1 · THE FIRST CHAPTER

1:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee. There was a woman of means named Mary who stood alone waiting for her turn to be baptized by John son of Zechariah — the Baptizer.

1:2 John came baptizing in the wilderness preaching repentance for forgiveness of sins.

1:3 Mary, along with all the country of Judea, and all those of Jerusalem, went out to him. John baptized in the River Jordan only after hearing a confession. There were no children for John had made clear, "The innocent have no sins to confess."

1:4 From her place in line, Mary saw all the men behind her and in front of her. The queue was so long it seemed to stretch from the River to the Sea. They were dressed in white. John's white robes hung from a cross of reeds beside the water. She had heard the legends—that John could catch locusts mid-flight; that there was not a tree left in Judea whose honey he hadn’t tasted. But as she watched, John only chewed those dry carob pods between baptisms.

1:5 As she drew closer, Mary began to overhear the questions men would ask John. Almost all of them asked the same thing: 'What should we do?'

1:6 In reply John said to them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”

1:7 Mary heard some tax collectors ask John, “Rabbi, what should we do?”

1:8 John said to them, “Collect no more taxes than that which is appointed to you.”

1:9 Mary heard some soldiers ask John, “What about us? What should we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”

1:10 Mary heard some priests and Levites ask him, “Who are you?”

1:11 John replied in declaration, “Not The King.”

1:12 The priests persisted, “What then? Are you the transmigrated soul of Elijah?” John answered with a simple, “No.” Another priest asked, “Are you an oracle?” He answered the same, “No.”

1:13 Now the priests were getting upset and shouted at him, “Who are you? We demand an answer because it is Caiaphas who sent us! What do you say about yourself?”

1:14 Mary had heard enough and said with the roar of a lioness, “He is the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness.” Everyone fell silent, turned, and looked at her.

1:15 John shouted from the top of his lungs, “Clear the way for the lady! Make a straight path for her!”

1:16 Mary approached and said "Behold — my repentance!" and she removed all her clothing. As she stepped into the River with John, everyone on dry land fled — everyone except one.

1:17 After baptizing her, John said, “I bathe you with water, but a man will come, and he will bathe you with fire.

1:18 Seek to commingle water and fire, and you will cease appearing as a fleshy image.

1:19 Instead, you will appear as an image of the indestructible eternal Light, uniting together for you, Mary.”

1:20 Mary was astonished as she emerged from the River, catching her breath, saying, “Rabbi! How did you know my name? Where is this man who bathes with fire? When is his time?”

1:21 The man who did not flee at the sight of a naked woman said, “My time is now."

1:22 The Kingdom of Heaven is within you and beyond you. When you know yourself, then you will be known, and you will realize that you are a child of the living Father. But if you do not know yourself, then not only will you dwell in poverty, you will become poverty itself. Mary turned to John, but he was not there.

1:23 Mary turned to the mysterious stranger and asked, "Is it I who sees or is it I who reveals?"

1:24 He said to her, The one who sees is the same one who reveals.

1:25 Immediately the man felt a tickle in his left ankle. Then a tug. Then he fell on his face. Mary ran out of the Jordan for him.

1:26 But behold! There were two women; and the wind was in their wings! Now, they had wings like the wings of a stork—they lifted up the man carrying him from the River to the top of Mount Quarantania, many miles away.

1:27 Within the upslope fog stood The Builders — the triumvirate of seraphim who created the flesh of Mankind, those infernal serpents who rule the world: Lord Gabriel, the pontiff (שופט); Lord Michael, the bailiff (סוהר); and Lord Belmaul, the sheriff (שטן).

1:28 The two winged women became one screech owl (לילית) and the screech owl perched upon the sheriff's sinister shoulder.

1:29 The sheriff stepped toward the man and said, “I know who you are. Jesus of Nazareth, seventh son of Joseph and Mary.”

1:30 Jesus sat and kept his head down looking at the earth. Forty hours had passed, and he was famished.

1:31 The sheriff said, “Are you not perfection? Command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written? ‘One does not live by bread alone’.”

1:32 The bailiff flew to the bottom of the mountain. The sheriff said to Jesus, “Are you not perfection? Throw yourself down from here and the bailiff will catch you, for it is written, ‘He will command his envoys concerning you, to protect you,

1:33 on their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

1:34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written immediately after? ‘You will tread on the lion and the cobra; You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.’ Do not test Yī'uwuh, your God.”

1:35 Then the pontiff applauded Jesus and said to him, “Well done! Well done! You truly are perfection. Look at all these kingdoms! I will give you all this authority and their glory, for we have taken it for ourselves, and we give it anyone we please.

1:36 If you then, will worship us, it will all be yours.”

1:37 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written? ‘Worship Yī'uwuh, your God, and serve only Yī'uwuh.’”

1:38 When The Builders had finished the third test, they heard a distant galloping and departed from him until a more opportune time. Jesus was exhausted and fell on his side. The light from his eyes began to dim.

1:39 But look! The upslope fog dispersed and Jesus beheld a great radiance, and behind it, Mary—riding upon her white steed like a whirlwhind, swifter than the eagles!

1:40 Bearing water, fruits (שְׂמָנִים), and myrrh, she ministered to him.

1:41 Jesus said, “No longer will anyone call you Mary, because many Marys do not know my business. You did not know my name, but when I had fallen, you rushed to my aid and lifted me up. What you have done for me I will make known to all, and I will make known to you the mysteries of our Father's kingdom."

1:42 "The righteous shall run to you, and they shall be kept safe; for you shall be known by the name, 'Magdala' (which means, “Tower”)."

2 · THE WEDDING AT CANA

2:1 Magdala remembered she had been called to her friend’s wedding in Cana of Galilee as she rode with Jesus down the mountain. So together they rode to Cana.

2:2 When they arrived at the banquet, Jesus was reluctant to dismount. Magdala said to him, “Come, let us go in together.” Jesus answered, “I was not called to this wedding.” But Magdala took his hand and said, “I have called you.” And so they entered.

