GRM 50
Notes for this theme
Sanhedrin, high priests and Pharisees
Page 3 of 21
Reading comfort
Aa
GRM 50.8
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Are You leaving tomorrow, Master?»
«Tomorrow, at dawn, if you do not mind.»
«I am sorry that You are going away. But I do not mind the hour. On the contrary, it suits me.»
«Are you going fishing?»
«Yes, tonight, when the moon rises.»
«You did well, Simon, not fishing last night. The Sabbath was not yet finished. Nehemiah in his reformation wants the Sabbath to be respected in Judah. Even nowadays too many people work on the Sabbath day at presses, carry wood, wine and fruit and buy and sell fish and lambs. You have six days for that. The Sabbath is of the Lord. Only one thing you may do on the Sabbath: you may do good to your neighbour. But all profit must be excluded from such help. He who infringes the Sabbath to make a profit will be punished by God. He makes a profit? He will lose it during the other six days. He makes no profit? He has fatigued his body for no purpose, because he did not grant it the rest that Intelligence prescribed for it, and thus he irritated his soul having worked in vain, and goes to the extent of cursing. The day of the Lord, instead, is to be spent with your hearts united to God in sweet prayer of love. You must be faithful in everything.»
«But… scribes and doctors, who are so severe with us… do not work on Sabbath days, they do not even give a piece of bread to their neighbours, to avoid the fatigue of handing it over, but they practise usury also on a Sabbath. As it is not a material work, is it legal to practise usury on a Sabbath?»
«No. Never. Neither on a Sabbath nor any other day. Those Who practise usury are dishonest and cruel.»
«The scribes and the Pharisees, then…»
«Simon: don’t judge. Do not do it.»
«But I have eyes to see…»
«Is there only evil to be seen, Simon?»
«No, Master.»
«Well, then, why look at evil deeds?»
«You are right, Master.»
Detail
Contextualization: Peter speaks to the Master, who then talks about the Sabbath.
GRM 53.1-2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
53.1 I see Jesus entering the enclosure of the Temple with Peter, Andrew, John, James, Philip and Bartholomew. There is a very large crowd both inside and outside the enclosure. Pilgrims are arriving in flocks from every part of the town.
From the top of the hill on which the Temple is built, one can see the narrow twisted streets of the town, swarming with people. It seems as though a mobile, multi-coloured ribbon has been laid between the white houses. The town looks like a rare toy indeed, a toy made of gaily-coloured ribbons between two white threads, all converging onto the point where the domes of the House of the Lord are shining.
Inside it is… a real market. The concentration of a holy place has been destroyed. Some run, some call, some bargain for lambs, shouting and cursing because of the extortionate prices, some drive the poor bleating animals into their enclosures (rough partitions made of ropes and pegs, at the entrance of which stand the merchants or owners, awaiting buyers). Blows with cudgels, bleatings, curses, shouts, insults to the boys who are not quick in gathering together or selecting the animals, abuses to the purchasers who haggle over prices or who go away, more serious insults to those who wisely brought their own lambs.
Near the benches of the money-changers there is more bawling. It is obvious that either always, or at Passover time, the Temple operated as a… stock exchange or black market. There was no fixed rate of exchange. There must have been a legal rate, but the money-changers imposed a different one, making whatever profit they fancied for exchanging the money. And I can assure you they were not joking in their usury transactions!… The poorer the people were and the farther they came from, the more they were fleeced: old people more than young people, those coming from beyond Palestine more than the old folk.
Some poor old men looked over and over again at the money they had saved in a whole year, I wonder with how much hard work, they took it out and put it back into their purses dozens and dozens of times, going from one money-changer to another and at times ending up by going back to the first one, who took avenge for their original desertion by increasing the premium for the exchange. And the big coins passed from the hands of the sighing owners into the clutches of the usurers and were changed into smaller coins. Then a further tragedy would take place with vendors over the choice and payment of their lambs, and the poor old men, particularly if they were half blind, were fobbed off with the most wretched little lambs.
