The Great Gospel of John Book 2

of Me and saw that I had a completely natural human appearance, they took courage to approach Me and although still fearful, stepped up to Me begging Me to leave their borders soon.

[16] Some however studied the two whom they formerly had well known as possessed. Both were clad now and conversed with them intelligently, relating to them how I had freed them from their plague and how they immediately were clad by those who had come with Me. But none of this could diminish the fear, especially that of the pagans and they asked for nothing but My departure and no return.

[17] And I acceded to their request and then said to Peter: ‘Friend, get the ship ready again at once, that we may leave this area as soon as possible.’

[18] And Peter and his servants got the ship ready at once. But as I boarded the ship, the two healed hurried after Me, asking Me whether they could follow Me, because they would obtain no work or living in this city, and their relatives at home were bound not have to them, due to their great fear of them. But I turned them away in a friendly-earnest manner, saying: ‘Return to yours cheerfully, as they shall receive you with joy. But go and proclaim it to yours and to all the region too, what great thing the Lord has done for you and what mercy He has shown you. And in this way you shall do greater good than by following Me now. Because in this area, where you are known by one and all, you are to bear proper witness and thus become useful to men. And people shall, as before when they still feared you, not let you starve.’

[19] With that, the two healed departed as one man and eagerly did as I commanded them.

[20] The two of them in a short time glorified My name not only in their native land, but in the 10 cities straddling the upper sea-coast too, everywhere proclaiming with much zeal what great thing I had done for them and the great mercy I had shown them. And many therewith believed on My name, generating much longing for Me in Jew and Greek alike.

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