you were the Messiah, you should have known that this room is the Holy of Holies, even though the curtain no longer covers it!  And so I say to you by virtue of my office: leave this sanctuary with your armies, so that at least we can purify ourselves again!"

"Stop, don't say another word, you blind fool!" - replied Jesus sternly - "What should be given to you today in the light of grace, you will still have to search for with great difficulty!  But what do the rest of you think about it?  Do you want to live on here in your apparition - or do you want to enter My kingdom in the light of truth?  My time is measured; for I still want to bring the call of grace to others!  How many await with longing the time when I will come to open the prisons of their error!  Thus we end our mission here!  And you, My Rafael, see to it that when all who are of good will have left the temple, this illusory walls collapse into ruins!"

Now the angels raised their trumpets, and under their sounds, the Lord went with his own to the Mount of Olives.  He had all those who had been won here, led by the angels to their new destinations; and thus the Lord had again wrested a prey from spiritual death.

When nobody left the temple, this spiritual building of deceit collapsed under smoke and fire and buried the high priest Eliashib with his followers.  With great difficulty and writhing in agony and pain, they rose from the ruins and would have liked to follow Him, who asked them so earnestly, but it was and remained dark around them.

And so this night had also passed for the captain, the spiritual night in which he had lived until now; and it had become light in his consciousness about the Divine and the human!  The angel led him to his dwelling, returned him to earthly reality and said: "Do not believe that you have dreamed or are still dreaming!  Believe livingly!  Love truly!  And serve Him faithfully, Whom you have known to be True!  Then you will still be allowed to see the guidance of our glorious God!  And so I leave you now.  Fear nothing!  From now on you have the gift of spiritual vision!  And if it is the will of our Holy God, I will guide you again!  And so continue to do God's will with us and in us!  Amen!"

The Saturday before Passover

The captain was alone, and the dawn reminded him of his duties.  He did not feel the slightest fatigue, took his morning meal and, accompanied by some soldiers, set out to check the guards of the tomb.  From the outside he also found everything in perfect order; but the soldiers told him that during the night there had always been a soft singing, a wonderfully tender song offered by many singers, and no-one had thought of sleep!  But people did not come near them.  The captain believed his soldiers and gratefully looked up to the sky!

Then again he saw glorious angels and Jesus in their midst!  But now a doubt arose in him: what is truth here?  Thoughtfully he looked at the closed grave and now looked with an opened spirit-eye: it was empty!  But two angels were in it, which looked kindly at him.  Only now he was convinced of the truth of his spiritual experiences!  Now he knew: Jesus is alive!  And joy and happiness flowed through his inner being.  Adoringly, he looked up to Jesus, who was among His own in a radiant robe of light like a Lord.  Jesus cordially waved at the centurion, and now his happiness knew no bounds; he hurried as fast as he could to Nicodemus, who had hardly arose from sleep, and told him his spiritual experiences and that Jesus lives!  Nicodemus listened in amazement, but he believed his new friend; and then they both went to the temple.

Near the temple, the centurion now saw again with spiritual eyes the ruins of the sham temple and saw and heard how the former high priest and some priests called to each other, but could not find each other because of the darkness and the big heap of ruins.  The centurion now also told Nicodemus these events experienced in the temple and mentioned the name of Eliashib.  Then Nicodemus was astonished and said: "Yes, Eliashib was a high priest, a long time ago!  But now that he would not recognize the Lord, he will probably have to search a long time before he comes to the light."

Now they went into the temple.  Many people were there, and the Templars were in great embarrassment because of the torn curtain.  They looked with evil eyes at the Roman centurion, but he paid no attention to them, took leave of Nicodemus, and went to Pilate.  Pilate again entered into serious conversation with him; and when the centurion affirmed: "I know that the sepulcher is empty!  Jesus dwells as the Living among those who have died!  I have seen Him in the glory of His power and majesty!"

Pilate then gave the order: "Open the tomb, so that we may be convinced of the truth of your words."

But the centurion replied: "It is not necessary to do this!  The Nazarene knows the hour when He will open the tomb Himself!  And it will be His revealed victory over the Templars wallowing in arrogance!  I begrudge them this lesson, because the temple will lose a lot of it's prestige.  You should see how disturbed they were when I was in the temple this morning!  They are also worried about the torn curtain, because as soon as it is stitched together, it tears in two again."

