When Jesus had made an end of denouncing the Pharisees, many of the young
men with them and their servants were desirous to have laid hands on him;
and they came near as if for that intent, but the older sort checked them.
Yet was their wrath clearly to be read in their faces: and when I came out
of the temple, being a little space behind the rest, Hezekiah the Scribe
overtook me and said, “Young man, I warn thee that thou mayest with speed
sever thyself from this blind shepherd: for lo, he hath to‐day provoked
war, and war shall fall upon him; for unless he perish we shall perish.”
But I made answer, that I should follow Jesus constantly even to the end.
Then he spake again of the evil which, he said, had befallen that rash
young man Barabbas; how that he had been taken ten days ago by the Romans
on the road that goeth down to Jericho, while he was riding at the head of
a band of Galileans that were raising sedition: and, said Hezekiah to me,
“Thy friend of Jotapata is to be crucified, as I hear, two or three days
hence. Take heed therefore unto thine own steps, lest thou also fall into
the same destruction.” I made him no further answer, but departed,
sorrowing not a little for the sake of Barabbas: for I had not before
heard how great an evil had befallen him.
When I overtook the rest, I heard the disciples conversing earnestly one
with another; and the Greek, even the friend of Philip, bade us take note
that we were beset with spies and watched; for “When ye issued from the
temple,” said he, “I perceived that the servants of the chief priests and
the Pharisees watched you whithersoever ye turned; and, meseemeth, it is
their intent to lay hands on your Master this night. But I marvel why your
Master so inveighed against the Pharisees, transgressing the bounds of
seemliness and decorum, at least in my judgment.” So spake he, after his
Greek fashion; but Judas also spake to the same effect, and said that we
had come up to Jerusalem to destroy enemies, and lo, we had destroyed
none, but made many.
The rest knew not what answer to make to these words; neither did I myself
at that time. Howbeit, now I know well that Jesus came not to prophesy
smooth things, but to teach us the truth. Therefore was it most needful
that he should speak the truth, and nothing less than the truth,
concerning the Pharisees; to the intent that the eyes of all mankind might
be opened, even to the generations of generations, that they might discern
that the sin of sins is hypocrisy. For other sins wound, but this sin
slayeth, the conscience. Peradventure also Jesus foresaw that a time might
come when certain, even among his own disciples, would err as the
Pharisees had erred, shutting their eyes against the truth, as being unfit
for use and not convenient. And he that came to make a spiritual Israel, a
nation of priests and ministers for mankind, was it not most needful that
he should thus as it were mark out and brand with censure the special sin
of priests? He also that came to redeem all the children of men from all
evil, was it not most necessary that he should make clear in the sight of
all men what was the greatest evil? For if men knew it not, how could he
redeem them from it? And well I know that, if he had not assailed the
Pharisees as he did, then these same Greeks who now say that “Jesus
transgressed the bounds of seemliness,” would in that case have said (even
as Jonathan the son of Ezra said) that “Jesus knew not the evil in human
nature.” Notwithstanding at this season we thought not of these things;
but we feared what should betide to our Master if the Pharisees took him
and cast him into bonds.
But a certain man of the Pharisees, Joseph by name, of the town of
Arimathæa, clave unto Jesus; and although he dared not openly consort with
us, he sent a servant after us, when we came forth from the Temple, to bid
Jesus not abide in the same house this night as last night, because, said
he, “the Pharisees purpose to take thee.” He also warned Jesus not to come
into Jerusalem on the morrow. But if Jesus desired to have some chamber in
the city wherein to keep the Passover, Joseph promised that he would
provide one. So much I heard myself; for I was nigh to Jesus when the
servant of Joseph brought the message; but the answer of Jesus I heard
not, save that he thanked the messenger courteously.
