Ukrutnosť hriechu
Tam na kopci, keď Ho položili na zem, potiahli dozadu Jeho drahé ruky. Tie ruky, ktoré zastavili horúčku; tie ruky, ktoré povedali... keď sa tie ruky dotkli toho chlapca tej chudobnej vdovy, jeho čela, alebo tej postele, na ktorej ležal, on prišiel do života. Ten, ktorý povolal Dorkas naspäť do života, Ten, ktorý povolal do života dcéru Jaira, Ten, ktorý povedal, „Lazar, poď von.“ Tie pery teraz krvácajú, vyprahnuté, a kričia. Zatiaľ čo pribíjali veľké ukrutné klince do Jeho rúk a Jeho nôh. „Prebodli moje ruky i moje nohy,“ povedal prorok, sedemsto rokov predtým, ako sa to stalo. Čo to bolo? To bol Ábelov Baránok. Tam Ho hodili na zem a roztrhali Jeho telo. Jeho biedne telo sa chvelo.
Povedal, „Žíznim.“ Dávajú Mu ocot. Zlostili sa, vysmievali a robili si z Neho žarty, hovorili, „Ty veľký činiteľ zázrakov, teraz s tým niečo urob.“
Ale potom sa obloha začala stmievať, začali blýskať blesky. Boh skrýval Svoju tvár; Nemohol to viac vydržať. Ó, Bože, aký krutý musí byť hriech, aký krutý, aký krutý, že spôsobil to, aby Ten jediný predrahý toto urobil. Dokonca zaplatil takú cenu, že až Samotný Boh skryl Svoju tvár. Anjeli zahalili svoje tváre a otočili sa, aby s Ním plakali. Mesiac a hviezdy nemohli ďalej ísť. Nemohli viac svietiť. Samotný Boh, ktorý ich stvoril, zomieral na kríži. A sklonil Svoju hlavu.
Predtým, ako to urobil, pozrel sa tam dole na tých ľudí, ktorí losovali o Jeho rúcho, vypĺňali to, čo povedal prorok. Povedal, „Otče, odpusť im; nevedia, čo činia.“ Všetko v láske, Adamov Baránok, Boží pripravený Baránok zabitý od založenia sveta... Tam zomrel, opustený, dokonca opustený Samotným Bohom. Boh a potom, Jeho Vlastný Otec Ho opustil, krvácajúceho. Jednako chodíme okolo a smejeme sa, rozpustilí, ako keby sa nič nestalo.
1Ďakujem ti, brat Tom. Pridaj tejto malej veci všetku hlasitosť, ktorú tu máte, ak chceš. Skoro som sa dnes večer vyhol tomu, aby som sem dolu prišiel. Mám chrípku. A sľúbil som, že to budem. A povedal som bratovi Neville, požiadal som brata Coxa, aby prišiel hore a povedal mu. Povedal som, „Povedz bratovi Neville, aby šiel dopredu a mal službu, pretože som tak zachrípnutý. Ledva môžem zapískať.“
A on povedal, prišiel späť a povedal, „Radšej poď hore, brat Bill. Verím, že to bude dobrá vec.“ A tak, som vždy ochotný urobiť nejaké úsilie. Ak... Skutočne som príliš zachrípnutý, aby som pre vás kázal, ale môžem ku vám len na malú chvíľu hovoriť s pomocou tohto malého prístroja, ktorý tu je. Ja... Zakaždým, keď prídem do Indiany, zachrípnem. Neviem prečo, ale zachrípnem, vždy dostanem nádchu. Práve tu je to tak nízko položené. Zostúpim sem nižšie a vyzerá to, že sa od toho skrátka nemôžem uchrániť. Modlím sa a vyzerá to, že to prichádza v každom prípade. Ale snažím sa vždy robiť to najlepšie, čo môžem, s tým, čo mám k dispozícii. Takže to je spôsob, ako som sa to vždy snažil robiť, najlepšie ako môžeme. To je všetko, čo Boh rešpektuje, vlastne očakáva, prepáčte mi; je všetko, čo On očakáva.
4No, verím, že náš Pán vás všetkých požehná a udelí vám veľké požehnanie v priebehu tejto služby v tento piatok, sobotu a v nedeľu. Tieto bohoslužby budú pokračovať dnes večer, zajtra večer. Nie je to tak, brat Neville? [Brat Neville hovorí, „Áno.“ - pozn.prekl.] Pokračuje to rovno zajtra večer.
Mám prísť sem dole a potom odtiaľto odísť a ísť ďalej, aby som hovoril ku skupine misionárov, ktorá je v Louisville. Myslím, že je to buď sedemnásť, alebo dvadsaťsedem národov, ktoré sú zastúpené v tom misionárskom zhromaždení. Chcú odo mňa, aby som tam mal zajtra večer pár minút. Ned... V nedeľu ráno je...
6Čo to je? [Nejaký človek hovorí, „Pomodlil by si sa teraz za tohto človeka tu?“ - pozn.prekl.] Polož svoju ruku rovno na neho, brat.
Náš Nebeský Otče, modlíme sa v Mene Tvojho milovaného Dieťaťa, Ježiša, práve v tomto čase, aby mohla byť na nás dnes večer rozšírená Tvoja milosť v spôsobe uzdravenia nášho brata, muža, ktorý tam sedí, ktorý vyzerá, že je v tomto okamihu veľmi nemocný. Ty si povedal, „Vyznávajte si jeden druhému hriechy a modlite sa jeden za druhého, aby ste boli uzdravení.“ A ja sa dnes večer modlím s týmito ľuďmi v Mene Pána Ježiša Krista, aby si v tejto chvíli uzdravil nášho brata. Ako tam náš brat stojí s rukami položenými na ňom, reprezentuje ruku nášho Pána Ježiša a my sme spolu spojili naše modlitby a posielame ich ku Tebe v Kristovom Mene, aby sa náš brat mohol rýchlo zotaviť z nemoci, ktorú má. Amen.
Pán ťa žehnaj, brat. Dajte mu trocha vzduchu. On je tam trocha ako zavrený do ohrady. No, nechajte ho odísť von. Ak chcete odísť, pane, no, choďte do toho a obstarajte si sedadlo tam v zadnej časti budovy, kde dostanete trocha vzduchu.
No, Pán Ježiš pozná všetky naše problémy. On je naším Nositeľom bremena.
10A teraz, nedeľa ráno, zavčasu, šesť hodín, služba za východu slnka... Koľkí z vás majú radi bohoslužby za východu slnka na Veľkú noc? Očakávame na veľké požehnanie. Takže, ak Pán dá, budem mať bohoslužby za východu slnka; to je od šiestej do siedmej. Potom sa vrátite domov na raňajky, vrátite sa. A o deväť-tridsať, pravidelná služba nedeľnej školy; bude tu brat Neville. A ihneď po službe nedeľnej školy budem mať služby krstu pre tých, ktorí majú byť pokrstení, na Veľkonočné nedeľné ráno.
Ak ste neboli pokrstení ponorením a túžite byť a ste Kresťanom, veríte v Božstvo, že Ježiš Kristus je Syn Boží, a chcete zaujať miesto v našom obecenstve, byť pokrstení, radi vás tu budeme mať na Veľkú noc ráno o desať-tridsať kvôli ponoreniu. Prineste si svoje šaty. Ak žiadne nemáte, samozrejme, no, najmä ženy, oni tam majú rúcha, rôzne veľkosti pre dámy. Nemyslím si, že už tam majú všetky veľkosti pre mužov. Ale sme veľmi šťastní, že ste tu s nami v toto Veľkonočné ráno.
12Potom v nedeľu popoludní je pohreb, ktorý sa bude konať, je to niekto, kto žil tu na vidieku, alebo bol niekde odtiaľto, kto... Myslím, že to je osoba, ktorá bola pred nejakým časom obrátená na kázanie brata Nevilleho. Myslím, že sa volá East, alebo tak nejako. Zavolali mi z pohrebného ústavu a pýtali sa, či by som ja, brat Neville a naša skupina, prišli a zaspievali a mali bohoslužby v nedeľu popoludní o druhej hodine v pohrebnom ústave Mottaz.
Nepamätám si tú dámu, East, Yast alebo East. Mnohí z vás to videli v novinách, myslím, že dnes večer. A... [Sestra hovorí, „Brat Bill?“ - pozn.prekl.] Áno. [„Bývala to Edna Justice; zvykla sem chodiť celkom často.“ - pozn.prekl.] Edna Justice, možno ju poznáte. Ona je pravdepodobne mladá dáma. Nie je? Je to pravda, sestra? [„Dvadsaťdeväť. Oh.“ - pozn.prekl.] Mladá žena. Myslím, že oni... Jej matka mi volala a povedala, že ona zanechala dve alebo tri malé deti. To je istotne veľmi zlé.
14To len dokazuje zlo tohto smrteľného života, že? Ale v... Ak bola v Kristu Ježišovi, je na tom dnes večer oveľa lepšie, než ktorákoľvek osoba, ktorá sedí v tejto budove. Ona len prešla dolinou tône smrti, ktorou musia prejsť všetci smrteľníci. A jedného dňa budeme musieť vy i ja tiež cestovať touto cestou, ale nebudeme musieť prejsť Jordánom sami, lebo On je naším Spasiteľom. A tak my...
Ak budete chcieť prísť do pohrebného ústavu Mottaz, ktorý sa nachádza na ulici Maple, medzi Walnut a... Nie, myslím, že to je Locust a Wall Street, po pravej strane, ako idete na západ. Neviem, kde ich... Aké číslo to má? [Niekto hovorí, „221“. - pozn.prekl.] 221. Je to tam, kde zvykol byť starý pohrebný ústav Scotta a Combsa, keď som bol mladý. A je to na nedeľné popoludnie a o druhej.
16A potom v nedeľu večer tu opäť budú pravidelné Veľkonočné bohoslužby. Budeme pravdepodobne kázať o smrti, pohrebe a vzkriesení, v nedeľu večer. A my skrátka nevieme, čo bude náš Pán robiť v tento nasledujúci týždeň, ktorý prichádza, či budú bohoslužby pokračovať, alebo skrátka, čo sa bude diať v nadchádzajúcom týždni. Veríme, že tu v nedeľu budete všetci, ktorí môžete.
Spoznávam tu mnoho kazateľov. Niekto mi hovoril, že tu bol pán Fuller, ktorý zvykol byť... alebo chodiť na naše zhromaždenia. Je tu ten muž? Brat Fuller, nie si ten človek, ktorý ma zvykol v New Yorku brať z miesta na miesto, a išli sme na zhromaždenie? Rád ťa vidím, brat Fuller. Nech ťa Pán žehná.
Potom som tu videl ďalšieho mladého kazateľa, ktorého brat Tom nepozná. Nepoznám ani priezvisko toho mladíka, ale viem, že ho tam volajú Junior: Jackson, brat Jackson, Junior Jackson, len zodvihni svoju ruku, brat Jackson. Sme radi, že ťa tu s nami máme. On je zdola z okolia Elizabeth, metodistický zbor tam zdola, kde mám čoskoro mať službu, ak Pán dá, predtým, ako pôjdeme naspäť na misijné pole.
No, je veľká výzva do Indie. A všetko je hustejšie a hustejšie, každým dňom. Modlite sa za mňa.
20Nuž, dnes večer, toto je Veľký Piatok. Je to večer, kedy sme všetci... Ó, mal som na mysli v Jeruzaleme, okolo tejto doby je to – slnko je teraz celkom vysoko, v sobotu ráno. Ale celý deň sa tam hore ľudia plazili tou istou starou cestou, kde bol vláčený ten kríž po tých krvavých šľapajách toho Nositeľa; slzy, trápia svoje duše, plačú. Mnohé veľké katedrály, a tak ďalej, dnes oslávili tento veľký spomienkový čas. Ak tu bol niekedy čas, kedy by mal svet oslavovať, je to teraz v tejto hodine trápenia.
A zaujímalo by ma, či naša sestra, vidím tu tento malý starý organ... Milujem organ. Som len trocha staromódny. A zaujímalo by ma, či by sme mohli dostať akord na to: Ježiš, blízko kríža zdržuj ma.
Len jedna z tých dobrých staromódnych piesní od srdca, ktoré sme zvykli dávno spievať. A som zvedavý, či by sme sa ku tomu mohli všetci pripojiť. Milujem to.
Tam je vzácny prameň;
Zadarmo pre všetkých, uzdravujúci prúd;
Ktorý tečie z Golgotskej hory.
Každopádne, koľkí z vás poznajú z toho verše? V poriadku, môžete sa rovno teraz pripojiť ku mne. A teraz poďme len okolo seba zatiahnuť závesy a nastavme naše mysle o nejakých 1900 rokov pred týmto popoludním. Čo za Obeť, svet nikdy nič také nepoznal: otriasla celým svetom. A teraz, nechcete zostať blízko toho miesta, kde ste na mieste obecenstva a požehnania s Ním?
24Spievajme to teraz všetci, jednoducho tým staromódnym spôsobom, no, nie... presne tak, ako by ste to spievali, ak by ste teraz boli osamote. V poriadku. Brat Tom, pomôžeš mi to viesť, urobíš to? Nemám teraz dostatok hlasu. A potom, v poriadku. V poriadku. [Brat Robert Tom pomáha v spievaní piesne „Blízko kríža zdržuj ma“ - pozn.prekl.]
Ježiš, blízko kríža zdržuj ma;
Tam je vzácny prameň;
Zadarmo pre všetkých, uzdravujúci prúd;
Ktorý tečie z Golgotskej hory.
V kríži, v kríži;
Buď moja sláva vždy;
Kým moja vytrhnutá duša musí nájsť;
Pokoj za riekou.
Kým skloníte svoje hlavy, ak chcete, len to teraz skutočne pomaly pohmkávajme. [Brat Branham a zhromaždenie si začínajú pohmkávať „Blízko kríža zdržuj ma“ - pozn.prekl.]
Blízko kríža budem bdieť...
Dúfajúc a veriac vždy;
Kým sa dostanem na zlatý breh;
Len za rieku.
[Brat Tom naďalej znovu ticho spieva refrén. - pozn.prekl.]
Zaujímalo by ma, ak by ste len práve teraz chceli... Nikto to za vás neurobil. Zaujímalo by ma, či len... nechceli by ste znova zasvätiť svoj život Kristovi a, „Pane, pamätaj na mňa. Vážim si Tvoju... unavený a utrpenie, krvácanie a zomieranie za mňa. Som nehodný, ale dám teraz hore svoju ruku, Pane, a Ty ma uvidíš. Chcem svoj život nanovo zasvätiť.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Nech vás Boh žehná. „Chcem sa práve teraz nanovo zasvätiť Tebe, Pane, v tento večer na Veľký Piatok.“ Nech vás Boh žehná.
28 Otče, modlím sa, aby si požehnal tých, ktorí zodvihli svoje ruky, a tých, ktorí ani nemali odvahu urobiť to. Modlíme sa, aby Ten jediný všedostatočný požehnal každého z nich.
Premýšľame o Golgote, Boh náš Spasiteľ, zaťažený hriechom; sňatý, bol daný do rúk bohatým ľuďom, ktorí vzali Jeho telo potom, ako prosili Piláta; prevzali Ho a zabalili Ho do nejakého čistého plátna a uložili to do hrobu. Ó, Bože, čo za pocit to musel byť na tých biednych apoštoloch; zdalo sa, akoby boli v tom čase porazení. Ten, ktorému natoľko verili, bol teraz preč, ale nie na dlho. Skrátka krvácajúca Obeť, to bolo všetko. Jedného dňa, o niekoľko hodín neskôr, povstal z mŕtvych a potom prišla radosť.
30Pomôž nám dnes večer, Pane, keď sa nachádzame v tomto období sviatkov, nech to môže byť v nás, aby sme videli utrpenie, ktoré muselo byť zaplatené za naše vykúpenie, smútok, ktorý musel byť zaplatený, aby sme boli šťastní. A nech naše duše... Nech by sme Ti dnes večer zasvätili seba, Pane, a nech by naše duše boli zarmútené, hľadeli tam do diaľky a videli, čo, ó, Bože, čo za hrozná smrť. Aký krutý musí byť hriech. A modlím sa, Otče, aby si nás teraz spoločne požehnal.
Pomôž mi, ó, Bože, ako Tvoj služobník tu stojím s veľmi biednym hlasom a Tvoje deti čakajú, aby počuli niečo zo Slova. Pomôž mi, Pane, a bohato rozlám Slovo Života pre každého, ako nanovo zasväcujeme svoje životy a naše srdcia. Slzy našich sŕdc padajú hlboko dole v našej hrudi, keď premýšľame o tej Obeti. Pomôž nám teraz, lebo o to prosíme v Kristovom Mene. Amen.
32Chcem teraz len trochu čítať, ak mi na chvíľu venujete svoju plnú pozornosť a budete sa za mňa modliť. V Izaiášovi, 53. kapitola.
Dnes sme pravdepodobne počuli rádiové vysielania, a tak ďalej. Dnes som len premýšľal o Kristovi. Nemohol som si pomôcť od toho, aby som išiel niekam von a jednoducho pokľakol. A proste som musel plakať, keď som premýšľal o – keď sa moja myseľ vrátila späť, aby som sa pozrel, ku čomu došlo tam na Golgote.
Nedostal som sa ku tomu, aby som počul nejaký z rádiových programov, ale možno kázali z Evanjelia. A možno zajtra večer ku tomu pristúpime z tohto hľadiska.
