Now, Jesus took the twelve and with them crossed the sea at night and came unto the borders of Decapolis, that he might find a secret place where, all alone, he could reveal to them the things to come. They went into a mountain pass and spent three days in prayer.
Then Jesus said, Behold, the time is near when I will walk with you in flesh no more. Lo, I have taught that he who counts his life of so much worth that he would give it not in willing sacrifice to save his brother man, is worthy not to enter into life. Lo, I am come as pattern for the sons of men, and I have not refrained from helpfulness. When I had passed the seven tests in Heliopolis, I consecrated life and all I had, to save the world. In the Judean wilderness I fought the strongest foes of men, and there I reaffirmed my consecration to the service of my fellow man. In troubles and in trials I have wavered not; when false accusers came, I answered not.
God gave the saving Word to me, and I have often spoken it and healed the sick, drove unclean spirits out, and raised the dead. And I have shown you how to speak the Word; and I have given you the Word; in just a little while we turn our faces toward Jerusalem, and one of you who hear me now will then betray me into wicked hands. The scribes and Pharisees will bring false charges up and hale me into court, and, by consent of Rome, I will be crucified.
Then Peter said, My Lord, it shall not be. The Roman soldiers will tread on twelve dead men before they reach our Lord. But Jesus said, A savior of the world cannot resist. I came to save the world and I have taken up your names before the highest courts of heaven, and you have been confirmed as saviors of the world. And not a name, excepting that of him who shall betray, will ever be disgraced.
I go my way, and though my flesh shall pass, my soul will stand beside you all the way to guide and bless. And wicked men will seize you in the streets, and as you kneel in prayer; will charge you with some legal crime, and think they serve their God by putting you to death.
But falter not; the load will heavy be, but with the consciousness of duty done, the peace of God will lift the load, dispel the pain and light the way. And we will meet where carnal executioners come not; there we will serve the cruel men, who in their ignorance had tortured us to death. Can we prevent this outrage and this slaughter of our lives? If not we are but creatures of the ebb and flow of carnal things. It would not be a sacrifice of life. But we are masters of the things of time. Lo, we can speak, and all the spirits of the fire, water, earth and air will stand in our defense. We can command and many legions of the angel world would come and strike our enemies to earth. But it is best that not a power of heaven or earth should come to our relief. And it is best that even God should veil his face and seem to hear us not.
As I am pattern unto you, so you are patterns for the human race. We show by non-resistance that we give our lives in willing sacrifice for man. But my example will not end with death. My body will be laid within a tomb in which no flesh has lain, symbolic of the purity of life in death. And in the tomb I will remain three days in sweet communion with the Christ, and with my Father-God and Mother-God. And then, symbolic of the ascent of the soul to higher life, my flesh within the tomb will disappear; will be transmuted into higher form, and, in the presence of you all, I will ascend to God.
Then Jesus and the twelve went to a village by the sea. (Aquarian Gospel 127:1-31)
Lo, I have taught that he who counts his life of so much worth that he would give it not in willing sacrifice to save his brother man, is worthy not to enter into life. Lo, I am come as pattern for the sons of men, and I have not refrained from helpfulness. When I had passed the seven tests in Heliopolis, I consecrated life and all I had, to save the world. In the Judean wilderness I fought the strongest foes of men, and there I reaffirmed my consecration to the service of my fellow man. In troubles and in trials I have wavered not; when false accusers came, I answered not. God has projected this entire creation consisting of many worlds and grades of energy and has sent us forth to evolve and return unto him in perfection. God is both the supreme master and devoted servant. So those who would become godlike and return to him must be devoted to the welfare of others. This is the secret of holiness: selfless service. Obviously there is no place for ego in such a condition of heart. We must not only love God above all, we must love all sentient beings above ourselves. The only thing that makes this possible is our eternal, essential oneness with God. Perfection is our nature, only waiting to be revealed.
God gave the saving Word to me, and I have often spoken it and healed the sick, drove unclean spirits out, and raised the dead. And I have shown you how to speak the Word; and I have given you the Word. Obviously the Divine Word, Om, is at the heart of our spiritual endeavor, both for our own welfare and for the upliftment of others.
In just a little while we turn our faces toward Jerusalem, and one of you who hear me now will then betray me into wicked hands. The scribes and Pharisees will bring false charges up and hale me into court, and, by consent of Rome, I will be crucified. Then Peter said, My Lord, it shall not be. The Roman soldiers will tread on twelve dead men before they reach our Lord. But Jesus said, A savior of the world cannot resist. When ego has been dissolved there is no self-interest at all nor is there ever any resistance to destiny. The divine plan must unfold.
I came to save the world and I have taken up your names before the highest courts of heaven, and you have been confirmed as saviors of the world. And not a name, excepting that of him who shall betray, will ever be disgraced. Jesus is the archetypal savior, our example, but those who would be his disciples must also in time become saviors in their own right. How different this viewpoint is from the selfishness and ego-centeredness that is at the heart of most people’s involvement in religion. Self-service is the watchword. What a tremendous ideal is set before us by Jesus who was and is the perfect example.
I go my way, and though my flesh shall pass, my soul will stand beside you all the way to guide and bless. For two thousand years, ever since Christianity became exoteric in character, people have been obsessed with the Second Coming and the End of the World. “Jesus is coming back!” they trumpet, but Jesus has never left. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20). These are his words. The word translated “lo” is idou, which means “see this is so.” We are to experience that Jesus is right here, not even a step away. “Amen” is used in the sense of a solemn vow or assurance. So if we are attuned with Jesus, we will experience the truth of his perpetual presence.
And wicked men will seize you in the streets, and as you kneel in prayer; will charge you with some legal crime, and think they serve their God by putting you to death. But falter not; the load will heavy be, but with the consciousness of duty done, the peace of God will lift the load, dispel the pain and light the way. And we will meet where carnal executioners come not; there we will serve the cruel men, who in their ignorance had tortured us to death. I have seen that truly spiritual people sometimes meet those who did them great wrong in previous lives and bring them great benefit; somehow the negative karma has become positive. I knew a yogi that met an alcoholic drug addict whom he recognized as a tormentor from a past life. Just keeping company with the man cured him of alcoholism and addiction. Others have had the same experience. Lead has been turned into gold.
Can we prevent this outrage and this slaughter of our lives? If not we are but creatures of the ebb and flow of carnal things. It would not be a sacrifice of life. But we are masters of the things of time. Lo, we can speak, and all the spirits of the fire, water, earth and air will stand in our defense. We can command and many legions of the angel world would come and strike our enemies to earth. But it is best that not a power of heaven or earth should come to our relief. And it is best that even God should veil his face and seem to hear us not. Our view of things is usually not in harmony with the higher purpose of God. Even if unpleasant things can be avoided it is better to let what comes come and give thanks to God.
As I am pattern unto you, so you are patterns for the human race. We show by non-resistance that we give our lives in willing sacrifice for man. But my example will not end with death. My body will be laid within a tomb in which no flesh has lain, symbolic of the purity of life in death. And in the tomb I will remain three days in sweet communion with the Christ, and with my Father-God and Mother-God. And then, symbolic of the ascent of the soul to higher life, my flesh within the tomb will disappear; will be transmuted into higher form, and, in the presence of you all, I will ascend to God. Then Jesus and the twelve went to a village by the sea. If Jesus had not agreed to the cross and death he would not have gained such a glorious victory, both for himself and for us. Things may be painful and dark, but if we go through them with tranquillity we will find light and joy awaiting us on the other side. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis