The Immortal - Book 1
-- by Joseph John (JJ) Dewey
Questions - Chapter 7
As John and I were preparing dinner, Elizabeth was sitting
in her wheelchair at the dining room table. I sensed that she
was uncomfortable with the idea that we were having company and
that she was unable to do anything to help. She was getting to
the point that if she got any worse she would have to have someone
stay with her all the time. She was still insisting that I go
out and work my normal schedule and that she could take care of
herself, but I was beginning to feel uneasy about her.
I looked her direction. "Sweetie...Do you have any questions
you want to ask John?"
"You guys go ahead and finish putting the meal on and
I'll let John have it then."
I looked at John. "Do you drink wine?"
"A little now and then."
"How about some Gewurztraminer? It's our favorite for
special occasions."
"You have good taste."
"I was a little nervous in offering it to you. After all,
your contemporary, John the Baptist, was supposed to eat nothing
but locusts and honey."
"But when he was in prison he ate whatever they gave him.
Every food, every element in the universe is good and beneficial
if taken in the right portions, in the right combinations, and
bad when the limit is crossed. Quinine is a good example. It has
been added in minute amounts to drinks for many years, but is
deadly if any substantial amount were taken.
"Research now shows that moderate amounts of alcohol have
a beneficial effect on the heart. Even cigarettes if taken in
small doses, like just two or three a week, could have a beneficial
stimulation to the system for some. The trouble with them is that
very few people have the self control to limit their intake on
these and other habit-forming substances."
"How about pot? How is that beneficial?"
"Pot, as you call it, is a medicine and should be administered
by a knowledgeable healer. It should not be used on a regular
basis without the advice of a physician or spiritual teacher.
Overuse can have the negative effect of weakening the power of
the will and delaying the correct use of the energy centers in
the head. Extreme overuse can cause physical and other problems."
"Interesting," I said. John and I took the food to
the table. "Looks like we are about ready to dine. Elizabeth
tells me that I make the best salmon steaks there are."
"Looks as good as anything the French can dream up,"
John said. "And salmon is very good for Elizabeth's diet."
"Let me propose a toast," I said as I raised my glass.
"May the truth always prevail."
"A great toast," John replied, smiling "That
is not the first time I have heard you propose it, nor will it
be the last." He saw a question mark in my eyes. "Don't
ask me to explain that remark yet...May the truth always prevail,"
he said.
John and I drank deeply. I always filled Elizabeth's wineglass
about half full so she could drink with her shaking hands. Still,
she spilled a couple of drops. "Excuse me," she said,
wiping herself with a napkin.
"No problem," said John. "Didn't you promise
to interrogate me?"
"Yes, I do have some questions."
"This may be somewhat of a special occasion." John
interrupted. "This is the first time I have opened myself
up to questions with knowledge of my identity on the table for
several hundred years."
Elizabeth set her fork down and wiped her mouth. "So,
you really think you are John the Beloved? Tell me in your own
words who you are. This is such a fantastic claim I want to hear
it from your own mouth."
John leaned forward and looked at Elizabeth thoughtfully. "The
Beloved was a term originated by one of my students and for some
reason it stuck and I was called the disciple that Jesus loved
in the final edition of the Gospel of John. I did not feel at
the time that I deserved any such title. In many ways, back then
I was somewhat immature and fell short as a disciple of the Master.
All of us betrayed Him in some degree. Someday I will tell you
why Jesus chose me to wander the earth until He comes again. In
a way, it has been a great honor, and has had many rewards, yet
in another way it has been very difficult."
"What do you mean you all betrayed Him in some degree?"
asked Elizabeth. "I thought you were all holy men."
"Jesus was the only holy man among us and even that was
not obvious until one looked below the surface. The disciples
were much more ordinary than any of the churches would ever want
you to believe. The twelve apostles were not much more out of
the ordinary than a group of salesmen at a convention. The only
thing we had in common was a desire to learn the deeper mysteries.
We were also attracted to the power Jesus had and wanted Him to
share it with us, but our motives were not entirely pure.
"At one point we let jealousy overcome us and accused
Jesus of being a glory seeker. We told him that He needed to let
us do and take credit for some of the miracles so He would be
forced to stay humble. Now I see on reflection that it was we
who needed to be humbled. He was just doing the job He came to
do and it attracted attention. At the time we felt like we deserved
attention just as much as Jesus did and we wanted our share."
"Well, if you are the Apostle and this is true, why are
you telling us? I would think you would want to keep anything
negative about your history under your hat." Elizabeth said
matter-of-factly.
"That was our basic attitude when we related the story
of the gospel to students that was finally written down in permanent
form. We were somewhat defensive when the story of how we deserted
Jesus on the night of his arrest kept surfacing. None of the eleven
remaining apostles wanted that to go in a permanent record, but
the truth was out about it shortly after the resurrection and
there was no suppressing it. Peter suffered the most, however,
because Jesus actually predicted he would deny him three times
before the cock would crow. Many ignorant people thought he did
not deserve to be a leader because of this act and some who were
jealous of his position even crowed like a rooster when he walked
by to remind him of his mistake. Peter suffered great pain because
of his error yet he also performed the greatest of miracles among
us.