After these words he took leave of Pilate and took time off to go to Bethany.  Arriving back at the house, he had his servants saddle his horse and appointed a servant to accompany him.  They rode to Bethany.

On the way, not far from Emmaus, the centurion saw his spiritual guide coming towards him again.  And already the angel called: "Get down from your horse, I have messages to bring you from our Lord and Master!  Turn back and go to Bethany only after the feast!  Lazarus is now at his inn near Jerusalem.  Seek him out there!" - and further - "Joseph of Arimathea, who sought the body of Jesus and had it buried in his own grounds, is imprisoned by the Templars!  No help is to be expected from Pilate; go and free him by virtue of your authority; for it is you who directed Jesus' crucifixion, entombment, and the sealing of the tomb.  It is a new crime of the Templars, because they still fear the crucified One!  Do not worry!  For the Lord Jesus will guide you and put into your mouth what you should speak.  Do not be afraid!  You shall feel Jesus' grace anew!  Jesus be with you!"

The messenger of God disappeared.  The captain turned back, and riding swiftly, he went back to Jerusalem, to the camp of the garrison; he commanded a detachment of soldiers and went with them to the temple.  Once there, he went to the high priest and demanded the release of the captive Joseph of Arimathea.  The high priest and his councilors were astonished, but at the same time inwardly terrified, and denied such action.

Then the captain came before them with a threatening attitude and voice and shouted: "If you do not bring the prisoner here willingly and in the shortest possible time, I will have my soldiers search the temple from the deepest tomb to the highest dome!  And if they find him, I will set fire on all sides and destroy this whole structure!  One righteous one I had to kill, because of your devilish ways!  But you are next, as I am a Roman!  A mistake we overlook gladly and let the greatest leniency apply, but such crimes, as you do them under the eyes of the Romans in the name of "your" Jehovah, are punished with the very greatest severity!"

Frightened, the priests dispersed; but one of them turned to the excited Roman and said: "High Lord!  Let your soldiers search the temple; I assure you, I am not aware of the arrest of Joseph of Arimathea!  After all, he is my friend, and if he should have disappeared, we also will search for him with you."

Then, dressed as the Romans, the angel came to the centurion and said: "I will release the prisoner from his bonds and bring him here!  But spare the temple, the Lord wills it!"  In a short time the messenger of God brought the exhausted Joseph of Arimathea in torn garments, and he thanked the centurion with tears in his eyes.

The Roman said: "My dear friend!  Give thanks to Him Who created us, and Who with His sharp eyes, guards us all!  To Him alone you should give thanks!  Be still patient - soon, yes soon we shall see the greatest miracle!"

Meanwhile, the other priests gathered again and were amazed to see the well-known Joseph of Arimathea in this state!  And the angel confirmed that all these except Caiaphas knew nothing of it.  Then the centurion went to the high priest and said to his face: "It was you!  Beware, the measure of your shamefulness is full!  Lucky for you that I am a disciple of Jesus!  Without sitting in judgment, I would have you nailed to the cross on Golgotha!  That you remain free again today - you owe only to Jesus of Nazareth!"

Then he took Joseph of Arimathea in the midst of his soldiers, moved out of the temple, and then sought out the inn of Lazarus not far from the Mount of Olives.

In Lazarus’ inn

The captain's soldiers encamped themselves in the yard and garden; Lazarus and the tenant welcomed the captain and were very surprised to find the rich Joseph of Arimathea in such miserable condition among the Romans.  Lazarus asked why they were escorting this honorable man and said: "Release him, sir, I will vouch for him!"  Smiling, the centurion thanked Lazarus for his love, reached out his hands once more and said: "He only became free through me, that is, I was allowed to be the instrument of the great Nazarene; the high priest had him secretly captured!  Today I was already on my way to you in Bethany, when I received instructions through a messenger of God that I should first free this friend from his captivity and then seek you out here in your inn.

I obeyed, went with my soldiers to the temple and demanded the release of our friend!  Then the messenger of God, now dressed as one of my soldiers, came to my aid and brought him out of his deep prison.  It then turned out that the high priest alone had done this wrong, but all the other priests knew nothing about it; and therefore, I think, according to the will of the Lord, I must spare the Templars! For the will of God is sacred also to me now!"

