Section 19

1“Preach this also, and teach those who believe in me. Proclaim the kingdom of heaven of my Father and how my Father has given me power, so that you may bring near the children of my heavenly Father. Preach, and they will obtain faith, so that you may be those for whom it is ordained that they should bring his children into heaven.”

2We said to him, “Lord, it is possible for you to accomplish what you tell us, but how will we be able to do it?”

3He said to us, “Truly I say to you, preach and proclaim as I command you, for I will be with you. It is my good pleasure to be with you, so that you may be heirs with me in the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of him who sent me. Truly I say to you, you will be my brothers and my friends, for my Father has delighted in you. So also will those who believe in me through you. Truly I say to you, my Father has prepared such great joy for you that the angels and the powers desired and still desire to see it, but they are not permitted to behold the glory of my Father.”

4We said to him, “Lord, what is this of which you speak to us?”

5He answered us, “You will behold a light more excellent than that which shines…”

6We said to him, “Lord, in all things you have become salvation and life to us, because you make such a hope known to us.”

7He said to us, “Take courage and rest in me. Truly I say to you, your rest will be above, in the place where there is neither eating nor drinking, neither care nor sorrow, nor any passing away of those who are there. You will have no part in them, but you will be received into the everlastingness of my Father. Just as I am in him, so you also will be in me.”

8Again we said to him, “In what form? In the form of angels or in flesh?”

9He answered us, “Behold, I have put on your flesh, in which I was born and crucified, and I have risen again through my Father who is in heaven, so that the prophecy of David the prophet might be fulfilled concerning me, my death, and my resurrection, saying: ‘Lord, those who fight against me have increased, and many have risen against me. Many say to my soul, “There is no help for him in his God.” But you, O Lord, are my defender; you are my worship and the lifter of my head. I called upon the Lord with my voice, and he heard me. I lay down and slept, and I rose again, for you, O Lord, are my defender. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side. Rise up, Lord, and help me, O my God, for you have struck down all who are my enemies without cause; you have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and his good pleasure rests upon his people.’

10“Therefore, if all the words spoken by the prophets have been fulfilled in me—for I myself was in them—how much more will what I say to you truly come to pass, so that he who sent me may be glorified through you and through those who believe in me?”