John continued, "To answer your question why do I reveal
my past weakness? For two reasons. Joseph will write about
our conversations, and in this round I must reveal the truth about
the humanity of the little group who followed the Master. In the
past we tried to portray ourselves as greater than we were. Secondly,
I want you to realize that I am just a human being like yourselves.
I have many answers, but not all the answers. I have some power
available, but not all power. I would rather give you more than
you expect rather than less."
I asked John if he wanted more salmon and he happily accepted.
My interest in John increased by the minute.
"So, how would you rate yourself now?" Elizabeth
asked. "Have you made some progress?"
"I appreciate that question. Yes, I have made a lot of
progress. Back in those days I was like a kid in a candy store.
Now I'm more like the father who had too much candy as a kid deciding
how much candy my own child should have. My perspective and judgment
is much improved. Even so, I cannot just blurt out the few mysteries
of the universe that I know. Higher knowledge cannot just be poured
into you like placing data into a computer. To be fully understood
it must be verified through a person's own soul.
"And what is the difference between lower and higher knowledge?"
Elizabeth. asked
"Lower knowledge deals with facts and can be used as soon
as it is memorized, like how to spell certain words or the multiplication
tables. Seven times seven is forty-nine. As soon as anyone memorizes
this he can use it in the practical world.
"Higher knowledge deals with principles and requires a
certain attuning with the spiritual self to be able to apply it.
For instance, anyone can learn how to write down musical notes,
but to compose a beautiful and original melody requires an attuning
with music itself. Anyone can memorize a scale of notes but only
the person who is in tune with music can come close to understanding
the principle behind music and write original scores.
"So the first key which is WHO OR WHAT AM I? cannot just
be told to us," Elizabeth concluded.
"That is correct. You must tune into it to understand
the meaning. My job is to merely guide you in the right direction.
I am like the person coaching the songwriter. I could say to such
a person: That doesn't even sound like music. Try again; or,
that sounds beautiful and stirs my soul. Keep on writing.
I will know within myself when you have reached the required level
of understanding."
"Interesting," said Elizabeth. (I was just sitting
back relaxing and enjoying Elizabeth giving John an interrogation.)
"Now I have some real questions for you," she mused.
"Ask on," John replied, obviously pleased with Elizabeth's
curiosity.
Elizabeth reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out
a list. "Here they are:
"One: What is the meaning of life? Two: Where did we come
from? Why are we here and where are we going? Three: How much
of the Bible is really true? Four: Is there a true church? And
if there is, which one is it? Five: Is there reincarnation? Six:
Is Christ really coming again? If so, when? Seven: When did the
universe begin and when will it end? Eight: Who or what is God
and why is He not doing something constructive on the earth today?
It looks to me like He doesn't care much about starving children,
for instance. Nine: Does this earth have any future awaiting it
or is there going to be some dark apocalypse where life as we
know it will cease to exist? Ten: Why does God allow suffering,
disease and untimely death? What father would let his children
suffer as some of us have to? If God is really a loving God it
just doesn't make sense. Take me, for instance. I know I'm not
perfect, but there are a lot of rapists and murderers out there
who are in much better physical shape than I am. Why am I punished
and not them?"
John smiled. "That's an impressive list of questions.
Did you think them up yourself?" he asked.
"My husband and I thought them up last night when we sort
of brainstormed."
"For several reasons I will only give you so much at a
time. I will take one question from you tonight. Pick the one
that means the most to you."
"I think you know which one that is," Elizabeth said
evenly.
"That could be." John said. "Nevertheless, you
must clearly state your question."
"Why is that?" she protested.
"There is a principle governing the transmission of higher
principles. Have you heard the statement by Jesus in the Bible
where he says: Ask and you shall receive?"
"I believe so."
"If you want to know any mystery, you must ask and know
what you are asking. The one being asked must know what is being
asked, and the one who is asking must be willing to receive if
the answer is given."
"And if I reject the answer?"
"Then it will be as if the question was never asked,"
John replied.
"I'm not sure if you are really John the Beloved, but
at least you are unusual... How do I know if I am ready for the
answer?"
"When you are ready to consider anything, no matter how
crazy it sounds," said John.
"So the answer to number ten could be that God is really
a spoiled cosmic brat who is torturing us like a kid who sticks
pins in bees and pulls wings off flies?"
"You never know," John said wryly.
"OK. I will not guarantee I am ready, but here's the question.
It's number ten."
"Articulate the question," said John.
"OK. I'll repeat it." Elizabeth shifted in her wheelchair.
"Why does God allow suffering, disease and untimely death?
Why do some innocent children die? Why do some of us suffer with
painful disease and others who deserve to suffer seem to be vibrant
and healthy?"
"I'll answer at least part of your question," said
John "In particular, you want to know why you suffer with
such a dread disease when you have been basically a good person
and do not deserve such pain. You wonder why your life will seemingly
be cut short while other people can gracefully grow old with their
partners. Is that what you want to know?"
"Basically, yes."
"I will give you a partial answer now and more later when
you have additional pieces to the puzzle. Can you accept this?"
"I suppose so. Go ahead. Show me what you've got."
I smiled at Elizabeth's spunkiness and looked at John with
great anticipation for the answer.