From that day forth we noted but seldom in our Master’s countenance that
look of expectancy which had sometimes perplexed us before. For now, and
for many days after, he spake and acted like one that seeth things to come
as clear as things past. On the morrow after the blessing of Simon Peter,
he called us together, and told us that we must go up to Jerusalem at the
next Passover. If we were joyful before, much more did we rejoice now; and
Judas smote his hands together for very gladness, esteeming Jerusalem
already captured. For he supposed that Jesus could not march up to
Jerusalem so as not to raise up the Romans against him, “and when they
come against us in battle,” he said, “then Jesus will perforce put forth
his power against them, and will utterly destroy them.”
These words said Judas (but not so loud that Jesus could hear them) during
the first stir that followed the saying of Jesus about going up to
Jerusalem. But Jesus opened his mouth to speak again, and behold, he
prophesied things that passed all understanding; namely, that he should be
rejected by the rulers of the people, and delivered over to them, and put
to death with insult. But then he added that although this must needs come
to pass, yet in a few days afterwards, yea no more than one or two, it
should be with him as with Jonah, whose prayer was heard even from the
belly of hell, and according to the words of the prophet Hosea, who wrote
this saying, “Come and let us return unto the Lord, for he hath torn and
he will heal us: he hath smitten and he will bind us up. After two days
will he restore us to life; in the third day he will raise us up, and we
shall live in his sight.”
We stood silent around him, all agape with wonder, and scarce believing
our ears. But he spake quietly and cheerfully, like unto one describing
what had already been accomplished, or as if he perceived that the thing
was as much according to nature as that a stone should fall downwards or a
spark fly upwards. For not long afterwards he spake as if this were an
ordinance of God, that “Whoso saveth his life shall lose it; but whoso
loseth it shall save it:” desiring, as I suppose, to teach us that in
death, no less than in life, there prevailed that great Law of God which
was ever in his mouth, “Give, and it shall be given unto you:” meaning
that whoso gave up his life unto the Father should receive it again
abundantly, both now and ever.
Notwithstanding, at this time our ears were deaf and our hearts were
hardened against all such words as these, and we feared to ask him
concerning them. Only Peter, mindful how Jesus had of late blessed him,
and therefore venturing somewhat more than the rest, would fain
expostulate. So after he had besought Jesus not to vex the hearts of us
his loving followers by prophesying evil things, he spake concerning the
death of Jesus, saying, “Be it far from thee, O Master; this shall not
happen to thee.” Then Jesus looked wrathfully upon Simon Peter, even as he
had looked before upon Jonathan the son of Ezra, and he rebuked Peter as
if he had been the Adversary himself tempting him; and he said, “Get thee
behind me, Satan; thou art a stumblingblock unto me; for thou savourest
not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Yet was there no
hate in his countenance, though he used the name of Satan; but there was
grief, and trouble, and many signs of inward perturbation; as if Peter had
assailed him where he was weakest, appealing to him in the name of the
disciples whom he must needs forsake. Yea, the tears seemed nigh at hand
even in the moment of the bitterest rebuking.
After this, Jesus began to speak to us of the journey to Jerusalem, how
full of peril, and how desperate it was like to be. For he said that
whosoever followed him must be prepared to risk all for his sake. Yea,
even as men condemned to die might go forth to their doom with the ropes
round their necks or the crosses on their shoulders, even so must we go up
to Jerusalem, all prepared for death, if we were fain to go with him. And
this he said many times, saying that none might follow him except they
would take up the cross; and during all the time of our going up to
Jerusalem, the cross was, as it were, the only watch‐word that he would
appoint for them that went with him: insomuch that some, mocking, called
it a journey of the cross, or a journey of the halter. But he added that,
if we had courage to go with him, a reward was in store for us: “Whosoever
will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my
sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his
angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works.”
Now at these last words Judas turned away in anger, saying in a low voice,
“He speaketh only of what is after the grave.” But Jesus straightway
added, “Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not
taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom.” At
these words we all rejoiced again, and Judas with the rest, for, said he,
“These words are no dark saying, but such as babes can understand.” So we
went out from the presence of Jesus marvelling indeed, but rejoicing even
more than we marvelled.
Now when we were come forth, and were alone apart from Jesus, we disputed
among ourselves what his words might mean. But Judas said (after his wont)
that whatsoever was obscure should be interpreted by that part which was
clearer. Now Jesus had declared that he would come and reward his
followers and take unto himself his Kingdom even in the lifetime of some
that were standing by. But as for the rest, concerning the losing of life
and finding of it, and as for what Jesus had said concerning his own dying
and rising again, it was clear, said Judas, that the words were used
poetically and in a figure, as if one should speak of sinking into the pit
of the darkness of ruin and then of being raised up therefrom, as it had
been described also by Jonah, and as Hosea the prophet had spoken.
