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The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
19 He who would follow me must give up all the cravings of the self and lose his life in saving life.
20 I come to save the lost, and man is saved when he is rescued from himself. But men are slow to comprehend this doctrine of the Christ.
21 And Peter said, I cannot speak for any other man, but for myself I speak: I will leave all and follow where you lead.
22 And then the others spoke and said, You have the words of truth; you came from God, and if we follow in your footsteps we cannot miss the way.
23 Then Jesus and the six disciples sat a long, long time in silent thought.
CHAPTER 67
Jesus visits John at the Jordan. Delivers his first Christine address to the people. The address. He goes with his disciples to Bethany.
Now, on the morrow Jesus came again and stood with John beside the ford; and John prevailed on him to speak, and standing forth he said,
2 You men of Israel, hear! The kingdom is at hand.
3 Behold the great key-keeper of the age stands in your midst; and with the spirit of Elijah he has come.
4 Behold, for he has turned the key; the mighty gates fly wide and all who will may greet the king.
5 Behold these multitudes of women, children, men! they throng the avenues, they crowd the outer courts; each seems to be intent to be the first to meet the king.
6 Behold, the censor comes and calls, Whoever will may come; but he who comes must will to prune himself of every evil thought;
7 Must overcome desire to gratify the lower self; must give his life to save the lost.
8 The nearer to the kingdom gate you come, more spacious is the room; the multitudes have gone.
9 If men could come unto the kingdom with their carnal thoughts, their passions and desires, there scarcely would be room for all.
10 But when they cannot take these through the narrow gate they turn away; the few are ready to go in and see the king.
11 Behold, John is a mighty fisher, fishing for the souls of men. He throws his great net out into the sea of human life; he draws it in and it is full.
12 But what a medley catch! a catch of crabs, and lobsters, sharks and creeping things, with now and then a fish of better kind.
13 Behold, the thousands come to hear the Wild Man of the hills; they come in crowds that he may wash them in the crystal flood, and with their lips they do confess their sins.
14 But when the morrow comes we find them in their haunts of vice again, reviling John, and cursing God, and heaping insults on the king.
15 But blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see the king.
16 And blessed are the strong in heart, for they shall not be cast about by every wind that blows;
17 But while the fickle and the thoughtless have gone back to Egypt land for leeks and carnal herbs to satisfy their appetites, the pure in heart have found the king.
18 But even those whose faith is weak, and who are naught but carnal manifests, will some day come again, and enter in with joy to see the king.
19 O men of Israel, take heed to what this prophet has to say! Be strong in mind; be pure in heart; be vigilant in helpfulness; the kingdom is at hand.
20 When Jesus had thus said he went his way, and with his six disciples came to Bethany; and they abode with Lazarus many days.
CHAPTER 68
Jesus speaks to the people in Bethany. Tells them how to become pure in heart. Goes to Jerusalem and in the temple reads from a prophetic book. Goes to Nazareth.
The news soon spread abroad that Jesus, king of Israel, had come to Bethany, and all the people of the town came forth to greet the king.
2 And Jesus, standing in the midst of them exclaimed, Behold, indeed, the king has come, but Jesus is not king.
3 The kingdom truly is at hand; but men can see it not with carnal eyes; they cannot see the king upon the throne.
4 This is the kingdom of the soul; its throne is not an earthly throne; its king is not a man.
5 When human kings found kingdoms here, they conquer other kings by force of arms; one kingdom rises on the ruins of another one.
6 But when our Father-God sets up the kingdom of the soul, he pours his blessings forth, like rain, upon the thrones of earthly kings who rule in righteousness.
7 It is not rule that God would overthrow; his sword is raised against injustice, wantonness and crime.
8 Now, while the kings of Rome do justice, and love mercy and walk humbly with their God, the benediction of the Triune God will rest upon them all.
9 They need not fear a messenger whom God sends forth to earth.
10 I am not sent to sit upon a throne to rule as Cæsar rules; and you may tell the ruler of the Jews that I am not a claimant for his throne.