Lazarus was greatly astonished and then learned the whole sad incident, which Joseph of Arimathea related:  "I made my way to the garden first thing in the early morning, to the grave; absorbed in prayer, I lingered there and then went through a side gate to the stream that lies below my garden.  There five men came and talked seemingly harmlessly; however, while passing by, I got a sack over my head, a moment later my hands and feet were bound, and they carried me away.  After a long time, I noticed that there were stairs going down, and I heard a bolt and a beam crack; then they put me down, loosened my fetters, and uncovered my face; I had not yet seen those men; but one of them scoffed: "So now you can ponder, as the high priest can ponder, how you will be silenced."  Then they left the room and locked it behind them.  At the top of the ceiling was a light-hole, much too high to be able to go up, and so I had no choice but to wait; for shouting and screaming was useless.  But a thought came and revived me: "God! - The Lord of hosts! - will not let me fall!" - and I became wonderfully calm.

For a long time I sat on the floor, then the door opened silently, a Roman soldier entered and pulled me out by the hand.  I saw the bolt being put back and locked, and then I was led to the forum of the priests; but this captain then set me completely free, and so here I am.  But I still have to think about one thing: What will the high priest think, since the bolt is still in place!"

Then the Roman also told these friends that in the night an angel, a messenger of God, had come to him and had led him into the spiritual world, where Jesus as the Lord really lives and teaches!  Also into the still, closed grave he had already been allowed to look with spiritual eyes - it was empty!"  Lazarus, filled with holy joy, cried out: "Oh, if only Mary were here!" - and at that moment Mary and Magdalene entered with Nicodemus; both women were calm and composed, and at the sight of them, the centurion was filled with admiration at the serious beauty of such greatness of soul!

Almost timidly he turned to Mary and said: "Fair wife and mother, I appreciate your pain!  But let me tell you: soon the greatest joy will enter your heart, because the power of death is broken!  Jesus lives!  He Himself made me see this truth!  And I carry a promise deep in my heart: that He will always fill us with His Spirit and His power!”

How the Savior was already expected in a different temple

And so joy had returned to those present. Mary and Magdalene also felt strengthened and were full of expectation.  Then they noticed how the centurion kept looking with fixed eyes at one point, and so all became silent.  But the Roman began to speak: "Oh dear friends, let me tell you what I am witnessing now!  I see a huge temple; the entrance is represented by two lions resting on two pillars, and the arch above is adorned with shining gems of different colors.  The interior is a majestic structure, magnificently decorated.  In the background, I see an altar with a very bright, radiant light burning on it.  On each side of the altar stands an angel, holding in one hand a sword pointing to the ground, and in the other raised hand, a crown with sparkling diamonds.

And before the altar stands Jesus, again showing his stigmata; and now I see the temple filled with innumerable people, but all are as if transparent, thus spirit-beings.  As there in the temple at Jerusalem, so also here a priest comes; his robe is decorated with golden cords and ribbons and on his chest he wears a golden ornament.  He bows down to the ground, goes before Jesus and says: "Lord, at last the time is fulfilled!  At last the time has come for us to be free, when the time is over when we were forced to do only what made us great and powerful in earthly life.  Oh Lord!  All those whom You entrusted to me, I bring to You here, and so, trusting and thanking You, I return my office as shepherd of souls into Your hands. Oh thanks, a thousand thanks, that we may see You here!

How happy we were when Your angels announced to us that You had prepared the paths on which we can walk, to be led from clarity to clarity in the light of Your wisdom! Oh thanks to You!  You Eternally Great God!  You have fulfilled Your promise that You would one day open the gates of death and night!  And You, glorious Son of God!  You, Martyr of Your love-truth!  Your kingdom of love and justice come to us, too!  Continue to proclaim Your will!  What shall we do to become worthy to follow You?"

Lovingly, Jesus says: "My friends and also My children!  You shall recognize Me as the One who was to come to redeem all captives, to set free all those who are bound!  And you shall change your mind!  For since you have long since ceased to be human beings, lay aside all humanity and do not be afraid to freely and joyfully confess that you are all sinners and need Me as Savior and Redeemer!  Everything else depends only on you.”

The priest takes off his insignia; he separates the bands from his robe and wants to lay everything at Jesus' feet; Then Jesus shakes his head, and so the priest hangs the ornament on a guarding angel, kneels down before Jesus and says: "Lord and Savior, here I am, and I speak in the name of all present! - (now all kneel with him) We are ready to do all this!  We believe in You and in Your mission!