53.2 I see an old couple, man and wife, come back pushing a poor little lamb which must have been found faulty by the sacrificers. They cried and begged the vendor, who, far from being moved, replied with nasty words and rude manners.
«Considering what you want to spend, Galileans, the lamb I gave you is even too good. Go away! Or if you want a better one, you must pay five more coins.»
«In the name of God! We are poor and old! Are you going to prevent us from celebrating this Passover which may be our last one? Are you not satisfied with what you wanted for a poor little lamb?»
«Go away, you filthy lot. Joseph the Elder is now coming here. I enjoy his favour. God be with you, Joseph! Come and make your choice!»
The man whose name is Joseph the Elder, that is Joseph of Arimathea, enters the enclosure and picks a magnificent lamb. He passes by, stately and proud, magnificently dressed, without even looking at the poor old people weeping at the gate, that is the enclosure entrance. He almost bumps into them when he goes out with the fat, bleating lamb.
Detail
Joseph of Arimathea appears in 53.2. The description of the Temple has also been added for a better understanding of the context.
Keywords
GRM 53.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
53.5 Priests, rabbis and Pharisees rush to the spot. Jesus is still in the middle of the yard, on His way back from the chase. The lash is still in His hands.
«Who are You? How dare You do that, upsetting the prescribed ceremonies? From which school are You? We do not know You, neither do we know where You come from.»
«I am He Who is Mighty. I can do anything. Destroy this true Temple and I will raise it to give praise to God. I am not upsetting the holiness of the House of God or of the ceremonies, but you are perturbing it, allowing His House to become the centre of usurers and merchants. My school is the school of God. The same school that the whole of Israel had when the Eternal God spoke to Moses. You do not know Me? You will know Me. You do not know where I come from? You will learn.»
Detail
Jesus has just driven the merchants out of the Temple and the priests arrive.
GRM 60.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«I cannot bear the fact that they do not love You!»
«Oh! Peter! You will see much greater indifference! You will have many surprises, Peter! People that the so called “holy” world scorns as being money-changers, who instead will set an example in the world, an example which will not be followed by those who despise them. Heathens who will be My most faithful ones. Prostitutes who will become pure by strong will power and penance. Sinners who amend their way of living…»
«Listen: that a sinner amends his way… it may well be. But a prostitute and a money-changer!…»
«You do not believe it?»
«I do not.»
«You are mistaken, Simon.»
Detail
Peter said to Jesus:
GRM 64.1.3-4.5
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
64.1 I see the shore of the lake of Gennesaret. And I can see the boats beached by the fishermen; on the foreshore, leaning against the boats, are Peter and Andrew, intent on mending the nets, which their assistants bring them still dripping, having rinsed them in the lake to remove entangled rubbish. About ten yards away, John and James, bent over their boat, are busy at tidying it up, and they are helped by an assistant and by a man about fifty or fifty-five years old, who I think is Zebedee, because the assistant calls him «master» and also because he is very like James.
Peter and Andrew, with their backs to the boat, are working silently knotting the threads of the nets and fixing corks to them. Now and again they exchange a few words about their work, which, as far as I understand, has not been profitable.
Peter is sorry about it, not because of the loss of profit or the unprofitable work, but he says: «I am sorry, because… what shall we do to feed these poor people? We receive only occasional offerings and I am not going to touch the ten pieces of silver and the seven drachmas we collected during the last four days. Only the Master can tell me to whom and how that money is to be given. And He will not be back here until Sabbath! If we had had a good haul!… I would have cooked the small fish for the poor… and if anyone at home grumbled, I would not have cared. Healthy people can find food for themselves. But sick people!…»
«Above all that paralytic!… They have already travelled so much to bring him here…» says Andrew.
(...) [Jesus returns to his disciples, and the Master delivers a sermon in the home of one of his apostles.]
People crowd into the big room at the back of the house, which is used as a store for nets, ropes, baskets, oars, sails, and provisions. Peter must have put it at Jesus’ disposal, because everything has been piled up in one corner to make room. The lake cannot be seen from here. Only its gently lapping waves can be heard. Instead one can see the low greenish wall of the kitchen garden, with the old vine and the leafy fig-tree. There are people even on the road, as they pass from the room into the kitchen garden and hence onto the road.