2:3 The mother of the bride came rushing to Magdala in distress and said, “The guests are many, but the wine is spent. What shall we do, Mary?” Magdala turned to Jesus and said, “Rebbe, it’s a wedding and they have no wine.”

2:4 Jesus said, Well, there’s plenty of water!

2:5 And Magdala answered, “And glass decanters and earthenware jugs are both made with fire.” Jesus smiled, for she understood.

2:6 Jesus said, Yes they are, Magdala! Let us fill their glass decanters and earthenware jugs with water! So Jesus and Magdala filled them up to the brim, while the servants watched in astonishment.

2:7 Jesus planted his feet in the ground and breathed upon the jugs and the decanters. The water stirred as if catching fire, and the fragrance of wine filled the banquet hall.

2:8 Jesus took in the aroma and said, “Spiritual love is wine and fragrance.

2:9 But if one does not first understand water, that one knows nothing, because what does it profit such a person to be baptized therein?

2:10 And if one does not then understand how fire came into existence, that one will burn inside it, knowing not its origin.

2:11 When the bridegroom tasted the water that had now become wine, he did not know where it had come from. The servants did and they remained silent in astonishment. The bridegroom called the bride.

2:12 He said to her, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse, but this wine keeps getting better and better!” The bride asked Magdala, “Mary, who is your guest?” She was swept off her feet by the bridegroom before Magdala could answer.

2:13 As the feast continued, Magdala stood beside Jesus and said, “Rebbe, you inspire fear and wonder, even like a consuming fire to those who know you not.”

2:14 Jesus said, Wine and music rejoice the heart: but the love of knowledge is above them both.

2:15 The feast went until dawn as Jesus and Magdala watched.

2:16 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus rose up and went out from the banquet hall and departed to a deserted place, and meditated.

2:17 Magdala noticed he had left, and searched for him.

2:18 She found him and told him, “Everyone at the wedding is looking for you.”

2:19 He said to her, Tell them to raise up a stone, and they will find me there; or tell them to split a tree, and they will find me there also.

2:20 But let her who seeks me not stop seeking until she finds, for when she finds, she will be troubled, and when she is troubled, she will be amazed, and she will reign as queen over all; and when she reigns, she will rest.

2:21 Magdala said to Jesus, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, so that you may preach there also, because you are here for a reason.”

3 · GATHERING THE TWELVE, PART ONE

3:1 Jesus and Magdala came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom,

3:2 and saying, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear. Light dwells within the light-hearted, and the light-hearted is a light to all the world! If you are not light-hearted, you will dwell in darkness!”

3:3 As they passed along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

3:4 Jesus said to them, “Brothers, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”

3:5 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. A hundred and fifty-three.” They cast it therefore, and now it took both the men to draw it in for the multitude of fish.

3:6 Simon and Andrew counted the fish to a hundred and fifty three and they were astonished. Jesus said to them, “I will choose you, one from among a thousand, two from among ten thousand, and you will stand, being one, the same.”

3:7 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.

3:8 Jesus said to them, “Return to the waters the fish which you have just caught!” And the fisherman did without question.

3:9 When they had arrived at the next town, Jesus said to Magdala, “I do not cast nets, but I will fish for the hearts of men who do. You go, and return to me bearing myrrhbearers.” And Magdala rode off seeking women to bear his myrrh.

3:10 As they went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and Salome and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.

3:11 Immediately Simon and his brother Andrew told them what had happened, and James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

3:12 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.

3:13 Jesus said, “Those who lead you astray will say to you, ‘Oh, look yonder to the Kingdom in some far off land’ but if that were the case, the Behemoth (בְּהֵמוֹת) would enter her before you. They'll say to you, ‘Look this way The Kingdom is in the sea!’, but if that were the case, the Leviathan (לִוְיָתָן) would enter her before you. Oh, most certainly they'll say, ‘Look to the sky, the Kingdom is up there’, but if that were the case, the Ziz (זיז) would enter her before you. Rather, The Kingdom is within you and beyond you.”

3:14 They were astonished at his teaching. For he taught them as one having authority.

3:15 The scribes were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching?"

3:16 Jesus heard them and said, “A new teaching? I will give you what eye has not seen, what ear has not heard, and what hand has not touched, and what has not entered in the human mind.”

3:17 The little children went to Jesus, that he should tell them more about the great beasts, but the elders rebuked those children who went up to him. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.

3:18 Jesus said, “A scholar as old as — The Ancient of Days — will not hesitate to ask a child but seven days old about the place of life, and it will be revealed. For all who are first will become last, and all who are last will become first, and they will be one, the same.

3:19 Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive The Kingdom like a little child, he shall in no way enter into her.”

3:20 Jesus took the children into his arms, and told them stories about the great beasts.

3:21 When he was finished with the children, Jesus said to the elders, "Those little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be thrown into the sea with a large stone hung around his neck." And he left the synagogue.

3:22 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

3:23 When he came to Bethsaida, where Simon and Andrew had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom.

3:24 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book and found the place where it was written.

3:25 “The spirit of Yī'uwuh is upon me because Yī'uwuh has anointed me; he has sent me to preach good news to the oppressed. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release those who are bound,

3:26 To proclaim the year of The Jubilee...” He saw the next words were 'and the day of vengeance of our God', stopped reading, and closed the book.

3:27 Then Jesus said, “The angels will come to you with the prophets, and they will give you what is yours; and in return you also will give them what is yours, and you will say to yourselves, ‘I wonder when the angels will come and take what is theirs?’”

3:28 Philip of Bethsaida was the only one in the synagogue who laughed. Jesus said to him, “Follow me to the fishermens' house. Bring someone with you.”

3:29 Philip found Bartholomew and said to him, “Jesus, the son of the Nazerene carpenter Joseph, made light of Moses and the prophets, and I saw it—and it was good.”

3:30 Bartholomew said to him, “The Nazerene Joseph? Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see!”

3:31 When Philip and Bartholomew arrived at Simon and Andrew's house, Jesus approached Bartholomew.

