Chapter 82: A sword from heaven

1 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his warriors were entered, and that Jesus went not with his warriors into the boat, but that his warriors were gone away alone; 2 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) 3 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his warriors, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus for their town was being overrun.

4 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither when we are in need?

5 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye need to be protected, but because ye did not find strength within yourselves. 6  Labour not for the jar that strikes once, but for that club which endureth unto the hundredth that live without life, which the Warrior for man has given unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

7 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might fight as warriors of God?

8  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent when he says ye must drill but ye are ready.

9 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 10 Our fathers did find protection in the desert; as it is written, He struck down their enemies.

11 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that which you now need; but my Father giveth you the strength to endure. 12 For the gift of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and train you to send dark life back into the world.

13 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us training.

14 And Jesus said unto them, I am the protector of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger for human flesh; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst for his neighbor's blood. 15 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and learned not. 16 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out before he is ready. 17 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 18 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should strike down all who raise up again until the last day. 19 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have a single life: and will remain in his grave at the last day.

20 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said he came down from heaven. 21  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph who was eaten, whose mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

22 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

23 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will train him to stand tall until his last day. 24 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 25 No man hath seen the risen and seen the will of the Father, but he which burns out the darkness, he hath done the Father's will. 26 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath no fear of life.27 Your fathers did drink in the wilderness, and are risen from the dead. 28 This is the sword which cometh down from heaven, that a man may take thereof, and let dead men die. 29 I am the living sword which came down from heaven: if any man train of this sword, he shall live without fear: and the sword that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

30 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh with which to fight?

31 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye hear and understand that this is a metaphor, ye will not follow the Warrior for man. 32 Whoso train at my hand hath no fear of life; and I will show him how to strike down those who have risen. 33 For my flesh is sword indeed, and my blood is fire indeed. 34 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, die never to rise again. 35 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that rise and eateth me, even he shall fall dead. 36 This is that sword which came down from heaven: now take what the sword has given, return home, and destroy the dead: lest they shall live for ever.

37 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

38 Many therefore of his warriors, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

39 When Jesus knew in himself that his warriors murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 40 What and if ye shall see the Warrior for man fall before the risen? 41 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing even to those that desire it: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 42 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 43 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father to face and slay the dead.

44 From that time many of his warriors went back, and walked no more with him.

45 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

46 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? the world shalt fall to those with eternal life. 47 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

48 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is as a dead one inside? 49 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.