36Ale dnes večer poďme späť do Starej Zmluvy. Chcem hovoriť na tému: Ukrutnosť hriechu a trest, ktorý musel byť zaplatený, aby bol hriech odstránený z našich životov. V Izaiášovi 53, prorok, pomazaný, sedemstodvanásť rokov pred Pánovým príchodom povedal tieto slová:
Kto uveril našej zvesti?... komu bolo zjavené rameno Hospodinovo? Lebo vyrástol pred ním ako nežný prútok a koreň z vypráhlej zeme; nemal podoby ani krásy; videli sme ho, ale nebolo na ňom vidieť toho, pre čo by sme ho boli bývali žiadostiví.
Opovrhnutý bol a opustený od ľudí, muž bolestí,... oboznámený s nemocou, a jako ten, pred ktorým skrývajú tvár, opovrhnutý, a preto sme si ho nevážili,
kým on vzal na seba naše nemoci... niesol naše bolesti, a my sme sa domnievali o ňom, že je ranený a zbitý od Boha a strápený.
A on bol smrteľne ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na neho, a jeho sinavicou sme uzdravení.
My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; každý z nás sme sa obrátili na svoju vlastnú cestu, a Hospodin uvalil na neho neprávosť všetkých nás.
Mučili ho, a ponižujúc sa znášal dobrovoľne a neotvoril svojich úst; vedený bol ako baránok na zabitie a zanemel ako ovca, ktorá zanemie pred tými, ktorí ju strihajú, a neotvoril svojich úst.
Vzatý bol z väzby a zo súdu. A čo do jeho pokolenia, ktože ho vyrozpráva? Pretože bol vyťatý zo zeme živých, pre prestúpenie môjho ľudu bola mu zadaná rana.
Dali mu s bezbožnými jeho hrob i s bohatým, keď zomrel ukrutnou smrťou, preto, že nespáchal nijakej neprávosti, ani ľsti nebolo nikdy v jeho ústach.
Ale Hospodinovi sa ľúbilo ho tak zdrtiť a strápiť nemocou, aby, ak jeho duša položí obeť za hriech, videl svoje semeno, bol dlhoveký, a to, čo sa ľúbi Hospodinovi, zdarilo sa v jeho ruke.
Ak by som dnes večer pomenoval tú tému z Písma, vzal by som 6. verš.
My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; a Hospodin...
každý z nás sme sa obrátili na svoju vlastnú cestu, a Hospodin uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás.
38Chcem len na chvíľu rozprávať. Vždy sme radi, keď to prichádza ku tomu, mať radosť Pánovu v našom strede; a ako sa s vami radujem, veľmi. Ale zastavili ste sa niekedy, aby ste sa zamysleli, čo to stálo, aby sme ju mali? Uvedomili ste si len niekedy tú cenu, ktorá je za tým; čím bol ten súd a čo bolo trestom za hriech? Aký krutý musí byť hriech, keď to zapríčinilo, že Syn Boží musel ísť na Golgotu a Boh Ho udrel, odvrátil od Neho Svoju tvár, potrestal Ho a On trpel. Pozrite, Kto On bol.
No, chcem teraz pre vás, ako hovorím, načrtnúť malý obraz. Poďme dnes večer všetci na malý výlet na malej lodi a poďme... malej vesmírnej lodi, alebo vzducholodi. Vráťme sa späť o stomiliónov rokov, predtým, než bol založený svet, predtým, než tam vôbec bola hviezda alebo niečo, a nemôžete tam vidieť nič iné, než priestor. A všetok ten priestor bol Boh. Na počiatku bol Boh. A teraz budeme sledovať, ako prichádza do existencie malé biele Svetlo. Nazveme to, niečo ako Svätožiara [po anglicky, „Nimbus, Halo“ - pozn.prekl.] A to bol Syn Boží, Logos, ktoré na počiatku vyšlo od Boha.
41A potom, ako tam On stál, a On, vo Svojej mysli začína premýšľať o tom, aký bude svet, a načrtol si to všetko, vyobrazil si to vo Svojej mysli. A povedal, „Nech je svetlo.“ A nejaký atóm sa rozštiepil, začína sa prelamovať a vybuchol atóm, prvá atómová explózia. A potom sa tie atómy začínajú hromadiť, až sa to sformovalo do popola, ako vlhkosť, čokoľvek to bolo, začína sa to lámať a štiepiť atómy. A po chvíli tam prišla hviezda, alebo kúsok niečoho, čo odletelo a odplachtilo vzduchom. Sledoval to možno po dobu niekoľko miliónov rokov a potom to zastavil. Neponáhľal sa. Bol – mal veľa času, navždy. Bol od počiatku až do konca. Nebol tam u Neho žiaden čas. A potom prilieta niečo ďalšie a zastavuje sa tu.
43Čo robí? Píše Svoju prvú Bibliu. Prvá Biblia, ktorá bola kedy napísaná, bola napísaná na oblohe, zverokruh. Začína sa s pannou; to je spôsob, akým prišiel prvýkrát. A končí s levom, druhý príchod. A On píše Svoju prvú Bibliu.
Druhá Biblia, ktorá bola napísaná, bola napísaná Enochom a umiestnená v pyramíde.
Tretia Biblia, ktorá bola napísaná a je tou poslednou, je Táto. [Brat Branham označuje svoju Bibliu - pozn.prekl.]
Boh vždy robí veci v trojkách. Boh je dokonalý v troch. On je dokonalý. [Brat Branham si odkašle. - pozn.prekl.] Prepáčte mi. On je dokonalý v Otcovi, Synovi a v Duchu Svätom. On je dokonalý v ospravedlnení, posvätení a v krste Duchom Svätým. On je dokonalý vo Svojich trojkách.
My sme učinení podľa Neho, a tak sme dokonalí v troch: duša, telo a duch. A naše telo je riadené nervami, krvou a bunkami (telo): tri. Všetko zdokonalené v troch...
48Potom povedal, potom, keď mal toto všetko učinené, predtým, než vôbec učinil niečo iné... Vidím, ako sa tá malá Svätožiara pohybuje nad touto zemou, ktorá bola iba zamrznutým popolom, visí tam ako obrovský ľadovec. A On ju posunul bližšie ku slnku. A začal ju takto otáčať okolo slnka. Začala sa topiť a veľké ľadovce sa sypko potrhali. Bol sformovaný Texas a tie nížiny; ako sme učení, ako tadiaľ zostúpili tie veľké ľadovce, najlepší dejepisci, ktorí určujú letopočty, to môžu vypočítať. A potom celá zem, potom to išlo dole do Mexického zálivu, a tak ďalej, začínalo sa to zalievať vodou. „A zem bez formy (neladná) a pustá...“ Teraz sme v Genezis, prvej kapitole. Vidíte? Tak teda Boh posunul a oddelil oblohu od vôd. A vytvoril svetlá.
A potom stvoril všetky Svoje stvorenia. Potom, keď to učinil, vyšli stromy a rastliny, a tak ďalej. Čo za nádherný systém mal. On to miloval. Bolo to nádherné. A On si myslel, že je to skvelé.
51Tak to nemohol skrátka nechať v tom stave; musel s tým niečo zanechať. A tak povedal, „Učiňme (množné číslo) človeka (množné číslo) na Náš Vlastný obraz. Učiňme človeka na Náš Vlastný obraz.“ A tak potom, keď Boh učinil Svojho prvého človeka, bol to duchovný človek. On bol niečo na spôsob Boha, alebo Syna Božieho, Logos. To bol prvý človek. Potom dal človeku právomoc nad – aby viedol celý zvierací život tak, ako dnes Duch Svätý vedie veriaceho: „Poď sem. Urob toto.“
No, ak sme boli dokonale podriadení Duchu Svätému, Boh nás povedie skrze Ducha Svätého tak, ako viedol Adam zvieratá v tom dni.
53A tak ich utvoril. A potom, keď to učinil, začína sa presúvať ku myšlienke, že potom – že utvoril človeka z prachu zeme. Nebol tam žiaden človek, ktorý by obrábal pôdu, nikto, kto by pracoval, žiadna fyzická bytosť. A tak utvoril človeka z prachu zeme. No, tu je to miesto, kde si myslím, že botanik, či veda a Kresťanstvo si navzájom neodporujú. Pretože veda hovorí, že človek pochádza z iného života; a my hovoríme, keď sa tu pozriete na človeka, on je na obraz Boží. Toto je, nebol to obraz Boží, s ktorým začal. Toto bol obraz zvieracieho života. A on... A evolucionisti tvrdia, že sme... Neverím v reťazec evolúcie spôsobom, ako oni, že všetko pochádza z jedinej bunky. Ale verím, že sme sa vyvíjali, iste, evolúcia jedného človeka od druhého. Ale potom, keď Boh vytvoril toto všetko, a mal – umiestnil človeka do...
55Utvoril ho z prachu zeme, no, nie na Svoj Vlastný obraz. On už mal učineného človeka. Potom do neho vdýchol dych života a on sa stal živou dušou. Takže ľudská duša je povahou ducha.
No, keď ste znovuzrodení, nedostanete nového ducha. Dostanete novú povahu toho ducha. Je to ten istý duch, ale má novú povahu. Vezmite si dvoch ľudí, postavte ich spolu, obaja vyzerajú rovnako; jeden z nich je hriešnik a jeden z nich je Kresťan. Jeden človek povie, „Mám takého istého ducha, ako máš ty.“ Rozumiete? Ale jeden z nich je odlišný, jeho duša, jeho povaha je odlišná. On bol zmenený.
57A tak, potom On vdýchol do tohto človeka. No, neviem, ako ho utvoril. Umiestnil ho do piatich zmyslov, aby sa mohol kontaktovať so svojím pozemským domovom a vidieť, mať chuť, cítiť, voňať a počuť. A On ho utvoril takýmto spôsobom. No, tie zmysly neboli na kontakt s Bohom. Jeho zmyslom na kontakt s Bohom bol jeho duch, jeho duša bola na... „Duša, ktorá hreší, tá duša zomrie.“
No, idem okolo toho dlhými cestami, aby som niečo dostal, ale dúfam, že rozumiete každému bodu z toho, a tak môžete presne vidieť to, čo musel Boh urobiť na Golgote.
60No, keď tento človek, potom, keď ho On umiestnil do jeho zmyslov, jeho piatich zmyslov... A potom bol človek osamelý, a tak mu utvoril ženu, pomocnicu, vzal z boku jeho rebro a utvoril ženu.
Tam je nádherný predobraz (všetko v predobraze) Boha, ktorý berie z Kristovho boku Nevestu. Vidíte? Boh otvoril Adamov bok a vzal rebro; ktoré, muž má v štruktúre tela o jedno rebro menej ako žena. A teraz Boh otvoril Kristov bok na Golgote a vybral von Nevestu. Cirkev prichádza do Kristovho Tela cez Kristovu Krv. Rozumiete?
To je spôsob, ako vchádzame dnu, a cez žiadnu inú cestu. Nezáleží na tom, do akej cirkvi patríš, akým dobrým mužom si, akou dobrou ženou si; musíš prijať Božiu všedostatočnú Obeť, Jeho pripravenú cestu, inak si stratený. To je pravda. To je jediný spôsob, ako môžete vojsť dnu, je to tadiaľ. No, je tu len jedna cesta, a to sú Dvere.
63Ježiš učil toto známe podobenstvo, keď bol tu na zemi. Rozprával, že bola prihotovená svadobná večera a každý človek dostal rúcho, a on tam našiel jedného človeka, ktorý nemal rúcho. Povedal, „Priateľu, čo si... Ako prichádzaš a nemáš rúcho?“
No, orientálny zvyk tohto je, že keď ženích pozval každú osobu, on dal – pozval. Ak pozval päťdesiat ľudí, potom mal päťdesiat rúch. A postavil niekoho ku dverám a zakaždým, keď prišiel človek dnu, bohatý alebo chudobný, on mu dal rúcho. Potom nikto nevedel, či boli bohatí alebo chudobní. On, všetci vyzerali v rúchu rovnako.
A to je spôsob, ako to dnes robí Boh. On dáva Ducha Svätého; čo je predobrazom. Každý človek, ktorého On pozýva, všetci sme rovnakí; nie tohto, lebo je trocha lepší než iný a tento je trocha vyšší ako tamten. Všetci sme v Božích očiach rovnakí, každý, kto je pozvaný na svadobnú večeru.
66Potom, keď vošiel dnu a našiel teraz jedného človeka... No, sú tam iba jedny dvere, cez ktoré sa dá vojsť, pretože tam je to miesto, kde boli rozdávané rúcha. A on našiel pri stole s večerou človeka, ktorý nemal oblečené rúcho. Povedal, „Priateľu, čo tu robíš? Prečo nemáš oblečené rúcho?“ A ten človek zanemel. On vošiel dnu cez okno, nejakou inou cestou. Nevošiel cez dvere.
A každý človek, ktorý prichádza cez Krista do Kristovho Tela, prijíma Ducha Svätého, Rúcho. On stojí rovno tam, aby Ho na vás dal hneď, ako prichádzate dnu. Rozumiete? To je to, čo zasľúbil, a to je to, čo robí.
68Nuž, tam na počiatku v Edene, potom pre neho utvoril ženu, alebo pomocnicu.
No, vidíte tie obrázky v časopisoch, niekedy, od nejakých umelcov. Nuž, to je veľmi biedna inšpirácia. Ak by ste videli Evu s takto natiahnutými vlasmi a, ó, čo za hrozne vyzerajúca vec a hovoria, „To bola naša matka,“ no, tam na svete by nemal byť nikto, kto by to mohol obdivovať. Verím tomu, že Eva bola najkrajšou ženou, aká kedy na zemi bola. To je pravda. Keď sa na ňu Adam díval, jeho, on... No, to ukazuje, že tie vlastnosti prechádzajú rovno späť skrze ľudské bytosti dnes. Ak nie, bolo by to naopak.
70A tak si Adam vzal Evu za svoju manželku. A potom, keď vošiel dnu hriech... A mám svoju predstavu o tom, čo to bolo. Nevyjadrujem to vonku v cirkvách, jedine, že mám nejakú malú triedu, kde môžem ukázať, čím bol hriech na počiatku. Ale v každom prípade, keď sa to stalo, oddelilo ich to od obecenstva s Bohom.
No, tu je obraz, ktorý chcem ukázať. No, keď si to Boh uvedomil, alebo nejaký Anjel, alebo prišla nejaká bytosť a povedala Bohu, že, „Tvoj syn je stratený. On zhrešil. Upadol.“...
No, sledujte ľudskú snahu, prvá vec je urobiť si nejaké náboženstvo. Človek, on má nejaký druh náboženstva.
Jedného dňa som tu v meste hovoril so slávnym človekom. Povedal, „Vieš, moje náboženstvo, brat Branham, je dodržiavanie 'zlatého pravidla'“ [po anglicky 'golden rule' - 'rob iným tak, ako chceš, aby iní robili tebe'. - pozn.prekl.]. To je dobre. Ale, brat, ak človek nie je znovuzrodený, on zahynie. Áno. Má byť; on musí byť znovuzrodený. No, 'zlaté pravidlo' je v poriadku; človek, ktorý má morálku, to dokáže robiť. Ale to musí byť všetko v nadprirodzenej línii. A uvidíte, čo Boh musel vykonať, aby sme sa mohli nadprirodzene narodiť.
75No, keď potom zhrešil, vytvoril si nábož... Slovo "náboženstvo" znamená "prikrytie". Je to, ako niečo zakrývať. Tento kabát je pre mňa morálne náboženstvo, pretože zakrýva moju bytosť. A vaše oblečenie funguje rovnakým spôsobom. A to je... Je to prikrytie.
76No, všimnite si, keď potom Adam, jeho figové listy boli v poriadku tak dlho, kým sa nemusel postaviť pred Boha tvárou v tvár. Ale keď sa musel postaviť pred Boha tvárou tvár, uvedomil si, že jeho figové listy mu boli nanič. A teraz, priateľu, mohol by si si myslieť, že si veľmi dobrou osobou (Rozumieš?), a môžeš ňou byť. To je pravda. Ale keď prídeš ku tomu, že sa budeš musieť postaviť pred Boha tvárou v tvár, si... ak si neprijal Božiu pripravenú Obeť pre teba, si stratený a zistíš to.
77Stál som po ich boku, pozoroval som ich zomierať, videl som, ako im lekár do rúk pichá injekcie, aby ich udržal potichu, a počul som ich kričať a vyvádzať. Poviete, „Ó, oni sú len bez seba.“
Povedal som, „Doktor, vydržte s tým ešte minútku.“ Rozumiete? A môžete ich počuť, ako si myslia, že máte pravdu.
„Niektorá cesta je priamou pred človekom, ale jej koniec cestami smrti.“ A každý človek, ktorý nie je vytvorený, nie je znovuzrodený z Boha, pôjde tou cestou záhuby. Nemôžete tomu pomôcť. Vaša vlastná duša vás vedie. Ak ste znovuzrodení, ste nútení ísť hore. Ak nie ste znovuzrodení, musíte ísť dole. Skrátka vaša vlastná duša to urobí. Práve tak, ako kúzelnícka palička, ktorá by otvorila dvere, alebo niekde; ak nemáte kúzelnícku paličku, dvere sa neotvoria. A ak nie ste znovuzrodení, ste jednoducho automaticky odmietnutí; to je celé. No...
81A potom, keď to tam vidím, keď potom vychádzajú a Boh vedel, že by sa pred Neho nemohli postaviť. A On to vedel. A oni sa ukrývali, schovávali sa vzadu v nejakom kroví, predsa zakrytí, ale vedeli, že ich prikrytie nebolo dostatočné.