3:32 Bartholomew said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be?" Jesus said, “Have you then explained what the beginning is so that you may ask about the end? For in the place where the beginning is, there will the end come to be. Blessed is he who will stand in the beginning, and he will know the end, and he will not taste death!

3:33 Bartholomew said to Jesus, "How do you know everything?"

3:34 Jesus said, “Know what's in front of your face, and what's hidden from you will be revealed to you, because there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed.”

3:35 Meanwhile, Magdala rode to Jerusalem.

3:36 She saw a mob of men in the streets surrounding a young woman named Susanna.

3:37 They were shouting, "She's an adulterer! Stone her!"

3:38 Magdala rode her horse through the mob and the men got out of the way. She stopped in front of Susanna and said to the men, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

3:39 When the men heard it, they understood Magdala as a man with authority, and being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Magdala was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.

3:40 Susanna, standing up, saw Magdala and said, "Woman, you know that these men have given false evidence against me. And now they tried to kill me, though I have done none of the wicked things that they have charged against me!"

3:41 Another woman, Joanna, the former wife of Herod's steward, stepped forward and approached Magdala for she was amazed, and said, "You spoke with authority. You commanded even the men, and they obeyed you."

3:42 My name is Joanna, I left my husband, Chuza, after Herod beheaded John the Baptist."

3:43 When Magdala had heard this, her heart sunk and she asked Joanna, "On what charge?"

3:44 Joanna said to her, "Herod had recently arrested him for publicly shaming his marriage. Then, at Herod's birthday banquet, the daughter of his wife Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was so pleased that he promised her anything she wanted, and she said 'The head of John the Baptist.' I left the moment he granted it."

3:45 Susanna said to her, "And ever since, many more men have been accusing any young woman in the streets of adultery."

3:46 Magdala saw Joanna and Susanna were troubled. She said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I know a brother who is the friend of women. Follow me.”

3:47 Joanna and Susanna accompanied Magdala, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled.

4 · GATHERING THE TWELVE, PART TWO

4:1 Jesus left Bethsaida and came to his hometown of Nazareth, and his disciples followed.

4:2 As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at a tax-collection station polishing his drinking cup, and he said to him,

4:3 “On what grounds do you wash the outside of the cup? Do you not understand that the one who created the inside is he who also created the outside?

4:4 Follow me, for mine is an easy yoke, and my mastery, she is gentle, and you will find rest for yourself.” And Levi got up and followed him.

4:5 When he arrived on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, "Where did this man get all this knowledge? Who gave it to him?"

4:6 They said, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe you." He said to them, “You read the faces of the sky and the earth, and the one who is in your presence, you do not know him, and you do not know how to read this moment.”

4:7 They said, "Isn't this the son of Mary? Where are his brothers? Aren't his sisters here with us?"

4:8 When his sisters realized it was their brother Jesus, they went out to tell Mary and their brothers; for they said, "He's gone insane."

4:9 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man from Kerioth named Judas, and he cried out,

4:10 saying, "Ha! What do we have to do with you, Elijah? Have you come to destroy us? I remember you, Jesus the Nazarene!"

4:11 Jesus laughed, for Judas of Kerioth was an old friend from his days as an oil presser, saying, “No prophet is recognized in his village,” and his laughter ceased, saying, “ and no physician heals those who know him.”

4:12 Judas said, "I truly want to learn everything."

4:13 Jesus said, “Whoever knows everything, but is personally lacking, lacks everything.”

4:14 Then Judas said to him, “I have observed every day of atonement. What do I still lack?”

4:15 Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, “Go. Sell whatever you have, and give to the poor as Simon has, as Andrew has, as James has, as John has, as Philip has, as Bartholomew has, and as Levi has. Then you can come and follow me.”

4:16 As Judas left the synagogue to relinquish his possessions, he saw a crowd form outside, and said to Jesus, “Look outside, I think your family is here.”

4:17 Jesus and his disciples went outside and he answered his family, “Who are my family?”

4:18 Looking around at those with him at the synagogue, he said, “Here are my family!

4:19 Whoever does the will of our Father in Heaven is my family.”

4:20 When Mary, his brothers and his sisters had heard this, they all decided they would follow him.

4:21 They went all over Galilee and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.

4:22 At Capernaum, Jesus reunited with Magdala, who had two women with her. Jesus gathered his disciples at an oil press and appointed twelve of the men to be with him and Magdala appointed seven of the women to be with her, to be sent out to preach.

4:23 Jesus began to teach them to have authority over the elements.

4:24 He appointed these men to be the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name “Simon the Pebble” since his brother was also Simon) and Andrew the brother of Simon (to whom he gave the name "Drew").

4:25 James and John the sons of Zebedee (to John he gave the name “Beloved” and to James "Son of Thunder” after their mother, Salome.),

4:26 and Philip (to whom he gave the name “The Fifth Horseman”), and Bartholomew (to whom he gave the name Natanel "God's Gift"), and Levi (to whom he gave the name Matthew “The Gift That Gives”), and his brothers: Judas (to whom he gave the name “Didymus Thomas” or “Twin Twin” for they were often mistaken for the other growing up.), James (whom he called "James the Just"), Jude (whom he called "Jude the Courageous") and Simon (whom he called “Simon the Zealot”),

4:27 and Judas of Kerioth, an old friend of his.

4:28 Jesus commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.

4:29 Jesus said to the twelve, “The blind shall be guided; the injured shall be carried; the diseased shall be cleansed; the Deaf shall be shown signs to hear; the dead shall be honored; the poor shall have good news brought to them along with food and water.

4:30 Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.

4:31 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

4:32 Magdala appointed these women to be the seven myrrhbearers: Mary, the mother of Jesus; his two sisters: Mary and Salome; and Mary of Bethany, Martha's sister.

4:33 Joanna, the former wife of Herod's steward; Susanna, a friend of Magdala's; and Salome, mother of James and John, who followed them when she heard they had left Zebedee.

4:34 Magdala commanded them that they should use their means to make the sacred anointing oil for the people.

