Volume 2

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Life of Jesus Christ
carrying the corpse on a litter out into the street as Jesus
came up. There were about fifteen Sadducees and a
crowd of people standing around. The corpse presented
quite a fine appearance, for they had opened and embalmed
it, the better to deceive Jesus. But Jesus said:
"This man is dead and dead he will remain." They
replied that he was only in a trance, and if he was indeed
dead, he had only just now died. Jesus responded: "He
denied the resurrection of the dead, therefore he will not
now arise! Ye have filled him with spices, but behold,
with what spices! Uncover his breast!" Thereupon I saw
one of them raise the skin like a lid from the dead man's
breast, when there broke forth a swarm of worms,
squirming and straining to get out. The Sadducees were
furious, for Jesus rehearsed aloud and openly all the dead
man's sins and delinquencies, saying that these were the
worms of his bad conscience, which he had in life
covered up, but which were now gnawing at his heart.
He reproached them with their deceit and evil design,
and spoke very severely of the Sadducees and of the
judgment that would fall upon Jerusalem and upon all
that would not accept salvation. They hurried the corpse
back again into the house. The scene was one of frightful
alarm and confusion. As Jesus with the disciples was
going to the gate of the city, the excited rabble cast
stones after them. They were incited thereto by the Sadducees
whom the discovery of the worms and their own
wickedness had infuriated.
Among the wicked mob, there were, however, some
well-intentioned persons who shed tears. In a bystreet
lived some infirm women sick with a bloody flux. They
believed in Jesus, and from a distance implored His aid,
for, as unclean, they dared not approach Him. Knowing
their need, He compassionately went through their street.
When He had passed, they followed in His footsteps kissing
them. He looked around upon them, and they were