A každý muž, alebo žena, ktorá chodí do cirkvi... Dnes som premýšľal o tom, ako katedrály vyzváňajú a zvony zvonia, a tak ďalej a podobne; a ľudia idú do cirkvi, pripravujú sa a ženy si kupujú svoje Veľkonočné klobúky, a tak ďalej. Ku čomu to dospelo? Ó, ako nedokážem pochopiť, kde má králik niečo spoločné so vzkriesením (Rozumiete? Nie veru.), alebo ako má vianočný stromček niečo spoločné s narodením Krista. To je pohanské, priatelia. Niekde sme museli vybočiť z cesty. To je pravda. Ale teraz, skutočne znovuzrodený muž alebo žena si to uvedomujú, pretože tam vo vás je Život, ktorý vám hovorí, že to je zlé. Je to pravda? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.]
83No, sledujte; Adam a Eva. Ó! Keď o tomto premýšľam, prestávam myslieť o mojej chrípke, akákoľvek bola. Keď sa zamyslím, tam na začiatku... Dávajte pozor! Rozprávate o krvi?
Tu, prednedávnom na veľkom metodistickom koncile, oni sa o tom dohadovali a vylúčili z metodistického spevníka všetky piesne o Krvi... Povedali, „To nie je nejaké zabijacké náboženstvo.“ Povedali, „My... Chceme niečo pekné a dôstojné.“ Brat, to nie je spôsob, ako to Boh prijíma. Buď je to...
„Keď uvidím Krv, preskočím vás.“ Krv! Boh, je tam iba zástupná, je iba v... „Život leží v krvi. Môžete teda jesť mäso, ale tá krv z neho, ktorá je toho životom, vylejete ju na zem.“ Rozumiete, nejete život...
Všimnite si, aké nádherné. Ako o tom premýšľam. Potom si Boh pomyslel, „No, vyjdite odtiaľ, Adam a Eva. A predtým, ako vás môžem priviesť von, budem musieť niečo urobiť.“ A tak, On ide tam po stráni a vezme ovcu, zabije ju, stiahne z nej kožu a nechá ju zomrieť.
87Pretože Boh musí Svoje Slovo dodržať, nezáleží na tom, aký dobrý muž si, aká dobrá si žena, čím si. To je Boh. Boh musí Svoje Slovo dodržať.
Z toho dôvodu musela ísť panna Mária na deň Letníc hore a prijať krst Duchom Svätým rovnako, ako to urobil zvyšok z nich, pretože sa tu narodila ako smrteľník a musela sa znovuzrodiť predtým, ako by mohla ísť do neba. Amen.
89No, pozri sa, pani, dovoľ mi niečo ti povedať. Len preto, že doba sa zmenila, Boh sa nezmenil. Ak prichádzaš s niečím bez tamtoho, si stratená. Rozumieš? No, hovorím to v mene toho, čo Boh urobil pred 1900 rokmi od dneška na Golgote, aby som vám ukázal, čo za obeť to musela byť, aby toto zaplatila, a to je Božia cesta. No, existuje cesta, ktorá vyzerá byť priama; ale Boh má pripravenú cestu. Ak pôjdete vždy po Božej pripravenej ceste, nikdy nepôjdete nesprávne.
90Ako keď začnete ísť do Indianapolis, alebo cez most a poviete, „No, tu, je tamto Louisville?“
„Áno.“ A skrátka sa vydáte rovno naprieč týmto smerom; čoskoro sa stratíte. To je pravda. Radšej si zaobstarajte plán, mapu, preskúmajte ju a uvidíte, ktorým smerom idete.
A potom, Tu je Boží plán do Slávy. Preskúmajte To. Tam To je. Celou cestou je to pokropené Krvou. Nemôžete stratiť stopu, ak budete nasledovať Krv. Amen. No, môžete ju vidieť. Len sa držte rovno s Krvou a budete v poriadku, lebo je tam krvavá stopa na každom kroku cesty.
92 No, všimnite si, ako tam Boh predtým, ako by to mohol urobiť, vtedy by mohol postaviť, alebo... Dokonca, ak by sa postavili, aby to mohli prijať, On by ich rovno vtedy zabil. Musel by, pretože On je suverénny. On musí Svoje Slovo dodržať. Povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Tým to bolo navždy vybavené. Potom Ho tam vidím, keď zabil tie ovce. Poviete, „Boli to ovce, brat Branham?“ Verím tomu. On bol Baránkom, ktorý bol zabitý pred založením sveta.
A bola to ovčia koža; vzal ich, hodil ich dozadu do krovia a povedal im, aby sa do nich zabalili a vyšli von a prijali to.
94A vidím, ako si Adam a Eva okolo seba natiahli tie zakrvavené, zvädnuté kože. Dokážete si predstaviť nádherné a pekné telá tých dvoch dokonalých ľudských bytostí teraz zabalené v krvavej ovčej koži? Vidím ich tam stáť.
Boh povedal, „Adam, pretože si namiesto Mňa počúval svoju ženu, nuž, vzal som ťa zo zeme a do zeme sa navrátiš.“
A „Eva, pretože si namiesto Mňa počúvala hada, nuž, priniesla si život – vzala si zo sveta život, budeš musieť na svet prinášať život. Rozmnožím tvoje bolesti a tvoja túžba sa ponesie k tvojmu mužovi,“ a tak ďalej.
A potom povedal, „Had, pretože si toto urobil, kráčal...“ On nebol plazom. Bol zvieraťom, kráčal, bol najchytrejší zo všetkých zvierat poľných. Vidzte, či hovorím pravdu, to je Písmo. Chodil ako človek a oklamal ju. A On povedal, „A pretože si toto urobil, prídeš o nohy a budeš sa plaziť na svojom bruchu po všetky dni svojho života. A prach bude tvojím pokrmom.“
A rovno tam boli: súd. Boh musel dodržať Svoj súd, pretože On to vypovedal. A On je Bohom; On od toho nemôže ustúpiť. Musí zostať... Aby bol Bohom, Boh musí držať Svoje Slovo. To je pravda.
99A tak si tam dokážem predstaviť pohľad na tú biednu malú Evu, keď sa dívala na Adama, jej dlhé blonďavé vlasy jej visia na chrbte, tie veľké, jasné, modré oči, ktoré vyzerali ako obloha, kde ich Boh stvoril, tiekli jej slzy, zmiešané s krvou na odevoch a kvapkajú dole okolo jej tela, Evinho... Adam so svojím silným telom ju chytil, privinul ju na svoju hruď a sú tam slzy, ktoré sa miešajú a padajú, ako stekajú po tých ovčích rúchach, kvapká dole krv. Krv, celou cestou. Tam. No, On hovorí, „Musíte odísť z Mojej Prítomnosti.“
A vidím, ako Eva a Adam idú s rukami okolo seba, takto odchádzajú, ich staré ovčie kože plieskali o ich nohy, krvavé, udieralo im to o nohy.
101Potom vidím všetok ten priestor, čo bol vlastne Boh. Boh nemal začiatok dní, koniec rokov. On je navždy a navždy. Vidím, ako sa všetok ten obrovský priestor začal takto spolu pohybovať, zostupuje takto do tvaru lievika a pohybovalo sa to rovno dole, keď začal pozorovať ten malý pár, ktorý šiel dole cez záhradu Eden, krvavé kože im plieskali o nohy. Nemohol to vydržať. A pohlo sa to dole, ó, pohlo sa to dole od samotného srdca Božieho a píše l-á-s-k-a, „Boh tak miloval...“ On by ich skrátka nedokázal vidieť odísť.
Zavolal ich späť a povedal, „Položím nepriateľstvo medzi tvojím Semenom a satanovým semenom.“ Potom, keď sa toto stalo, bolo to na Golgote, keď Samotný Boh zostúpil dole cez ženu, narodený z panny.
103Ako rád by som sa tam tým len na chvíľu zaoberal, v Edene. Všimnite si, keď boli vyhnaní zo záhrady kvôli priestupku, všetky požehnania zostali odrezané kvôli tomu priestupku.
A myslím si, že to je to, čo sa dnes večer deje s cirkvou. Všetky požehnania sú odrezané kvôli priestupku. Tam to máte.
105Vyhnaní zo záhrady Eden! No, chcem, aby ste si všimli, že tu prichádza... Keď Kain a Ábel, dvaja synovia Adama a Evy prišli dopredu, aby vykonali obeť... Myslím si, že ten veľký Cherubín bol na východnej strane brány a ten Meč sa krútil tam a späť, ako tam strážil tú bránu, ktorou sa vchádzalo do Edenu... Všimnite si, Oheň, Oheň Ducha Svätého stráži bránu.
A dnes, To je to, čo stráži bránu. Ak ste vystrašený z Ducha Svätého a Ohňa, nikdy sa nedostanete do vnútra. Ohnivý Meč Boží, Boh je stravujúci Oheň, dáva pozor na ten Strom, stráži ten Strom Života.
108A teraz si všimnite, potom to je nádherný obraz. Ó! Vidím, ako Adam, alebo lepšie povedané Kain a Ábel sa teraz namáhali, alebo vyšli von, aby zaobstarali obeť. Verím, že vybudovali svoj oltár rovno pri bráne, pri Tróne, kde by mohli uctievať.
Všimnite si, tu prichádza Kain. Pravdepodobne pracoval celý rok, namáhal sa, robil všetko, čo mohol, aby vypestoval tie najväčšie jablká, alebo tie najväčšie tekvice, alebo čokoľvek to mal, a priniesol to hore ku bráne. Postavil oltár rovno pri boku brány v Prítomnosti Božej, položil všetko svoje ovocie a veľké ľalie a všetko možné a položil ich bezchybne na oltár, potom si kľakol a uctieval Boha.
110No, chcem, aby ste... Dúfam, že toto jednoducho vsiakne tak smerom dole, ako nikdy predtým, až kým to pochopíte. Rozumiete? No, všimnite si. Ak od vás Boh požaduje iba to, aby ste chodili do cirkvi, Kain bol rovnako spravodlivý ako Ábel. Kain Pánovi vybudoval oltár. Poviete, „No, brat Branham, nerobím iba to, ale ja robím obeť. Prispievam na zahraničné misie a...“ Všetky tie veci sú v poriadku. To je v poriadku, ale Boh požaduje viac.
Samotný Kain to robil. Rozumiete? On priniesol obeť. On uctieval Pána. Pokľakol a obetoval chválu Bohu a hovoril, „Pane, tu som. Tu som a priniesol som Ti obeť. Vybudoval som oltár.“ Amen.
Mnohými inými slovami, „Som členom cirkvi.“ Zasiahlo to dno? Pozrite sa. „Som členom cirkvi. Verím v Teba.“ Teraz to pôjde ku dnu. Nech to vsiakne skutočne hlboko. „Som veriaci v Boha. Postavil som oltár. Priniesol som obeť. A tu som, Pane. Uctievam Ťa.“ Boh sa im obrátil chrbtom. Správne.
114„A Veľkonočné ráno,“ ako povedal jeden pastor z tohto mesta, „vieš, čo robím na Veľkonočné ráno, kazateľ?“
Povedal som, „Čo?“
On povedal, „Poviem všetkým mojim ľuďom, zaželám im 'Veselé vianoce.'“
Povedal som, „Prečo?“
On povedal, „Už ich viac neuvidím, až do ďalšej Veľkej noci.“
Každý prichádza na Veľkú noc, to je všetko, kupujú si nové klobúčiky a nové oblečenie. A čo má toto spoločné s Kristom? Ó! A v tomto roku tam bude investovaných milióny dolárov, zajtra v protestantskej sfére, do ľalií, veľkých nádherných ľalií; každý člen pôjde okolo a položí to na oltár. Boh sa nestará o tie ľalie na oltári. On chce na tom oltári vás. To nie je ľalia; to nie je vaša obeť. Vy ste tou osobou, ktorá má byť na oltári. To je ten rozdiel. To, čo Boh vyžaduje, aby ste kládli na oltár, ste vy.
116No, chcem, aby ste si všimli, ako tam bola tá črta, to bol Satan v Kainovi. A sledujte to veľmi...
No, toto by malo spôsobiť, že sa budete cítiť naozaj dobre, niektorí z vás, ktorí ste pútnikmi a putujúcimi. A možno hovoríme, „No, kiežby sme mohli v našej cirkvi robiť toto a tamto.“ Buďte spokojní. Haleluja. Radšej by som uctieval v malej starej miestnosti niekde v zadnej ulici a mal v nej Boha, než v katedrále, v ktorej by nebol Boh. To je pravda. Samozrejme. Tam! On bol chudobný. Všimnite si. Potom priniesol svoju obeť Kain a položil to tam. No, všimnite si, on prišiel zo satanovej línie, pretože od Boha očakával, že to prijme kvôli tomu, že to bolo nádherné ovocie, niečo, čo on sám vytvoril.
118A tak mnoho ľudí hovorí, „No, patrím k nejakým určitým rádom. A prispievam na Červený Kríž a dávam na charitu. Prispievam na cirkvi. Čo s týmto, brat Branham?“ To všetko je v poriadku.
Ale, „Ak sa niekto nenarodí znova, nijakým spôsobom nevojde do Kráľovstva.“ Všimnite si to.
Tie charitatívne veci sú skvelé, ale mimo... To jednako nie je Božia pripravená cesta. Kain prišiel svojou vlastnou cestou. A dnes večer prichádzajú mnohí svojou vlastnou cestou.
121 Nemôžete to dokonca vysvetliť. No, zdôvodnenia nemôžu dokonca... Vaše logické úvahy nie sú dostačujúce. Nie ste spôsobilý, aby ste to logicky vysvetlili. Ak by ste to mohli logicky vysvetliť, už by to viac nebolo z viery. Musíte to obetovať skrze vieru.
No, poviete, „Brat Branham, chceš povedať, že sa musím dostať tam dole a byť naplnený Svätým Duchom a vyvádzať ako tí ostatní?“ Ak očakávaš, že budeš s tými ostatnými, tak áno. To je všetko. Tak veru. To je všetko. Môžete vziať...
Náman mal rovnakú vec. Boh povedal prorokovi, „Povedz mu, 'Choď dolu a ponor sa sedemkrát.'“
On povedal, „Nie je táto voda čistejšia a lepšia?“ Ale to bola tá voda Jordánu; niekedy vyzerá veľmi zle.
125Ale prajem si, aby tu dnes večer každý hľadel na Golgotu a na cenu, ktorú Boh musel pred 1900 rokmi zaplatiť, a aby zodvihol svoju ruku a povedal, „Vyberám si cestu s tými niekoľkými Pánovými pohŕdnutými.“
Poviete, „Musím sa pripojiť ku tým ľuďom, ktorých brat Tom, alebo niektorí z nich nazývajú 'svätými povaľačmi'?“ Brat, bol som okolo sveta celkom tri razy a ešte nikdy som nevidel 'svätého povaľača'. Nie veru. Videl som svätých, ale nie 'svätých povaľačov'. To je meno, ktoré na Cirkev pripol diabol. Boh povedal, „Bez posvätenia nikto neuvidí Boha.“ Posúďte sami. To je Božia cesta.
128Poviete, „Ľudia, ktorí kričia a vykrikujú, a tak ďalej?“ Brat, to je to, čo to je. „No,“ poviete, „to, to sa mi zdá šialené.“
To je dôvod, prečo by si mal byť znovuzrodený. Keď si znovuzrodený, potom to nebude šialené. Budeš s nami. Oni si raz mysleli to isté, čo ty. To je pravda. Mysleli si to isté, čo ty, pokiaľ sa do Toho sami nedostali. To je zmena, obrátenie. "Obrátiť" znamená niečo "zmeniť". A ak človek nezomrie samému sebe a nepovie, „Pane, nič o Tom neviem. Len ma vezmi dnu.“ Amen. Potom to Boh urobí. Rozumiete?
130No, Kain povedal, „Položil som sem toto všetko.“ Boh to odmietol. On to všetko urobil pekné. A možno si pomyslíte, „No, idem na bohoslužbu pri východe slnka; musím mať nový klobúčik.“
Raz na mojom zhromaždení išlo spievať jedno dievča. A povedala, „Brat Branham...“ Jej matka prala v koryte, aby sa uživili. A ona musela mať vo vlasoch jednu z tých „skrútenín,“ viete.
Čo to je, manikúra? Alebo ako voláte tie veci, nejaká taká vec, ktorá je vo vlasoch? Viem, že to je nesprávne. Nikdy si nedokážem spomenúť ako sa to nazýva. Neviem o tom mnoho.
Toni? [Niekto hovorí, „Nie. Trvalá.“ - pozn.prekl.] Trvalá, to je to, čo to bolo.
A ona strašne chcela mať vlasy na trvalú, predtým, ako mohla spievať v zbore. A jej biedna stará matka prala v koryte, aby ju uživila. Keď išla a mala už trvalú, ja som povedal, že ju nenechám spievať, pretože nie je spôsobilá na to, aby spievala, keď si to takto s tými vlasmi urobila. Správne.
135Nech nám Boh pomáha v každom prípade udržať kazateľňu čistú. To je to, čo sa dnes deje so svetom v ich cirkvách. No, počúvaj, brat. Verím v staromódne „sassafras“ [americký strom – pozn.prekl.] prežitie, tam dávno v kroví, kde vyhrabávate všetky korene horkosti a premiešavate pôdu (to je pravda), sadíte semeno.
No, všimnite si teraz, Kain si pomyslel, „Nádhera.“
Oni si myslia, „No, náš kostol... Postavili sme nový kostol.“ To je v poriadku. Všetko je krásne, to je v poriadku, ak budete mať spolu s tým Pána Ježiša. Potom, ako Ho len dáte na prvé miesto, On sa postará o to ostatné.
