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Kingdom of
God
CHAPTER 13
Yeshua and Miriam bid Yochanan
and his disciples farewell, and Philip asks
if he can walk with them and hear more of Yeshua's teachings. Yeshua asks him
to ponder a question and if he answers correctly then he can
learn more; if not, then he must first learn more of the foundation of
light from Yochanan. Philip answers correctly and Yeshua
asks him to follow him; that he will teach him the mysteries of
God so that he may go forth to teach others.
1 Upon the sunrise, Yeshua and Miriam rose and asked Yochanan
to lead them in the Contemplative Movements; and this he did,
teaching the movements and the meaning again to his disciples,
for many were lax at exercising and communing with God in what
seemed to them a foreign manner.
2 And when they were finished, Yeshua and Miriam bid goodbye to
Yochanan and his disciples, and without eating a morning meal,
as was often their custom, they began a walk to the north.
3 And it came to pass that Philip came after them, and with him
came Malachi, who had traveled the previous day from
Jericho
to hear Yochanan preach.
4 And hearing them approach, Yeshua turned and asked, “What do
you seek?”
5 And Philip answered him, “Rabbi, we are not disciples of
Yochanan, but came only to hear him a few days ago for the first
time, and to be baptized. Let us then walk with you, for we
desire to hear more of your teachings.”
6 And Yeshua smiled and said unto him, “Let me see if you are
prepared to understand all that I would teach you. At some time
during the day, when you have weighed the merits, tell me if the
kingdom dwells within you or without.
7 If you give the correct answer, you will open the door and
gain entry to the pinnacle; but if you answer wrong, then you
must return to Yochanan and learn more of the foundation before
you can climb the tower.”
8 Then knowing the aversion of men for a woman to be held equal
among them, Yeshua turned to Miriam and said unto her, “I desire
solitude as we travel for I have much to contemplate.
Would you therefore speak with Philip and Malachi concerning the
Kingdom of God?”
9 And turning to Philip and Malachi, Yeshua said unto them, “I
will listen to your conversations as we travel, but desire for
you to speak only with Miriam. Anything you would ask of me, ask
of her; and anything she would speak unto you, it is the same as
if I had spoken it unto you.”
10 And the men were shocked by the directive of Yeshua; but
realizing this was a test of their worthiness, they did not
protest, but folded their hands to their chest and bowed their
heads in deference to that which he had spoken.
11 And it came to pass that the mother spirit of Elohim came
upon Miriam, insomuch that she was enlivened to remember all
that she knew; and she engaged Philip and Malachi in a deep
discussion that astounded them, for she spoke not only of the
law with knowledge, but also of the words of the prophets and
the philosophy of the Greeks, and the secrets of the hearts of
men that women should not know.
12 And many a time Philip or Malachi thought to make a
counterpoint, but before they could form their thoughts into
words Miriam began to answer them.
13 Finally, the frustration of Philip could be bound no more
and he said unto her, “Miriam, my head is overflowing with your
words, insomuch that it aches. You speak as the most learned
Rabbi, and I did not know this was such a large subject. Let us
learn no more until we have understood all that has already been
spoken.”
14 And Malachi added, “The words of Philip are true; if all of
the teachings of Yeshua are so full, I fear our heads will
become so heavy that we will not be able to keep them on our
shoulders.”
15 And Miriam said unto them, “The teachings of Yeshua are like
being overwhelmed by a great sandstorm. At first you may
be surprised and confounded, even dim in sight because of the
immensity of that which swirls around you; but if you hold fast
to your faith and endure through the winds of bewilderment
because of that which is new, then the haze and storm will pass,
and you will be left in the glorious sunlight of Elohim, with a
peace that surpasses all you have known and a warmth sent from
God that lifts your heart and fills your soul.”
16 Around
midday they stopped and shared a meal, and even then Yeshua did
not speak, but seemed distant in his thoughts.
17 But Miriam and Philip and Malachi continued to speak of the
Kingdom of God, and Miriam said unto them, “The Kingdom of God
begins in your heart and if it is not there first, then it is
impossible for you to ever find it in this life or the next.
18 And were the Kingdom upon the earth but not in your heart,
the gates of the Kingdom would be closed to you; not because it
was not desired for you to be numbered among those who dwelt
there, but because knowing not the Kingdom in your heart, you
would not seek it in your life.”
19 And Malachi asked her, “But if the kingdom is upon the
Earth, and in it there is peace and plenty with no tyrants or
wars, how could it be that everyone would not desire to belong
to such a kingdom?”
20 And Miriam answered unto him, “Those without faith would
rather cling to misery than embrace the faith that would bring
them joy, because they cringe at the light and find comfort only
in the darkness.
21 In truth, would you be happy if you lived in the company of
the Roman soldiers, and traveled with them as they killed and
tortured the innocent, even if you would be given generous food,
silver coin and the spoils of war?”
22 And Malachi shook his head saying, “I would not, for their
ways are not my ways and I would always feel like a stranger
among them and their ways would certainly be strange and
distasteful to me.”
23 “So it would be with the Kingdom of God upon the Earth”,
Miriam explained. “For those of faith who had God in their
heart, the Kingdom would be the most joyous place to be, for
they would be one in spirit with all others within the Kingdom.
24 But for those who did not have the
Kingdom
of God in their heart, the ways of the people of the Kingdom of
God upon the Earth would seem repugnant and disagreeable.
25 Though they would be welcomed with love and abundance, until
the spirit of God lived in fullness in their heart, they would
turn their back upon the Kingdom and hold its riches of no
value.”
26 Then Malachi shook his head in disagreement saying, “The
Children of Israel are not seeking a kingdom of the heart or of
the spirit, but a real kingdom of power ruled by a king who is
ruled by God, that we may be free from the bondage of the Romans
and any other oppressor.
27 For as in the days of our forefathers, when God is with us,
who can withstand us? Tell me plainly, is Yeshua this king or
is he a Prophet who will reveal the anointed one to the people?
Surely, if ever there was a time that the Kingdom of God was
needed on the Earth, it is now.”
28 And Miriam answered, “What does your heart tell you?”
29 And Malachi responded, “My heart does not tell me anything.
I do not ask my heart such questions. I am looking for what my
eyes can see and my hands can touch. You speak of a kingdom of
the heart, but such a kingdom cannot defeat the Romans.”
30 Then Yeshua rose and stood before Malachi and said unto him,
“You look for a king anointed by God to overthrow the yoke of
the Romans; but verily I say unto you, the Kingdom of God begins
in the heart, and where dwells two or more hearts united in God,
there does the kingdom begin to manifest upon the Earth.
31 By heart upon heart shall
Rome
fall, and by heart upon heart shall the
Kingdom
of God rise up and fill the world.”
32 And it came to pass that Malachi departed from them, for he
knew not his own heart nor in whose presence he stood, and he
desired to see the Kingdom of God with his eyes before he found
it with his heart, therefore he was not filled by the words of
Miriam or Yeshua.
33 But Philip had listened quietly to all that had transpired
and Yeshua turned to him and asked, “Where is the Kingdom of
God, inside or outside?”
34 Philip answered unto him, “The kingdom is inside me, for I
feel the presence of the spirit of God moving my soul; but also,
I feel my heart united with yours and Miriam’s, and a oneness
with you that fills me with joy; therefore, the kingdom must
also be outside, for two or more are joined together and upon
this road we walk as one united in spirit and purpose.”
35 Then Yeshua said unto him, “Blessed are you Philip, for it
is not just by reason that you have understood this, nor only by
your heart, but because the spirit of Elohim has come upon you
that you know the light.
36 Therefore, I say unto you, come and follow me, and I shall
teach you the mysteries of God, that your light may go forth
among the Children of Men and they will find the kingdom within
and without because you showed them the way.”
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