Jesus’

Life

Book 7

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. Return to the old innkeeper 4

2. Experiences at sunrise 5

3. Banquet At Julius' House 8

4. Raphael explains the life in a drop of water 10

5. The great, glorious goal of this life out of God in all beings 13

6. Farewell to the host and return to Nazareth 14

7. Temptation 16

8. Joseph goes home to his fathers 21

Return to the old innkeeper

Silently, Jesus and Jacob walked away from old Zacchaeus until Jacob could no longer be quiet.  But Jesus asked: "Be quiet, we understand each other also in such a way!  We are going home; there you can use your tongue again.  But this very day we will return to the old innkeeper, who is much occupied with us in spirit."  And so they arrived there in silence, after a long hike, tired and weary.

The old innkeeper could not do enough for joy, because these two were now his guests again!  He was anxious that both of them should be refreshed and strengthened and fetched the best wine from his cellar; he did not want to leave until he was convinced that they were now satisfied.

How his eyes shone with joy when he said: "Oh, thank God that I am experiencing this joy: You are my guests again!  But this time you shall stay longer; for I must say, since you were gone, I have always thought of you, especially of you, you dearest young friend!"

Said Jesus: "We also rejoice that your heart beats for us in love!  And My joy is all the greater, since your love is true and genuine!  And now you have offered us your house, we will also stay with you until tomorrow night!  For we have been busy - so we can already allow ourselves a day's rest, although I know that we are awaited at home with longing."

The old innkeeper now asks about what they have experienced and created; and so Jacob tells about the course of their work and draws the hall with staircase and terrace on the table with a piece of charcoal.  The old innkeeper was amazed and could almost not believe it: in such a short time - this work?  Then Jesus said to him: "Surely, if Jehovah had not helped with His blessing, we would still be there today with old Zacchaeus!  But, My dear host, allow Me to ask you something."

The old innkeeper nodded his head.  Jesus continued to say to him, "Don't take it amiss - we are tired today.  We desire nothing more than rest and would like to go to sleep!  But if you want, tomorrow, before sunrise, we will take a walk up the nearby mountain!  Are you willing?"  Eagerly the innkeeper agreed, led them both to their chamber and wished them a pleasant rest.

Then Jesus said to Jacob: "To this man we may still show the wonders in nature and draw his attention to the holy, spiritual sense in everything that happens!"

In a short time, there was complete silence, because there were no guests in the inn today.

Experiences at sunrise

Early in the morning, when the innkeeper wants to wake them up, the two are already in the parlour, and immediately the three walk into the dewy morning.  Silently they go; and it is still dark, there they are at the goal, at a mountain with woods, where perfect cedars stood in oversized number on the gently sloping heights.  There is no path to the top of the mountain, but in a short time they are at the top, where only wild shrubs and grass grow.

Jesus lay down in the wet grass and wiped the dew on His face, as if He wanted to caress the wet grass;  then He stood up and turned His face towards the dawn, which was already caused by the newly rising sun.  "Now pay attention to the events on the earth, in the air and in the sky", He said, "so that we may receive a pointer on how we have to adjust ourselves today, if everything is to be fulfilled completely!"

Everything is colored blood red, and the tops of the clouds lends an unearthly beautiful glow; it looks as if a glacier or a waterfall were illuminated by many lights!  The picture then changes, the clouds part, and the first rays of the sun put an end to this picture.  Below them, in the forest, it has come alive; it is as if all the birds have come together, and a pack of deer hurrying towards a nearby spring in their sight.  Still no human being is to be heard or to be seen, and thus the three give themselves up to the beauties and peacefully indulge in the lovely morning.

The old innkeeper is astonished that the two are such nature-lovers and now also describes his love and joy of nature.  He then announces in his words that the person who remains inwardly untouched by all these processes in nature, must be poor.

Jesus nods and answers: "Poor, yes, in so far as he does not want to understand anything of this language which his Creator speaks to him!  For how can the Creator reveal Himself to all His creatures other than through His language?  Everything created bears His Divine stamp and bears witness that it depends only on the Creator and on the all-pervading power from the Creator!"

After a short pause, Jesus speaks further: "But now comes the 'but': Shall everything created be there only for the sake of the Creator?  Do not believe that it is so!  The glorious splendor in all creation shows us something much greater and more beautiful!  For this splendor is there, so that the favored and blessed - and these are the people - should enjoy it and wish to become more like God or their Creator in all His doings!

And if you now pay attention to everything around you with your senses and also connect with the spirit in you, only then you will experience how splendidly and beautifully everything is arranged inside and also among each other!  For the splendor of all creation is only the just imprint of your glorious inner world!  Yes - all beautiful things must make man happy!  But it is dull in man, if he gets to see only dull things.  Every day you can observe the truth of these My words.

Jesus continues: "Now look down into the valley!  There around the brook and above the water, how the mists want to rise!  But the light of the rising sun pushes them back again!  See, the rising mist begins in it's passing to realize itself as dew, as drops of water, to still give witness on the blade of grass of the life of the victress, the sun!  A sparkle, a glitter!  A sea of luminous little stars testifies to the life of the light even in the smallest drop of dew!

Look further: The animals, big and small, get their drink!  When looking for food one sees envy, but when drinking - satisfaction!  Again a true admonition to the inside of a man: All self-love, which wants to rise to the predominant power in or outside of man, must go back to it's limits!  Yes, it will be overcome by the love of God in us, which is the spiritual sunlight!  And so everything in nature becomes a testimony for the mighty life of love in and from God!