137Niekto povedal, „Brat Branham, myslíš, že by to dievča malo prísť ku oltáru, keď takto vyzerá?“
Povedal som, „Brat, prichádza jar. Všetky tie krovité duby, ktoré tu sú, každý z nich má listy rovno tam, kde ich mali minulú jeseň. Ale my nemusíme ísť potrhať tie listy, aby prišli nové listy. Len nech vstúpi nový život a starý list odpadáva.“ To je pravda. Amen.
Počúvajte. Dovoľte mi povedať toto. Ak ten starý list neodpadne, to ukazuje, že ešte neprišiel ten nový Život. Nehnevajte sa teraz na mňa. Rozprávam o Ježišovi. V poriadku. To je ono. V poriadku.
140Sledujte, čo to stálo nášho nebeského Otca. Pozrite sa, čo teraz urobil. A prišiel tam Kain a vykonal svoju obeť. On uctieval. Išiel do cirkvi. Bol rovnako dobrý, ako ten druhý človek.
Ezav bol taký istý. Ezav bol vo svojom charaktere lepším človekom ako Jakob, väčší džentlmen. Miloval svojho otca; a veci, ktoré urobil. Ale Boh vybral Jakoba.
143Všimnite si teraz, keď prišiel Ábel, aby vykonal svoju obeť, no, bolo to celkom odlišné, keď prišiel Ábel. Tu prichádza Ábel. On nepracoval; nesnažil sa nájsť najväčšiu cirkev v meste, aby do nej išiel. Nepokúšal sa nájsť najkrajšiu skupinu ľudí, aby sa s nimi spolčoval. Amen. On iba vzal niečo, čo mal, a prišiel. To je celé. On bol pastierom oviec. A tak sa len načiahol, vzal baránka a zviazal... Predpokladám, že oni v tej dobe nemali žiaden konopný povraz a tak on musel mať letorast z viniča a jednoducho ho omotal okolo jeho krku.
Ale o čom to hovorí? Oni Ho viedli na Golgotu. On bol Baránkom. Povedali, „Prečo sa narodil v maštali?“ No, jahniatka sa nerodia v domoch. Rodia sa v maštaliach. A viedli... viedli Ho na porážku ako baránka. A odviedli Ho preč, viedli Ho hore na Golgotu. On bol Boží Baránok (amen) zpred založenia sveta. Keď o tom premýšľam, tam prichádza Ábelov malý baránok. Tam prichádza Boží Baránok.
145Keď o tom premýšľam, moje srdce sa len krúti znova a znova. Keď sa zamyslím, mne, biednemu, nehodnému, bezbožnému hriešnikovi, ktorý zomieral bez Boha, bez Krista vo svete, bez nádeje... A v potrebnom čase zomrel Kristus na mojom mieste, Ten jediný nádherný a stal sa opovrhnutým a odmietnutým, aby som v Jeho očiach mohol byť prijatý, namiesto mňa. Ó, skrátka sa cez to nemôžem dostať. Jednoducho si nedokážem predstaviť, ako to pre mňa mohol urobiť. Kým som bol? Potom poviete, „Urobil to pre teba?“ Áno.
Prišiel Duch Svätý, jedného dňa ma ulovil a povedal, „On to urobil pre teba,“ a ja som Mu uveril. Uveril som Mu. Tak veru. Prijal som Ho a zistil som, že to tak bolo. Nezáleží na tom, čo hovorili ľudia, že oni povedali, „to sú fanatici,“ alebo čokoľvek boli; ja verím Bohu. A ja... A On urobil práve to, čo povedal.
147Vidím malého Ábela. Teraz dávajte pozor. Ó, vidím Ábela, ako ide a berie tento malý letorast z viniča, načahuje sa a berie malého baránka, prvorodeného od starej matky ovce, a omotal ten viničový letorast okolo jeho krku. Tu prichádza, vlečie ho (Nie je na tom mnoho nádhery, že?), ťahá ho tam hore. Potom ho dostal hore na veľkú skalu a kladie ho tam ku východnému koncu brány... No, všimnite si.
Kain pravdepodobne celý rok drel, aby vypestoval najlepšie plodiny, aké mohol, a myslel si, že by sa tým Bohu mohol zapáčiť.
149A mnoho ľudí hovorí, „Prestanem klamať. Prestanem kradnúť. Prestanem fajčiť. Obrátim sa do lepšej skupiny ľudí. Dostanem sa do nejakej spoločnosti.“
Tu to je! Boh sa nestará o vaše obrátenie novej strany. On chce, aby ste obrátili vaše srdce ku Kristovi a nechali Jeho, aby to od vás vzal preč. Nie to, čo môžete urobiť vy, nie sme spasení skrze skutky, ale sme kúpení skrze Jeho milosť. „Nie zo skutkov, aby sa niekto nechválil.“ Lebo my patríme Bohu, pretože... To nie je to, čo som ja; to nie je to, čo ja robím, ja sám. To je to, čo urobil Kristus v Bohu pre mňa a pre teba.
151Všimnite si, nádherný predobraz. Tu prichádza, vlečie malého baránka, ťahá ho vpred. Dokážem si predstaviť, ako to malé stvorenie padá, pravdepodobne vedel, čo bolo nablízku, vliekol svoje malé nohy. Dokonalý predobraz Krista vlečúceho kríž, Boží Baránok prechádza dolu cez Jeruzalem, padá, oslabený.
Tu prichádza to maličké stvorenia a bečí. A keď ho dostal hore ku veľkej skale, položil ho na skalu a berie kúsok ostrého kameňa... Neviem, predpokladám, že oni v tých dňoch nemali žiadne nože. Takto ho položil. Chytil ho za zadnú časť jeho hlavy a takto ho potiahol hore, vzal nôž... či kameň a začal presekávať jeho malé hrdlo a ten kameň sa začal predierať skrz jeho hrdlo. Na tej skale zomrel baránok, krvácajúci, bľačiaci, krv striekala a jeho malé tepny boli rozsekané, krv striekala všade. Jeho malá biela vlna sa vtedy stala dočervena vykúpaná od krvi. Boh sa pozrel dole z nebies a povedal, „To je ono. No, zvládol si to. To je cesta.“ Krv tiekla z jeho malých žíl...
153Čo to bolo? Krv Syna Božieho, tisíc deväťsto a niečo rokov pred týmto popoludním. On bol vedený z väzenia. Bol vzatý na súdnu stolicu, odtiaľ do nádvoria na zbičovanie a odtiaľ hore na Golgotu, vyvlečený na kopec. Šimon Cyrenejský mu pomáhal niesť kríž. A tam zomrel, na Skale Vekov, s Jeho Krvou, ktorá z Neho bola vytlčená, Jeho telo bolo doráňané. Haleluja! Veľké, hromada posmievajúcich sa vojakov pľula na Jeho tvár. A On povedal, „Keby bolo Moje Kráľovstvo z tohoto sveta, požiadal by som Svojho Otca; On by Mi dal légie Anjelov, ktorí by prišli a bojovali za Mňa. Ale toto nie je Moje Kráľovstvo. Ale nech príde Tvoje Kráľovstvo! Nech sa stane Tvoja vôľa.“ A to tu bude čoskoro. „Nech príde Tvoje Kráľovstvo, nech sa stane Tvoja vôľa.“ Ó!
155Keď raz Billy Sunday povedal, že „Na každom strome sedel Anjel,“ povedal, „len vytiahni a uvoľni Svoju ruku a ukáž prstom; to je všetko, čo musíš urobiť. Vyriešime tu dole ten problém. Ó, či to nie je pravda?
Kaifáš sa díval a povedal, „Iných zachraňoval; Sám Seba nemôže zachrániť.“ Bola to najväčšia pocta, ktorá Mu vôbec bola preukázaná. Ak by zachránil Sám Seba, nemohol by zachrániť ostatných. A tak dal Svoj Život, aby mohol zachrániť ostatných. Haleluja. Amen.
„My všetci sme zblúdili ako ovce; Boh uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás. Vedený bol ako ovca na zabitie; a vedený ako ovca, ktorá zanemie pred tými, ktorí ju strihajú, neotvoril Svojich úst. A On bol ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na Neho, a Jeho ranami sme uzdravení.“ Ako by ste mohli odmietnuť tak jedinečnú lásku? Vidieť Ho, ako potácajúco ide hore do kopca: biedne, úbohé, slabé a krehké telo, ktoré sa prehýba pod bremenom.
158Premýšľam o básnikovi, keď tam v ten deň sedel; zachytil záblesk toho a napísal:
Uprostred mohutných skál a zatemnenej oblohy;
Môj Spasiteľ sklonil Svoju hlavu a zomrel;
Otvorená opona odhalila cestu;
K nebeským radostiam a nekonečnému dňu.
Čo za Spasiteľ. Ó. Ako by sme vôbec mohli, ako by som mohol odmietnuť tak jedinečnú lásku k Tomu, ktorý mohol toto urobiť pre mňa a pre teba?
160Verím, dnes večer, môj brat, sestra, že prídete. Boh, to bola Božia pripravená cesta. To je cesta pre vás. To je Ten jediný, ktorý s vami môže mať niečo do činenia. To je Ten, ktorý zaujal vaše miesto. To je Ten, ktorý dnes večer stojí, zmŕtvychvstalý Vykupiteľ, ktorý stojí po pravici Otca, dnes večer; vidím Ho úpenlivo prosiť a naliehať na každého hriešnika, ktorý je v tejto budove, aby k Nemu prišiel. Verím, že to urobíte. Verím, že nezanecháte toto Veľkonočné preskočenie.
Drahí priatelia, sme na konci cesty. Verím z celého srdca, že sme. Sme na konci cesty. Nech vás Pán Ježiš žehná. Nech vás dnes večer v Sebe učiní novým stvorením, to je mojou modlitbou. Nech vás vedie. Raz v...
162Bol tam v Biblii jeden starý slepý muž, ktorý sa volal Bartimeus. Starý slepý Bartimeus mal dve malé holubice, my sme to povedali podľa histórie. Že tieto malé holubice zvykli tak sedieť a robili kotrmelce jedna cez druhú a ľudia držali svoje... On držal svoj pohár a potom, keď ľudia prišli a sledovali tieto malé hrdličky, ako robia kotrmelce, tak hodili nejaké mince pre toho starého slepého žobráka. On bol ženatý muž a mal malú dcérku. Ešte nikdy vo svojom živote to malé dievčatko nevidel. Mala asi dvanásť, štrnásť rokov v tom čase, v akom teraz chceme nahliadnuť do jeho života. A on sedával...
Raz v noci povedali, že jeho malá dcérka je chorá a on išiel ku Pánovi. A povedal, „Pane, ak len uzdravíš moje malé dievčatko, obetujem Ti zajtra moje dve hrdličky.“ A tak oni... Pán uzdravil jeho malé dievčatko a on obetoval dve holubice. Po chvíli jeho...
164A to prvé, čo ste zistili, bolo, že jeho drahá žena onemocnela a myslela si, že bola... Oni si mysleli, že zomiera. Tak on odchádza tej noci k Pánovi, ohmatáva svoju cestu pozdĺž bočnej steny svojho domu, pokľakol na poli a povedal, „Bože, Bože, ak len ušetríš život mojej ženy, zajtra Ti obetujem môjho baránka.“
No, videli ste dnes slepého človeka, ktorého viedol pes. Trénujú tie psy, aby ich viedli. V ich dňoch vycvičili ovce, aby viedli ľudí, a tak on mal baránka, ktorý ho viedol.
A povedal, „Pane, ak len uzdravíš moju ženu, no, potom Ti zajtra obetujem môjho baránka.“ A jeho manželka bola uzdravená.
167A na druhý deň šiel hore do chrámu a povedal veľkňazovi Kaifášovi, ktorý tam vystúpil a povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, kam to ideš?“
On povedal, „Idem hore do chrámu, ó, veľkňaz, aby som obetoval môjho baránka. Sľúbil som Pánovi, že ak uzdraví moju ženu, darujem mu svojho baránka.“
Povedal, „Nemôžeš darovať tohto baránka, Bartimeus, pretože ten baránok je tvojimi očami.“ Povedal, „Dám ti nejaké peniaze a môžeš si kúpiť baránka od obchodníkov v chráme.“
Ale Bartimeus povedal, „Ó, veľkňaz, nikdy som nesľúbil Bohu „nejakého“ baránka; sľúbil som Mu „tohto“ baránka.“ Ó.
171Zaujímalo by ma, či ste takto učinili sľuby. A ak dnes večer vidíte Toho vše-dostatočného Baránka, pomyslite si, „Pane, ak Ma uzdravíš, sľubujem Ti, že Ti budem slúžiť; urobím všetko, čo môžem, ak necháš moje dieťa nažive...“ Alebo, keď stojíte a vaša matka išla dole do hrobu, alebo váš otec, alebo vaši milovaní, „Ó, Bože, stretnem ich, opäť ich stretnem.“ Som zvedavý, či to tak naozaj myslíte. Zaujímalo by ma, či táto Veľká noc príde a odíde bez toho, aby ste vyplnili to, čo ste sľúbili.
172Pokračoval ďalej hore a obetoval svojho baránka. Vrátil sa, niekto ho viedol sem a tam. A tak potom povedal, keď prišiel naspäť, povedal, „Bartimeus, nemôžeš to urobiť.“ Kňaz, ktorý prišiel, aby vzal jeho baránka, povedal, „Nemôžeš vybrať tohto. Nemôžeš obetovať tohto baránka.“ Povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, vieš o tom, že ten baránok je tvojimi očami?“
On povedal, „Áno, viem to. Ale dal som Bohu sľub a Boh pripraví baránka pre oči slepého Bartimeusa.“
175Onedlho potom, sa jedného dňa triasol v zime; počul hluk. Boh pripravil Baránka pre oči slepého Bartimeusa. Prichádzal po ulici. Povedal, „Čo znamená všetok ten hluk?“ Tam, kde je On, je zvyčajne hluk. Povedal, „Čo znamená všetok ten hluk?“
On povedal, „Nejaký Ježiš z Nazaretu prešiel okolo.“
Zhodil dole svoj kabát, nedíval sa, kam dopadol; nestaral sa o to. Boh pripravil Baránka. Mal právo na Baránka. Povedal, „Ó, Ježišu, Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa. Zmiluj sa.“
Bohatí ľudia a tí, ktorí stáli navôkol, aby sa dostali bližšie ku Prorokovi, ku Kráľovi; hovorili, „Ó, buď ticho; On ťa nemôže počuť.“ On kričal o to viac.
Niekto z nich povedal, „Dni zázrakov pominuli. Neexistuje žiadna taká vec, ako v tamtom dni.“
Vykríkol hlasnejšie, „Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa nado mnou! Zmiluj sa nado mnou!“ Boh pripravil Baránka.
180Toho istého Baránka, ktorého pripravil pre oči slepého Bartimea, pripravil pred tisíc deväťsto a niečo rokmi aj dnes pre vás, keď vyšiel tam na Golgotu a obetoval Samého Seba, celý zranený a strápený.
Počúvaj, priateľu. Pamätaj, Ábel vyšiel do svojho stáda, obstaral baránka a zabil ho na obetnom kameni. [Prázdne miesto na páske. - pozn.prekl.]... radšej to teraz uchyťte. Ábel zomrel na tej istej skale, na ktorej zomrel jeho baránok.
Ste dnes večer ochotní odumrieť samému sebe? Ste ochotní odumrieť všetkým svojim myšlienkam? Len sa položte tam na skale so svojím Baránkom a odumrite, povedzte, „Ó, Bože, zmiluj sa.“ Keď pomyslím na mužov a ženy, ktorí myslia na pýchu, mladí muži a ženy, ktorí vydávajú svoje životy iným veciam. A starší muži, tiež premýšľajú o svojej práci, o svojej prestíži a o svojom okolí, alebo o niečom takom.
Ó, prečo dnes večer nevyleziete tam na Golgotu? Haleluja. Nechajte svoj vlastný život odseknúť preč a zomrite tam s Ním na kríži. Hoďte svoje ruky okolo, „Skala Vekov, rozštiepená pre mňa, dovoľ mi v Tebe sa skryť. Zatiaľ čo sa valia tie mohutné vody, zatiaľ čo sa rúti búrka, ukry ma, ó, môj Spasiteľu, ukry ma. Nech svet robí čokoľvek, čo chcú robiť. Nech teológovia robia čokoľvek, čo chcú robiť; ja nechcem ich teológiu. To, čo chcem, je Ježiš Kristus v mojom srdci. Nechajte ma zomrieť s mojím Baránkom.“
184Ó, viem, aké to bolo ťažké v ten večer, keď som vošiel do tamtej malej starej farebnej misie a všetci tí bieli ľudia tam stáli naokolo a hovorili, „On ide tam do tej farebnej misie.“ Bolo to ťažké. Vyšiel som tam s celou svojou Kentackou pýchou v sebe, takto, ale Boh povedal, „Ak To chceš, choď rovno tam dnu.“ A vkráčal som rovno tam dnu a pokľakol ku oltáru a zostal som tam, pokiaľ Baránok... Zomrel som starému vlastnému “ja“, Billymu Branhamovi, pred dvadsiatimi rokmi. Haleluja.
„Bol som ukrižovaný s Kristom. Jednako žijem; nie ja, ale žije vo mne Kristus.“ Jedného dňa v tom slávnom zmŕtvychvstaní, keď On príde, moje telo môže odpočívať tam vonku pod trávnikom. Ale keď sa to bude diať, uvidíte, ako sa tráva posunie nabok a ja vyjdem na Jeho veľký slávny obraz, vedľa tých mnohých z nich (haleluja), lebo Ho poznám v moci Jeho zmŕtvychvstania. Verím, že to je to, čo dnes večer robí každý z vás, štverá sa dnes večer rovno hore tam na Golgotu. Poďme teraz na malý výlet.
Dáš nám zatiaľ tón, sestra, ak chceš, „Bližšie ku Tebe, môj Bože.“ Kým sme... Poviete, „To je pohrebná pieseň.“ No, brat, ak tu bol kedy čas, že sme potrebovali pohrebnú pieseň, je to práve teraz, keď ľudia idú zomrieť samým sebe a pýche.
Skloňme teraz v tichosti svoje hlavy, kým nám dáva malý akord, ak je to v poriadku.
190Ó, Bože, ó, keď pomyslím na to, čo sa tam stalo. Ó. Dokonca moje kosti sa chvejú, keď o tom premýšľam. Premýšľam o videní toho Baránka, keď Ho doriadili, áno, nasadili na Jeho hlavu tŕne a zatlačili ich dolu. Vojaci pľuli do Jeho tváre a hovorili, „Ty, Kráľ, teraz s tým niečo urob.“
On bol Prorokom prorokov. Dali okolo Jeho tváre handru a udierali Ho do hlavy s trstinou a hovorili, „No, prorokuj, povedz nám, kto Ťa udrel.“ Ale prorok povedal, „On neotvoril Svojich úst.“ On to už vypovedal.
Zviazali Jeho ruky, odstúpili za Neho s obrovským bičom a bičovali Ho, dokiaľ sa Jeho vzácne rebrá neodhalili skrz Jeho chrbát; Krv stekala dole po Jeho boku, cvendžala na zemi. Počujem Ho teraz kráčať; z Jeho sandálov počujem čľapkanie Krvi. To bol Immanuel. To bol Boh, Božia Krv.
194A videl som, ako vzali, dali na Jeho chrbát ten kríž, ten starý, mozoľovitý, zodratý, drsný kríž. A tam On ide, klesá zo strany na stranu kvôli bolesti chrbta, ako šiel dolu ulicou, burácajúci dav sa smeje a robí si z Neho žarty, „Tam ide ten Prorok. Tam ide ten veľký Učiteľ. Tam ide ten Božský Uzdravovateľ.“ Ale On je mojím Pánom. Ó, Bože... Nechaj ma liezť tam s Ním.
Tam vystupuje na ten kopec. Vidím, ako mladé, polooblečené ženy, behajú okolo a robia si žarty. Ich priatelia sa s nimi objímajú, ako kráčajú hore na kopec. Brat Ward, doteraz sa to príliš nezmenilo.
Vidím, ako veľkí členovia cirkvi hovoria, „Pozrite sa, to bol ten Chlapík, ktorý šiel roztrhať našu cirkev; kázal proti nášmu pastorovi. Pozrite sa teraz na Neho.“ Ale prorok povedal, že sa to musí stať takým spôsobom. On bol Baránkom Božím.
197Vidím Ho, ako otáča Svojou hlavou a pľuvanec steká dole z Jeho brady. Obracia Svoje oči hore k nebu; stoná a posúva sa o kúsok ďalej.
Pane, vierou chcem teraz kráčať s Ním. Chcem Ho potľapkať po chrbte a povedať, „Pane, budem tu stáť. Len mi povedz, čo robiť, a ja to urobím. Ako som Ti vďačný, Pane.“
Tam na kopci, keď Ho položili na zem, potiahli dozadu Jeho drahé ruky. Tie ruky, ktoré zastavili horúčku; tie ruky, ktoré povedali... keď sa tie ruky dotkli toho chlapca tej chudobnej vdovy, jeho čela, alebo tej postele, na ktorej ležal, on prišiel do života.
Ten, ktorý povolal Dorkas naspäť do života, Ten, ktorý povolal do života dcéru Jaira, Ten, ktorý povedal, „Lazar, poď von.“ Tie pery teraz krvácajú, vyprahnuté, a kričia.
201Zatiaľ čo pribíjali veľké ukrutné klince do Jeho rúk a Jeho nôh. „Prebodli moje ruky i moje nohy,“ povedal prorok, sedemsto rokov predtým, ako sa to stalo. Čo to bolo? To bol Ábelov Baránok. Tam Ho hodili na zem a roztrhali Jeho telo. Jeho biedne telo sa chvelo.
Povedal, „Žíznim.“ Dávajú Mu ocot.
Zlostili sa, vysmievali a robili si z Neho žarty, hovorili, „Ty veľký činiteľ zázrakov, teraz s tým niečo urob.“
Ale potom sa obloha začala stmievať, začali blýskať blesky. Boh skrýval Svoju tvár; Nemohol to viac vydržať. Ó, Bože, aký krutý musí byť hriech, aký krutý, aký krutý, že spôsobil to, aby Ten jediný predrahý toto urobil. Dokonca zaplatil takú cenu, že až Samotný Boh skryl Svoju tvár. Anjeli zahalili svoje tváre a otočili sa, aby s Ním plakali. Mesiac a hviezdy nemohli ďalej ísť. Nemohli viac svietiť. Samotný Boh, ktorý ich stvoril, zomieral na kríži. A sklonil Svoju hlavu.
204Predtým, ako to urobil, pozrel sa tam dole na tých ľudí, ktorí losovali o Jeho rúcho, vypĺňali to, čo povedal prorok. Povedal, „Otče, odpusť im; nevedia, čo činia.“ Všetko v láske, Adamov Baránok, Boží pripravený Baránok zabitý od založenia sveta... Tam zomrel, opustený, dokonca opustený Samotným Bohom. Boh a potom, Jeho Vlastný Otec Ho opustil, krvácajúceho.
Jednako chodíme okolo a smejeme sa, rozpustilí, ako keby sa nič nestalo.
Ó, Bože, to bola tá Krv. Keď tam v nemocnici doktor povedal, „On zomiera,“ to bola tá Krv, ktorá ma uzdravila. Malý hriešny chlapec, ktorý tu pobehoval naokolo, to bola tá Krv, ktorá odpustila moje hriechy. Bola to tá Krv, ktorá vzala – ma vzala preč z toho skazeného miesta, kde som žil, a umiestnila ma a učinila ma Tvojím synom. Ó,...?... a zomierajúci Baránku, Tvoja predrahá Krv. Drž ma blízko kríža, Pane.
207To je moja vízia. To je to, čo tam je, láska, celé Božie obrovské srdce, ktoré sa pohybuje tam dole. A všetko, čo prichádza skrze Neho, nebude odmietnuté. Oni všetci obdržia Večný Život. „Toho, kto príde ku Mne, nevyženiem von.“
Bože, nech každý jednotlivec, ktorý tu je, ide dnes večer domov s týmto vo svojej mysli, premýšľajúc o tom, „Čo za Obeť. Čo to stálo, aby to bolo vykúpené? Čo to stálo Boha?“ Nás to nikdy nič nestálo. Boha to stálo Jeho Syna. Boha to stálo najvyššiu cenu. Krista to stálo Jeho Život. On bol Sáronská Ruža; ale aby ste dostali z ruže parfum (vôňu), musíte ju rozdrviť. Jeho nádherný život bol rozdrvený vo veku mladého Muža, tridsaťtriapolročného, aby sme my mohli žiť. Bližšie ku Tebe, môj Bože. Stoj blízko mňa, Pane. Stoj blízko mňa. A keď prídem ku koncu tejto cesty, môj život končí, Pane, nech On, ktorý tam zomrel, príde potom bližšie ku mne. Nech každý jeden, kto tu je, je na tom rovnako.
210Zajtra, Pane, alebo pozajtra pochováme mladú ženu, ktorá raz sedávala tu v zbore a počúvala kázanie. Ty o nej teraz vieš všetko. Ak prišla, je spasená. Ak nie, je preč.
Ó, Bože, zmiluj sa. Nech každý muž i žena, keď dnes večer opustia túto budovu a pôjdu do svojich domovov, nech idúc vážne premýšľajú, „Nemám na svojich rukách nič, idem len ku Tvojmu krížu.“ A nech každý jeden zomrie na tom kríži.
Pane, zatiaľ čo som dnes večer tu za touto kazateľňou, touto drobnou betónovou konštrukciou, zasväcujem Ti svoj život. Ďakujem Ti za to, čo si pre mňa vykonal. A zasväcujem sa Ti nanovo v tento večer spomienky ukrižovania. Vezmi si ma, Pane. Odpusť mi všetky moje chyby a ťažkosti. Učiň ma silným a mocným, Pane, v Duchu Božom, aby som pre Teba mohol získať duše.
A požehnaj toto zhromaždenie, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Odpusť každému hriešnikovi. Priveď späť každého odpadlíka.
214Kým máme sklonené naše hlavy a každý hriešny muž a žena, ktorí tu práve teraz sú, malí chlapci a dievčatá, všetci z vás... Niektorí z vás tam vzadu, mladí ľudia, musel som ku vám hovoriť minulý večer ostro. Neznášam to robiť. Nech Boh požehná vaše srdcia. Možno si myslíte, že brat Branham bol hrubý, ale ja vás milujem. Sedel som tam, kde ste začali. Viem, čo to je; to je dôvod, prečo som to hovoril, aby som videl, či by ste len nemilovali nášho Pána. Modlím sa za vás, modlím sa, aby bol toto pre vás čas zasvätenia. Niektoré z vás matiek a otcov, starších ľudí, urobte toto časom zasvätenia, práve teraz, urobili by ste to? Prijmite Ho vo svojom srdci. Verte Mu z celej vašej duše.
No, kým sú všetky hlavy sklonené, bol by niekto rád spomenutý v modlitbe? Ak áno, len pozdvihnite svoju ruku a povedzte, „Brat Branham, pamätaj na mňa. Chcem sa priblížiť k Bohu.“ V poriadku. Tucty rúk.
216Otče, pamätaj na nich všetkých. Modlím sa, aby si to udelil; oni budú mať pokoj.“ Zatiaľ čo slzy stekajú dole po našich lícach a kvapkajú tu dole, s mojimi, na kazateľňu. Niektorí z nich s vreckovkami. Niektorí z tých veľkých, statne vyzerajúcich, drsných mužov, ktorí sú tu vnútri, sedia tu predo mnou, slzy stekajú dole z ich tváre, ich vráskavých tvárí. Prijmi nás, Pane. Odpusť každému jednému z nás, ktorí sme dnes večer v Božej Prítomnosti Tohto Ducha Svätého, odpusť nám, Pane, mladým i starým. Nech môžeme byť v ten deň spasení a vzatí do Tvojho Kráľovstva, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Amen.
No, môžete sa potichu postaviť na svoje nohy. No, len nechajte sklonené svoje hlavy. Pomaly:
Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe, bližšie ku Tebe;
Hoci by to bol kríž, ktorý ma dvíha,
Stále bude moja pieseň...
[Brat Branham sa potichu modlí za ľudí. - pozn.prekl.] „Bože, môj Bože, môj Bože, prečo si ma opustil?“ Príď, Pane, požehnaj tieto srdcia. [Brat Branham pokračuje v modlitbe za ľudí. - pozn.prekl.]
219Buďte len úctiví, bez rozprávania sa s niekým, celkom, bez hovorenia ďalšieho slova, len opustite budovu, teraz v tichosti a choďte do svojich domovov. Len sa teraz otočte a poďte do svojho domu. Bez hovorenia slova, otočte sa a choďte von. Nech je Boh s vami.
[Brat Branham sa odmlčí, ako zhromaždenie začína v tichosti opúšťať budovu, zatiaľ čo organista a klavirista stále hrajú „Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe.“ - pozn.prekl.]
„My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; Hospodin uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás. Ale On bol smrteľne ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na Neho...?... my sme sa domnievali o ňom, že je ranený a zbitý od Boha a strápený.“
[Brat Branham v tichosti pokračuje v modlitbe za ľudí, zatiaľ čo organista a klavirista stále hrajú „Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe.“ - pozn.prekl.]
1 Thank you, Brother Thom. Will you give that little thing all the volume you have got there, if you will. I almost got out of coming down here tonight. I got the flu. And I promised to be here. And I said to Brother Neville, to have Brother Cox to come up and tell him. I said, "Tell Brother Neville to go ahead and have the service, 'cause I'm so hoarse. I can hardly make a squeak."
And he said, come back and said, "You better come up, Brother Bill. I believe it'd be a good thing." So I--I'm always willing to make some sort of an effort. If a... I'm really too hoarse to preach to you, but I can talk to you just a little while, by the help of this little gadget here. I...
Every time when I come to Indiana, I--I get hoarse. I don't know why, but I--I do, every time, take a cold. It's so low right in here. I drop down in here, and it just looks like I just can't keep from it. I pray, looks like it comes anyhow. But--but I always try to do the best I can with what I have to do with. So that's the way I've always tried to do, the best that we can. That's all God respects--expects, rather, excuse me; is all He expects.
4 Now, I trust that--that our Lord will bless you all and will give you a great blessing throughout this service this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The services will go on tonight, tomorrow night. Isn't it, Brother Neville? [Brother Neville says, "Yes."--Ed.] Just goes right on tomorrow night.
I've got to come down here, and then leave here and go over to speak to a group of missionaries that's in Louisville. I think--I think it's either seventeen or twenty-seven nations represented at a missionary rally. They wanted me to have a few minutes over there tomorrow night. Sun... Sunday morning is the...
6 What is it? [A man says, "Would you pray for this man right here now?"--Ed.] Lay your hand right on him, brother.
Our heavenly Father, we pray in the Name of Thy beloved Child, Jesus, just at this time, that Thy mercy may be extended to us tonight, in the way of healing of our brother, the man setting that's there who seems to be very sick at this time. You said, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." And I pray with these people tonight, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that You'll heal our brother at this time. As our brother stands there with his hands laid upon him, representing the hand of our Lord Jesus, and we together join our prayers and send them to Thee in Christ's Name, that our brother may recover quickly from this sickness that he has. Amen.
The Lord bless you, brother. You all give him a little air. He's kind of penned in there a little bit. Why, let him walk out. If you want to walk out, sir, why, go right ahead and get you a seat in the back of the building there, where you get you some air.
Now, the Lord Jesus knows all of our troubles. He is our burden barrier.
10 And now, Sunday morning, early, six o'clock, sunrise service... How many likes sunrise services at Easter? We're expecting a great blessing. So then, if the Lord willing, I will have the sunrise services; it's from six until seven. Then return home to your breakfast, be back. And at nine-thirty, the regular Sunday school service; Brother Neville will be here. And immediately after the Sunday school service, I will have baptismal services for those who are to be baptized, Easter Sunday morning.
If you haven't been baptized by immersing, and desire so, and you're a Christian, believe in the Deity of--of the--Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and want to take your--your place in our fellowship, to be baptized, we would be happy to have you here Easter morning about ten-thirty for immersing. Bring your garments. If you do not have any, of course, why, especially the women, they have robes in there, different sizes for the ladies. I don't think they have yet for all the men. But we very happy to have you here with us Easter morning.
12 Then Sunday afternoon is a funeral service to be held, from someone lived out in the country, or somewhere from here, that was... I believe was converted here under Brother Neville's preaching here sometime ago. I believe the name is East, or something another. They called me from the funeral home and asked if I and Brother Neville and a bunch of us would come and sing and have the services for Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, at the Mottaz Funeral Home.
I don't remember the lady, East, Yast or East. Many of you seen it in the paper, I suppose, tonight. And... [A sister says, "Brother Bill?"--Ed.] Yes. ["That used to be Edna Justice; used to come here quite a bit."] Edna Justice, you may know her. She's perhaps a young woman. Is she? Is that right, sister? ["Twenty-nine. Uh-huh."] A young woman. I believe they... Her mother was calling me and said that she leaves two or three little children. That's sure too bad.
14 It just goes to show the evil of--of this mortal life, doesn't it? But in... If she was in Christ Jesus, she's far better off, tonight, than any person that's sitting in this building. She just walked through the valley of the shadow of death that all mortals have to go. And someday you and I will have to journey that way, too but we'll not have to cross Jordan alone, for He is our Saviour. So we--we...
If you desire to come to the Mottaz Funeral Home, which is located on Maple Street, between Walnut and... No, I believe it's Locust and Wall Street, on the right-hand side as you go west. The... I don't know where their... What is the number of that? [Someone says, "221"--Ed.] 221. It's where the old Scott and Combs Funeral Home used to be, when I was young. And that's for Sunday afternoon, and two o'clock.
16 And then Sunday evening, the regular Easter services here again. We'll probably be preaching the--the death, burial, and resurrection, for Sunday night. And we just don't know what our Lord will do for the following week coming on, whether the services will continue, or just what, for the coming week. We trust that you'll all be--be here Sunday, that can be.
I recognize many of the preachers around. Somebody told me that Mr. Fuller was here, that was used to be... or come to our meetings. Is the man here? Brother Fuller, aren't you the man that used to take me in New York, from place to place, go down to the meeting? Happy to see you, Brother Fuller. The Lord bless you.
Then I seen another little minister here that--that Brother Thom didn't know. I don't even know the boy's last name, but I know they call him Junior back there: Jackson, Brother Jackson, Junior Jackson, just raise up your hand, Brother Jackson. We're glad to have you with us. He's from down around Elizabeth, Methodist church down there, where I'm to hold a service pretty soon, the Lord willing, before we go back into the field.
Now, the great call to India. And everything is going denser and denser, every day. Pray for me.
20 Now, tonight, this is Good Friday. It's a night that when we all... Oh, I guess, in Jerusalem, by this time, it's--sun's up pretty well now, on Saturday morning. But all day, the people has crawled up that same old path there where the cross drug out the bloody footprints of the Bearer: tears, afflicting their souls, crying. Many great cathedrals, and so forth, today, have celebrated this great memorial time. If there ever was a time that the world ought to be celebrating, it's--it's now, in this hour of trouble.