In the meantime we had passed out of the gate of the city, and had begun
to climb up the side of the hill called Olivet; and by reason that we were
in the depth of the valley, the sun had by this time set for us. But when
we had gone some space up the side of the hill, as we turned round to take
breath and rest, behold, the sun had not yet set, but was just beginning
to sink; and the western quarter of the heaven was lit up with a light
exceeding red and fiery, and the roofs of the temple and the towers of the
castle of Herod shone as with a blood‐red flame; and though our hearts
were heavy with many thoughts, yet could we not choose but look. But when
Jesus saw the city and the temple, whence he had but now come and wherein
he was never to set foot again; his eyes were filled with tears, and he
changed colour and could go no further, but sat down upon a stone and
covered his face with his hands: and then he looked again upon the city
and wept, mourning over it and saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left
unto you desolate. For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth,
till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Having said these words, he arose and went on his way, going up the hill.
And we followed him, as men in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, that
follow an angel of deliverance, but fear while they follow, lest at any
time their guide should vanish out of their sight, and they should be left
alone. Even so followed we Jesus up the Mount of Olives, and we feared
much to question him concerning his words, but we feared even more to
remain silent and so to be ignorant concerning the approaching peril.
Therefore presently Simon Peter, with two other disciples, went to him and
questioned him, saying, “Tell us when shall these things be.” Jesus turned
and looked upon our faces, and he perceived that we were all desirous to
question him. So he beckoned to us to sit down, and he himself sat down
upon a stone, and we also sat down upon the ground around him.
Then began Jesus to pour forth many prophecies of troubles near at hand
and troubles far off; and he seemed like unto one upon the shore of a
stormy sea covered with mists and darkness, who peereth into the night if
perchance he may descry the ship wherein his friends sail tempest‐tossed;
even so did Jesus look forward into that which was to come, for our sakes.
For though his own end was at hand, his thoughts and words were all for
us. But he also had in his mind the prophecies of the prophet Daniel; who
had prophesied, many generations before, that a time should come when the
worship of God should fail, and a king of evil set himself up to be
worshipped, and the daily sacrifice should be taken away, and the
abomination of desolation set in the place thereof. Daniel likewise
prophesieth that those of the nation who were of understanding should
remain upright; yet even these should fall for a time, to try them and to
purify them. But because the prophecies of Daniel were like unto the words
of our Master, I will here set them down; for Daniel saith, “They shall
pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily
sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And
such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries;
but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits. And
they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall
fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil many days. Now
when they shall fall they shall be holpen with a little help; but many
shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding
shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the
time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed.”
Now these prophecies of Daniel were fulfilled, in part, in the days of
that wicked king Antiochus who is called Epiphanes, or Illustrious; but
Jesus prophesied that they, or others like unto them, should still be
fulfilled. Howbeit, in my judgment, he did not prophesy that these things
should come to pass merely because Daniel had prophesied the like; but
because, looking upon the present, he discerned the signs of the times
(according to his own saying), and hence he perceived that which was yet
to come. For his words were the words of Daniel; but his thoughts were the
thoughts that came to him from that which he saw in the world. For when he
looked upon the world, he saw love of self, and love of ease, and all
manner of baseness and servility; and all the empire was given up to the
worship of a man, even the Emperor Tiberius, and that man a tyrant and a
man of sin, a slave to all abominations of the flesh. Wherefore death was
reigning over the whole of the world. But when he looked to Israel, which
was appointed to redeem the world and to lead the world to the knowledge
of the true God, behold, Israel himself was blind; and they which should
have been priests unto the Gentiles were as naught but pedants; and these
too, given over unto all sin, hypocrites, and murderers in their hearts,
and children of Satan.
Therefore it was discerned clearly by Jesus (having his eyes open to
things future even as our eyes are open to things present), that a great
conflict was at hand between evil and good, evil rearing itself aloft in
the world to receive the worship of all mankind and driving out the true
worship of God; and for a time evil must prevail. For if he looked upon us
his apostles or disciples, then he perceived even too easily in our hearts
the signs of weakness and instability; and for this cause he prophesied
that we should all desert him and fall away for a time. Moreover, because
he saw how the men of Israel thirsted for redemption, yea, and how all the
children of men desired some deliverance from their present evils,
therefore he knew and prophesied that, when he had departed, his place
would not be left empty, neither at once nor in after generations; but in
every time and in every nation false deliverers and false redeemers should
arise, saying that men should obey them, and that they would deliver men.