64.4 Jesus begins to speak. In the front row, there are five… high-ranking people, who have elbowed their way through the crowd taking advantage of the fear they strike into poor people. Their sumptuous garments and their pride announce them as Pharisees and doctors.
(...) 64.5 «Master!» shouts Peter amidst the crowd, «the sick people are here. Two of them can wait until You come out, but this one is crushed amongst the crowd and… he cannot stay here any longer. It is impossible for us to come in. Shall I send him back?»
«No, lower him down through the roof.»
«You are right. We will do that at once.»
I can hear them shuffling on the low roof of the big room, the terrace of which is not built of cement, as the store-room is not really part of the house. The roof is formed with branches covered by chips of stone like slate. I do not know what stone it is. They make an opening through which, by means of ropes, they lower down the little stretcher on which the patient is lying. It is lowered in front of Jesus. The crowds throng closer to see.
«Both you and who brought you have great faith.»
«Oh! Lord! How could we have no faith in You?»
«Well, I say to you: son (he is a very young man) your sins are forgiven.»
The man looks at him, crying… perhaps he is somewhat disappointed because he was hoping to be healed in his body. The Pharisees and doctors whisper something to one another turning up their noses, foreheads and mouths in disdain.
«Why are you muttering, more in your hearts than with your lips? According to you, it is easier to say to the paralytic: “Your sins are forgiven” or “Get up, take your little bed and walk away”? You think that only God can forgive sins. But you cannot answer which of these things is greater, because this man, whose whole body is lost to him, has spent a lot of money without being healed. And he can only be healed by God. Now, that you may learn that I can do everything, that you may learn that the Son of man has authority both over bodies and souls, on the earth and in Heaven, I say to him: “Get up. Pick up your bed and walk. Go home and be holy”.»
The man jerks, he shouts, stands up, he throws himself at Jesus’ feet, kisses and caresses them, he cries and laughs, and his relatives and the crowd do likewise. The crowd divides into two to let him pass, as if he were triumphant, and they follow him rejoicing. The five resentful men go away, conceited and as stiff as sticks.
Annotation
Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus got into a boat, made the crossing again, and went to his town of Capernaum.
Behold, a paralyzed man was brought to him, lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Trust, my child, your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes were saying to themselves, "This one blasphemes."
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, asked, "Why are you thinking evil thoughts? For what is easier? To say, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Get up and walk"? Well, that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins... - Jesus then addressed the paralyzed man - get up, take your stretcher, and go home." He got up and went home.
When the crowds saw this, they were filled with fear, and gave glory to God who had given such power to men.
Mark 2, 1-12
A few days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word spread that he was at home. So many people gathered that there was no room, not even in front of the door, and he proclaimed the Word to them.
Some people arrived and brought him a paralyzed man, carried by four men. As they were unable to approach him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof above him, made an opening, and lowered the stretcher on which the paralyzed man was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven."
Now there were some scribes sitting there, reasoning within themselves, "Why does this one speak like that? He blasphemes. Who then can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately perceiving in his mind the reasonings they were making, Jesus said to them, "Why do you hold such reasonings? Which is easier? To say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say to him, 'Get up, take your stretcher and walk'? Well! So that you know that the Son of Man has the authority to forgive sins on earth... - Jesus addressed the paralyzed man - I tell you, get up, take your stretcher, and go home." He got up, immediately took his stretcher and went out in front of everyone. They were all amazed and gave glory to God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
Luke 5:17-26
One day when Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law in the audience, from all the villages of Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was at work to make him perform healings.
People arrived, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they sought to bring him in to place him before Jesus. But, not seeing how to do this because of the crowd, they climbed up onto the roof and, pushing aside the tiles, lowered him and his stretcher right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." The scribes and Pharisees began to reason: "Who is this man? He speaks blasphemies! Who then can forgive sins, if not God alone?" But Jesus, catching their thoughts, answered them, "Why these thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier? To say, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or to say, 'Get up and walk'? Well! That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, - Jesus addressed the one who was paralyzed - I tell you, get up, take your stretcher and go back to your house."