How people are sometimes jealous of each other and so easily overlook the limits which God's order has set for them; and hence confusion and disunity!  While in receiving from God's true source of life everything is nourished, the zealous as well as the calmly receiving!  And so the gloriously beautiful nature gives us many a tidings of all the foreboding, blossoming and longing in the human heart!

Look now at the lamb clouds without number and measure; a trembling runs through them, and how sweetly blue is the background!  How calmly and gently they glide along in the immeasurable firmament and let themselves be pulled and driven to the goal!  Have you already considered that these clouds represent your whole great plan of life?  Are you well aware that you, too, are always driven and pulled by a force, by a Spirit that shows you, sometimes unconsciously, the great goal?

But where do you direct your longing and your aim?  Verily, I tell you out of true brotherly and friendly love: Where all longing, all pushing and pulling in the heart ceases (in love), soon the inner life will also cease!  For only this glorious inner life is the crowning of all human struggles.  This life is the consciousness of fullness and power!  This life only is the testimony of and for the greatness of the Creator!  But only the one is led into this life of his, who can declare in all situations of life: 'Above me - the Creator!  Everything else in me and around me - through the Creator!'

Therefore, dear old friend, I have come to you once again to tell you this!  And if you could believe it, i.e. put it into practice in your life, you would no longer wait for a Messiah, but already work and create in you for the Redeemer!  For see, what good would a Messiah be to a people if they did not believe in Him?

Just look at the sun!  It goes its course without ceasing.  But at night or on rainy days, how people long for it!  But what is the use of the longed-for sun, if people hide in the cellars of their houses afterwards?  What do they have of the blessings of the day, if they love the night?  Because the light of the sun has brought the day!

Behold, whoever does not want to learn to recognize love, this sun of all inner spiritual life, whoever does not want to make an effort to practice love, to cultivate love, is like those who hide in the dark chambers of their self-love, who do not want to acknowledge a ray of brotherly and neighborly love.

And whoever lives a life here on earth without this love, cannot be healed by a Messiah or a Redeemer, because all inner life, as it is written, must be based on the belief in the Divine in man!  And now tell Me: Have you understood Me?"

"Dear young friend, you have a way of talking that, taken honestly, one has to say: You are right!  And even if everything is not immediately clear to me, I have absolutely nothing to say against it!  But, dear young friend, now comes a 'but'!  If you can dispel all doubts here, then I am already yours and will make your speeches my life's guideline!

Tell me, how is it, since there have always been great sages, scholars and artists of life, that mankind has not yet reached a higher stage?  Behold: Taking advantage of the blindness of the people, for example, the Templars and comrades seek only to exploit the people, and that in a way that makes one's hair stand on end!  On the other hand, see the power of money, see the power of the flesh and the power of the lust for power!  All this contributes to the fact that man does not advance!

For I always thought: God is certainly good; and man, out of God, should therefore also be good!  But look at the people, and you can look for the good!  You may find a few, but they mean nothing; and so you can understand my longing, my hope for a redeemer!  Twenty-five years I wait;  but today I see, it was a foolish hope!"

“My dear host and friend of mankind," Jesus answers, "your speech and answer clearly show me that you have not understood Me; and so I will show you your error, but not now!  Let us go into the house, you will have a guest.  But in the course of the day you shall have light and also comfort, that you may rejoice in your days yet to come on earth!"  And so they went back, quietly and silently.  The day promised to be glorious; and the dewy meadows refreshed and encouraged the three silent wanderers.

Banquet At Julius' House

But Julius, the Roman, arrived early.  A hunch told him that the two friends were again staying in this inn, and his heart beat joyfully when the three of them came striding toward the house.

A heartfelt greeting; the host invites everyone to the morning meal, and Julius gratefully partakes.  They talk about this and that.  Then Julius asks the three: "Come to my house today!  Be my guests for today!  For me it would be an unspeakable joy!"

Jesus looks at the old innkeeper and notices his inner struggle; then Jesus asks: "Why is it so hard for you to decide?  Let happiness be your task in the future, and your life be permeated with sunshine!  Are you a Jew and Julius a Gentile?  Tell me, did you become unclean until now, when the Romans visited you?"  The old innkeeper struggles with himself, and love triumphs: "Yes, we accept your invitation, high lord and commander!"

But Julius refuses: "Not like that, my dear host!  Either you come as a friend and brother, or you stay here!  For this young man showed me that all people should become brothers; and it is only in the spirit of this love that I invite them and you."

He holds out his right hand to the innkeeper, which the old man also takes; then Jesus takes both hands, presses them to His breast and says: "That this covenant may last for eternity, I consecrate it from My inner Spirit and say to you: Remain one in the Spirit of the true, eternal love of God!  You, dear Julius, let your spirit of love-life shine, and you, old host, remain faithful to God's truth, then no storm can bend and break your covenant!  Amen!"

Now Julius urges them to leave, and in a short time they head for Julius' dwelling.  On the way, Julius told many a story from his life, and so it was not long before they arrived at the house.  At the door, Julius once again greeted his guests and welcomed them with all his heart.

Then Julius gave the order to his numerous servants to prepare a banquet after the manner of the Jews.  First they visited the large rooms decorated with wealth and splendor; then they went to the dining room, where the servants set the table.