For this cause he warned us against false Christs, yea, even though they
should work signs and wonders.
But as concerning the times and seasons when these several troubles should
arise, he said naught; nor did he describe the manner of the wars, nor the
nations, nor the armies that should make war. Now Quartus judgeth that
Jesus knew not these matters; and true it is that Jesus himself spake
concerning the time of his coming, saying, “But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the
Father.” Only, concerning one part of the prophecy, he said, for certain,
that this generation should not pass away till all had been fulfilled. But
this, saith Quartus, he knew because of the signs of the times: for as to
that which he said, “Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say,
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,” Quartus supposeth that
Jesus himself knew not the time thereof, but only this, that it was not
possible that Sion could behold him until Sion desired him: for the
beholding of Jesus after his death was not to be with the bodily eye, but
with the spiritual, through love and desire. Now concerning the
foreknowledge of Jesus, what things he knew, and what things he knew not,
I have said above that I pronounce no judgment. But true it is that at
this time he spake unto us a third parable concerning the fig‐tree, and
said that we were to discern the coming of these evils from the signs of
the times, even as men discern the coming of the summer from the fig‐tree,
when it putteth forth leaves. For, like as the summer causeth the fig‐tree
to put forth her leaves, or like as the scent of the carcase guideth the
vultures to the prey, even so he taught us that the sins of men, and
especially of Israel, would bring after them miseries and judgments, not
by chance, but of necessity.
Therefore he prophesied that great tribulation should fall on the land of
Israel, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no,
nor yet ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days should be
shortened. But after the tribulation of Israel, he prophesied that all the
empire should be shaken, and the thrones and princedoms thereof should be
cast down, and the throne of the Son of man should be set up on high in
the sight of all men, and the tribes of the earth should mourn, and the
Gentiles should see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory, and the elect should be gathered together by an
angel as with the sound of a trumpet from all the corners of the earth.
Finally he exhorted us to watch in patience, for we knew not at what hour
our Master would come.
Now as concerning these prophecies, part were perchance fulfilled when our
Master came to us from the grave; for then to them that watched and waited
he appeared. But part also, in my judgment, yea, and a great part, were
fulfilled ten years ago, when Jerusalem was trodden down by the Gentiles,
and the temple was burned with fire, and Israel was scattered over the
face of the earth, and many were slain, and many more sold for slaves, and
such tribulation befell them as never before. But part remaineth to be
fulfilled, when men’s hearts shall fail them because the empire shall be
shaken, and the thrones of this world shall be cast down, and the worship
of the Son of man shall be set up. For albeit the empire fell not in the
days of Nero, when all men expected that the end of all things was at
hand; yet must the empire needs be cast down. And it is like that this
shall come to pass in my days, even in the days of me Philochristus, the
writer of this book. And when Israel shall turn unto the Lord Jesus and
shall call them blessed that come in his name, then shall Israel see him,
according to his saying. Howbeit concerning the day and the hour we have
no knowledge thereof; only we know that in the end the Son of man must
come with glory; and until the Son of man shall reign over the world,
peace cannot be; that is to say, cannot be so as to be settled and firm.
For all things move violently to their place, but easily in their place.
Wherefore the ways of the world cannot be smooth, nor can the children of
men and the tribes of men move smoothly and easily in the world, until the
Son of man be in his place as King of the world over all men and over all
nations, and until all men and all nations be in their places as his
servants; and then there shall be peace for ever; but not till then.