Oh forgive us for what we have done in false delusion!  And if You want to punish, Lord, punish only me and let all others go free!  Let me atone for what was lacking and what was sinned against; for they only did what I advised everyone to do."

Then Jesus comes to the priest, looks at him, pulls him up and says: "Peace be with you!  I do not come to demand an account!  Oh no!  I come to help you, to show you life in it's greatest glory!  But what you still lack is the forgiving, redeeming love!  You believed until now that you had done everything with your services, which makes you righteous before God!  You were wrong!  Give love!  Practicing love!  Balancing with love!  And striving after only one goal: To make the poor and oppressed happy!  This, you still lack!  And now learn this from Me!  For I am love and gentleness, patience and mercy!

All love emanates from the Father!  But the Father is My inner life!  And this My innermost love-life I give you, if you give Me yours out of free will!  See My pierced hands!  See My pierced feet!  These are and remain for eternities the outer proof of My love and patience with all fallen ones!  But the inner proof of My love you experience only in yourselves, if you do according to My gentle words: Love one another!  And nurture this love in you through service, through holy zeal, only to please Me and to sacrifice your self-love!  If you want this, then rise all of you and strengthen yourselves; My angels will give you bread and water of life.  And so appear crowds of angels with jars and bread in their hands to refresh everyone.

Then one of the priests comes before Jesus, bows low, hands Him his bread and his cup and says: "Lord, if it is not presumption, I would like to give You the drink!  Drink the part that is meant for me, I would be happy!"  Kindly, Jesus answers him: "My brother, see how the food is pleasing to all, it is the first meal of love which they enjoy!  Now you too come and enjoy it with Me, and remember your sins no more!  For when you have enjoyed bread and wine with Me, all that is past shall be atoned for!  For I am Life and Light, I am bread and wine!  Enjoy of it without shyness, that we may help the brothers."

Now the angels come and gather around Jesus; but He says to all: "My children!  Follow My faithful servants into the dwellings which Love has prepared for you!  But you, My brother, stay with Me!  You shall see more of My mercies!"

Here the spiritual vision of the centurion faded away, and all were deeply moved, having heard something from their Jesus!  The centurion was also silent.  A look from the questioning eyes of Magdalene revealed to him her great love for the Lord, and it was not long before she addressed the centurion directly: "Is it too much to ask: What did Jesus look like?  Did He still bear traces of His sufferings?"

Heir eyes were glued to the mouth of the Roman.  The latter said: "Fair daughter of Zion!  Jesus looked like a transfigured one!  His eyes shone like dewdrops illuminated by the sun; and around His wounds was a dark wreath.  Jesus must be uniquely happy!  His voice was gentle and resembled the sound of an aeolian harp!  His whole appearance is royal.  And therefore He is the Great Victor!  But all others are defeated!"

Magdalene thanked him kindly, and Mary extended her hand to him, which the centurion kissed intimately.  Then silence fell, for all were inwardly occupied with Jesus.  Later, Lazarus asked his guests to go into the garden and enjoy the trees and flowers: "for our hearts were full of sorrow -" he said - "but now everything is transformed into expectation!  It is getting too tight in my chest!  Oh would that all disciples and friends knew this!  But now we must be silent according to the will of the Lord, for He has not yet risen for us!  What our centurion saw, he experienced only in his spirit; but Jesus has promised to come to us!  So we wait for Him!"  And so they all left the house

But the centurion stayed behind, because he wanted to be alone.  It was too much to experience in those few hours!  Lazarus remained with him for a few minutes and thanked him once again for the received proofs of love.

Jesus among Jewish merchants

Business called Lazarus out, and thus our centurion had opportunity to think over everything once again in peace.  Thereby he was led again in the spirit to Jesus, whom he now saw in a large garden.  Many people, especially merchants with their caravans, had encamped around the garden; but all the thousands of people did not even know that they had died, and their trade was still their whole pursuit.  Among these Jesus now stood, and a great multitude of the redeemed were in His wake.  Jesus, in His merciful love, looked at all the lost ones, and a fervent sorrow stirred in His heart, for most of these spirits had been allowed to witness His deeds, His suffering and His death!  But it was only a spectacle for them, and all these signs could not shake their false, perverse love for the worldly!

"Hear, all of you what I say to you" - Jesus called out - "Do you not know Me?  Have you seen all My sufferings and torments?  Is everything already extinguished in you?  Consider that you are no longer earthly people!  You are spirits who live under the delusion that you still dwell on earth!  Have you yet thought about what will happen when all your goods and fortunes disappear?

And so I come to you to announce to you that also for you the hour of redemption has dawned, where you shall realize that your salvation and eternal existence is to be found only in My love for all of you!  Only this My love for the erring people gave Me the strength to suffer everything from them, to tolerate everything, so that the way is prepared on which you can come to Me and I to you!  Ask all those who saw the miracles of My love, yet did not know Me; they must admit that I did not live like a man, but like a God among the people!

And if I now ended on the cross, I only testified that for you as for all earthly children, that no goal was too far, no burden too heavy and no work too much!  And so I created for you through My death, a way of access to the eternally loving heart of God!  Ask all My angels!  What they sang at My birth is small compared to what they experience today!  Ask these witnesses here, and you must realize that also today the greatest life of grace wants to seize you!  And so I ask you: Can you believe My words?"

An old Jew approached and said: "Yes, it is you!  Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter!  But how is it that you have come to see us?  We thought You were with them in the temple!  But we no longer have fellowship with them!  For their greed for gain and their severity have brought us to a better understanding.  But what do You want to do with us?  Let us have our peace, we do not want to rob you of yours.  We are sorry that you had to suffer!  But Your fainting on the cross clearly shows that You Yourself are in need of help!  If we are still here, it is only because something mysterious is holding us, otherwise we would have moved on long ago.  Or do you need us?  Tell us if we can help you?"

"See My hands!  See My side and My feet!" -  Jesus exclaimed - "Here are the signs!  Whoever recognizes them, finds also understanding of My words!  These My five wounds show to all that a certain purpose made Me go to earth!  That is why My last word was: "It is accomplished!"  Do you really find nothing to think about in it?  Be finally so far clear to yourselves that this "your being" can no longer exist!  And now pay attention: All your wagons and goods will disappear, so that you recognize in Me the power - but also the One who has come to you "in Me"!  Well, I am the Jesus of Nazareth known to you, but this I said only about My body!  My innermost is the eternal God-Spirit!  Through My death on the cross, all transient things in Me have been penetrated by the eternal God-Spirit, so that there is nothing transient in Me anymore!

And now I have accomplished and come to help you - surely it would be right from you to test yourselves and Me.  I have the power and could prove it to you.  But I will never approach a being with compulsion.  Only those coming voluntarily will be accepted.  Today is a time of grace for you. Use it, so that you do not regret your obstinacy!  Because all your possessions are from now on only those, which became yours because of your love!  My love is meant for all beings, also for you!  And everything shall be forgotten, if you forget your nevertheless so transient possession and seek My goals.  Enter into the community with My angels and connect yourselves in the pure love-spirit among one another.  Then you shall see in Me He Who let Moses and Elijah experience God's glories!"

Amazed, everyone listened to this message.  But disappointment and fear appeared on their faces when their caravans disappeared and no-one knew where it had all gone.  Then the old Jew asked the Lord: "Tell us, where have our goods gone?  All your talk is that we should follow you!  Yes, whereto?  We do not know where you want to lead us, and so we ask you for an answer!"

"Listen, all you poor people!" - said Jesus - "Your wagons and your goods have not disappeared without a trace, but in reality all this did not exist, because all your love created these caravans only in your thoughts!  These schemes could not exist now, because the true life in Me pushes everything that is as if dead into new forms and brings forth new life, new effects!  As the snow passes away, so the sun shines warmer and warmer, so also all apparent truths pass away into a nothingness before Me!  Recognize now what and who you are!  Your earthly existence has already passed away for many years!  But as inhabitants of your own world, you did not know until now that you have died, and could still pay attention to all the events on earth around you.  You, of all people, have evidence of My love for you.  You, of all people, who are from the tribe of David, are aware that I, too, am from David's tribe!  And if you now want to follow Me, I will lead you there, where Abraham and David reside!  You will meet many tribesmen there, and only then you will become aware of what you had lost, and then you will thank Me, because I have brought back to you what was lost.  Therefore now, make your will known!"