Immediately the paralyzed man stood up in front of them, took up his bed and went home, giving glory to God. They were all amazed and gave glory to God. Filled with fear, they said, "We have seen extraordinary things today!"
GRM 68.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Here, Master, the official.»
«Peace be with you. I ask to teach Israel, amongst the rabbis of Israel.»
«Are You a rabbi?»
«Yes, I am.»
«Who was Your teacher?»
«The Spirit of God Who speaks to Me in His wisdom and enlightens every word of the Holy Scriptures for Me.»
«Are You greater than Hillel, since You say You know all doctrines, without a teacher? How can one be formed if there is no one forming him?»
«As David was formed, an unknown little shepherd, who became a powerful and wise king by God’s will.»
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
«Who can prove that?»
«There must still be some Levites here who will remember the event and who were the same age as Zacharias of the class of Abijah, My relative. Ask them, if you doubt My sincerity.»
«I believe You. But who will prove to me that You are capable of teaching?»
«Listen to Me and you will judge for yourself.»
«You are free to do it… But… are You not a Nazarene?»
«I was born at Bethlehem of Judah, at the time of the census decreed by Caesar. Banished by unfair orders, the children of David are now everywhere. But the family is of Judah.»
«You know… the Pharisees… all Judaea… throughout Galilee…»
«I know. But be reassured. I was born at Bethlehem, at Bethlehem Ephrathah, whence My family comes; if now I live in Galilee, it is only to fulfil the given sign…»
The official goes away a few yards, hastening to where they call him.
Keywords
GRM 68.2
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Your Name?»
«Jesus of Joseph of Jacob of the House of David, and of Mary of Joachim of the House of David and of Anne of Aaron. Mary, the Virgin married in the Temple by the High Priest, according to the law of Israel, because She was an orphan.»
Keywords
- Anne of Aaron (mother of the Virgin Mary)
- Joachim of David (father of the Virgin Mary)
- Joseph of Jacob (Saint Joseph)
- Orphan heiress law
- Simon ben Boëthos (high priest during the Virgin Mary's childhood)
- The Virgin Mary - Descendant of David
- Virginity of the Virgin Mary
- Who is Jesus? How Christ defines himself
GRM 70.4
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
70.4 They are quiet for a few moments, then John carries on speaking. «Master, I know Annas and Caiaphas. My family has been on business relations with them, and when I came to Judaea to see John, I used to come to the Temple, and they were good to the son of Zebedee. My father always sends them the best fish. That is the custom, You know? If you want them to be friendly and to continue so, you must do that…»
«I know.» Jesus is serious.
«Well, if You wish, I will speak to the High Priest about You. And… if You want, I know a man who is on business terms with my father. He is a rich fish merchant. He has a lovely big house near the Hippicus Tower, because they are very rich people, but they are also very good. You would be more comfortable and You would not get so tired. To come here, You have to come through the suburb of Ophel, which is so wild and always full of donkeys and quarrelsome boys.»
«No, John. Thank you. But I am alright here. See how much peace there is? I told also the other disciple who made the same suggestion. He said: “To enjoy a higher reputation”.»
«I mentioned it that You might not get so tired.»
«I do not get tired. I will walk so much, and I will never tire. Do you know what tires Me? Indifference. Oh! What a burden it is! It is like carrying a weight on your heart.»
«I love You, Jesus.»
«Yes, and you comfort Me. I love you so much, John, and I always will, because you will never betray Me.»
«Betray You! Oh!»
«And yet there will be many who will betray Me…»
GRM 74.9
The Gospel as revealed to me
Quotation
«Who are You?»
«Judas of Kerioth, I was a man of the Temple, now I am a disciple of rabbi Jesus of Galilee. I am a friend of Simon the Pharisee, of Johanan the Sadducee, and of Joseph of Arimathaea, the Counsellor of the Sanhedrin, and finally, of Eleazar ben Anna, the Proconsul’s great friend, and you can check.»
«I will. Where are you going?»
Detail
Roman soldiers ask Judas: