Baptisms in Bethany

CHAPTER 18

Yeshua gives many sermons during his stay in Jerusalem, many of which were not in keeping with the law or tradition, so he is confronted by priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees. He confounds them all with his answers because he speaks with wisdom and logic and has a supreme understanding of the law and the scriptures of old. Instead of embracing his teachings, they begin to plot against him. Many people come to Yochanan, including his own disciples, to ask him about the teachings of Yeshua. Yochanan testifies that Yeshua is the light of God upon the Earth, the Anointed One, and it is of him and the teachings that he brings that he preaches, which include eternal life and exaltation. Yeshua, Miriam, Martha, and Yochanan are all together for the last time.

 1 And it came to pass that Yeshua and Miriam and his five disciples remained in the area of Jerusalem for over a moon.

 2 Almost every day, Yeshua would give a short sermon, and each day the disciples would baptize those who had repented of their sins and become pure of heart in the Celestine Light of Elohim.

 3 Yeshua gave twenty-two sermons during this visit to Bethany. They are recorded in fullness in the book, “The Sermons of Bethany.”

 4 At various times, Yeshua was confronted by priests, Pharisees, or Sadducees because of the things that he taught, many of which were not in keeping with the law or tradition. Each had their own complaints against him and his words.

 5 Yeshua confounded them all with his answers, and a few came to agree with his teachings. Those that continued to oppose him could answer him not, except with anger and threats, for he spoke with wisdom and logic and a supreme understanding of the law and the scriptures of old.

 6 He showed their arguments to be without merit or substance. Yet they preferred to cling to the emptiness they knew rather than embrace the fullness of Celestine Light he offered to them.

 7 Even from those early days of his ministry, they began to speak about how they might be rid of him.

 8 And it came to pass that word of the teachings and baptisms that Yeshua and his disciples did in Jerusalem came to the ears of Yochanan, who was baptizing in the Jordan near Salim, where there was much water.

 9 Many people came to Yochanan from the environs of Jerusalem to ask him about Yeshua.

 10 And Yochanan's disciples from Jerusalem came to him, saying, “Rabbi, we have heard your words and partaken of your baptism, but now there is another called Yeshua of Nazareth, whom you baptized and bore witness of, who also preaches mighty words and baptizes with water.

 11 Behold, many people are coming to hear his words and take his baptism, and we wonder why if you two are one in spirit, that he preaches apart from you insomuch that people are coming to him instead of you.”

 12 Yochanan answered and said unto them, “A true son of light can receive nothing, save it has been given to him from Heaven.

 13 All that you see in me is only from the Celestine Light that has been given to me, and Yeshua of Nazareth is the light.

 14 He is the bridegroom, and the bride has been given to him. I am but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him and rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.

 15 To hear of his great works in Jerusalem fills me with joy, for it means I have faithfully fulfilled my stewardship. It means the time has come for him to increase and for me to decrease, for I have been the lamp that has been filled with oil, but now the lamp is lit and he is the flame which shall illuminate the world.

 16 I say unto you, think not that Yeshua comes from Nazareth. I testify to you that he comes from above and is greater than anyone else and above all that exists.

 17 Those who are of the Earth speak of the things of the Earth, for that is what they know. But Yeshua comes from Heaven and speaks of things men know not or are too afraid to understand, and he is above all.

 18 He speaks plainly of what he has seen and heard, but few believe or comprehend what he tells them.

 19 Those few who hear his words and breathe them in their lives discover the true greatness of Elohim in Heaven, and the true magnificence of God within their heart.

 20 Verily, I testify to you that Yeshua of Nazareth has been sent from the bosom of Elohim. He speaks the words of God.

 21 The spirit of Elohim is upon him without measure or limit, for he is the Son, and the Father and Mother love the Son and have given him authority over everything.

 22 All who believe in the Son of Elohim and keep his teachings shall have eternal life and exaltation in the world to come.

 23 But those who walk away from the Celestine Light of Yeshua enter into a darkness that grows ever deeper, even unto eternal darkness instead of eternal light and life.

 24 As in Adam all shall die, even so in Yeshua shall all be made alive; but whether alive to eternal darkness which is as death or alive to eternal light which is life depends upon purity of their faith and the diligence of their works.

 25 Therefore, choose wisely, for you are choosing a great measure of your eternity.

 26 And now the time has come for me to return to my family that they may have some days still to be with me.

 27 Remember, therefore, the testimony of my words today, for I declare to you plainly that Yeshua of Nazareth is the Anointed One and far more than that.

 28 He is the Son of Elohim come to Earth that the humble and virtuous and pure of heart may have the fullness of the Celestine Light of God, a greater light than any man has ever had before.”

 29 Then Yochanan left the Jordan and returned to Bethany to be with his family, for he knew the days of his life were numbered, and they were not many more. And most of his disciples went with him.

 30 Yochanan arrived at Bethany on the same day that Yeshua and Miriam and the five disciples were making preparations to leave for Nazareth.

 31 Yeshua had told Miriam and his disciples that they would remain one more day, for his spirit knew that Yochanan was coming. Therefore, they stayed another day, and Yeshua and Yochanan never left the side of one another throughout the day.

 32 In the evening, Yeshua and Yochanan went only with their wives up to a hill near the house of the parents of Lazarus, and there they spent the night until sunrise of the next day, praying and speaking and laughing together and reveling in one another’s company.

 33 Upon the sunrise, the four of them did the Contemplative Movements in unison and it was a poignant time for each of them, for they knew it would be the last time they would all be together.

 34 Returning to the house, they had a light morning meal. Then Yeshua and Miriam departed for Nazareth with his disciples after giving Yochanan and all of his family and the family of Lazarus long and loving embraces.

 35 In parting, Yeshua turned to the gathered family and friends and said unto them, “I will again say what I have said before. Of those born of women, there are none greater than Yochanan the Baptizer, whom I am honored to call my brother of spirit and light.

 36 No man has been a greater friend to me, nor could another ever be. Cherish every moment you have with him. His words are pure and refreshing like a cold mountain brook, and they are the words Elohim would have him speak; therefore, they will quench the thirst of all true Children of Light.”