Leo Tolstoy Archive
Written: 1908
Source: From RevoltLib.com
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021
And Jews surrounded him and said: “All that you’re saying is hard to understand and does not match our Scripture. Don’t torture us, and tell us directly: “Are you that Messiah, who, according to our Scripture, must come into the world?” And Jesus answered them: “I already told you who I am, but you don't believe. Do what I say, then you’ll understand who I am and what I came for. Who goes with me and does what I say, - who understands my teaching and fulfills it, - he connects with me and with the Father. I and the Father are one.” And Jews got insulted by these words and picked up stones to kill him. And he asked them: “For what do you want to kill me?” They said: "We want to kill you because you, a man, is making yourself God.” And Jesus answered them: “I said that I am the son of God and I am connecting with the Father when I am doing his will. He who recognizes himself as the son of God, he ceases to be a slave, and receives eternal life. And just as a slave doesn’t always live in the house of the master but the son of the master does, so as a person, when he lives by the spirit, connects with the Father and lives forever. Verily I say unto you, he who shall follow my word, he will never see death.” And then the Jews said to him: "Now we learned that the demon is within you. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, but you say that who keeps your word, wont’s ever see death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, but who shall keep your Word, he will not die.” And Jesus said: — “Verily, verily, I say unto you: before Abraham was, I am.”
Jesus talked about the spirit of God which lives in him, and lives in every person, and which has no end, no beginning. But they did not understand that. The Jews did not know what to do with him, and could not indict him. So he went again across Jordan and stayed there. (John 10: 24-38; 8: 34-59)
Questions:
1) What did Jesus answer to the question: ‘Is he the Messiah?’
2) What the Jews said to that and what did they want to do?
3) What did Jesus say?
4) What did Jesus say about death?