2024/05/06

142. The Hidden Memory

To stray a little off topic here, I have previously suggested in this blog that the 'wilderness' signified the unconscious realm present in both man and beast because the Gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus "was with the wild beasts" (Mark 1:13) in the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan. 

Then, since Revelation 12 says that "a place prepared by God" was in the "wilderness," as described, "the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (Revelation 12:6), I thought that the place was the unconscious realm of the Apostles and that the 'woman' who fled there represented the priesthood. 

I now realise that the clue is in the later description: "But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time" (12:14). 

If we take the 'eagle' here as referring to the Gospel of John and the 'wilderness' as referring to Jesus' last supper table, we reach the scene of Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles. 

Then, focusing on Jesus' words, "You also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14), I found he had intended with these words that when a man who would become "a witness to his resurrection" (Acts 1:22)¹ joining the Apostles, the Apostles would make him take over the place, their ministry and apostleship by doing according to the example Jesus had given to them (cf. John 13:4-5). Jesus meant by the words 'wash one another's feet' that those who had their feet washed by the Apostles would become apostles who, in turn, wash the next one's feet so that these actions may become a sign that the office Jesus named apostle would be succeeded to. 

Jesus told Peter, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand" (John 13:7) so that this 'sign' would be hidden until the time comes. He even told Peter, who refused to have his feet washed, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me" (John 13:8), indicating that this 'sign' guaranteed the bond between Jesus and the Apostles. As Jesus later told the Apostles, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:17). 

After that, the incident above was hidden in the Apostles' memory as a series of shocking experiences happened to them - Jesus' Passion, death on the Cross and Resurrection. The 'Prophetic Composition of the Book of Revelation' shows that Revelation 12 is the beginning of the fourth prophecy, 'Prophecy of the Fate of the Church with the Priesthood and the Sacrament of the Eucharist Hidden in the Wilderness and Heaven (Chapters 12-16).' The Church then went on to the fifth prophecy, 'Prophecy of the Fall of the Church (Chapters 17-18).' 

The Holy Spirit protected the Church from that fate by concealing the mystery of the priesthood and the Eucharist instituted by Jesus and the place² in the New Testament. 

1. A modern 'witness to his resurrection' is the one who sees the Holy Eucharist and publicly declares, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16)

2. cf. Luke 22:7-13

To be continued.

Maria K. M.