But then Thomas said, “Yet methinks, since all men must die, therefore
also the Redeemer of Israel must perforce come to the grave at some time;
and then what shall befall the disciples that shall remain in the flesh?”
To this some one made reply that Jesus would assuredly not depart from
life till he had established the kingdom and trampled all our enemies
under his feet. Another said that, if Jesus indeed died as a captive
according to his own words, then his death would be like unto that of
Samson, who destroyed many thousands of the Gentiles in his own
destruction. But still Thomas persevered that, whensoever the time came
that Jesus should depart from the flesh, then all the brightness of joy
would depart from the disciples for ever.
Then John answered and said that Thomas had well spoken, only that the
Lord would provide against so great an evil; and he added, “Let us not
suppose that the gates of death can separate us from the love of the Lord,
neither let our imagination assure us that the grave is a strong place
against the hand of the Almighty. For by the Word of God we were framed;
and by the Word of God we were born; and by the Word of God we live; and
by the Word of God we die; and by the Word of God we are to give account
before the King of kings. Wherefore if even we are in the hand of the Lord
though we lie in the grave, how much more is the Redeemer of Israel, who
is in the bosom of the Father? Wherefore my counsel is that we trust in
the Lord, and that we rejoice because we see our Master rejoicing.”
To this we all agreed. Howbeit, when we tried to understand the meaning of
the words of Jesus, the judgment of Judas seemed good to the most part of
us. And so it was that when we rejoiced, we rejoiced with John; but when
we reasoned we reasoned with Judas. But of this we were all with one
consent persuaded, that it could not be that the Lord would permit such an
one as Jesus of Nazareth to die a common death; but either he would not
die at all, or if he were taken from us, it must be after the manner of
Elias, exalted to heaven in a chariot of fire.
But Jesus desired to offer up prayers to the Lord upon Mount Hermon before
he set his face to go southward to Jerusalem. For he had long been
journeying towards it, and it seemed to be unto him as a goal and limit of
his wanderings. Moreover at all times Jesus loved to be alone on the tops
of mountains, not as though he counted high places to be more holy than
others, but because all visible things testified to him of the Father, and
when he looked forth upon the world at sunrise from the summit of a
mountain, then the Angels of God which rule over the light and the sky and
the earth and the air, seemed to speak unto him with a louder and a fuller
voice. Moreover though he spake not of the moon and stars in parables (but
only of the flowers of the field and the seed and the smaller things of
earth), yet did he oft consider the heavens and the lights therein which
are the works of the fingers of God; and for this cause he would sometimes
spend a whole night upon a mountain‐top alone, meditating on the works of
God. So it came to pass that on the morrow after these things we went with
Jesus even to the foot of Mount Hermon. There we tarried during the night
in a village just below the mountain; but Jesus left us and went up the
mountain alone, save that he took with him Simon Peter, and John, and
James the brother of John.
Now as for what happened on the mountain, I myself was not present; but
the three disciples told us afterwards things that made us to marvel. At
first indeed they saw nothing more than common, nor indeed took heed of
aught which they saw; for they were wearied with the labour of the long
journey, going for many hours up hill, and besides they were faint with
hunger; insomuch that, when they were come to that part of the mountain
where the snow lieth continually, they were borne down with sleep. Hereat
Jesus bade them stay where they were, and pray; but he himself went
forward higher up the mountain, as it were a distance of three bowshot;
yet not so far but they could hear his voice; for the air was exceeding
still, and all sounds came with a marvellous clearness to their ears even
from very far off. Now it came to pass that when the three disciples were
alone, they strove to pray, sometimes standing up, but at other times
kneeling or lying flat upon their faces. Howbeit their eyes were still
weighed down and heavy with sleep; but even as they began to slumber,
behold, the voice of Jesus, like unto the voice of an angel, fell upon
their ears magnifying and praising God. So the night passed, while they
lay there betwixt sleeping and waking; sometimes hearing the voice of
Jesus and praying with him; anon falling into slumber and dreaming strange
dreams and seeing visions; and (betwixt dreaming and waking) scarce able
to know what they saw, nor what they heard, nor even whether they slept or
waked. But at the last the Lord sent upon them a deep sleep; and how long
they slept they knew not, but suddenly with one consent awaking, they
perceived that they were on holy ground, and that the presence of the Lord
was around them, and the voice of the Lord sounding in their ears. Yet for
the instant they knew not what work the Lord had in hand; only they felt
that He was very nigh.
But when they came to themselves, they heard the voice of Jesus speaking
words as if conversing with men present and face to face. Then for a brief
space the disciples lay even where they had been sleeping, still and
astonied, supposing that it was a dream and that the voice should have
speedily ceased. But it ceased not, but continued. And they heard Jesus
plainly speaking both to Moses and to Elias concerning that which was to
come to pass in Jerusalem; which, he said, would not be an error, nor a
misadventure, but the very fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, and the
fore‐ordained will of the Father. (Also Quartus saith (but this I heard
not myself from any of the three) that Jesus testified unto Moses, saying
that he came not to destroy sacrifice but to fulfil sacrifice.)