4:35 Magdala said to the seven, “These are the ingredients (שְׂמָנִים) for the oil: five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much fragrant cinnamon, two hundred fifty shekels of fragrant cannabis, five hundred shekels of cassia, and a hin of olive oil.

4:36 Let us use our means to make enough anointing oil to pour upon every head in Judea.”

5 · THE BLIND SHALL BE GUIDED

5:1 As Jesus was leaving Capernaum with his disciples, family, and a growing multitude, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, sat by the roadside.

5:2 When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Son of Joseph, have mercy on me!”

5:3 Jesus stopped and said, “You ask for mercy, but do you know what you seek?” Bartimaeus said, “Master, I seek to see once again.”

5:4 Jesus answered, “Then tell me: What color is the wind?”

5:5 After a long silence, Bartimaeus answered, “The wind has no color, and yet it moves the trees.”

5:6 Jesus said, “The truth has no form, and yet it moves the heart.”

5:7 And Bartimaeus wept, for he understood he would never see again but now understood sight differently and followed Jesus on the way.

5:8 Jesus came to Bethsaida. A multitude brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.

5:9 Jesus took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. Jesus asked, “What do you see?”

5:10 The blind man said, “I see light, but I do not know if it is the sun or the stars. I see men, but they are as shadows.”

5:11 Jesus said, “Now close your eyes. What do you see?” The man hesitated and said, “But my eyes are closed.” Jesus said, “Then open the eye that does not close.

5:12 What you are looking for, you have always had. Now you know.”

5:13 And the blind man rejoiced, saying, “Now I see! No! I have always seen! Praise God! I have always seen!” And he followed Jesus on the way.

6 · THE INJURED SHALL BE CARRIED

6:1 When Jesus entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that he was at somebody’s home.

6:2 Immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even around the door, and he spoke the word to them.

6:3 Four people came, carrying a bed with a paralytic to him.

6:4 When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they began to shout for Jesus to help the paralytic and the crowd began to join them in unison. Jesus saw their faith. So he brought Himself to them and Magdala followed bearing myrrh.

6:5 Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, “You have come a long way. But what is it you seek?” The paralytic said, “I wish to stand and walk.” Jesus knelt beside him and said, “And if you could walk, where would you go?” The paralytic was silent, for he had no answer.

6:6 Then Jesus said, “Come, I will take you home.” And he lifted the paralytic onto his back and carried him through the crowd. Some of the scribes murmured,

6:7 “Why does he do this? If he were truly sent by God, he would simply say ‘Arise, and take up your bed and walk!’”

6:8 Jesus carried the paralytic to his house and the four men who brought him carried the bed. Magdala opened the door for them. The men laid the bed down where they had lifted it from, and Jesus laid the paralytic down gently on to his bed. Magdala anointed him with myrrh.

6:9 The paralytic wept, for he had been lifted and anointed without being made to stand.

6:10 Jesus said, “Brother, you are already whole.”

6:11 And Jesus and Magdala left him in peace.

7 · THE DISEASED SHALL BE CLEANSED

7:1 A leper came to Jesus, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “Rabbi, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

7:2 Being moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him,

7:3 “To the pure of heart, all are clean.”

7:4 Then Jesus knelt and took water in his Hands, pouring it over the man’s head, saying, “You are clean.” When he had finishing bathing him, the leper tremebled and said, “What have you done to me?”

7:5 And Jesus replied, “I have done nothing but reveal you to yourself.”

7:6 Then Jesus said, “Go and show yourself, not to the priests, but to the waters. And let no one tell you that you are unclean.”

7:7 And then the leper went away, but he did not remain silent. He spoke of what had happened, not as a cure, but as a revelation.

7:8 As Jesus entered into a certain village, ten more men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.

7:9 They lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Rabbi, have mercy on us!”

7:10 Jesus said, “Let the lepers come to me, do not hinder yourselves, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to those such as you!”

7:11 They went to Jesus, and he bathed each and every one of them.

7:12 One of them, when he saw that he was clean, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.

7:13 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; for he was a Samaritan with leprosy.

7:14 Jesus said, “I love you more than the nine.”

8 · THE DEAF SHALL BE SHOWN SIGNS

8:1 The Pharisees came out and began to question Jesus, seeking from him a sign from Heaven and testing him.

8:2 He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, only the Deaf shall be given signs for they are the ones who cannot hear me! Whoever has eyes to see let them see!”

8:3 Jesus departed from the Pharisees at the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis.

8:4 The multitude brought to him a man who was Deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged Jesus to lay his hands on him.

8:5 Jesus took the Deaf man aside from the multitude, and sat before him in silence.

8:6 Jesus stooped down and traced a perfect circle in the dust with his finger. He touched his own ears, then his own lips, and then his own heart. He pointed to the sky, then to the earth, then to the Deaf man himself.

8:7 The Deaf man watched, and his eyes widened. Then Jesus sighed and mouthed, “Be opened.”

8:8 The Deaf man stooped down and traced the same perfect circle in the dust with his finger, and he placed his hand over his own heart for he had understood what had not been spoken.

8:9 And the Deaf man rejoiced, though he did not speak. The multitudes who had brought him to Jesus were astonished beyond measure, “He has done all things well. He makes even the Deaf hear!”

8:10 Magdala turned to Jesus and said, “Rebbe, I don’t think they understood.” And Jesus answered, “Their ears are open, but their hearts are closed.”

9 · THE DEAD SHALL BE HONORED

9:1 One of the rulers of a nearby synagogue, Jairus by name, came, and seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet.

9:2 and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter has passed away. Please come and perform a eulogy for her.”

9:3 Jesus went with him to his house.

9:4 He allowed no one to follow him inside except Magdala.

9:5 He came to the house of Jairus, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.

9:6 When he had entered in and saw the body of Jairus’s daughter, he kneeled beside her and said to them, “Little one, you were naturally gifted and you were gifted a good Soul.

9:7 Your Soul and your Spirit were knit together in your Mother’s womb. Before your mother held you, you were held.

9:8 We are all grateful for you were a fearfully and wonderfully made a gift to us all.