Now when Jesus saw the golden bowls and plates and wine goblets decorated after the manner of the rich Gentiles, Jesus asked Julius to remove the precious utensils to save him from frustration!  "For," Jesus said to him, "well could I master Myself and drink from a cup with an idol; but it is repugnant to My inward Spirit!  And therefore I ask you to fulfill this request!"

Immediately Julius ordered his housemaster: "Take all gold and decorated vessels away from the table!  And tomorrow all the dishes go to the goldsmith to make everything smooth and without ornamentation!"  Then Jesus gratefully reached out his hand to Julius and said, "My Julius!  Since you wanted to do more than I asked you, I also do it and ask you: Let everything remain in it's place, for what you wished to do at great cost, has already been done."  Julius was startled at this great love and this miraculous Spirit!  But Jesus said, "Do not be frightened!  For the great love of God is one for great things or for little things!  But examine yourself and your heart, lest it suffer any harm by this change!"

The servants are also very astonished; but they are accustomed to do their duty silently; and so a meal was laid out, worthy of a prince, although Julius called no housewife his own.

After the blessing by Jesus, the meal began; the golden wine made the eyes of all look more fiery, and the old host found almost no words for joy.

And so that day passed under joyful, cheerful conversations, only Jesus remained calm.  He rejoiced inwardly over the others.

Although Julius often asked Jesus to tell about His plans, Jesus answered each time: "The call has not yet gone out in Me!  But therefore be glad, cheerful and happy!  I am with you!  For when we come home tomorrow night, heavy duty awaits Me again!  And it is My task to fulfill, so that I do not step over the borders, which the law of Divine order of love also put in Me.

Only when all this is completely fulfilled, when everything in Me will have found it's way home to the great eternal goal of life out of God, only then all these borders will have disappeared for Me!  Then I am free and am one with God, the eternal primordial Spirit.  Therefore rejoice today! And if you have a wish which moves in your own inner circle of life, and I see that you are not endangered in your development, then it can be fulfilled to you today!"

Raphael explains the life in a drop of water

Then Julius' eyes lit up, and, reaching out his hand to Jesus, he said, "Oh, let the fair youth come yet another short hour, that the old host also may be a witness of the great and varied life of God!"

"Let it be!" said Jesus, and the door opened, a young messenger came greeting to the table, bowed to Jesus and the others, and asked to accept his services as a gift from his Lord.  The old innkeeper marvelled at the youth who greeted him as the oldest in the house of Julius, and asked him where from and where to?

To this the messenger answered: "Dear friend of the truth from God!  There is no need to ask: ‘Where from and where to?’ with me, because I am there, where my Lord and Master needs me!  To fulfill His will, is my highest law!  And I could not do otherwise, because I am only penetrated by the one drive to fulfill my holy duty out of God, the eternal Creator of heaven and earth.

Does this seem unbelievable to you?  And yet, later you will recognize this truth and also the one who is the Eternal Truth, Who called me into your midst in order to give you, just you, a proof of grateful love of God, because He has found you worthy to serve the One whom we serve with the innermost joy.  And so now you also, my friends, make known your wishes, so that I may serve you!"

Then the old Jew asked again: "Who then is your Lord, what does He do, and what do you do?  For it is not curiosity of mine, but I only want to see clearly.  And to come in so suddenly through the door!"

"Dear old friend!  Do not ask for nothing!" answered the youth.  "For my Lord is also yours; it is the eternal God and Creator to whom we all owe our being!  Since eternities, I am aware of it!  And there is no greater bliss for me than to serve Him!  And that is why I am here!  My Lord and God called me, and so now accept my services!"

The old innkeeper looks astonished; he looks at the heavenly inhabitant from top to bottom and shakes his head in disbelief.

Then Julius says: "My dear friends, Oh believe me: How I will strive in the future to serve your God and now also my God!  For it has become evident to me: He is the eternal Love!  All His life testifies to this love, and therefore I believe in Him!  And you, young messenger from the heavens, show us something more of all the life which is so closely connected with our God and kind Creator!"

Then Raphael said, "Since you make no special request, have a servant bring a pitcher of water and some cups!"  This was done immediately. Raphael poured two cups full and said: "What we have here is water, pure water taken from the well!  And since you have no idea whatsoever of what is in this water, I will increase here, by the power and goodness of God, just one drop of this water a hundredfold!"

And he dipped his finger into the water, pulled it out again, and a drop of water held onto the finger.  "I want this drop to increase in size!  And now look what all is in that drop!"  Then their eyes grew wide as they saw life upon life!  Little animals, how they mated, gave birth to young and also died again!  And they could not understand it, all this life and death!

And so they were taught that these little animals have otherwise longer life span, but the light from outside kills them; and nevertheless, in the dying, they still give again younger living beings their existence.  And so Raphael repeated the same thing still more often.  The others also held a drop of water on their finger and could not gaze enough at these miracles upon miracles.

Now Raphael dropped a crust of bread into a cup of water and made the cup transparent.  And so they saw how through the bread, other living creatures were added to the water!  And they looked at the fight of these living beings otherwise invisible for the eye.  But after half an hour, all life ceased.

And so Raphael filled the transparent cup with fresh water and said, "Now let us keep out the light!"  He breathed on the cup, and immediately it had a deep dark red color; but held against the light, everything could still be seen clearly, and so they looked at the contents for a while.