And I wonder if our sister, seeing this little, old organ here... I--I love an organ. I'm just kind of old fashion. And I--I wonder if we could get a chord on that:
Jesus, keep me near the cross.
Just one of those good old fashion, heart songs we used to sing a long time ago. And wonder if we could all join in on that. I love it.
There's a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
That flows from Calvary's mountain.
How many knows a verse of it, anyhow? All right, you join right in with me now. And now, let's just pull down the curtains around us and set our minds to some nineteen hundred years ago this afternoon. What a Sacrifice, the world's never knowed nothing like that: shook the whole world. And now, don't you want to stay near that place, where you're in the place of fellowship and blessings with Him?
24 Let's all sing it now, just the old fashion way, now, don't... just--just the way you'd sing it if you was by yourself now. All right. Brother Thom, you help me lead it, will you? I haven't got much of a voice now. And then, all right. All right. [Brother Robert Thom helps in singing "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
While you bow your heads, if you will, let's just hum it real slowly now. [Brother Branham and congregation begin to hum "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
Near the cross I will watch...
Hoping, trusting, ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
[Brother Thom continues to softly sing the chorus again, "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
I wonder if you just would want to just now... Nobody did it for you. I wonder if you just won't... wouldn't want to reconsecrate your life to Christ, and, "Lord, remember me. I appreciate Your... the tired, and suffering, bleeding, dying for me. I'm unworthy, but I'm going to slip up my hand now, Lord, and You'll see me. I want my life rededicated." God bless you. God bless you. "Want to rededicate myself to Thee just now, Lord, on this Good Friday night." God bless you.
28 Father, I pray that You'll bless these who lifted their hands, and those who did not even have the courage to do it. We pray that the all-sufficient One tonight, will bless every one of them.
We're thinking of Calvary, God our Saviour, laden with sin; taken down, was given into the hands of a wealthy man who taken His body, after begging Pilate; took it over and wrapped Him in some clean linen and laid it in the grave. O God, what a feeling must have been over those poor disciples; seemed like they were defeated at that time. The One they had trusted so much was now gone, but not for long. Just a bleeding Sacrifice, that was all. Someday, a few hours later, He arose and then joy came.
30 Help us, tonight, Lord, as we're in this season, may it be upon us, that we'll see the suffering that it cost for our redemption, the sadness it cost for us to be happy. And may our souls... Tonight, Lord, may we consecrate ourselves to Thee, and our souls be afflicted, to look yonder and see what, O God, what a horrible death. How cruel sin must be. And I pray, Father, that You'll bless us together now.
Help Thou me, O God, as Your servant standing here with a very poor voice, and Your children waiting to hear something from the Word. Help me Lord and break the Word of Life freely to everyone, as we rededicate our lives and our hearts. The tears of our hearts drop down deep in our bosom, when we think of the Sacrifice. Help us now, for we ask it in Christ's Name. Amen.
32 Just want to read a little now if you'll give me your undivided attention for a little while, and pray for me. In Isaiah, the 53rd chapter.
We have probably, today, heard radio broadcasts, and so forth. I just thought of Christ today. I couldn't help from going out somewhere and just kneeling down. And I just had to weep, when I thought of--when my mind went back to see what taken place there at Calvary.
I didn't get to hear any of the radio programs, but perhaps out of the Gospel they preached. And maybe tomorrow night we'll approach it from that standpoint.
36 But tonight, let's go back in the Old Testament. I want to talk on: "The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To--To Rid Sin From Our Lives." In Isaiah 53, the prophet, anointed, seven hundred and twelve years before the coming of the Lord, he said these words:
Who has believed our report?... to whom are the arm of the LORD is revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and... a root out of... dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow,... acquainted with grief: and we hid as it was our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our grief,... carried our sorrow: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquity: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD... laid upon him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and... afflicted,... he opened not his mouth: he--he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment:... who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.
... he (was) made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was there deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shall make a soul... or when thou shall... and thou shall see... his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, and shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
If I would call it a Scripture text, tonight, I'd take the 6th verse.
All we like sheep have gone astray; and the LORD... turned every one to his own way; and the LORD... Laid upon him the iniquity of us all.
38 I want to talk just a few moments. We always happy when it comes to having the joy of the Lord in our midst; and how I rejoice with you, greatly. But did you ever stop to think what it cost to have it? Did you ever realize just the price that's behind it, what judgment was and what the penalty of sin? How cruel must sin be, when it caused the Son of God to go to Calvary, and God would strike Him, and turn His face from Him, and smite Him, and--and He'd be afflicted. Look Who He was.
Now, I want to draw just a small picture to you, talking now. Let's all of us take a little trip tonight, on a little ship, and let's... a little spaceship, or airship. Let's go back a hundred million years before there was a world, before there even was a star or anything, and there you can see nothing but space. And all that space was God. In the beginning was God.
And now, we'll watch coming into existence a little white Light. We'll call it, like, a Halo. And that was the Son of God, the Logos that went out of God in the beginning.
41 And then that how that He was standing there; and He, in His mind He begin to think of what the world would be and drew all this, pictured in His mind. And He said, "Let there be light."
And a atom split and begin to break forward, and a atomic went off, the first atomic explosion. And then them atoms begin to accumulate till it made into cinders, as the moisture, ever what it was, begin to break, and the atoms split. And after while, there came a star, or a piece of the--a missile that flew off and went sailing through the air. He watched it maybe for a few million years, and then stopped it. He had no hurry. He was--had plenty of time, forever. He was from the beginning to the end. There was no--no time with Him. And then another one flies off, and He stops it over this a way.
43 What's He doing? He's writing His first Bible. The first Bible was ever written, was written in the skies, the zodiac. It starts out with the virgin; that's how He come first. It ends up with Leo the lion, the second coming. And He's writing His first Bible.
The second Bible was written, was written by Enoch, and put in the pyramid.
The third Bible was written, and the last one, is this One. [Brother Branham indicates his Bible--Ed.]
God always does things in threes. God is perfect in three. He's perfect. [Brother Branham clears his throat--Ed.] Pardon me. He's perfect in Father, Son, Holy Spirit. He's perfect in justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit. He's perfected in His threes.
We are in His making, so we are perfected in three: soul, body, and spirit. And our body's controlled of--of nerves, of blood, and of cells (flesh): three. All perfected in three...
48 Then He said, after He had got all of that made, before He'd ever done anything else... I can see this little Halo move over--over this world, which was merely a cinder, frozen, hanging out there like a great iceberg. And He moved it over near the sun. And He begin to turn it like that, around the sun. It begin to melt, and the big ice glaciers tore loose. Texas was being formed, and the plains there; as we're taught how the icebergs come down through there, best chronologists can figure out. And then the whole world, after it run down into the Gulf of Mexico, and so forth, begin to berm up with water. "And the world, without form, and void..." Now we're in Genesis 1. See? Now then, God moved and separated the firmament from the waters. And He made the lights.
And then He created all His creations. Then after He made it, all the trees come up, and the plants, and so forth. What a beautiful setup He had. He loved it. It was beautiful. And He thought that was fine.
51 So He couldn't just leave it in that state; He had to leave something with it. So He said, "Let us (plural) make man (plural) in our own image. Let us make man in our own image." So then when God made His first man, He was a spirit man. He was something on the order of God, or the Son of God, the Logos. That was the first man. Then He gave the man jurisdiction over the--to lead all the animal life, just like the Holy Spirit leads the believer today: "Go here. Do this."
Now, if we were perfect in submission to the Holy Spirit, God would lead us by the Holy Spirit, just like Adam led the animals of that day.
53 So He--He made them. And then, when He did, He begin to move upon--upon the idea then that--that He had made man out of the dust of the earth. There was no man to till the soil, no one to do work, no physical being. So He made man out of the dust of the earth.
Now, there's where I think that a--a botanist, or--or science and Christianity, does not conflict one with another. Because science says, the man came from different a life; and we say, when you look at a man here, he's in the image of God. This is, was not the image of God to begin with. This was the image of animal life. And he... And the evolutionists argues that we... I don't believe in the chain of evolution the way they do, all coming from the single cell. But I believe we evolute, certainly, the evolution one man from another. But then when God made all of that, and got--put the man in the...
55 Made him out of the dust of the earth, now, not in His Own image. He had already made the man. Then He breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul. So the soul of man is the nature of the spirit.
Now, when you're reborn, you don't get a new spirit. You get a new nature of that spirit. It's the same spirit, but a new nature of it. You take two men, stand them together, both look alike; and one of them is a sinner, and one of them is a Christian. One man say, "I got a spirit the same as you have." See? But one of them is a different, his soul, his nature's different. He's been changed.
57 So then He breathed into this man. Now, I don't know how--how He made him. He--He put him in five senses so he could contact his earthly home, and see, taste, feel, smell, and hear. And He made him in that manner. Now, those senses was not to contact God.
His sense to contact God was his spirit, his soul was to con... "The soul that sinneth, the soul shall die."
Now, I'm going a long ways around to get something, but I hope you get every point of it, so you can see exactly what God had to do at Calvary.
60 Now, when this man, then, when He put him in his senses, his five senses... And then, the man, he was lonesome, so He made him a wife, a helpmate, taken from his side a rib and made a woman.
A beautiful type there, all in type, of God taking from the side of Christ, the Bride. See? God opened up Adam's side, taken a rib; which, a man has one less rib than a woman in the structure of the--the body. And now God opened up the side of Christ, in the--at Calvary, and taken out the Bride. The Church comes through the Blood of Christ into the Body of Christ. See?
That's how--how we come in, and through no other way. No matter how church you belong to, how good a man you are, how good a woman you are; you must accept God's all-sufficient Sacrifice, His provided way, or you're lost. That's right. That's the only way that you can come in, is through there. Now, there's only one way, and that's the Door.
63 Jesus taught that famous parable, when He was here on earth. He said the wedding supper was made and--and every man was given a--a garment, and he found one man there without a garment. He said, "Friend, what are you... How--how comes you haven't got a garment?"
Now, the oriental custom of that, when the bridegroom invited every person, he put--he invited. If he invited fifty people, then he had fifty robes. And he stood someone at the door, and every time a man come in, rich or poor, he put the robe on him. Then no one knew whether they was rich or poor. He, all looked the same under a robe.
And that's the way God does today. He gives the Holy Spirit; which is a type. Every man that He invites, we're all the same; not this one 'cause a little better than the other one, and that one a little higher than this one. We're all the same in the sight of God, everyone that's invited to the wedding supper.
66 Then when he came in and he found one man now... Now, there's only one door to come through, because there's where the garments was given out. And he found a man at the supper table, without a garment on. He said, "Friend, what's you doing here? Why haven't you got a garment on?" And the man was speechless. He came in by a window, some other way. He didn't come by the door.
And every man that comes by Christ, into the Body of Christ, receives the Holy Spirit, the Robe. He's standing right there, to put It on you, just as soon as you come in. See? That's what He's promised and that's what He does.
68 Now, back there in the--in the beginning, in the Eden, then He made a wife for him, or a helpmate.
Now, you see these pictures in magazines, sometime, of some artists. Now, that's very poor inspiration. If you'd see Eve with hair sticking out like that, and, oh, what a horrible looking thing, and say, "That was our mother," why, there wouldn't be no one in the world could admire that. I believe Eve was the most beautiful woman that was ever on the earth. That's right. When Adam looked at her, his, he--he... It just, why, it goes to show that strain comes right on down through human beings today. If it didn't, it would be vice versa.
70 So, Adam taken Eve as his wife. And then when sin came in... And I have my idea of what that was. I don't express it out in the church, less I just having a little class of some sort, of what the sin was in the beginning. But anyhow, when it did, it separated them from fellowship with God.
Now, here's the picture I want to get. Now, when God realized, or some Angel, or some being had come up and told God, that, "Your son is lost. He--he sinned. He's fallen."...
Now, watch the strain of man, the first thing, is make hisself a religion. A man, he's got some kind of a religion.
I was talking to a famous man here in the city the other day. Said, "You know, my religion, Brother Branham, is keeping the Golden Rule." That's good. But, brother, unless a man is born again, he will perish. Yes. He's got to; he's got to be borned again. Now, the Golden Rule is all right; that, a moral man can do that. But it's got to be all in the supernatural line. And you'll see what God had to do in order that we could be supernaturally born.
75 Now, when, then, he sinned, he--he made hisself a reli... A word "religion" means "covering." It's like something covers. This coat is a--is a--a moral religion to me, because it covers my being. And your clothes is the same way. And it's a... It's a--a covering.
Now, notice then, when Adam, his fig leaves were all right as long as he didn't have to face God. But when he had to face God, he realized his fig leaves was no good. And now, friend, you might think you're a pretty good person (See?), and you might be. That's right. But when you come to face God, you're... if you haven't accepted God's provided Sacrifice for you, you're lost and you'll know it.
77 I have stood by their side, watch them die, see the doctor shoot hypos in their arms to keep them quiet, and hear them scream and carry on. Say, "Oh, they're just beside themselves."
I said, "Doc, please keep it out, just a minute longer." See? And you can hear them when they--they think you're right.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death."
And every man that's ungenerated--unregenerated of God, will go that way of destruction. You can't help it. Your own soul guides you. If you're borned again, you're bound to go up. If you're not born again, you've got to go down. Just your--your own soul will do it. Just like a--a magic wand that would open a door or somewhere; if you haven't got the--the wand, the door won't open. And if you're not borned again, you're just rejected automatically; that's all. Now...
81 And then when I--I see there, then, when they come out, and God knew that they could not stand before Him. And He knew. And they were hiding, hiding back in some bushes, yet covered up, but they knowed their covering wasn't sufficient.
And every man or woman that goes to church... Today I was thinking of the cathedrals a ringing out, and the bells a tolling, and so forth like that; and people going to the church, and making ready, and the women buying their Easter hats and so forth. What has this come to? My, how I can't understand where a rabbit has anything to do with the resurrection (See? No, sir.), or how a Christmas tree has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It's pagan, friends. We've got off the path somewhere. That's right. But now a real born again man or woman realizes, because there's life within you, tells you that that's wrong. Is that right? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
83 Now, watch; Adam and Eve. Oh, my! When I think of that, I lose the thoughts of my influenza, ever what I had. When I think, way back in the beginning... Watch! You talk about blood?
Here not long ago, when they were figuring on now, in the great Methodist council, they're taking all of the Blood songs out of the Methodist hymnal... Said, "It's not a slaughter block religion." Said, "We don't... We want something nice and dignified." Brother, that's not the way God receives it. It's either...
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Blood! God, only substitutionary there is, is in only... "The life lays in the blood. You may eat the meat therefore, but the blood thereof, which is the life thereof, pour it upon the ground." See, not eat the life...
Notice, how beautiful. How I think of that. Then God thought, "Now, come out here, Adam and Eve. And before I can bring you out, I'm going to have to do something." So He goes over there on the hillside and gets a sheep, kill him, pull the skin off of him, let him die.
87 Because God has to keep His Word, no matter how good a man you are, how good a woman you are, what you are. It's God. God has got to keep His Word.
That's the reason the virgin Mary had to go up at the day of Pentecost, and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, just like the rest of them did, because she was born here as a mortal and had to be borned again before she could go to heaven. Amen.
89 Now, look, lady, let me tell you. Just because the times has changed, God hasn't changed. You come anything short of that, you're lost. See? Now, I'm only speaking in behalf of what God did nineteen hundred years ago today on Calvary, to show you what a sacrifice that had to be made to pay this, and that's God's way. Now, there's a way that seems right; but God has a provided way. If you'll always go in God's provided way, you'll never go wrong.
90 Like if you start to go to Indianapolis, or across the bridge, and you say, "Well, here, is that Louisville over there?"
"Yes." And just take right across this way; you'll be caught up pretty soon. That's right. You better get the blueprint, the map, study it out and see which a way you're going.
And then, Here is God's blueprint to glory. Study It out. There It is. It's Blood-sprinkled all the way. You can't lose the track, if you'll follow the Blood. Amen. Now, you can see. Just keep right with the Blood and you'll be all right, for there's a bloody footprint every step of the way.
92 Now, notice how God back there, before He could do it, now He could stand or... Even they could stand to receive, He'd kill them right now. He had to, because He's sovereign. He has to keep His Word. He said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." That settled it forever. Then I can see Him back there, when He killed these sheep. You say, "Were they sheep, Brother Branham?" I believe it. He was the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.
And it was a sheepskin; take and throwed them back in the bushes, and told them to wrap up in these, and come out, and to receive.
94 And I can see Adam and Eve pull these old bloody, flappy skins around them. Could you imagine, the lovely, beautiful bodies of those two perfect human beings, now wrapped in bloody sheepskin? I can see them stand out there.
God said, "Adam, because you listened to your wife instead of Me, then, I took you out of the dust, and dust you'll return."
And, "Eve, because you listened to the--the serpent instead of Me, why, you brought life--took life out of the world, you'll have to bring life into the world. I will multiply your sorrows, and your desire shall be to your husband," and so forth.
And He said then, "Serpent, because you did this, walked up..." He wasn't a reptile. He was a beast, walked up, more subtle than all the beasts of the field. Bear me record: that's Scripture. Walked up, like a man, and he had deceived her. And He said, "And because you did this, off comes your legs, and on your belly you'll go, all the days of your life. And dust shall be your meat."
And right there they was: judgment. God had to keep His judgment, 'cause He'd spoke it. And He's God; He can't back up on it. He's got to stay... In order to be God, God has to keep His Word. That's right.