9:9 For the days of your life were all written, the days that were ordained for you, when as yet there were none of them. Like stardust on the sky, shining for a time, but never truly gone.

9:10 And when he finised speaking, the mourners were astonished.

9:11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.

9:12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.

9:13 When Jesus saw her, he had compassion on her and performed a eulogy for the child. Magdala embraced the grieving mother and held her as she wept.

9:14 Jesus said, “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of The Father, and no torment shall touch them.

9:15 The righteous, even if they die early, will be at rest.

9:16 For old age is not honored for length of time or measured by number of years,

9:17 but understanding is gray hair for anyone, and a blameless life is ripe old age.

9:18 There was one who was loved by The Father, and while living among evil was taken up.

9:19 He was caught up so that evil might not change his understanding or guile deceive his soul.

9:20 Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years.”

9:21 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he found that Lazarus, the dear brother of his friends Martha and Mary had passed away four days ago and already lay in a tomb.

9:22 Martha saw Jesus and ran to him and said, “Rebbe, if you had been here, my brother would not have died!”

9:23 Jesus took her hands and said,

9:24 “The good name of Lazarus shall last forever as an epiphany for the living.”

9:25 When Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, came to Jesus, she sat at his feet as she so often did and wept. When he saw this, Jesus wept.

9:26 Magdala knelt beside her and place her hands upon her shoulders.

9:27 Then everyone followed Jesus to Lazarus’s tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.

9:28 Jesus performed a eulogy for Lazarus, saying,

9:29 “Blessed is the one who meditates on Wisdom and who reasons intelligently.

9:30 Blessed is the one who reflects on Her ways within their hearts and contemplate Her secrets.

9:31 Wisdom goes about seeking those worthy of Her, and She graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

9:32 Lazarus met Wisdom with the most sincere desire for instruction, and the concern for instruction is the love for Wisdom.

9:33 And Lazarus out of love for Wisdom kept to Her law, and in giving heed to Her law he assured for himself immortality.

9:34 Now immortal, Lazarus is closer to our Father than the rest of us here on earth who are mourning him this day;

9:35 for the desire for Wisdom leads to our Father’s Kingdom.

9:36 Wisdom is the reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of our Father’s Kingdom.

9:37 Although She is but one, She can do all things; although unchanging, She renews all things.

9:38 So do not fear the sentence of death; for it is the fate of all created things.

9:39 Whether Lazarus had lived ten or thousand years, there is no accounting in the grave.”

9:40 Magdala whispered to Mary of Bethany, “Lazarus is not behind this stone, but in the breath of those who call his name.”

9:41 And Jesus answered, “Yes, and where one or two or three remember him, there Lazarus will be also.”

9:42 Then Jesus placed his hand upon the tomb and said, “Rest now, brother, until the morning comes.” And they all turned away, leaving the stone unrolled.

10 · THE SERMON ON THE WATER

10:1 A harvest is collected and taken into the barn as a result of water, wind, earth, and fire.

10:2 Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea at dawn. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there as level as the surface of the water, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

10:3 Seeing them eager to listen, Jesus threw his breath across the waters, His voice walking on the sea,

10:4 He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:

10:5 “The human being is like a wise fisher who cast a net into the sea and and drew it up from the sea full of little fish. Among them the fisher found a fine large fish and cast all the little fish back down into the sea, easily choosing the large fish. Whoever has ears to hear let them hear!

10:6 A merchant had many precious gems. In order to have them bored for pearls, he hired a worker for hundred silver per day, and he went with the merchant to his home. When the worker sat down, a lute happened to be there, and the worker looked at it.

10:7 When the merchant asked him if he knew how to play the lute, the worker answered, ‘Yes, very well. I am also a luteplayer’. The merchant said, ‘Then take it.’ The worker took it and played beautiful melodies in a correct manner for the merchant the whole day long, leaving the box with gems open and beating the time with his hand and swaying his head to it, with great joy.

10:8 In the evening, the worker said to the merchant, ‘Have my wages given to me.’ When the merchant asked, ‘What have you done to earn wages?’, he answered, ‘You hired me, and I did what you told me to do.’ Thus the worker urged the merchant, until he received the hundred silver without any deduction, while the gems remained unbored. There was a quarrel, it could not be settled.

10:9 So on the next day they went before a judge for a trial. The worker appealed to the judge saying, ‘My lord, when this gentleman merchant saw me in the marketplace he asked me what work I could do and I replied that I could do it all whatever he asked of me. When he had taken me to his house, he ordered me to play the lute. Until nightfall I played on the lute at the gentleman's bidding.’

10:10 The judge pronounced this verdict to the merchant, ‘You hired this man to do work for you, so why didn’t you order him to bore the pearls? Why did you bid him to play the lute instead? The worker's wages shall be paid in full. If again there should be any pearls to be bored, give him another hundred silver, and he shall then bore your pearls another day.’

10:11 And so the merchant, being constrained, paid the man his hire. Yet the pearls remained as they were, unbored and untouched, and the merchant departed in great shame, for he had been ensnared by his own words. Again, the merchant set out to the marketplace to hire a worker for the next day.”

10:12 Then Jesus lifted up his voice and said, “Therefore, when you go with your adversary before the judge, be diligent to settle with him along the way, lest he drag you before the court, and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer cast you into prison.

10:13 Most certainly I tell you, you will by no means get out until you have paid the very last mite.”

10:14 After the sermon, when he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

10:15 He said to them, “To Magdala is given the mystery of our Father’s Kingdom.”

10:16 Magdala said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?

10:17 That man who understood all arts and crafts represents the body.

10:18 That man hired to be the pearl-borer is the body. Are you getting it?

10:19 The hundred silver represent a human life of a hundred years.

10:20 The owner of the pearls is the soul,

10:21 and the boring of the pearls represents seeking wisdom.

10:22 The one who understands this parable and teaches it is a righteous elect, who saves many people from the seraphim’s wheel, and sets them on the way to the Kingdom. Now I command you, hearers, that so long there is strength in your bodies, clarity in your minds, and love in your heart you should strive for the salvation of your souls.”