Then Raphael put half a fresh fig into the water, and what the friends now saw, was almost beyond their comprehension.  More and more living beings came out of the fig, and it was as if each time a bigger one and many smaller ones came out!  The bigger one was in the middle and the others around it; and so everything moved double and triple.  But unfortunately, they also saw that all the animals that had been there before, were eaten up by the bigger ones!  And so Raphael asked: "Would you now like to drink this cup?"  They all answered in the negative.

Now Raphael let the dark shell fall, and brightly the water rose again before them, but after a while, all life in it ceased again.  Only small bubbles still came out of the fig and rose into the air.  Further they were instructed that this process originated from the light, and that also in these bubbles still living beings existed, however even if a hundredfold enlarged, for the eye still invisible!  "Only for later generations it will be reserved to see also this, what you were allowed to see here!

And so you have had the opportunity here to see some of the life of this glorious world, which the Lord brought into existence only for your sake.  As small as this life begins in the whole matter - as I was allowed to show it to you here - so great it is on other worlds!  So big, that all this life would be incomprehensible for your senses!

But my words shall not serve to make you curious!  Oh no, they shall only testify to the great omnipotence and wisdom of our Lord, the living God, who wants to reflect Himself in this life of all His creations!"

Raphael continued: "And further I want to give you now news of the power and intelligence inherent in me as life from God in me!  You old host and faithful Jew, to you I could roll open your whole life from the first hour of your existence!  And so I want you to see even for a few minutes your past life in you!"

With that, Raphael took his right hand, and what words could not do, this grace did!  For here, Eternal Love reached into his innermost heart and placed all the past moments of his life before his mind's eye, until he himself said: "Now it is enough!  It is all truth!  It is living truth!  And now I experienced my whole life again in this way!   But how is it possible in this short time?"

Here, too, Raphael instructs those present that when the soul leaves the body-shell, there is no more past, as well as no more future for it, but everything is present.  But this said applies only conditionally, only to the earth-time passed in the order of God.

"You, old friend, who faithfully tried to live justly before God and men, you could see the past without being frightened!  And the future I held back with my will, so that you are not bound in your development to spiritual freedom!"

"And so now may the will of God be done for all of you!"  And now Raphael lets the friends see the glorious, gracious love and mercy of God in beautiful pictures and parables and closes with the glorious word: "No-one can speak of heaven, but He who comes from heaven!  But now the Eternal Love of God has Itself put on flesh, so now the human race is prepared to establish a new heaven for itself within itself!  And this through the Spirit of this life out of God, and this Spirit is called and will be called eternally: Love!  Love, gloriously pure, incomprehensible to human senses!  But it is perceptible in the hearts of those who earnestly seek and strive to help, to promote and to redeem.

The future belongs to this Love!  All the destinies of man and beings depend on this Love!  Only a speck of this pure, eternal love of God is necessary to make every human heart happy and free!  So let the spark of love grow in you, for it is the life of God in you!

It is born from the omnipotence of His love for you and is and remains an eternal property of our Lord and God!  For also in the future, no single human will and can accomplish such deeds of love out of himself, which also I did not work from myself, but in the clearest consciousness from the power of God in Me!

The great, glorious goal of this life out of God in all beings

The day was coming to an end.  Then Jesus asked: "Let our ways part, it is enough for today!  And you, dear Raphael, show us, as a farewell, the great goal of all this life from God in this dark matter here; then let it be enough!"

Then the walls disappeared before their eyes, and all matter dissolved into spiritual worlds!  And from the darkness poured light upon light!  And in this light of truth, another light appeared.  And beings upon beings lived in this light and became one with it!

And a voice sounded: "The great work of Love is accomplished, and hatred and envy are extinguished, all that is still evil and dull, is spiritualized, and now wears the garment of salvation!  Hallelujah!  Amen!"

Before they could change their minds, Raphael had disappeared.  For more than an hour, all were silent and consumed by the great, powerful experience.

Then Jesus said to Jacob: "This was the end of our journey!  Conceal it from My brothers; only Mary and Joseph you can tell about it.  And you, dear friends, be also so wise and keep silent before everyone; and do not hope that I will meet your silent desires!  Only then, when God calls Me!  When this will happen, is uncertain!  I still have to unite many things in Me and around Me!  And so we still want to serve each other and then separate in the Spirit of this Love according to the will of God!"

And so it happened.  No-one asked about Raphael; it was so natural that he had disappeared, and yet inwardly so gratifying that God gave them so many beautiful things.

The farewell between Julius and Jesus was touching, and once again, Julius embraced his Jesus.

And then Julius and his whole house were blessed by the old, honest landlord.  Julius accompanied his dear guests until they reached the innkeeper's house, and then he hurried home.

Farewell to the host and return to Nazareth

The old landlord rejoiced inwardly, he knew now: This one is the Messiah!  And having arrived at the house, he asked Jesus and Jacob to stay here permanently, which Jesus firmly refused, making the old innkeeper understand His duties and His mission!  "That you have recognized Me is a great happiness!"  said Jesus to him.  "But once you live out of My Spirit, then you are blessed and are released from all the world!  For He who lives in Me, also wants to live in you!  Then we are brothers forever!  But it is not yet so far; let us struggle for it, so that it come to pass!  God gives strength and blessing!

Now Jacob had to tell many things, and after supper, they went to their beds.

They left the house early.  The old innkeeper accompanied them for another hour, until Jesus asked: "Go home now, for duties await you there!  And if I may ask you, do not visit Me in Nazareth, for there I can not serve you as you wish, and can not give you what you seek!  Seek it within you, and you shall find it!

Be content that you always have God before your eyes and even more in your heart!  And no-one will frustrate you anymore, whether Jew, priest or pagan!

When My time comes, I will also bring you no heaven and no God, but only show and prepare the way to Him for all!  And this way leads into your inner being!

And therefore now go home in this peace and greet cordially from My Spirit of love My brother Julius!  Peace be with you!  And blessed be your steps, blessed be your doings, if they are always done out of the Spirit of the eternal love of God!"

And so the three of them parted.  The old man shaded his eyes, tears rolled down his beard; and as long as he could still see them, he stood still and blessed them with both hands.  Then he went home to his dwelling.  The two of them left quickly and talked again at length about all that had happened, until Jesus said: "You know, dear Jacob, there is one thing I am sometimes afraid of, and I dare not think, that you of all people will fall down!

And so let Me ask you cordially: Look only at Me and My doing!  Ask, as before, only in your heart, then everything will become clear to you, and you will be My helper and support!

When we come home, a new fight will begin, and it will be even harder!  For I assure you, the opponents will pull out all the stops to shake Me in My principle of life!  And I must be silent to many things!  Silence and always again silence!

But where do you think I find the courage to do all this and where do I get the strength to resist?  In silence.  And so My heart fills with sorrow and with love!  For every day shows Me My great goal!  But always, in the silence, I call to Myself: "Stay firm!  Stay strong!  Not one step back!  Only forward be My striving!"  And so I have tested Myself and have found that if I will, I can.  For all ability depends on the will.  But all will must bow to the recognized will of God.  Only then the inside becomes free and full, overfull the heart, which beats in love for God and all human brothers!  Thus we rejoice in our love!  For this too, is a gift from God and is given to us to serve!”

My dear Jesus," Jacob said slowly, "now there is a doubt again, and I think it must be because of Nazareth!  For far from home I believed you to be God, and was happy and free!  But now we are soon at home again, I see, you are man and yet not God!  Tell me, how is that?"

Jesus smiled and held out His hand to Jacob, saying: "You still have much to learn and everything old to bury!  Take note: I am human like you and carry  the Divine in Me, just like you!

Enter into God, as I do, then you unite yourself with God!  For God wants to be nothing according to His inner Love-Being, but only everything in His child!  That is what I am struggling for!  You also struggle for it!  Then you will not only unite with God, but also with Me!

And so, as we became one, then other people will join!  And only then it is guaranteed that this seed of eternal love from God has taken root here on this earth!  And from this seed, children of light - children of love - will be raised and educated, who will help and promote the life out of God.  And therefore learn from Me, and your will shall become action!"

Quietly they went on their way.  And with the setting of the sun, tired, they reached their home, eagerly awaited by those who stayed at home!

In the evening Jacob still told about the beautiful building and about the love and hospitality of the old and the attachment of the young Zacchaeus.

And the old, aged Joseph embraced Jacob and Jesus out of joy at what he had heard; for he had no other thanks.  Joseph, who always had words, was silent today, because his joy after this separation was too great.  And so, after the evening blessing, all went to rest.

And thus ended this scene, which was a consecrated act in the life of the young Jesus!

Temptation

The rough season was over;  the beginning of the rain announced the coming spring, but also increased work, and so also in the house of Joseph, an active life began.

The old, aged Joseph could now do nothing more; he felt only tired; and he did not conceal to Mary that he would prefer to go home to his fathers.

"But the worry about Jesus constricts my heart!  If only we had not let Jesus and Jacob go last year, because He even infected Jacob with His calmness and His closedness!  They both work more than too much; but I don't like it: Why do they remain so alone?  Why do they not open their hearts to us?  This is my sorrow!  Oh God!  How will this end?  When will these trials cease?"

And every complaint hurt Mary, because she did not know what to answer Joseph.

"How gladly" - says Joseph - "I would have carried grandchildren in my arms;  but alas, it is not granted me!  Tell me: Why does Jacob not want to marry?  With Jesus it is impossible, since His spiritual and Divine mission does not permit it!  But with Jacob?  Oh My God!  Let me not be deceived!"

So the speeches go on for weeks, but Jesus and Jacob act as if they hear and see nothing!

It is like a silent agreement between these two.  They are literally grown together, quiet at work, even more quiet at shared meals, and even the frequent visits do not bring them out of their reserve.

Mary is used to this and complies; she knows with Jesus why and for what, but Jacob also makes her heart uneasy.

Then a distant relative comes to visit, in order to remain, if possible, permanently in the house of Joseph, as it was already agreed among the fathers.  This girl's name was Gabi, and she was tall, slender, and as nimble as a weasel; Joseph intended to marry Jacob to Gabi, and so he also said this to Jacob.

But Jacob answered: "Dear father!  If it is God's will, I will do it; but I must first test myself and Gabi before I can desire her as my wife!  So give me time;  be assured, I will strive to remain a good son to you!"

Likewise Mary was glad about Jacob, that he came closer to this thought; and so all did their duty.  But what did the new housemate do?  She firstly strictly obeyed Joseph's house rules, but her heart and her senses drew her to Jesus!

Jacob soon noticed this, and so there was soon a debate that brought endless grief to the house of Joseph.

Gabi loved Jesus and not Jacob, and she briefly declared: "Never can we marry!  I cannot commit this fraud on my love!  Either Jesus or none!"

How Mary suffered for this beautiful, virtuous and pious girl; like a mother she tended her; but where Jesus was alone, there the girl was with Him!

Until Jesus said: "Gabi!  You cannot go on like this!  I cannot and must not free you!  You imagine that you love Me, but it is self-deception!  What you call love is only a desire of My body.  Go!  Go!  Under these circumstances you are a nuisance to Me!"

But Gabi did not listen and openly wooed Jesus.

Once again Jesus, first humbly pleading, then sharply, rebuked the girl this way and said plainly: "You can never become My wife, because God destines Me for something else, something more powerful!  Therefore, Gabi, come to your senses, and you will come closer to an infinitely greater happiness!  A happiness, which this earth does not know yet!  Therefore do not stop Me!  Through Me the way is paved to this great, mighty happiness of life!"

Gabi let herself be calmed down, but after a short time, the fight began again.

Jesus was alone in the house, it was the Sabbath.  Joseph, Mary and the others were all in the synagogue, only Jesus remained in the house.  Because Gabi was in the house, Jesus separated himself even more also from Jacob, in order not to influence Jacob on the one hand and on the other hand, in order to internalize Himself even more!

Gabi must have known that Jesus was staying in the house, and sought Him out in His chamber, where He was resting on His couch.

Jesus was about to get up, when Gabi asked: "Lie still - I must speak with you and come clean, because I can't stand it any longer in Joseph's house".  And so Gabi once again revealed her inner life of love and asked Jesus to give up His intention and to agree to her proposal.

Jesus stood up and said, "Gabi!  And if you would give Me all the treasures of the earth, and if you would carry Me on your hands: I must not become yours, never be yours!  Consider what I have told you so many times!  Why do you pursue Me with your sensuality!  I know only one love, and it is free from passion!  This pure love wants to desire nothing, only sacrifice!  And because I also love you in and with this love, I tell you: Go away!  Go away until you overcome!  Then come again, and our house is open to you!"

"My Jesus!  I will never go away!  Even your mother told me I am welcome to her as a daughter; and so I do not depart from here, from the place that belongs to my love!"

So Jesus was about to leave, and His look was sad.  Then Gabi hurried to the door and pushed the latch forward.  "No, I won't let you!" she cried and wanted to embrace Jesus.  But He gently pushed her back and went to the door.  Then Gabi rushed before Him: "Jesus!  Don't do this to me!  Do not go away!  Look at me, I beg You for Your love!"

But Jesus smiled sadly and shook his head in denial.

But Gabi resolutely got up, tore off her clothes, and the next moment stood naked before Jesus.  "Here take me!  I can't help it!"  Such were her words, and Jesus was about to stretch out His hands to her, when all at once He shuddered before this great temptation!

He pushed back the bolt, left the girl alone in the chamber, and as if driven by furies He hurried out of the house, toward the forest, toward the mountains!

Ashamed, Gabi waited for Jesus.  But He did not come - and so she went outside the house to wait for Joseph's family.

In honor of Gabi, it must be said here: Immediately after the appearance of the family, Gabi requested a discussion with Joseph and Mary, hiding nothing and asking for forgiveness: "Now I can no longer stay!"  And so it was decided that Gabi should stay two more days, wanting first to receive forgiveness from Jesus, and then to return home.

But Jesus did not return!  A full week passed.  No news came from Jesus!  No-one had seen Him!  There was again great sorrow in Joseph's house; Gabi wept from morning till night, and even at night she could not sleep.

Once, in the middle of the night, someone calls out: "Gabi!  Come!  I need you!"  Then she got up, also said to Maria: "Jesus is calling!  He needs me!  I'm going to Him!" - and so she hurried out of the door.

It was dark, and she hurried away alone, on an unknown path; all her senses were focused only on Jesus, and so she did not notice how hours passed, how the day dawned, in the middle of the wasteland, hurrying along the mountain ridge, past ravines, to finally arrive at an unknown place, where Jesus longingly awaited her!  At last she is with Him!

But as she was about to rush toward Him, she stopped three steps in front of Him, looked at Him and began to cry: "Oh my Jesus!  What have I done to You!  Oh forgive me!  I forgot what You told me so many times."  With these words, she approaches Him and holds out both hands.

Jesus said: "Gabi!  For My sake and for yours, I had to be alone!  For My sake, because I must overcome what still lies in Me as a soul, as a lowly thing!  For your sake, because you shall be happy for eternity!

Behold, your life must not be chained to Mine, according to earthly terms - because you shall yet learn to love another man!  And later you will thank Me, when I bless you and your children!  And then you will also recognize this, My high, holy work of love, which I will accomplish for the salvation of all people!

And so, Gabi, understand Me and let us be alone here this day; then at night we will go home!"

Startled, she looks at Jesus and looks around and is even more startled when she sees the surroundings!  For on the way there she hurried carelessly past all the dangers.

"Jesus!  Jesus!  Where are we?" - she asks, horrified.  "Why did You call me here?  Why did You not come home?  Because everyone there lives in worry and sorrow for You!  And now that I am gone, I add to the sorrow!  Come, let us go home and make amends for the suffering I have caused you."

"Gabi!  I like you better this way!  But we will return home only at night, so that your reputation does not suffer.  But we both must truly test ourselves, whether all sensual and carnal things have been overcome.  But do not look at Me in such horror!  Do not be afraid, but rejoice, because this struggle in Me is over, and you have been made useful as an instrument of Eternal Love!

Gabi!  Look around you!  The sun standing in the sky, as the covenant sister of Eternal Love, greets us.  It's light shows us our destiny: to hurry towards this light of love in order to become a light-giver ourselves: as a human being - for the human being, and as a human being for everything created!

And that is why we must stand high - and liberated; high above everything lowly, liberated from that which could still provoke us to sin!  Only then may we begin to work in the Spirit of Jehovah, that is, in the Spirit of His redeeming love!"

The scales fall from the girl's eyes, and she now sees in Jesus the purest love of God!  She approaches Him and says solemnly: "Oh Jesus!  Help me to learn to serve You and to become Your sister!

All passion was gone, gone was the desire to possess Jesus!

So she asked Him: "Yes, what do You live on up here?  I too am hungry; have You made provision for food and drink?"  Then Jesus smiled.  A ray of purest love struck the girl, and He said: "Gabi!  Do not worry about what we will eat and drink!

We feed on what the inner man gives us.  And gladly and willingly the outer man, once the limit of the natural lets himself be sustained by it!

For behold, basically all this that we enjoy on earth has come out of the Spirit and the life that is one with the inner man!  You do not understand this, because you have not yet been placed in this high school of life.  But do not worry, we are not starving!"

Now Jesus told the girl about His great struggle and described the way in which He steeled Himself, and how everything had to bow to His will to live, which was recognized in depth.

And Gabi lived into Jesus' inner life and then saw all the inner life that was revealed in Him, here in this solitude!

And so Jesus testified: "This temptation was one of My strongest struggles!  And therefore, Gabi, reveal yourself now!  Do not be afraid to profane anything, but seek to sanctify and consecrate the growing and driving life of God within you!"

And so Gabi revealed herself.  But not filled with shame, but as if wrapped in heavenly glory, she stood before Him.  And her body became a temple full of holy, deep thoughts of God!

And Jesus saw the victory in Himself and experienced the heavenly joy: He had overcome!  Not the slightest thought of sensuality came out of His heart!  Deep, deep under His feet He had conquered this, man's greatest evil!

"So, dear sister-heart, now clothe yourself!  For eternities you will recognize the service you rendered to mankind!  And even if no man learns of this service of yours, you will be rewarded once, as if all people thanked you!

Now become happy as a human being among your own and fulfill your coming duty in love, when you are confronted with tasks that await you.

But do not forget this holy day!  For it was the most difficult, but also the most beautiful!  The most difficult, as the final battle of everything sensual in Me; the most beautiful, as the crowned final act of this drama, which could have brought tremendous suffering!"

Like children they lived through this day, as if under the eyes of the loving Mother (the Sun), and so they also started the way home; at the dangerous places they went hand in hand like lovers, held by the hand of the holy love of God.

Late at night they came home and hand in hand they entered the house.  Only Mary and Jacob were still up.  Mary was not a little surprised when she saw Jesus coming hand in hand with the girl.

Then Gabi rushed up to Mary, kissed her, and said: "Now all is well, dear mother, and no more sorrow nor woe shall be caused by me or by any other woman!  Jesus has overcome!"

Mary wept with joy as she looked at Jesus, for His face reflected joy, and His eyes testified to His victorious inner life.  Now Jesus described His struggle.  And the most beautiful thing became His reward: He was understood!

And so again a chapter is finished, which brought Jesus closer to His great goal!

Joseph goes home to his fathers

In the house of Joseph, where Mary had the threads of order in her hand, but all business was directed by Joel, everything went it's old course, and it seemed as if peace and harmony had come.  For since the last time Jesus left the house for Gabi's sake, He had always remained at work and at home; and if possible, Jesus no longer went overland with the brothers.

Gabi had left the house and so had the other girls, so that when Mary sometimes needed help, she asked Jesus, who gladly granted her such requests.

Yes, a transformation had taken place with Jesus and with Jacob.  In the evening, after the evening blessing, when everyone wanted to go to rest, Jesus would sometimes ask them to stay up for a little while so that they could talk together.

Only Joseph went to rest; he was tired - always tired, because the years were pressing on his shoulders; and the old Joseph lived himself into a spirit of prayer that led him more into his own interior.  And when he sometimes felt the inner closeness to God, Jesus always came to him in the parlour, as if by chance, and they would talk for hours.

And miracles happen to Joseph!  Whereas before he could never stand it if anyone missed a single hour of work - it was like a sin against Jehovah to him - now he saw that work on one's own inner self was also necessary!  And so Jesus gladly helped the old Joseph with such directions.

So also today.  The brothers had a great work in Capernaum.  It took them months, and only once or twice a week they came home in the evening, only to hurry back to Capernaum in the morning.  The brothers were up early, and Mary had her hands full, preparing food for several days.

Then Joseph appeared in the parlour, his expression was pleading, and so he asked Joel: "Can't you leave Jesus here for me one morning?  My heart longs for Him!"

"Father!" said Joel - "I will gladly grant your wish!  Not only for one morning, no, He may come tomorrow, we will manage!  But, dear father, forgive me for asking: How is it that you need Jesus now?

In the past the mother could not be without her Jesus, and now the evil seems to have taken hold of you!  Why do you not sometimes ask for one of us?  Are we not your sons, and represent you everywhere in your righteous purpose?  Jehovah may know what shall now arise again."