It became quiet, completely quiet around the Lord.  There the old Jew knelt down and asked heartily, with tears, for forgiveness that he had not recognized Him at once!  But now he knew that His love was sincere, His words true; now he gladly followed and wanted to ask the others to go with him, wherever the Lord would lead them. Jesus laid his hand on the old man's head and said: "You, stand up!  Now that you know Me, there is no need to kneel before Me!  Bow your mind!  And may your heart awaken, so that it may experience the silent move of love that is necessary to follow Me!"

Immediately the old man stood up and cried out loudly: "Brothers, all of you, listen to me!  Every word from Jesus' mouth shakes me!  His words are truth!  And if anyone can bring us help, it is only Jesus of Nazareth!  Let us leave this place where our possessions have left us!  I believe that in Jesus we can find everything!  If He has given to so many, helped so many, He will help us too!  His death has become our life, and His suffering the acquittal of our sins.  He offered Himself to lead us to where our fathers are; and so I ask you: Will you come with me?"

There resounded a unanimous ‘Yes’! - and so Jesus called out: "Come then and learn to know love and the powers that constantly renew it!  Amen!"

The centurion saw and heard every word, but then the vision was gone!  When all came back from the garden, Lazarus noticed that the centurion must have experienced again something inside; but he went and put his right hand on his shoulder and said: "Brother, keep it for yourself, so that our hearts remain calm and then also we may experience this fellowship with Jesus!"

Fresh and refreshed, the women looked at each other; and now they agreed to go to the tomb early the next morning to adorn and honor the body of Jesus once again.  Then they spoke of many beautiful things they had experienced with their beloved Master.  Mary Magdalene could not tell enough, stressing again and again that she could never stop loving Him, because everything they received was only from Him, and that she wanted to clasp His feet once more!  "Just once I want to lie against His breast, then I too want to die!"

But Mary said: "Dear, stop talking like that!  Do not break the thread!  Do not let the consciousness slip: It is the Lord!  He does not always remain in the grave!  But only in the spirit we may love Him, since He Himself has loved us so dearly!  Now it becomes clear to me what He has achieved and accomplished!  His love shall become our inner life!  In His love, He dwells invisibly among us!  And so He fills us with power from His Power, with light from His Light and works peace and rest for our heart!"

The words of Mary sounded sweetly, and it was to all as if an echo sounded, tender and fine, and so silence grew around those present.  It was evening.  The centurion wanted to return to the city with Nicodemus, but Lazarus pointed out the Sabbath and that it would not be advisable at night.  "Go early, when the women go, it will be the right thing to do!"  So they all stayed that night in the inn of Lazarus.

Why did Jesus have to die?

When now all wanted to go to rest, the captain asked Lazarus to remain still a while with him, since he did not find the right clarity in all these events yet.  Lazarus joyfully consented and requested also the other brothers to give still a little hour to the captain.  The women had gone to rest, and thus the men remained alone.

Lazarus went up to the captain, put both hands on his shoulders and said: "My dear captain!  It is right of you to ask us openly for enlightenment, if some things are still dark in you.  Be convinced that, according to the will of the Lord, full light and understanding will also come to you!  And so reveal to us what is still unclear to you!"

The captain looked at the brothers, saw on all faces holy seriousness and spoke: "Brothers and friend Lazarus!  The love experienced here with you and the spirit among you, which one feels here so pleasantly, entitle me to call also you brothers and friend!  And so I ask you to consider my openness in this spirit, and ask: Why did Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Jew, have to die just this Gentile death?  Was there no other way than that of the greatest shame?  And: What high purpose did Jesus pursue in this?  And then: How should Jesus' suffering and death be an act of salvation and of God's greatest grace to me, a Gentile?  Behold, these are points that are still very much in the dark for me."

Lazarus reached out his hand to the centurion and said: "Dear friend and brother in the Lord, do not call yourself a pagan anymore!  You did your duty, because you could not do otherwise!  But when your eyes were wandering searchingly, the Master saw in you the heartfelt request for forgiveness!  He looked at you with the eyes of His love, and His look announced full atonement to you!  Thereby it became active and alive in your spirit!  You tasted the homeland air and for a moment, you were filled with the bliss from the Eternal Regions!  You deepened these impressions in the silence of the night, and God Himself, in His Eternal love and mercy, sent you a messenger and revealed to you in the spirit what millions do not experience!