10:23 Pebble said, “Rebbe, must we endure this woman?”

10:24 Jesus simply repeated himself, “To Magdala is given the mystery of our Father’s Kingdom.”

10:25 When evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”

10:26 Leaving the multitude, they took Jesus with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

10:27 Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they let him sleep for he had spoken since dawn.

11 · THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

11:1 One day, seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

11:2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

11:3 “Blessed is the lion that a man will eat, for in this case the lion will become a man; but woe to the man whom the lion will eat, for the lion will become a man in this case as well!

11:4 Blessed are the poor who collect no inheritence from their father, for your inheritence is the Kingdom of our Father!

11:5 Blessed is the person who has been troubled; he has found life!

11:6 Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted, and a place will be found where you will not be persecuted!

11:7 Blessed are those who have striven in their minds; these are the ones who have known the Father truly!

11:8 Blessed are those who go hungry in order to fill the stomach of those who are longing!“

11:9 A woman in the crowd shouted to him, “Blessed is the womb which bore you and the breasts which nourished you!”

11:10 He shouted back to her, “Blessed are they who have heard the word of the Father, who truly have observed it. For the days will come when you will instead shout, ‘Blessed is the womb which has not conceived, and the breasts which have not given milk!

11:11 Blessed is the man who knows where the thieves will enter, so that he may arise and unite his kingdom and gird his loins from the beginning, before they enter!

11:12 It is the case of the kingdom of the Father as with a woman; she took a little yeast; she hid it in dough; she made it into large loaves of bread!

11:13 It is the case of the kingdom of the Father as with a woman carrying a jar full of meal. Walking on a distant road, the jar handle broke; the meal emptied out onto the road behind her. She was not aware of what happened. She did not know of the trouble. When she entered into her house, she put the jar down; she found it empty.

11:14 It is the case of the kingdom of the Father as with a man who wanted to kill a powerful man. He Andrew his sword in his house; he thrust it into the wall, to see if his hand would be strong enough to thrust it in. Then he slew the one who was powerful in one blow.

11:15 A city built and fortified on a high mountain cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.

11:16 But if two make peace with one another in this one city, they will say to the mountain, ‘Move!’ and it will move!

11:17 His disciples asked him and said to him, “How should we fast? And how should we pray? And how should we give alms? And what rules concerning foods shall we observe?”

11:18 Jesus said, “Do not lie, and do not do anything which you would hate. For there is nothing that has been hidden that will not be made manifest. And there is nothing covered that will not be revealed.

11:19 If you fast, you will give birth to sin, and if you pray, you will be condemned, and if you give alms, you will harm your own spirits. And in any land you enter, when you walk in the countrysides, if you are received with a greeting of peace, eat whatever is placed in front of you; heal the sick among them. For what enters your mouth will not cause impurity; rather, what comes out of your mouth is what will make you impure.”

11:20 His disciples asked him, “What should we wear?” Jesus said, “Do not worry from morning until evening and from evening until morning about the garment that you are to wear. You are much greater than the lilies neither card nor spin. When you have no clothing, then what will you wear? Who can add to your lifespan? Your Father will give you your garment.”

11:21 Jesus said as he descended the mountain, “Many times you have desired to hear these words which I speak to you, and there is no other from whom to hear them. Days will come when you will seek for me and you will not find me.

11:22 The Pharisees and the scribes received the keys of knowledge; they hid them. They entered not, and they did not allow those who desire to enter. You, however, be wise like serpents and innocent like doves.”

12 · THE SERMON ON THE PLAIN

12:1 He was going on the Sabbath day through the grain fields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of grain. This is how Jesus fed many who were hungry.

12:2 The Pharisees said to him, “Look at them, why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

12:3 He said to them, “Did you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry—he, and those who were with him?

12:4 How he entered into the Tabernacle at the time of Ahimelech the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence— which is not lawful to eat except for the priests— and gave also to those who were with him?

12:5 The Sabbath was made for people not people for the Sabbath.

12:6 Therefore the people are lords and ladies even of the Sabbath.

12:7 Instead love your kindred as your soul. Guard them as the apple of your eye as you do the Sabbath.

12:8 You see the splinter in their eye, but the log in your own eye, you do not see it. When you dislodge the log from your own eye, then you will be able to see to remove the splinter from your kindred’s eye.”

12:9 A man said to him, “Rabbi, tell my brothers to divide my father’s possessions with me.” He said to him, “Oh man, they think I am a divider, huh?” He turned to his disciples; he said to them, “Do I seem like a divider to any of you?”

12:10 Another man, a Pharisee, handed Jesus an aureus, and he said to him, “Those who belong to Caesar demand taxes from us in these. Shall we pay them?” He said to him, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Give to God what is God’s, and that which is mine, give that to me.”

12:11 And he tossed the aureus to Judas of Kerioth, who pocketed it. They both laughed as they often did while pressing oil together.

12:12 Yet another man ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Rabbi, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

12:13 Jesus said to him, “If you have money, do not lend it at interest, but give it to anyone from whose hand you know will not get it back.”

12:14 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.

12:15 Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into my Father’s Kingdom. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”

12:16 Jesus said, “There was a wealthy man who possessed much wealth. He said, ‘I will use my wealth in order to sow and reap and plant and fill my treasury house with grain so that I lack nothing.’ This was what he was thinking about in his mind. And when the night came, he died.

12:17 Look at this, the sower went out, he filled his hands and cast forth. Some, indeed, fell upon the road; the birds came, they gathered them. Others fell upon stones, and did not send roots down into the earth, and did not send forth ears reaching to the sky. And others fell upon thorns; they choked the seed, and worms ate them. And others fell upon good earth, and it produced good fruit reaching up to the sky. It brought sixty per measure, and one hundred twenty per measure.

12:18 When the grain opened, he arrived with haste, his sickle in hand; he reaped it.

12:19 A man was receiving various guests, and when he had prepared the dinner he sent forth his servant in order to invite the guests. He went to the first; he said to him, ‘My master invites you.’ He said, ‘I have some money to give to some traders who are arriving in the evening. I am to go to place orders with them. I beg to be excused from the dinner.’ He went to another; he said to him, ‘My master has invited you.’ He said to him, ‘I have purchased a house and I will not be available for a day; I will not be able to rest.’ He went to another; he said to him, ‘My master invites you.’ He said to him, ‘My friend is going to be married, and I am the only one preparing the dinner; I cannot come. I beg to be excused from the dinner.’ He went to another; he said to him, ‘My master calls you.’ He said to him, ‘I have purchased a farm; I am going to collect the taxes. I cannot come; I beg to be excused.’ The servant, he came and said to his master, ‘Those you have summoned to the dinner have begged to be excused.’ The master said to his servant, ‘Let’s go outside together into the streets; those we find, we’ll bring them here so we all may dine.’ Buyers and merchants will not enter into the Kingdom of my Father.

12:20 A landowner planted a vineyard on his property; he leased it out to some tenants so that they would operate it and he might collect the produce from their hand. He sent his servant to the tenants to collect the produce of the vineyard. They seized his servant; they beat him until they nearly killed him. The servant left; he spoke with his master. His master said, ‘Perhaps they did not recognize him.’ He sent another servant; the tenants beat this one also. Then the master sent his son; he said, ‘Perhaps they will feel bad before my son.’ The tenants there recognized him as the heir to the vineyard; so they killed him.

12:21 There was a woman who found a pearl buried in the ruins of fallen city. She sold everything she had, left behind her home, and set out to sea to seek the land where pearls are born. And she was never seen again.

12:22 Whoever has found the world and grown wealthy, let them renounce the world.

12:23 For whoever has found the world has found a corpse; and whoever has found a corpse, of that one the world is not worthy.”

12:24 Jesus said, ”If you do not fast from the world, you will not find the Kingdom; if you do not observe the Sabbath of Sabbaths and the Jubilee of Jubilees, you will not see our Father.”

13 · THE SERMON BURNING WITHIN

13:1 Jesus said, "I have cast a fire upon the world, and behold, I guard it until it burns.”

13:2 Six days before Passover under the starry night sky, Jesus took Magdala with him and led her up a high mountain apart from the others, by themselves. And he was transfigured before her,

13:3 and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them.

13:4 And there appeared to her King Solomon with Queen Esther, who were talking with Jesus.

13:5 Then Magdala said to Jesus, “Rebbe, it is good for us to be here; shall I pitch a tent for The King and The Queen?”

13:6 Jesus knew exactly what to say, for she was not afraid. He said, “Yes, but not for them.”

13:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered Solomon, Esther, and Jesus. Magdala saw a faint light flicker within the cloud—glowing, growing, burning brighter—until a figure stepped forward—a lion who walked like a man, crowned with the Behemoth's tusks, sheathed in armor forged from the Leviathan's scales, robed in the feathers of the Ziz, bearing a torch with the indestructible eternal Light. Magdala’s knees gave way beneath her, but Yī'uwuh (יִהֻוואהְ)—King Emeritus Retired Commander (אלהי ELOHE) of The Stellar Flotilla (צבאות TZEVAOT)—locked them in place and clapped like the thunder: “This Tower shall STAND!” And he laid down his stars as medals upon the ground at her feet.

13:8 Magdala's skin shone as she stood face to face with Yī'uwuh (יִהֻוואהְ)—The Great (אל EL) Destroyer (שדי SHADDAI). He extended the torch to her and said, “I AM YOU, AND YOU ARE I; and wheresoever you are, there am I. In all I am scattered, and wherever you will, you can gather Me; and gathering Me, you gather yourself.”

13:9 Magdala reached out and took the torch. In the mirror of her eyes, Yī'uwuh—Man of War (אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה Ish Milchamah) saw his reflection and whispered, "No one may see my face and live."

13:10 The last image Magdala saw was Yī'uwuh—I AM WHAT I AM (אהיה אשר אהיה 'HYH 'SHER 'HYH)— consuming Himself in The Force of Fire.

13:11 The cloud dissolved, and she no longer saw anyone with her except Jesus. And she held the torch between them, and it cast no shadow.

13:12 Jesus stepped forward from where the cloud had been and said to Magdala, "This is what we must do in order to live." They knew each other until dawn.

13:13 The next morning, when they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples

13:14 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.

13:15 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this: ‘The King needs it and will send it back here immediately.’”

13:16 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,

13:17 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?”

13:18 They told them what Jesus had said, and they allowed them to take it.

13:19 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.

13:20 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.

13:21 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Save us! Blessed is The King who comes in the name of God to save us!

13:22 Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest Heaven!”

13:23 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into The Temple, and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

13:24 The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

13:25 Seeing a fig tree from afar having leaves, He came to see if perhaps He might find anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

13:26 Jesus told it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and everyone heard it.

13:27 Then they came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered The Temple.

13:28 He found in The Temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.

13:29 Jesus said, “Look at me, Mother. I have come to do your will.”

13:30 He made a whip of cords and drove all the animals out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the changers’ money and flipped over their tables.

13:31 To those who sold the doves, Jesus said,

13:32 “If you had known what Osee son of Beeri meant when he said, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned these innocent ones!“ And He released the doves from their cages.

13:33 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through The Temple. To them Jesus said,

13:34 “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s House a market!

13:35 Is it not written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers!”

13:36 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and they conspired to kill Him for they feared Him because the multitude was astonished at His teaching.

13:37 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them,

13:38 “Destroy this temple! In three days, I will raise it up!”

13:39 They all laughed at him, but one rebuked him: a Pharisee possessed by Lord Belmaul, the sheriff (שטן). The sheriff said to Jesus, “It took forty-six years to build this temple. We watched every moment of it. And you, Jesus of Nazareth, seventh son of Joseph and Mary, will raise it up in three days?”

13:40 Jesus fixed his gaze to the sheriff, and said, “Get behind me, sheriff! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of our Father, but on the things of men.” And the sheriff departed the Pharisee, but not before planting a seed. Immediately the Pharisee's gaze went to his closest allies. They began to conspire with the others how they might kill Jesus.

