The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ

38 I will lay down my life, and I will take it up again, that you may know the mysteries of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.

39 I lay me down in flesh, but I will rise in spirit form with power to manifest myself so mortal eyes can see.

40 So in a trinity of days I will show forth the all of life, the all of death, the meaning of the resurrection of the dead.

41 And what I do all men can do.

42 And you, my three, who constitute the inner circle of the Church of Christ, will show to men the attributes of all the Gods.

43 And Peter shall make known the Power of God; and James shall show the Thought of God; and John shall demonstrate the Love of God.

44 Be not afraid of men, for you have been sent forth to do the mighty works of God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son.

45 And all the powers of carnal life cannot destroy your life until your work is done.

46 I leave you now, and I will go out in the darkness all alone and talk with God.

47 By sorrow I am overwhelmed. I leave you here to watch with me.

48 Then Jesus went three hundred cubits toward the east, and fell upon his face and prayed; he said,

49 My God! my God! is there a way by which I may escape the horrors of the coming hours? My human flesh shrinks back; my soul is firm; so not my will, but thine, O God, be done.

50 In agony he prayed; the strain upon the human form was great; his veins were burst asunder, and his brow was bathed in blood.

51 And then he went back to the three, and found them all asleep; he said,

52 O Simon, Simon, do you sleep! Could you not watch with me a single hour? Be vigilant, and watch and pray that your temptations be not too great for you to bear.

53 I know the spirit is alert and willing; but the flesh is weak.

54 And then he went again and prayed, O Father, God! if I must drink this bitter cup, give me the strength of body, as I have the strength of soul; for not my will, but thine be done.

55 And when he went again to his disciples; lo, he found them still asleep. He wakened them and said to James,

56 Have you been sleeping while your master has been wrestling with the greatest foe of men? Could you not watch with me a single hour?

57 And then he went again and prayed. O God, I yield to thee; thy will be done.

58 And then again he went back to the three, and still they slept. He said to John,

59 With all the love you have for me, could you not watch with me a single hour?

60 And then he said, It is enough; the hour has come, and my betrayer is at hand; arise and let us go.

61 And when they came again to Kidron, lo, the eight disciples were asleep, and Jesus said, You men, awake; behold, for the betrayer of the son of man is come.

CHAPTER 164

Judas betrays his Lord with a kiss. Jesus is seized by the mob and the disciples flee to save their lives. Jesus is taken unto Jerusalem. Peter and John follow the mob.

The Lord with the eleven were in the orchard of Massalian, and as they talked they saw a band of men with lanterns and with swords and clubs approaching them.

2 And Jesus said, Behold the emissaries of the evil one! and Judas leads the way.

3 And the disciples said, Lord, let us flee to save our lives.

4 But Jesus said, Why should we flee to save our lives when this is the fulfillment of the words of prophets and of seers?

5 And Jesus went alone to meet the men; and as they came he said, Why are you here, you men? whom do you seek?

6 And they replied, We seek the man from Galilee. We seek for Jesus, one who calls himself the Christ.

7 And Jesus answered, Here am I.

8 And then he raised his hands and with a mighty thought he brought the ethers to the state of light; and all the orchard was aglow with light.

9 The frenzied men were driven back and many fled and tarried not until they reached Jerusalem; and others fell upon their faces on the ground.

10 The bravest men, and they with hardest hearts, remained, and when the light had paled, the Lord again inquired, Whom do you seek?

11 And Ananias said, We seek the man from Galilee; we seek for Jesus, he who calls himself the Christ.

12 And Jesus answered him and said, I told you once before; but now I tell you once again that I am he.

13 By Ananias, Judas stood; but in a moment he had gone and coming up behind the Lord he said, My Lord; and then he kissed him as a sign that he was Jesus whom they sought.

14 And Jesus said, Do you, Iscariot, come and thus betray your master with a kiss?

15 This thing must need be done; but woe to him who does betray his Lord.

16 Your carnal greed has seared your conscience and you know not what you do; but in a little time your conscience will assert itself, and in remorse, lo, you will close your span and take your life.

17 Then the eleven came, laid hold of Judas and would have done him harm; but Jesus said,

18 You must not harm this man; you have no right to judge this man; his conscience is his judge, will sentence him and he will execute himself.

19 And then the mob led on by Malchus, servant of Caiaphas, laid hold of Jesus, and was binding him with chains.

20 And Jesus said, Why do you come in dead of night with swords and clubs to take me in this sacred place?

21 Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day.

22 And now you try to bind me down with chains; what are these chains but links of reeds? And then he raised his hands; the chains were broken and they fell to earth.

23 And Malchus thought the Lord would flee to save his life, and with a club he fain would smite him in the face.

24 But Peter had a sword, and rushing up he smote the man and wounded him.