You could not reject all that you had seen, and you had to realize that the slain Savior and Master Jesus lives, but a life that cannot be perceived with our five senses!  Your mind still resists and must resist, and the question is justified: "If Jesus is not to be killed after all, why then these torments, sufferings and this disgrace?"  Behold, my dear brother!  What you experienced spiritually on Golgotha, was the unveiling of His innermost Divine Being!  And to all beings, to all mankind, yes, to the whole of infinity, it was shown here that the original reason of all inner life lies in the Divine love for us human beings and in His mercy with our walk so distant from God!

You will understand what I have to tell you now from the Spirit of the Lord!  For He also wants to show you this great "why" and it's solution.  By Lucifer, the first great angel, but fallen away from God, legions of angels, then humans, were pushed on a course which robbed them of all affiliation to the eternal light-home.  And so Lucifer became the enemy of all life out of God.  But God is not only Creator, but also wants to be Father and is concerned about His children living in error!  Now it was necessary to find a way back, which could be made passable also to those most distant from God!  And after long courses of time, God Himself finally as man and in man, could make this possible.

It would be too much, if I wanted to tell you everything I already know about it; but let it suffice you what I will tell you now: In the man Jesus, the inner life out of His eternal God-Spirit was already stirring early!  In infancy, He already knew of His high calling and mission, and at the age of twelve, He was far superior to the Templars in the interpretation of our Holy Scriptures; for in Him was "Life out of God!" - and God Himself was His Life!  Struggles - external and internal - and ever more severe struggles, made Him inwardly more and more mature and free!  For God could gain "life" in Him only as far as Jesus voluntarily learned to deny and overcome everything human about Himself.  The clear consciousness: "God Himself lives in Me!", created light and power in His inner world!

In addition, the love for His high calling was added, and so Jesus knew only one desire: to serve God in everything and to act only according to His Holy Will!  Always new Divine forces animated His love!  But His love urged for the fulfillment of His task and knew only one longing: To give this Spirit of love, this Source of all joys, this treasure trove of eternal happiness, - now also to all those who have a desire for it!  But how could Jesus prove this Spirit of God within Himself to His fellow humans - yes, give it to them?  He did and worked miracles and mighty signs!  His mouth spoke holy and wonderful words, but the world could only make them toxic!  It was necessary to bring a sacrifice, which eclipsed all His previous work!  A sacrifice, in which the enemy had to perish, if he touched this love and this spiritual life from God!

What Jesus suffered, only he who knows Him, can measure.  What Jesus bore, can only be felt by those who love Him!  And if I put myself into His suffering and endurance, I feel myself placed at His side!  His death, however, becomes for me a calming of my innermost being, since I now truly feel and sense His infinite love for us humans and learn to understand it!

Yes, I see now in my spirit what this whole sacrifice on Golgotha caused and will cause in all future!  The cross, the symbol of shame, was chosen by Jesus Himself as the sign of victory over sin, which had put it's stamp on it.  In the sign of this cross and in the Spirit of Golgotha, all guilt and all sin disappears!  In the sign of the cross and in the Spirit of Golgotha, only our inner springs open and pour out in the one feeling: 'I am helped by the crucified Savior and Redeemer!'

Because a whole new life begins to pulsate in me and makes me a new and different person!  In this new spirit of my inner life, there are no more sufferings, only schools, since Jesus Himself carries everything with me and is my Helper.  Behold, you do not even need to be a confessor with your mouth!  But if you take hold of this new spirit, which helps everyone to salvation, to true happiness, and do what this spirit urges you to do, then you will realize: Not I, but Jesus works this new life in me!  Can you now take and understand this properly?"

"Brother and friend Lazarus!" - answered the centurion - "take, well - but understanding is still lacking!  For remember, you and the rest of you were friends of Jesus and were initiated into His teaching and His purpose!  If now His death, His agonizing sufferings are to awaken in me this still sleeping life of God, the question still rises: Did God not have other means to draw mankind to Himself again, and was there really no other way out?  It must be something very terrible, if a man, who for years did nothing but good, should suddenly atone for all as the greatest sinner!  I am not so much thinking from Jesus' point of view, but from you, and for all those who were attached to Him and believed Him, this must be very painful."