11 Men call me Christ, and God has recognized the name; but Christ is not a man. The Christ is universal love, and Love is king.
12 This Jesus is but man who has been fitted by temptations overcome, by trials multiform, to be the temple through which Christ can manifest to men.
13 Then hear, you men of Israel, hear! Look not upon the flesh; it is not king. Look to the Christ within, who shall be formed in every one of you, as he is formed in me.
14 When you have purified your hearts by faith, the king will enter in, and you will see his face.
15 And then the people asked, What must we do that we may make our bodies fit abiding places for the king?
16 And Jesus said, Whatever tends to purity in thought, and word, and deed will cleanse the temple of the flesh.
17 There are no rules that can apply to all, for men are specialists in sin; each has his own besetting sin,
18 And each must study for himself how he can best transmute his tendency to evil things to that of righteousness and love.
19 Until men reach the higher plane, and get away from selfishness, this rule will give the best results:
20 Do unto other men what you would have them do to you.
21 And many of the people said, We know that Jesus is the Christ, the king who was to come, and blessed be his name.
22 Now, Jesus and his six disciples turned their faces toward Jerusalem, and many people followed them.
23 But Mathew, son of Alpheus, ran on before, and when he reached Jerusalem, he said, Behold the Christines come! The multitudes came forth to see the king.
24 But Jesus did not speak to any one until he reached the temple court, and then he opened up a book and read:
25 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will pave the way, and Christ, for whom you wait, will come unto his temple unannounced. Behold, for he will come, says God, the Lord of hosts.
26 And then he closed the book; he said no more; he left the temple halls, and with his six disciples, went his way to Nazareth,
27 And they abode with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and her sister, Miriam.
CHAPTER 69
Jesus and the ruler of the synagogue of Nazareth. Jesus teaches not in public, and the people are amazed.
Next day as Peter walked about in Nazareth, he met the ruler of the synagogue who asked, Who is this Jesus lately come to Nazareth?
2 And Peter said, This Jesus is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is the king of Israel. His mother, Mary, lives on Marmion Way.
3 The ruler said, Tell him to come up to the synagogue, for I would hear his plea.
4 And Peter ran and told to Jesus what the ruler said; but Jesus answered not; he went not to the synagogue.
5 Then in the evening time the ruler came up Marmion Way, and in the home of Mary found he Jesus and his mother all alone.
6 And when the ruler asked for proof of his messiahship, and why he went not to the synagogue when he was bidden, Jesus said,
7 I am not slave to any man; I am not called unto this ministry by priest. It is not mine to answer when men call. I come the Christ of God; I answer unto God alone.
8 Who gave you right to ask for proof of my messiahship? My proof lies in my words and works, and so if you will follow me you will not lack for proof.
9 And then the ruler went his way; he asked himself, What manner of a man is this to disregard the ruler of the synagogue?
10 The people of the town came out in throngs to see the Christ, and hear him speak; but Jesus said,
11 A prophet has no honor in his native town, among his kin.
12 I will not speak in Nazareth until the words I speak, and works I do in other towns have won the faith of men,
13 Until men know that God has christed me to manifest eternal love.
14 Good will to you, my kin; I bless you with a boundless love, and I bespeak for you abundant joy and happiness.
15 He said no more, and all the people marveled much because he would not speak in Nazareth.
CHAPTER 70
Jesus and his disciples at a marriage feast in Cana. Jesus speaks on marriage. He turns water into wine. The people are amazed.
In Cana, Galilee, there was a marriage feast, and Mary and her sister Miriam, and Jesus and his six disciples were among the guests.
2 The ruler of the feast had heard that Jesus was a master sent from God, and he requested him to speak.
3 And Jesus said, There is no tie more sacred than the marriage tie.
4 The chain that binds two souls in love is made in heaven, and man can never sever it in twain,
5 The lower passions of the twain may cause a union of the twain, a union as when oil and water meet.
6 And then a priest may forge a chain, and bind the twain. This is not marriage genuine; it is a counterfeit.
7 The twain are guilty of adultery; the priest is party to the crime. And that was all that Jesus said.
8 As Jesus stood apart in silent thought his mother came and said to him, The wine has failed; what shall we do?
9 And Jesus said, Pray what is wine? It is but water with the flavoring of grapes.
10 And what are grapes? They are but certain kinds of thought made manifest, and I can manifest that thought, and water will be wine.