But when the disciples perceived that it was no dream, they with one
consent started up; and behold, the sun was just risen, and Hermon was all
a‐fire with the glory of the Lord, and the ice and the snow all around
shone like unto burning gold and silver and sapphire, only far brighter,
even as the brightness of the Throne of the Majesty on High. But Jesus
stood on a rock above them; and when they looked on him, behold, his
garments were exceeding white, whiter than snow, and his face was
transfigured as the face of an archangel, and his shape was all glorious
to behold, shining with a wondrous light; and his eyes were set like unto
one looking on the forms of departing friends. For Moses and Elias were
now passed away and were no more to be seen.
But Simon Peter, being nigh distraught at the glory of the sight, and
scarce knowing whether he were asleep or awake, cried out to Jesus in a
loud voice that they would remain on that mountain‐top for ever; and he
said, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three
tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” But
Jesus took no heed of his words, but kept still gazing upon Moses and
Elias. And while they still looked, the Lord sent down on them a cloud,
and compassed them round with darkness; and they feared exceedingly when
they entered into the cloud; and there came a voice as of thunder out of
the cloud, saying that Jesus was the son of God. Then fell the disciples
on their faces, and offered up prayers unto the Lord. But presently, when
they arose, the cloud had passed away, and Jesus alone was standing by
their side.
When Jesus came down from the mountain, all we that were waiting for him
in the village below perceived that he had had a vision; for there was
still an unwonted brightness on his countenance. Likewise also the people
which were with us (for there was a great multitude) marvelled at the
brightness of his countenance; and running to Jesus, they saluted him as a
prophet. Some also began to beseech him to heal a certain boy which was
possessed with an evil spirit. For so it was that, while Jesus was upon
the mountain, certain of the Pharisees that dwelt in that village (for
there was a synagogue there, and many Jews dwelt round about that country)
came to us bringing one possessed with an unclean spirit and bidding us
cast him out. So we adventured to drive him out. But we could not do it.
Therefore the Pharisees strove against us and declared that we were
vagabonds and deceivers, and that our Master was like unto us; and of the
multitude part sided with us and part with the Pharisees, insomuch that
there was a great uproar and noise of contention. All these things had
come to pass while Jesus was coming down from the mountain; but when we
saw Jesus near at hand, straightway on both sides we all ceased from our
contention.
Now when Jesus understood the cause of the contention, and that the
Pharisees were striving against us because we had not been able to drive
out the unclean spirit, he looked around both upon us and our adversaries:
and behold, we were all heated with disputing, and angered by
reproachings, and there was no faith in us. Therefore he was sorely
grieved, and he sighed bitterly, and said, “O faithless and perverse
generation, how long shall I be with you, how long shall I suffer you?”
Then he turned to the father of the child (for the man was standing nigh,
piteously bewailing his child) and he said, “Bring thy son hither to me.”
So they brought him.
But Jesus, looking upon the boy and upon the father and upon the
Pharisees, and upon all them which were standing nigh, perceived
straightway that there was no faith as yet that the boy should be cured.
Therefore he asked the father certain questions touching the boy, and the
man replied that the boy had been possessed even from a child; “and
oftentimes,” continued he, weeping as he spake, “it hath cast him into the
fire, and into the waters to destroy him; but if thou canst do anything,
have compassion on us and help us.” When Jesus perceived that the man had
not yet faith (but only desire bordering upon faith), he said unto him,
repeating the man’s words, “_If_ thou canst; _if_ thou canst. Nay, but
believe. All things are possible to him that believeth.” And straightway
the man cried out for anguish of soul, and said with tears, “Lord, I
believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Then the face of Jesus was glad, and
immediately he rebuked the unclean spirit; and it came forth tearing the
boy and leaving him as one dead, insomuch that many said “he is dead.” But
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Hereupon the multitude departed, praising God for His goodness; but when
we were come to the house, we asked him why we had not been able to cast
out the unclean spirit. Jesus answered that it was because of our want of
faith; and he repeated the words which he had before spoken, that
whosoever had but faith, even as a grain of mustard‐seed, should be able
to uproot mountains. But such spirits as these, he said, could not be
driven out save by much prayer. He did not further rebuke us for our ill
success: but our want of faith seemed to engender in him a certain
disquietude for our sakes, perchance because he perceived that we were as
yet too weak to stand by ourselves; and this, though the hour was nigh
when his hand could no longer hold us upright. Howbeit he said no more at
that season, but only gave command that we should straightway set out for
Capernaum.