13:41 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

13:42 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.

13:43 Pebble, remembering, and said to Jesus, “Rebbe, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered away.”

13:44 Jesus answered him, “Go away.”

13:45 Pebble said to Him, “Who are you to say that to me?”

13:46 Jesus said, “You do not understand who I am. Rather, you have become like those Judeans, for when they love the tree, they hate its fruit, and when they love the fruit, they hate the tree.

13:47 Grapes are not harvested from thorns, nor are figs gathered from thistles, for these do not give fruit. A good person brings out of his treasury house delights; an evil person brings plagues out of his corrupt treasury house which is in his mind, and he speaks plagues. For out of the surplus of the mind he brings out plagues.

13:48 It is impossible for one person to mount two horses, and stretch two bows, and it is impossible for a servant to serve two masters, for he would honor one and despite the other.”

13:49 Again Jesus came to Jerusalem. As He was walking in The Temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders surrounded him

13:50 shouting at Him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?”

13:51 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

13:52 Did the baptism of John come from Heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.”

13:53 They argued with one another, “What should we say? If we say, ‘From Heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?’

13:54 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet.

13:55 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

13:56 One of the scribes came near and heard distinguished men disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well he asked Him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

13:57 Jesus answered, “Love your neighbor with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength!”

13:58 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right. ‘To love one’s neighbor’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

13:59 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “He is who near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the Kingdom.”

13:60 He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

13:61 The widow whose son Jesus eulogized came and put in her last two mites.

13:62 Then he called his disciples and said to them, “This woman has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

13:63 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had left.

13:64 Pay the last mite while you are still alive. If you die and then try to pay, you will not be able to.”

14 · THE LAST CHAPTER

14:1 It was two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception and kill him.

14:2 For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

14:3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, Magdala came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it over his head.

14:4 But Judas of Kerioth, his old friend and one of the twelve, was there and he said to Jesus in anger, “Why has this ointment been wasted?

14:5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred silver and given that to the poor.” So Judas grumbled against Magdala.

14:6 But Jesus said, “Leave Magdala alone, scab (סַפַחַת sappachath). Why do you trouble Her? She has done a good work for Me.

14:7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good, but you will not always have Me.

14:8 She has done what She could; She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

14:9 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached in the whole world, that which Magdala has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of Her.”

14:10 Then Judas of Kerioth went away to the chief priests that he might betray Jesus to them.

14:11 They, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. Judas sought how he might conveniently betray him.

14:12 On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, the disciples asked Jesus, “Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?”

14:13 He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there is a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,

14:14 and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, ‘Your Teacher says: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

14:15 He will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Get ready for us there.”

14:16 So the disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

14:17 While his disciples did this, Jesus set out and went to the wilderness and found a Passover meal of his own beneath the cedars.

14:18 When it was evening Jesus came with the twelve.

14:19 As they were preparing to eat bread, he revealed to them a peculiar mushroom (שְׂמָנִים) he had found in the wilderness, radiant with the light of the earth, and when he had blessed it, he broke the caps off the stems, and said as he gave to them pieces, “Take and eat; this is my body, the vessel of Wisdom. Whoever eats of it shall understand the Force of Fire as I do.”

14:20 “This heaven will pass away—and the one above it will also pass away. And those who have died are not alive— and those who are alive will not die. In the days when you ate what was dead, you made it live. When you eat what is alive, what will you do? On the day you were one, you were made into two, but when you become one, what will you do?”

14:21 He took a cup of fresh, living water, and when he had given thanks he lifted it and drank from it before he gave to them. They all drank of it.

14:22 He said to them, “This is the fountain of Wisdom, which flows freely for those who seek Her. Whoever drinks, let them thirst no more, for the Force of Water is within them forever and ever."

14:23 Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the indestructible eternal Light.”

14:24 As they sat and were eating, James looked at John. John came near to him at the table, saying to him, “Rebbe, my brother and I want to ask you a favor.”

14:25 Jesus said, "What?"

14:26 John said, "When you are King of Heaven, may I sit in a throne at your right?" James said, "And ask him if I can sit on his left!"

14:27 Jesus said, "Neither of you know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I drink?"

14:28 They both said, "Yes."

14:29 Jesus said, "Who sits where is not mine to give, but The Giver's."

14:30 As they sat and were eating, his brother James asked him, “Rebbe, we know that you will depart and be beyond our reach. Who will then be greatest over us?”

14:31 Jesus said to them, “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do even greater works;

14:32 Become greater than I

14:33 for I wish one day to be the lesser.

14:34 But take care not to attain hubris while attaining the light that enlightens. Rather, act towards yourselves as I have toward you.”

14:35 Jesus said to his disciples, “Now make a comparison and tell me whom/what I am like.” Simon Pebble said to him, “You are like a righteous seraph.” Bartholomew said to him, “You are like a man, a wise philosopher.” Thomas said to him, “Rebbe, my mouth will not at all let me say what you are like.” Jesus said to Thomas, “I am not your Rebbe, Twin Twin; because you drank you were intoxicated from the bubbling spring I have measured out.” And He got up from his seat, took Thomas aside, and told him three things. But when Thomas returned to his seat, the others asked him: “What did Jesus say to you?” Thomas said to them: “If I were to tell you even one of the things he told me, you would gather stones and cast them at me, and fire would come from the stones and burn this building to the ground.”

14:36 Jesus had said to Thomas, "It is within light that light is born... for your sake... that you might emerge."

14:37 As they sat and were eating, a dispute also arose among Simon Pebble and Judas of Kerioth as to which one of them was to be considered the greatest.

14:38 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors."

14:39 "But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves."

14:40 "For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."

14:41 As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you has betrayed me, one who eats with me.”

14:42 They began to be sorrowful and to ask him one by one, “Surely, not I, Rebbe?”

14:43 He said to them, “It is surely one of you, one who dips with me in the dish.

14:44 Most certainly I tell this betrayer, it would be better for you if you had not been born.”