11 He called the servants, and he said to them, Bring in six water pots of stone, a pot for each of these, my followers, and fill them up with water to the brims,
12 The servants brought the water pots, and filled them to their brims.
13 And Jesus with a mighty thought stirred up the ethers till they reached the manifest, and, lo, the water blushed, and turned to wine.
14 The servants took the wine and gave it to the ruler of the feast who called the bridegroom in and said to him,
15 This wine is best of all; most people when they give a feast bring in the best wine at the first; but, lo, you have reserved the best until the last.
16 And when the ruler and the guests were told that Jesus, by the power of thought, had turned the water into wine, they were amazed;
17 They said, This man is more than man; he surely is the christed one who prophets of the olden times declared would come.
18 And many of the guests believed on him, and gladly would have followed him.
CHAPTER 71
Jesus, his six disciples and his mother, go to Capernaum. Jesus teaches the people, revealing the difference between the kings of earth and the kings of heaven.
The city of Capernaum was by the sea of Galilee, and Peter’s home was there. The homes of Andrew, John and James were near,
2 These men were fishermen, and must return to tend their nets, and they prevailed on Jesus and his mother to accompany them, and soon with Philip and Nathaniel they were resting by the sea in Peter’s home.
3 The news spread through the city and along the shore that Judah’s king had come, and multitudes drew near to press his hand.
4 And Jesus said, I cannot show the king, unless you see with eyes of soul, because the kingdom of the king is in the soul.
5 And every soul a kingdom is. There is a king for every man.
6 This king is love, and when this love becomes the greatest power in life, it is the Christ; so Christ is king.
7 And every one may have this Christ dwell in his soul, as Christ dwells in my soul.
8 The body is the temple of the king, and men may call a holy man a king.
9 He who will cleanse his mortal form and make it pure, so pure that love and righteousness may dwell unsullied side by side within its walls, is king.
10 The kings of earth are clothed in royal robes, and sit in state that men may stand in awe of them.
11 A king of heaven may wear a fisher’s garb; may sit in mart of trade; may till the soil, or be a gleaner in the field; may be a slave in mortal chains;
12 May be adjudged a criminal by men; may languish in a prison cell; may die upon a cross.
13 Men seldom see what others truly are. The human senses sense what seems to be, and that which seems to be and that which is, may be diverse in every way.
14 The carnal man beholds the outer man, which is the temple of the king, and worships at his shrine.
15 The man of God is pure in heart; he sees the king; he sees with eyes of soul;
16 And when he rises to the plane of Christine consciousness, he knows that he himself is king, is love, is Christ, and so is son of God.
17 You men of Galilee, prepare to meet your king.
18 And Jesus taught the people many lessons as he walked with them beside the sea.
SECTION XV
CHAPTER 72
Jesus in Jerusalem. Drives the merchants out of the temple. The priests resent, and he defends himself from the standpoint of a loyal Jew. He speaks to the people.
The Jewish paschal feast time came and Jesus left his mother in Capernaum and journeyed to Jerusalem.
2 And he abode with one a Sadducee, whose name was Jude.
3 And when he reached the temple courts the multitudes were there to see the prophet whom the people thought had come to break the yoke of Rome, restore the kingdom of the Jews, and rule on David’s throne.
4 And when the people saw him come they said, All hail! behold the king!
5 But Jesus answered not; he saw the money changers in the house of God, and he was grieved.
6 The courts had been converted into marts of trade, and men were selling lambs and doves for offerings in sacrifice.
7 And Jesus called the priests and said, Behold, for paltry gain you have sold out the temple of the Lord.
8 This house ordained for prayer is now a den of thieves. Can good and evil dwell together in the courts of God? I tell you, no.
9 And then he made a scourge of cords and drove the merchants out; he overturned their boards, and threw their money on the floor.