But all this I write, having been enlightened by the Spirit. But at the
time when we were sitting thus round about Jesus, listening to his
prophecies, we were not yet enlightened; for the Spirit of Jesus was not
yet in the world, because Jesus was yet with us. Therefore were we all
greatly dismayed by his words, and our hearts quite failed us; and when he
had made an end of speaking, we sat still silent; and the shadow of night,
stretching over the face of the earth, seemed unto us like to a shadow of
Satan encompassing both us and all the world and our Redeemer himself, in
whom we had trusted that he should have redeemed Sion. Thomas at last
brake silence, and said, “Alas, O Master, dost thou not remember thine own
words on that other mount in Galilee, where thou didst pour blessings on
us, and didst strengthen us with comfortable sayings, telling us that the
meek should inherit the earth? Verily the prophecies of the Mount of
Olives do not accord with the prophecies of the Mount of Blessing.” By
this time it was become dark, so that we could not clearly discern the
features of Jesus, for the moon had not yet risen; but he seemed to turn
his face suddenly to Thomas as though his words had grieved him. Howbeit,
he said nothing, but arose from his place, and we followed him up the
mountain even unto Bethany.
When we had been a full hour in Bethany, our Master called for Judas, that
he should bear some message to Joseph of Arimathea in Jerusalem; for Judas
was oftentimes employed by Jesus about such matters, being a man of
understanding, and of a ready wit, and having a knowledge of the ways of
men, more than the rest of the disciples. But search being made for Judas,
he was not to be found; and this seemed not a little to disquiet Jesus.
Howbeit, he bade me go in his stead, and bear a certain letter to Joseph
of Arimathea. So I went down straightway and delivered the letter; and
having received an answer written and sealed, I set forth to return to
Bethany. Now the moon was by this time risen, and shining very brightly.
So, because I was minded not to be seen of any of the servants of the
chief priests, I kept myself in the shadow of the street as I went forth
to the gate of Kidron; and it being now late, even in the second watch of
the night, there were few people stirring.
But as I was now near to the street called Straight, whereby one turneth
to the right hand to go unto the gate, methought I heard the sound of the
voice of the night‐watch going their rounds. So I drew near to the wall,
and remained in a corner where I could not be seen. And straightway
Hezekiah the Scribe came by, and Judas with him, walking very near the
place where I was (but they discerned me not) and talking in a low voice
together. And as they passed, I clearly heard Judas say to Hezekiah, “But
if he should call down fire upon the guards?” And Hezekiah made answer,
“Then thou wouldst have done him good service,” or words to that effect:
but the exact words of Hezekiah I heard not, because they were by this
time gone somewhat past me. Neither could I hear what Judas said in answer
to the words of Hezekiah. Only I noted, even afar off, that after they had
conversed some while longer, Judas held out his right hand to Hezekiah,
and Hezekiah seemed to take it as a pledge.
When I saw this, my mind misgave me that all was not well; yet did it not
so much as enter into my mind, at that time, that one of the Twelve could
purpose treachery against our Master; and, because of my message and my
haste, I gave no thought to the words that I had heard. But I sped away to
the gate, and passing through unquestioned, I went up the mountain in
haste; and when I came to the top, I found John, the son of Zebedee,
waiting for me, to take me to the house where Jesus lay that night; for he
was not to abide in the same house as before, for fear of the Pharisees.
So I came to Jesus and delivered my letter; and I found with him a certain
Nicodemus, a great teacher among the Pharisees. He had come to converse
with Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the chief priests. Then I delivered
my letter to Jesus, and I told him how I had seen Judas discoursing with
Hezekiah. But the old man, even Nicodemus, was troubled when he heard me
make mention of Judas, and he turned to Jesus and said that from friends
came sometimes even more dangers than from enemies; and as he had before
warned Jesus against the plotting of the Chief Priests, so now again he
besought Jesus not to adventure himself in Jerusalem on the morrow. Then
he gave thanks to Jesus for his doctrine, and departed. But when the
letter of Joseph of Arimathea was opened, it confirmed the words of
Nicodemus; for he also bade Jesus not come to Jerusalem on the morrow, but
to tarry till the next day. He also added (but these words Jesus read not
aloud, so that I knew not of them till afterwards) that Jesus should keep
the Passover on the day after the morrow; howbeit not at his house, but at
another house which his servants should prepare. He also gave Jesus a sign
whereby he might be guided to the house. Likewise the letter bade him
beware of false friends.