Lazarus answered: "Dear centurion, also here I can only tell you that the Lord also knew this; for His mouth spoke the promising words: "If I do not go to the Father, the Comforter cannot come to you, who will guide you into all truth!"  It is true, as you say: it is terrible, if one has to bear the guilt for all, and innocent at that!  But God Himself wanted it this way, so that a way would be paved for all eternity, on which all sufferings should find an end!  Jesus suffered and carried in His flesh all the curse and all the sin of our flesh to the wood of torture!  And just this His greatest service of love, this Spirit from the innermost God-connectedness, created the possibilities longed for by God: our return to His ways!

With Jesus' death, also our life was taken, and in us it became night!  But it will become all the more luminous in us one day, because we received the revelation: "I live, and you will live too!"  This suffering and death signifies a conclusion in the great history of mankind!  First, from this hour on, no-one can say: "The most glorious of all glories - our God-likeness - has been withheld from us humans because we are sinners!"  For God in Jesus has renounced all His glories, and through this Spirit of quiet surrendering Redeemer-love, has handed to every man the key to all His glories.  Secondly: through Jesus' suffering and death, His true exemplary heavenly service has come to our and all people's consciousness!

For only in this Spirit of service in love, do people become brothers again!  For in this Spirit, each one suffers for the others and with the others; and thus pain and suffering, tribulations and distress are overcome and become sources of mutual joy and gratitude!  And thirdly, dear brother: At last the life of mankind has again a sacred purpose!  This earth as our testing field is sanctified again by the Lord!  On this earth shall be led back again into the arms of our heavenly Father all that lives or still walks astray!  Here, where on Golgotha the heaven of all God's love was manifested, where God and man have made a new covenant, the lighthouse is built, where shining fires and rays of light show themselves as wise men of the way and announce themselves to us again and again: Only from here you experience the true and right "life" within yourselves!

Behold, in these revelations you will find your questions answered!  And what you see as sad and terrible in Jesus' death, shall become a liberating certainty for all of us: Now we are His property!  For for us He sacrificed Himself!  And for all eternity, he who sees in the suffering and death of Jesus the atonement for what must be atoned for, will only be able to become truly happy and joyful!"

The centurion was overwhelmed by this greatness of Jesus love, of which Lazarus could speak so easily and said: "Brother!  Now it is light in me, and one does need nothing more!  Because what the faith and the realization still let mature in me, are then also foundation-pillars which no storm tide can take away so easily!  But this one thing I do declare: It will take a long, long time before what I have heard today, will become the property of mankind!  And still many will sink into the grave and feel abandoned and rejected, since only this faith in Jesus' love for us, can accomplish the very closest union with Him!  Oh Jesus, You Master of love, how few will grasp You in Your primordial Spirit, in this primordial love of Yours!  And yet You will stand by waiting - and hoping!  Oh let me grasp You completely!  Let me, the stranger, also penetrate into the Spirit of Your love!  Fill my being with Your Spirit!  And I will thank You with word and deed!"

"So it is right, my brother" - said Lazarus - "keep on asking!  Then you have already taken hold of the new life, which makes you a child of God!  And you enter into the heart of God, which is also open to you!  Only then can you create; when you have found in yourself the greatest happiness of all: "Jesus is in you!"  He has chosen your heart as a dwelling place for Himself.  Then everything has become "life" in you!  Then each member serves only "this life", which blazes on the altar of pure childlike love!  Believe firmly: Jesus, in the greatest pain, was nevertheless happy!  Because in His Spirit, He already saw how His seed, His effort and His struggle, has so much promise!

Therefore, dear, dear brothers, let us leave it as enough for today and let us go to rest!  We also want to continue to live in this faith that only the Spirit of Golgotha, so gloriously revealed to us, can give us all the strength to overcome!  The Lord has overcome and with Him, we also become "overcomers!"  But You, faithful Master, let us never ever forget You!  For You have won the victory for all of us - on Golgotha!  Amen."

And then, on the horizon, the sun was already rising radiantly in the East.

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Table of Contents

1.  Golgotha 4

2.  The commander’s experience during the following night 7

3.  Spiritual events on Golgotha 8

4.  Judas before the Lord 10

5.  The Lord in the temple 11

6.  The Saturday before Passover 14

7.  In Lazarus’ inn 16

8.  How the Savior was already expected in a different temple 17

9.  Jesus among Jewish merchants 19

10.  Why did Jesus have to die? 22