10 He opened up the cages of the captive birds, and cut the cords that bound the lambs, and set them free.
11 The priests and scribes rushed out, and would have done him harm, but they were driven back; the common people stood in his defense.
12 And then the rulers said, Who is this Jesus you call king?
13 The people said, He is the Christ of whom our prophets wrote; he is the king who will deliver Israel.
14 The rulers said to Jesus, Man, if you be king, or Christ, then show us signs. Who gave you right to drive these merchants out?
15 And Jesus said, There is no loyal Jew who would not give his life to save this temple from disgrace; in this I acted simply as a loyal Jew, and you yourselves will bear me witness to this truth.
16 The signs of my messiahship will follow me in words and deeds.
17 And you may tear the temple down (and you will tear it down) and in three days it will be built again more glorious than before.
18 Now Jesus meant that they might take his life; tear down his body, temple of the Holy Breath, and he would rise again.
19 The Jews knew not the meaning of his words; they laughed his claims to scorn. They said,
20 A multitude of men were forty and six years in building up this house, and this young stranger claims that he will build it up in three score hours; his words are idle, and his claims are naught.
21 And then they took the scourge with which he drove the merchants out, and would have driven him away; but Philo, who had come from Egypt to attend the feast, stood forth and said,
22 You men of Israel, hear! This man is more than man; take heed to what you do. I have, myself, heard Jesus speak, and all the winds were still.
23 And I have seen him touch the sick, and they were healed. He stands a sage above the sages of the world;
24 And you will see his star arise, and it will grow until it is the full-orbed Sun of Righteousness.
25 Do not be hasty, men; just wait and you will have the proofs of his messiahship.
26 And then the priests laid down the scourge, and Jesus said,
27 Prepare, O Israel, prepare to meet your king! But you can never see the king while you press sin as such a precious idol to your hearts.
28 The king is God; the pure in heart alone can see the face of God and live.
29 And then the priests cried out, This fellow claims to be the God. Is not this sacrilege! away with him!
30 But Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say, I am a king. Our Father-God is king. With every loyal Jew I worship God.
31 I am the candle of the Lord aflame to light the way; and while you have the light walk in the light.
CHAPTER 73
Jesus again visits the temple, and is favorably received by the people. Tells the parable of a king and his sons. Defines messiahship.
Next day the multitudes were surging through the temple courts, intent on hearing Jesus speak.
2 And when he came the people said, All hail! behold the king!
3 And Jesus spoke a parable; he said, A king had vast domains; his people all were kin, and lived in peace.
4 Now, after many years the king said to his people, Take these lands and all I have; enhance their values; rule yourselves, and live in peace.
5 And then the people formed their states; selected governors and petty kings.
6 But pride, ambition, selfish greed, and base ingratitude grew fast, and kings began to war.
7 They wrote in all their statute books that might is right; and then the strong destroyed the weak, and chaos reigned through all the vast domain.
8 A long time passed, and then the king looked out on his domain. He saw his people in their cruel wars; he saw them sick and sore distressed; he saw the strong enslave the weak,
9 And then he said, What shall I do? Shall I send forth a scourge? shall I destroy my people all?
10 And then his heart was stirred with pity and he said, I will not send a scourge; I will send forth my only son, heir to the throne, to teach the people love, and peace, and righteousness.
11 He sent his son; the people scorned him and maltreated him, and nailed him to a cross.
12 He was entombed; but death was far too weak to hold the prince, and he arose.
13 He took a form man could not kill; and then he went again to teach the people love, and peace and righteousness.
14 And thus God deals with men.
15 A lawyer came and asked, What does messiah mean? and who has right to make messiah of a man?
16 And Jesus said, Messiah is one sent from God to seek and save the lost. Messiahs are not made by men.
17 In first of every age Messiah comes to light the way; to heal up broken hearts; to set the prisoners free. Messiah and the Christ are one.
18 Because a man claims to be Christ is not a sign that he is Christ.
19 A man may cause the streams to flow from flinty rocks; may bring on storms at will; may stay tempestuous winds; may heal the sick and raise the dead, and not be sent from God.