99 So there I can imagine seeing that poor little Eve, when she looked at Adam, her long blond hair hanging down her back, those big, bright, blue eyes that looked like the skies, where God had made them, the tears pouring down, mixing with the blood on the garments, and flapping down around her body, Eve... Adam, with his strong body, caught her and leaned her over on his bosom, and there the tears, mingling, falling, as it run through the sheepskins, blood dripping down. Blood, all the way. There. Now, He says, "You have to depart out of My Presence."
And I can see Eve and Adam, with their arms around one another, going, moving out like this, them old sheepskins flopping against their leg, bloody, beating on their leg. [Brother Branham clapped his hands together once--Ed.]
101 Then I can see all that space, which was God. God had no beginning of days, ending of years. He's forever and forever. I can see all that great space begin to move together like this, coming down to a funnel shape like that, and it moved right down, as He begin to eye that little couple going down through the garden of Eden, bloody skins flopping against their leg. He couldn't stand it. And it moved down, oh, it moved it down to the very heart of God, spelled l-o-v-e, "God so loved..." He just couldn't see them go.
He called them back, said, "I'm going to put enmity between your Seed and Satan's seed." Then when that was done, was at Calvary, when God Himself came down through a woman, born of a virgin.
103 How I would like to deal there just a little bit, in Eden. Notice, when they were driven from the garden because of transgression, all the blessings cut off because of transgression.
And I think, tonight, that's what's the matter with the Church. All the blessings are being cut off because of transgression. There you are.
105 Driven from the garden of Eden! Now, I want you to notice, here come... When Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam and Eve, came forward to make an offering...
I believe the great Cherubim was at the east side of the gate, and that Sword whirling back and forth, guarding that gate there that entered into Eden... Notice, Fire, the Holy Spirit Fire guarding the gate.
And, today, that's what guards the gate. If you're scared of Holy Ghost and Fire, you'll never get in. Fiery, the Sword of God, God is a consuming Fire, watching that Tree, guarding that Tree of Life.
108 And now notice, then this is a beautiful picture. Oh, my. I can see Adam, or Cain and Abel, rather, toiling now, or going out to make a sacrifice. I believe they built their altar right at the gate, at the Throne, where they could worship.
Notice, here comes Cain. He probably worked all year, toiling, doing everything he could to get the very biggest apples, or the very biggest pumpkins, or whatever he had, brought it up to the gate. Built him an altar right there by the side of the gate in the Presence of God, put all of his fruits, and the big calla lilies and everything, and laid them on the altar correctly, then knelt down and worshipped God.
110 Now, I want you to... I hope this just soaks way down, as it never before, till you get it. See? Now, notice. If God only required you to go to church, Cain was just as just as Abel was. Cain built an altar unto the Lord. You say, "Well, Brother Branham, I don't only do that, but I make a sacrifice. I pay to foreign missions, and I..." Them things are all right. Them's all right. But God requires more.
Cain did that, himself. See? He brought a sacrifice. He worshipped the Lord. He knelt down and offered praise unto the Lord, and said, "Lord, here am I. Here am I, and I've brought You an offering. I've built an altar." Amen.
In so many words, "I am a member of a church." Did it hit the bottom? Look. "I am a member of the church. I believe in You." It'll go to the bottom now. Let it soak real deep. "I am a believer in God. I have built an altar. I have brought a sacrifice. And here I am, Lord. I am worshipping You." God turned His back on them. Right.
114 "And Easter morning," like a pastor of this city said, "you know what I do, preacher, on Easter morning?"
I said, "What?"
Said, "I tell all my folks, I bid them a 'Merry Christmas.'"
Said, "Why?"
Said, "I won't see them any more till next Easter."
Everybody comes out on Easter, that's all, buy new bonnets and new clothes. And what's that got to do with Christ? Oh! And there'll be millions of dollars spent this year, tomorrow, in the Protestant realm, of lilies, great beautiful lilies; each member will come around and lay it on the altar. God don't care about the lily on the altar. He wants you on the altar. It isn't the lily; it isn't your sacrifice. You are the guy to be on the altar. That's the difference. Putting what God requires on the altar, is you.
116 Now, I want you to notice how that, that strain, that was Satan in Cain. And notice that the very...
Now, this ought to make you feel real good, some of you that's a pilgrim and wayfaring person. And we have to maybe say, "Well, I wish we could do this in our church, and that." Be satisfied. Hallelujah. I'd rather worship in a little, old room somewhere in a back alley, and have God in it, than in a cathedral with God not in it. That's right. Sure. There! He was a poor man. Notice. Then he brought his offering, Cain did, and laid it upon there. Now, notice, he came from the line of Satan, because he expected God to receive it, because it was beautiful fruit, something that he done, himself.
118 And so many people say, "Well, I belong to the certain different orders. And I--I give to the Red Cross, and I give to charity. I donate to churches. What about that, Brother Branham?" That's all all right.
But, "Except a man be born again, he will in no wise enter the Kingdom." Notice it.
Those charitable things are fine, but out... That's not God's provided way yet. Cain come his own way. And many, tonight, are coming their own way.
121 You can't even reason it. Why, reasons can't even... Your reasons are not eligible. You're not eligible to reason it out. If you could reason it, it would no more be of faith. You've got to offer it by faith.
Now, you say, "Brother Branham, you mean I have to get down there and--and get filled with the Holy Ghost and carry on like the rest of them?" If you expect to be with the rest of them, you do. That's all. Yes, sir. That's all. You can take...
Naaman had the same thing. God told the prophet, "Tell him, 'Go down and dip seven times.'"
He said, "Isn't this water cleaner and better?" But it was that water of Jordan; looks pretty bad sometimes.
125 But I wish every one here tonight would look at Calvary, and what it cost God, nineteen hundred years ago, and would raise your hand, say, "I will take the way with the Lord's despised few."
You say, "I have to join with those guys that Brother Thom or some of them call 'holy-roller'?"
Brother, I've been around the world, pretty near three times, and I've never seen a holy-roller yet. No, sir. I've seen holiness, but not holy-rollers. That's the name the devil tacked on the Church. God said, "Without holiness, no man shall see God." You can suit yourself, about it. That's God's way.
128 You say, "People that scream and shout and go on?" Brother, that's what it is. "Why," you say, "that, that seems crazy, to me."
That's the reason you ought to be born again. When you are born again, then it won't be crazy. You'll be with us. They thought the same as you did, one time. That's right. They thought the same as you did, until they got into it themself. It's a change, a conversion. "Convert" means to "change" anything. And except a man dies out to himself and say, "Lord, I don't know nothing about it. Just take me in." Amen. Then God will do it. See?
130 Now, Cain said, "I've laid all this down." God refused it. He made it all pretty.
And maybe you think, "Well, I'm going to sunrise service; I got to have a new bonnet."
A girl one time was going to sing in my meeting. And she said, "Brother Branham..." Her mother washed over a washtub to make a living. And she had to have one of them "kinking" in her hairs, you know.
What is it, manicure? Or what is it you call the thing, ever what the thing is in her hair? I know that's wrong. I can't never think of that name of that. I don't know much about it. Toni? [Someone says, "No. Permanent."--Ed.] Permanent in it, that's what it was.
And she had to have one in her hair before she could sing in the choir. And her poor old mammy washing over a washtub to make her a living. When she went and got her a permanent, and I said I wouldn't let her sing, 'cause she wasn't fit to sing when she did that to it. Right.
135 God help us to keep the pulpit clean, anyhow. That's what's the matter with the world today, in their...?... Now, listen, brother. I believe in an old fashion, sassafras experience, way back yonder in bushes, where you grub out all the roots of bitterness, and stir up the ground (that's right), plant the seed.
Now, notice now, Cain, he thought, "The beauty."
They think, "Well, now, our church... We'll build a new church." That's all right. Everything's of beauty, is all right, if you take along with it the Lord Jesus. Then if you'll just get Him first, He will take care of the rest of it.
137 Someone said, "Brother Branham, do you believe this girl should come to the altar, looking like this?"
I said, "Brother, it's coming springtime. All those scrub oaks out here, every one of them has got the leaves right on them they had last fall. But we don't have to go pick the leaves off, to let new leaves come on. Just let the new life come up, and the old leaf drops off." That's right. Amen.
Listen. May I say this too. If the old leaf don't drop off, it shows the new Life hasn't come. Don't get angry with me now. I'm talking about Jesus. All right. That's it. All right.
140 Watch what it cost our heavenly Father. Look what He did now.
And there come Cain, and he made his offering. He worshipped. He went to church. He's just as good as the next fellow.
Esau was the same. Esau, in his character, was a better man than Jacob, more of a gentleman. He loved his father; and the things that he done. But God chose Jacob.
143 Notice now when Abel come to make his offering, well, it was quite a difference when Abel come. Here come Abel. He didn't work; he didn't try to find the biggest church in town to go to. He didn't try to find the nicest bunch of people to associate with. Amen. He just took something that he had and come on. That's all. He was a sheepherder. So he just reached over and got a lamb, and tied... I suppose they didn't have any hemp in that day, so he must've got a grapevine and just wrapped it around his neck.
But what did it speak of? They led Him to Calvary. He was the Lamb. Said, "Why was He born in a barn?" Well, lambs are not born in houses. They're born in barns. And they was led... they led to the slaughter like a lamb. And they led Him away, leading Him up Calvary. He was God's Lamb (amen) from the foundation of the world. When I think of it, there--there come Abel's little lamb. There come God's Lamb.
145 When I think of it, my heart just turns over and over. When I think, me, a poor, unworthy, ungodly sinner, dying without God, without Christ in the world, without hope... And in due season Christ died in my stead, the beautiful One, and became despised and rejected, that I might be accepted in His sight, in my stead. Oh, I just can't get over it. I just can't imagine how He could do that for me. Who was I? Then, you say, "Did He do it for you?" Yes.
The Holy Spirit come, hunted me up, one day, and said, "He did it for you," and I believed Him. I believed Him. Yes, sir. I accepted Him, and I found it was so. No matter what the people said they was, "they were fanatics," or whatever they was; I believe God. And I... And He done just what He said.
147 I can see little Abel. Watch now. My, I can see Abel go and get this little grapevine, reach out and get a little male lamb, first from the old mother ewe, wrapped this vine around his neck. Here he comes, dragging him (Not much beauty to that, is there?), pulling him up there. Then he got him up to a big rock, laying there at the east end of the gate... Now, notice.
Cain had probably toiled all year to make the best of crop that he could, thought he could please God by that.
149 And many people say, "I'm going to quit lying. I'm going to quit stealing. I will quit smoking. I will turn to a better class of people. I will get in some society."
Here it is! God don't care about your turning a new page. He wants you to turn your heart to Christ, and let Him make out of you. Not what you can do, it's not by good works we're saved, but by His mercy are we bought. "Not by works, lest any man should boast." For we are--for we are God's because... It isn't what I am; it isn't what I do, myself. It's what Christ, in God, has did for me and for you.
151 Notice, beautiful type. Here he comes, dragging the little lamb, pulling him along. I can imagine the little fellow falling, probably knew what was near, dragging his little feet. Perfect type of Christ dragging the cross, God's Lamb coming down through Jerusalem, falling, weak.
Here come the little fellow, bleating along. And when he got him up to the great rock, laid him upon the rock, taking a piece of sharp rock... I don't know, guess they had no knives in those days. Laid him like that. Took him by the back of his head, and pulled him up like this, took a kni... or the rock, and begin to chop his little throat, and the rock begin to beat through his throat. On that rock died the lamb, bleeding, bleating, blood splashing, his little arteries cut, the blood flying all over. His little white wool become bathed red then with blood. God looked down from the heaven, and said, "That's it. Now, you got it. That's the way." The blood spurting from his little veins...
153 What was it? Of the Son of God, nineteen hundred and something years ago this afternoon. He was led from prison. He was taken to the judgment seat, and from there, to the hall of scourging, from there, up Golgotha, pulled up the hill. Simon, the Cyrene, helping Him bear the cross. And there, died, on the Rock of Ages, with His Blood beat out of Him, His body striped. Hallelujah! Great big old gobs of mocking soldiers' spit upon His face. And He said, "If My Kingdom was of this world, I'd ask My Father; He would give me legions of Angels that would come and fight for Me. But this is not My kingdom. But Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done." And it will be here pretty soon. "Thy kingdom come, Thine will be done." Oh, my.
155 When Billy Sunday said, one time, that, "In every tree set an angel," said, "He just pull your hand loose and point your finger; that's all you'll have to do. We'll settle the question down here." My, ain't it the truth.
Caiaphas looked by, and said, "He saved other; Himself He cannot save." It was the greatest compliment was ever paid Him. If He saved Hisself, He couldn't save others. So He gave His life, that He could save others. Hallelujah. Amen.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was led to the slaughter like a sheep; and led like a sheep, dumb, before her shearers, opened not His mouth. Yet He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement of our peace upon him; and with His stripes we are healed." How could you reject such matchless love? To see Him as He goes staggering up the hillside: poor, little, weak, frail body bending beneath the load.
158 I think of the poet when he set there that day; he caught a glimpse of it, and he wrote.
Mid rendering rocks and darkening skies,
My Saviour bowed His head and died;
The opened veil revealed the way
To Heaven's joys and endless day.
What a Saviour. Oh, my. How could we ever, how could I reject such matchless love, for One Who would do that for me and you?
160 I trust, tonight, my brother, sister, that you will come. God, that was God's provided way. That's the way for you. That's the only One Who can have anything to do with you. That's the One that took your place. That's the One Who stands tonight, a resurrected Redeemer, standing at the right hand of the Father, tonight; see Him begging and pleading for every sinner that's in this building to come to Him. I trust that you will. I trust that you won't let this--this Easter pass.
Dear friends, we're at the end of the road. I believe we are, with all my heart. We're down to the end of the road. May the Lord Jesus bless you. May He make you a new creature in Him, tonight, is my prayer. May He lead you. One time in the...
162 There was an old blind man in the Bible, by the name of--of Bartimaeus. Old blind Bartimaeus, he had two little doves, we're told by history. That these little doves used to set out and do little tumbles over one another, and the people would--would hold their... He would hold his cup, and then when the--the people would come by, they'd watch these little turtledoves do little tumbles, and they'd drop in coins for the old blind beggar. He was a married man and had a little girl. He'd never seen the little girl in his life. She was about twelve, fourteen years old, at the stage that we're fixing to enter to his life now. And he was setting...
One night, said his little girl got sick, and he went to the Lord. And he said, "Lord, if You'll just heal my little girl, I will sacrifice my two doves for You, tomorrow." So they... The Lord healed his little girl, and he sacrificed the two doves. After while, his...
164 And the first thing you know, his dear wife got sick, and she thought she was... They thought she was going to die. So he goes out to the Lord in the night, feeling his way along the side of the wall of his house, knelt down in the field, and said, "God, God, if You'll just spare my wife's life, tomorrow I will sacrifice my lamb for You."
Now, you've seen blind men led by a dog today. They train those dogs to lead them. In them days they trained sheep to lead people, and so he had a--a--a lamb that led him around.
And he said, "Lord, if You'll just heal my wife, well, then, tomorrow I will sacrifice my lamb to You." And his wife got well.
167 And the next day he was going up to the temple, and said the high priest, Caiaphas, stood out and said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where are you going?"
He said, "I'm going up to the temple, O high priest, to sacrifice my lamb. I promised the Lord, if He'd heal my wife, I would give my lamb."
He said, "You can't give that lamb, Bartimaeus, because that that lamb is your eyes." Said, "I will give you some money, and you buy you a lamb with the sellers in the temple."
But Bartimaeus said, "O high priest, I never promised God a lamb; I promised Him this lamb." Oh, my.
171 I wonder if you've made promises like that. And if you see that all-sufficient Lamb tonight, think, "Lord, if You'll let me get well, I will promise you I will serve You; I will do everything I can. If You'll let my baby live..." Or, when you stand and your mother was going down in the grave, or your dad or your loved ones, "O God, I will meet them, I will meet them again." I wonder if you really meant that. I wonder if this Easter is going to come and go without you fulfilling that what you've promised.
172 He went on up and offered his lamb. Come back, someone leading him around.
So he said then, when he come back, said, "Bartimaeus you can't do that." The priest that went to take his lamb, he said, "You can't take this. You can't sacrifice this lamb." Said, "Blind Bartimaeus, do you know that lamb is your eyes?"
He said, "Yes, I know that. But I promised God, and God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes."
175 Not long after that, he was shivering in the cold, one day; he heard a noise. God had provided the Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. He came along the street. He said "What's all this noise?" There's usually noise where He's at. Said, "What's all this noise?"
He said, "One, Jesus of Nazareth, passed by."
He threw down his coat, not looking where it went; he didn't care then. God had provided a Lamb. He got right to the Lamb. He said, "O Jesus, Thou son of David, have mercy. Have mercy."
The rich people and those who stood around, to get close to the prophet, to the king; he said, "Oh, be still; He can't hear you." He cried that much the more.
Some of them said, "The days of miracles is passed. There's no such a thing as that day."
He cried the louder, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me." God provided the Lamb.
180 That same Lamb He provided for blind Bartimaeus' eyes, He provided for you nineteen hundred and something years ago, today, as He climbed Golgotha, yonder, and offered Himself, all bruised and hacked together.
Listen, friend. Remember, Abel went out into his herd and got the lamb, and killed it on the sacrifice block. And [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... better catch this now. Abel died on the same rock that his lamb died on.
Are you willing tonight, to die out to yourself? Are you willing to die out to all thoughts of yourself? Just lay on the rock, with your Lamb there, and die out, say, "O God, have mercy." When I think of men and women who think of pride, young men and women who will give their lives over to things. And men of age, too, thinking of their job and of their prestige and of their neighborhood, or something like that.