"My son Joel," Joseph answered sorrowfully - "the answer to that will be given to you by time itself!  But remember: I, your father, have put a request to your heart, and you, my son, want to fulfill it mixed with gall?  Think about it!  Never in my life did I ask for too much, and not even today!  Therefore go, and Jesus may go with you!  I want to be alone today! - and deeply distressed, he went back to his chamber.

Joel did not expect this answer, and so he wanted to hurry after his father.  Then Jesus met him and said: "Leave the father alone!  Before we go, I will go to him again!"  And so they all got ready to leave.

But as a farewell, they all went together to Joseph in the chamber to get the blessing for the coming days.  Then Joseph said: "My sons!  Go, accompanied by my love, to your work!  I am not able to bless you today, for I do not feel the strength in my heart to do so.  But you, oh Jesus, I ask: Bless me and your brothers!  For where You bless, there is truly blessing!  Yes!  I now see more and more clearly: without Your blessing, I am no longer able to exist; and all that we have enjoyed and acquired up to now, is due to Your blessing alone!"

Here Joseph kneels - for the first time - before Jesus, and He laid both hands on Joseph's hoary head and said: "In the name of Jehovah, your faithful God, I bless you!  That you may be filled with the Spirit that leads you into all truth of life, and that you may soon learn to recognize Him who has so richly blessed and loved you!  Amen.

And you, dear brothers, and you, Mary: Be blessed from the power of brotherly and Fatherly love towards you, which is Jehovah Himself!  That you may take up in yourselves the will and the power to understand Him who is so near to you - your God, your Father from everlasting to everlasting!  Amen!"

Deeply shaken, all stood around Joseph; then Joseph spoke as if in rapture, "Oh my faithful God!  You my guiding star!  You my goal in life!  Your ways, often dark to me, are becoming clear!  All the trials of my life and this my house I now recognize.  It was only Your great love that I could not recognize until now!  But now let me return to You!

I have found and recognized: You are my life's salvation, goal and bliss!  Everything that I could not achieve with my own efforts, You now give me out of love and grace!  Many thanks!  Oh my God!  My Lord!  Words fail, my heart beats only for You!  Amen."

Then the brothers, including Jesus, went their way in silence, and the day's tasks fulfilled their being.

Late in the afternoon, however, a messenger came, sent by Mary: Jesus, and if possible all of them, should come home today!  The Father was asking for everyone, especially for Jesus.

Joel went to Jesus and asked Him if He could give him some advice.  "For Mary's call is strange to me!  Do you want to go home alone, or shall we all leave the work at Father's request?"

Then Jesus said earnestly: "Yes, my brother Joel, let us all go!  I knew it would come to this!  For our Joseph, our Father, is preparing for the last step in the earthly - and so his heart desires to still speak to us."

And all returned home.  The day that had begun with such promise of blessing, how would it end?  If the brothers walked in silence in the morning, now they walked even more introspectively; indeed, it was as if the whole way was a prayer.

Mary looked more and more longingly for the expected ones, and tears came to her eyes when the homecomers entered the dwelling.

The old father had fallen asleep a little, but the talking woke him again and made him long for Jesus and his sons.  When they entered the chamber, he wanted to rise from his bed, but he felt too weak to do so.

Joel asked, "Dear father, how do you feel, or what can I do for you?  Shall I carry you into the parlour, for there we will make you more comfortable?"  Joseph nodded his head, and so it was done.

Now came the night, which was to be the last, where they could still be together with their old father.  Joseph asked nothing more, he also did not want to talk; he only wanted to be with his own.

And so that night not only the numerous family, but also some relatives and friends were gathered, who suspected that the house of Joseph is approaching a mourning.  Shortly after midnight Joseph lay down to rest - and also around him became quiet.  How detached he was from earthly things, he knew: "I will stay among my own for a few more hours!”  And peace entered his heart, because he knew: Jehovah makes everything good!

But Mary with her sons did not rest, in their hearts was the certainty: Today he goes from us!  And one of them told the other.

Only Jesus did not say a word.  His nature was solemn, nothing to be noticed of mourning!  The mother could not explain this.  But if her heart had not been filled with such anguish, perhaps a discussion would have been worthwhile.

Toward morning, Joseph once again called for Mary and his sons.  Each one he pressed to his heart with blessing, but it cost him strength and effort, and the words failed him!

When Jesus stood before Joseph, it was not Joseph, but Jesus who took the old Joseph to His heart!  All surrounded the bed weeping, only Jesus was calm, and this calmness passed over to Joseph.  And so Joseph lay for an hour, held by Jesus, in His arms.

A transfiguring glow emanated from the dying Joseph, and with the content-heavy words: "My Jesus!  My God and my Lord!  Receive my thanksgiving!  For it is You!  You, my faithful God and my Lord!"   He breathed out one more deep breath, and the struggle was over.

Calmly Jesus laid the body on his bed; but the weepers again did not understand how Jesus, in spite of everything, could be so calm!

But Jesus went out and left the weepers alone.  For Him there was no separation.  Death was not a horror for Him, only a necessary evil, which must be abolished, if life, holy inner life is to arise.

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Table of Contents

1. Return to the old innkeeper 4

2. Experiences at sunrise 5

3. Banquet At Julius' House 8

4. Raphael explains the life in a drop of water 10

5. The great, glorious goal of this life out of God in all beings 13

6. Farewell to the host and return to Nazareth 14

7. Temptation 16

8. Joseph goes home to his fathers 21