20 All nature is subservient to the will of man, and evil men, as well as good, have all the powers of mind, and may control the elements.
21 The head gives not the proof of true messiahship, for man by means of intellect, can never know of God, nor bring himself to walk in light.
22 Messiah lives not in the head, but in the heart, the seat of mercy and of love.
23 Messiah never works for selfish gains; he stands above the carnal self; his words and deeds are for the universal good.
24 Messiah never tries to be a king, to wear a crown and sit upon an earthly throne.
25 The king is earthy, of the earth; Messiah is the man from heaven.
26 And then the lawyer asked, Why do you pose as king?
27 And Jesus said, No man has ever heard me say that I am king. I could not sit in Cæsar’s place and be the Christ.
28 Give unto Cæsar what belongs to him; give unto God the treasures of your heart.
CHAPTER 74
Jesus heals on the Sabbath, and is censured by the Pharisees. Restores a drowned child. Rescues a wounded dog. Cares for a homeless child. Speaks on the law of kindness.
It was the Sabbath day, and Jesus stood among the surging masses of the people in the temple courts and sacred halls.
2 The blind, the deaf, the dumb, and those obsessed were there, and Jesus spoke the Word, and they were healed.
3 On some he laid his hands, and they were healed; to others he just spoke the Word, and they were full restored to health; but others had to go and wash in certain pools; and others he anointed with a holy oil.
4 A doctor asked him why he healed in divers ways, and he replied,
5 Disease is discord in the human form, and discords are produced in many ways.
6 The body is a harpsichord; sometimes the strings are too relaxed, and then inharmony results.
7 Sometimes we find the strings too tense, and then another form of discord is induced.
8 Disease is many-formed, and there are many ways to cure, to tune anew the mystic harpsichord.
9 Now when the Pharisees were told that Jesus healed the people on the Sabbath day they were enraged, and they commanded him to quit the place.
10 But Jesus said, Was man designed to fit the Sabbath day, or was the Sabbath day designed to fit the man?
11 If you had fallen in a pit and, lo, the Sabbath day had come, and I should pass your way, would you cry out,
12 Let me alone; it is a sin to help me on the Sabbath day; I’ll swelter in this filth until another day?
13 You Pharisees, you hypocrites! you know you would be glad to have my help upon the Sabbath day, or any other day.
14 These people all have fallen into pits, and they are calling loud for me to help them out, and man and God would curse me should I pass along and heed them not.
15 And then the Pharisees returned to say their prayers, and curse the man of God because he heeded not their words.
16 Now, in the evening Jesus stood beside a pool; a playful child had fallen in, and it was drowned, and friends were bearing it away.
17 But Jesus called the carriers to stop; and then he stretched himself upon the lifeless form, and breathed into its mouth the breath of life.
18 And then he called aloud unto the soul that had gone out, and it returned; the child revived and lived.
19 And Jesus saw a wounded dog; it could not move; it lay beside the way and groaned with pain. He took it in his arms and bore it to the home where he abode.
20 He poured the healing oil into the wounds; he cared for it as though it were a child till it was strong and well.
21 And Jesus saw a little boy who had no home, and he was hungry; when he called for bread the people turned away.
22 And Jesus took the child and gave him bread; he wrapped him in his own warm coat, and found for him a home.
23 To those who followed him the master said, If man would gain again his lost estate he must respect the brotherhood of life.
24 Whoever is not kind to every form of life – to man, to beast, to bird, and creeping thing – cannot expect the blessings of the Holy One; for as we give, so God will give to us.
CHAPTER 75
Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night. Jesus reveals to him the meaning of the new birth and the kingdom of heaven.
Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, and he was earnest, learned and devout.
2 He saw the master’s signet in the face of Jesus as he talked, but was not brave enough to publicly confess his faith in him;
3 So in the night he went to talk with Jesus at the home of Jude.
4 When Jesus saw him come he said, Full blessed are the pure in heart;
5 Twice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart;
6 Thrice blessed are the fearless, pure in heart who dare to make confession of their faith before the highest courts.