When Jesus had made an end of reading aloud those last words bidding him
beware of false friends, his heart was sorely troubled, and the burden
seemed more than he could bear; and he went out for a while to be alone
and to pray. But presently he returned and spake comfortable words to us,
and cheered us with his kindness; and so for that night he lay down to
rest; and some of us slept while others watched. Howbeit that night no
enemy came.
On the morrow (which was the fourth day of the week) Jesus neither went
down to Jerusalem, nor sent any down to make preparation for the Passover.
But he remained with us in Bethany, part of the time in the house, and
part in the fields round about, going with us hither and thither, and
speaking more and more to us of that same Holy Spirit whereof he had
spoken before; which should guide us, he said, into all truth, and teach
us what to reply unto our enemies, and be unto us a comforter and a
friend, yea, the source of all happiness and good. And more and more he
spake concerning his departure; insomuch that, though we were unwilling,
yet by this time we were constrained to suppose that our Master must be
severed from us for a season, and that we must watch for his return. Yet
how or in what way he should be taken from us we could not conjecture:
only that he should be slain by his enemies we had no manner of belief,
no, nor so much as a fear thereof, although he had so many times
prophesied it to us. For the thing was hidden from us of the Lord, that we
should neither believe it nor conceive it.
But the women were otherwise minded, and were very full of fears. To them
it seemed that, if Jesus was indeed about to be taken from them, then it
mattered not whether he were taken in a chariot of fire or by whatever
other means: and they lamented over him as over one already dead. Many
times did we rebuke them for their faithlessness (for so it seemed to us),
but they would not cease. Judas also rebuked them even more bitterly than
we: for he had come to us on the morning of that day, saying that he had
been with certain of his acquaintance in Jerusalem that he might be
informed concerning the plots of the Pharisees. Jesus received him kindly,
even more methought than was usual; and when we sat together at meat that
night, he placed Judas next unto himself, John being on one side of him
and Judas on the other, in the seat of honour.
Now so it was that, while we were at meat, behold, one of the women came
behind Jesus, having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and
poured it on his head, at the same time uttering most piteous cries and
lamentations. Then Judas changed colour; for his heart misgave him, as I
judge, that the lamentations of the women might prove true; and besides,
he was wrath perchance because the love wherewith this woman loved Jesus
put his semblance of love utterly to shame. Therefore he rose up from his
seat in indignation and said, “To what purpose is this waste? for this
ointment might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the
poor.” We also ourselves in like manner murmured against the woman. But
Jesus said, “Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work
upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body she did it for my
burial.” Then he paused, and mused for an instant, and added a prophecy,
that wheresoever his good tidings of Redemption should be proclaimed in
the whole world, there also should this that this woman had done be told
for a memorial of her.
Now before these words, while we had sat at meat listening to the
discourse of Jesus, Judas seemed as if his heart were enlarged towards
Jesus; and albeit at times he fell to pondering and musing (like unto a
man doubting of two courses which to take), yet anon he would be aroused
by some word that Jesus spake; and then his countenance would kindle, and
he would stoop forward, as in old times, with his eyes all a‐glow,
listening as if he would fain devour each syllable with his ears. But now
his countenance fell, and he was filled with rage because he had been
rebuked by Jesus; and he went forth from the chamber, and we saw him that
night no more. But as for us that remained, our hearts became exceeding
sorrowful; for now indeed it pressed upon us that the departure of Jesus
must needs be sad and grievous and full of sorrow, like unto death. But
still, that he should die indeed, and be buried: this, even now, we could
in no wise believe.