Oh, why don't you crawl up Calvary yonder tonight? Hallelujah. Let your own life be hacked out, and die yonder on the cross with Him. Throw your arms around the "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. While the near, old waters roll, while the tempest still is high, hide me, oh, my Saviour, hide me. Let the world do whatever they want to. Let the theologians do whatever they want to; I don't want their theology. What I want is Jesus Christ in my heart. Let me die with my Lamb."
184 Oh, I know how hard it was that night when I walked in that little old colored mission out there, and all the white folks standing around there, said, "There he goes into a colored mission." It was hard. I walked up there with a whole lot of Kentucky pride in me, like that, but God said, "If you want It, walk right on in there." And I walked right in there and knelt down to an altar, and there I stayed until the Lamb... I died to old self, Bill Branham, twenty years ago. Hallelujah.
"I was crucified with Christ. Yet I live; not me, but Christ lives in me." Someday in that glorious resurrection, when He comes, my body may be resting beneath the sod out yonder. But when it does, you'll see the grass move back and I will come forth in His great glorious image, besides a many of them (hallelujah), for I know Him in the power of His resurrection.
I trust that's what every one of you do tonight, crawl right up Golgotha yonder tonight. Let's take a little trip now.
While, you'll give us the key, if you will, sister, of "Nearer, My God, To Thee." While we are...
You say, "That's a funeral." Well, brother, if there ever was a time we needed a funeral, is right now, when men will die to theirself and pride.
Let's bow our heads, silently now, while she gives us a little chord, if that's all right.
190 O God, oh, when I think what happened yonder. Uh. Even my bones tremble to think. I think of seeing that Lamb, when they hacked Him, yes, put thorns on His head and pushed it down. The soldiers spit in His face, and said, "Thou King, now do something about it."
He was the Prophet of prophets. They put a rag around His face, and hit Him on His head with a reed, said, "Now, prophesy, tell us who hit You."
But the prophet said, "He opened not His mouth." He done told it.
Tied His hands up, behind Him, stood off, with a great whip, and lashed Him till His precious ribs showed through His back; the Blood running down His side, tinkling off on the ground. I hear Him walk now; out of His sandals I hear the blood squashing. That was Emmanuel. That was God, God's Blood.
194 And I seen them take, put that cross on His back, that old blistery, ragged, rugged cross. And there He goes, laying across that sore back, down through the street He went, the howling mob, laughing, making fun of Him, "There goes that prophet. There goes that great teacher. There goes that divine healer." But He's my Lord. O God, I've... Let me climb with Him.
There He goes up the hill. I see the young, half-dressed women, running around, making fun. Their boyfriends hugging one another, as they go up the hill. Brother Ward, it hasn't changed too much yet.
I can see the great church members, saying, "Look, that was the Guy that was going to tear our church up; preached against our pastor. Look at Him now." But the prophet said it must be that way. He was God's Lamb.
197 I see Him as He turns His head, and the spit sliding down off of His beard. Rolls His eyes up to Heaven; groans, and moves a little farther.
Lord, by faith, I want to walk that now with Him. I want to pat Him on the back, say, "Lord, I will stand here. Just tell me what to do, I will do it. How I appreciate You, Lord."
Yonder on the hill, when they laid Him down, pulled His precious hands back. Those hands that stood the fever; that hands that said... to that poor widow woman's boy, when it touched his brow, or the casket he was laying in; he come to life...
That One Who called Dorcas back to life, that One Who called Jairus' daughter to life, that One Who said, "Lazarus, come forth." Them lips are bleeding now, parching, crying.
201 As the great cruel nails drive into His hands and in His feet. "They pierced my hands and my feet," said the prophet, seven hundred years before it happened. What was it? It was Abel's Lamb. There they flung Him down in the ground, and the flesh tore. His poor body quivered.
Said, "I thirst." They give Him vinegar.
They riled and mocked, and made fun of Him, said, "You great miracle-worker, do something about it now."
But then the skies begin to get dark, lightning begin to flash. God was hiding His face; He couldn't stand it no more. O God, how cruel sin must be, how cruel, how cruel, that caused that precious One to do that. Even such a price He paid till God Himself hid His face. The Angels veiled their faces and turned around, to weeping with Him. The moon and stars could not go any farther. They could not shine no more. The very God that created them was dying on the cross. And He bowed His head.
204 Before He did that, He looked down there to them people gambling for His garment, fulfill what the prophet said. Said, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." All in love, Adam's Lamb, God's provided Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world... There He died, friendless, even forsaken by God Himself. God, and, then, His Own Father, forsaken Him, bleeding.
Yet, we go around laughing, gaiety, just like nothing had happened.
O God, it was that Blood. When yonder in the hospital, the doctor said, "He's dying," it was that Blood that healed me. A little old sinner boy running around here, it was that Blood that forgive my sins. It was that Blood that took--that taken me out of a debauch of a place that I was living, and set me and made me Your son. Oh,...?... and dying Lamb, Thy precious Blood. Keep me near the cross, Lord.
207 That's my vision. That's what it is yonder, love, all God's great heart moving down there. And all that comes by Him will not be rejected. They'll all receive Everlasting Life. "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
God, may every individual here go home tonight with this on their mind, thinking of, "What a Sacrifice. What did it cost to redeem? What did it cost God?" Never cost us nothing. It cost God His Son. It cost God the greatest price. It cost Christ His life. He was the Rose of Sharon; but to get the perfume out of a rose, you have to crush it up. His beautiful life was crushed at a young Man of thirty-three and a half years, that we might live.
Nearer, my God, to Thee. Stay near me, Lord. Stay near me. And when I come to the end of this road, my life is finishing, Lord, may He, Who died there, come near me then. May every one in here be likewise.
210 Tomorrow, Lord, or day after tomorrow, bury a little woman who set here in this church one time, listening at the sermon. Thou knowest all about her now. If she did come, she's saved. If she didn't, she's gone.
O God, have mercy. May every man and woman, as they leave this building tonight, go to their homes, go, thinking seriously, "Nothing in my arms; just simply to Thy cross." And may each one die on that cross.
Lord, while I'm here at this pulpit tonight, this little old concrete structure, I consecrate my life to You. I thank You for what You've done for me. And I consecrate myself anew, at this crucifixion night memorial to You. Take me, Lord. Forgive me, all my mistakes and troubles. Make me strong and powerful, Lord, in the Spirit of God, that I might win souls to You.
And bless this congregation, for we ask it in His Name. Forgive every sinner. Reclaim every backslider.
214 While we have our heads down, and every sinner man and woman in here just now, little boys and girls, all of you... Some of you young folks back there, had to speak sharp to you, the other night. I hate to do that. God bless your hearts. You might have thought Brother Branham was rough, but I--I love you. I've set where you started from. I know what it is; that's the reason I said that, see if you just wouldn't love our Lord. I pray for you, pray this will be the consecration time for you. Some of you mothers and dads, elderly people, make this the time of consecration, just now, would you? Accept Him in your heart. Believe Him with all of your soul.
Now, while every heads bowed, would somebody like to be remembered in prayer? If you would, just raise your hand, say, "Brother Branham, remember me. I want to grow closer to God." All right, dozens of hands.
216 Father, remember them all. I pray You'll grant it; they'll have peace. As the tears are rolling down our cheeks and dripping off here, with mine, pulpit. Some of them with handkerchiefs. Some of them, great, burly-looking, rough men in here, setting here before me, tears running down from their faces, their wrinkled cheeks. Receive us, Lord. Forgive every one of us that's in the Divine Presence of this Spirit of God, tonight, forgive us, Lord, young and old. May we be saved at that day, and taken to Thy Kingdom, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.
Now, you can stand to your feet, quietly. Now, just keep your heads bowed. Slowly:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee;
Even though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be...
[Brother Branham quietly prays for the people--Ed.] "God, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Come, Lord, bless these hearts. [Brother Branham continues praying with the people.]
219 Will you just, reverent, without speaking to anyone, at all, without saying one more word, just leave the building, quietly now, and go to your homes. Just turn and go to your home now. Without saying a word, turn and go out. God be with you.
[Brother Branham pauses as the congregation begins to quietly leave the building, while the organist and pianist continue playing "Nearer, My God, To Thee."--Ed.]
"Al l we like sheep have gone astray; the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him...?... Yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten, afflicted."
[Brother Branham continues to quietly pray for the people, while the organist and pianist continue playing "Nearer, My God, to Thee."--Ed.]
1Ďakujem ti, brat Tom. Pridaj tejto malej veci všetku hlasitosť, ktorú tu máte, ak chceš. Skoro som sa dnes večer vyhol tomu, aby som sem dolu prišiel. Mám chrípku. A sľúbil som, že to budem. A povedal som bratovi Neville, požiadal som brata Coxa, aby prišiel hore a povedal mu. Povedal som, „Povedz bratovi Neville, aby šiel dopredu a mal službu, pretože som tak zachrípnutý. Ledva môžem zapískať.“
A on povedal, prišiel späť a povedal, „Radšej poď hore, brat Bill. Verím, že to bude dobrá vec.“ A tak, som vždy ochotný urobiť nejaké úsilie. Ak... Skutočne som príliš zachrípnutý, aby som pre vás kázal, ale môžem ku vám len na malú chvíľu hovoriť s pomocou tohto malého prístroja, ktorý tu je. Ja... Zakaždým, keď prídem do Indiany, zachrípnem. Neviem prečo, ale zachrípnem, vždy dostanem nádchu. Práve tu je to tak nízko položené. Zostúpim sem nižšie a vyzerá to, že sa od toho skrátka nemôžem uchrániť. Modlím sa a vyzerá to, že to prichádza v každom prípade. Ale snažím sa vždy robiť to najlepšie, čo môžem, s tým, čo mám k dispozícii. Takže to je spôsob, ako som sa to vždy snažil robiť, najlepšie ako môžeme. To je všetko, čo Boh rešpektuje, vlastne očakáva, prepáčte mi; je všetko, čo On očakáva.
4No, verím, že náš Pán vás všetkých požehná a udelí vám veľké požehnanie v priebehu tejto služby v tento piatok, sobotu a v nedeľu. Tieto bohoslužby budú pokračovať dnes večer, zajtra večer. Nie je to tak, brat Neville? [Brat Neville hovorí, „Áno.“ - pozn.prekl.] Pokračuje to rovno zajtra večer.
Mám prísť sem dole a potom odtiaľto odísť a ísť ďalej, aby som hovoril ku skupine misionárov, ktorá je v Louisville. Myslím, že je to buď sedemnásť, alebo dvadsaťsedem národov, ktoré sú zastúpené v tom misionárskom zhromaždení. Chcú odo mňa, aby som tam mal zajtra večer pár minút. Ned... V nedeľu ráno je...
6Čo to je? [Nejaký človek hovorí, „Pomodlil by si sa teraz za tohto človeka tu?“ - pozn.prekl.] Polož svoju ruku rovno na neho, brat.
Náš Nebeský Otče, modlíme sa v Mene Tvojho milovaného Dieťaťa, Ježiša, práve v tomto čase, aby mohla byť na nás dnes večer rozšírená Tvoja milosť v spôsobe uzdravenia nášho brata, muža, ktorý tam sedí, ktorý vyzerá, že je v tomto okamihu veľmi nemocný. Ty si povedal, „Vyznávajte si jeden druhému hriechy a modlite sa jeden za druhého, aby ste boli uzdravení.“ A ja sa dnes večer modlím s týmito ľuďmi v Mene Pána Ježiša Krista, aby si v tejto chvíli uzdravil nášho brata. Ako tam náš brat stojí s rukami položenými na ňom, reprezentuje ruku nášho Pána Ježiša a my sme spolu spojili naše modlitby a posielame ich ku Tebe v Kristovom Mene, aby sa náš brat mohol rýchlo zotaviť z nemoci, ktorú má. Amen.
Pán ťa žehnaj, brat. Dajte mu trocha vzduchu. On je tam trocha ako zavrený do ohrady. No, nechajte ho odísť von. Ak chcete odísť, pane, no, choďte do toho a obstarajte si sedadlo tam v zadnej časti budovy, kde dostanete trocha vzduchu.
No, Pán Ježiš pozná všetky naše problémy. On je naším Nositeľom bremena.
10A teraz, nedeľa ráno, zavčasu, šesť hodín, služba za východu slnka... Koľkí z vás majú radi bohoslužby za východu slnka na Veľkú noc? Očakávame na veľké požehnanie. Takže, ak Pán dá, budem mať bohoslužby za východu slnka; to je od šiestej do siedmej. Potom sa vrátite domov na raňajky, vrátite sa. A o deväť-tridsať, pravidelná služba nedeľnej školy; bude tu brat Neville. A ihneď po službe nedeľnej školy budem mať služby krstu pre tých, ktorí majú byť pokrstení, na Veľkonočné nedeľné ráno.
Ak ste neboli pokrstení ponorením a túžite byť a ste Kresťanom, veríte v Božstvo, že Ježiš Kristus je Syn Boží, a chcete zaujať miesto v našom obecenstve, byť pokrstení, radi vás tu budeme mať na Veľkú noc ráno o desať-tridsať kvôli ponoreniu. Prineste si svoje šaty. Ak žiadne nemáte, samozrejme, no, najmä ženy, oni tam majú rúcha, rôzne veľkosti pre dámy. Nemyslím si, že už tam majú všetky veľkosti pre mužov. Ale sme veľmi šťastní, že ste tu s nami v toto Veľkonočné ráno.
12Potom v nedeľu popoludní je pohreb, ktorý sa bude konať, je to niekto, kto žil tu na vidieku, alebo bol niekde odtiaľto, kto... Myslím, že to je osoba, ktorá bola pred nejakým časom obrátená na kázanie brata Nevilleho. Myslím, že sa volá East, alebo tak nejako. Zavolali mi z pohrebného ústavu a pýtali sa, či by som ja, brat Neville a naša skupina, prišli a zaspievali a mali bohoslužby v nedeľu popoludní o druhej hodine v pohrebnom ústave Mottaz.
Nepamätám si tú dámu, East, Yast alebo East. Mnohí z vás to videli v novinách, myslím, že dnes večer. A... [Sestra hovorí, „Brat Bill?“ - pozn.prekl.] Áno. [„Bývala to Edna Justice; zvykla sem chodiť celkom často.“ - pozn.prekl.] Edna Justice, možno ju poznáte. Ona je pravdepodobne mladá dáma. Nie je? Je to pravda, sestra? [„Dvadsaťdeväť. Oh.“ - pozn.prekl.] Mladá žena. Myslím, že oni... Jej matka mi volala a povedala, že ona zanechala dve alebo tri malé deti. To je istotne veľmi zlé.
14To len dokazuje zlo tohto smrteľného života, že? Ale v... Ak bola v Kristu Ježišovi, je na tom dnes večer oveľa lepšie, než ktorákoľvek osoba, ktorá sedí v tejto budove. Ona len prešla dolinou tône smrti, ktorou musia prejsť všetci smrteľníci. A jedného dňa budeme musieť vy i ja tiež cestovať touto cestou, ale nebudeme musieť prejsť Jordánom sami, lebo On je naším Spasiteľom. A tak my...
Ak budete chcieť prísť do pohrebného ústavu Mottaz, ktorý sa nachádza na ulici Maple, medzi Walnut a... Nie, myslím, že to je Locust a Wall Street, po pravej strane, ako idete na západ. Neviem, kde ich... Aké číslo to má? [Niekto hovorí, „221“. - pozn.prekl.] 221. Je to tam, kde zvykol byť starý pohrebný ústav Scotta a Combsa, keď som bol mladý. A je to na nedeľné popoludnie a o druhej.
16A potom v nedeľu večer tu opäť budú pravidelné Veľkonočné bohoslužby. Budeme pravdepodobne kázať o smrti, pohrebe a vzkriesení, v nedeľu večer. A my skrátka nevieme, čo bude náš Pán robiť v tento nasledujúci týždeň, ktorý prichádza, či budú bohoslužby pokračovať, alebo skrátka, čo sa bude diať v nadchádzajúcom týždni. Veríme, že tu v nedeľu budete všetci, ktorí môžete.
Spoznávam tu mnoho kazateľov. Niekto mi hovoril, že tu bol pán Fuller, ktorý zvykol byť... alebo chodiť na naše zhromaždenia. Je tu ten muž? Brat Fuller, nie si ten človek, ktorý ma zvykol v New Yorku brať z miesta na miesto, a išli sme na zhromaždenie? Rád ťa vidím, brat Fuller. Nech ťa Pán žehná.
Potom som tu videl ďalšieho mladého kazateľa, ktorého brat Tom nepozná. Nepoznám ani priezvisko toho mladíka, ale viem, že ho tam volajú Junior: Jackson, brat Jackson, Junior Jackson, len zodvihni svoju ruku, brat Jackson. Sme radi, že ťa tu s nami máme. On je zdola z okolia Elizabeth, metodistický zbor tam zdola, kde mám čoskoro mať službu, ak Pán dá, predtým, ako pôjdeme naspäť na misijné pole.
No, je veľká výzva do Indie. A všetko je hustejšie a hustejšie, každým dňom. Modlite sa za mňa.
20Nuž, dnes večer, toto je Veľký Piatok. Je to večer, kedy sme všetci... Ó, mal som na mysli v Jeruzaleme, okolo tejto doby je to – slnko je teraz celkom vysoko, v sobotu ráno. Ale celý deň sa tam hore ľudia plazili tou istou starou cestou, kde bol vláčený ten kríž po tých krvavých šľapajách toho Nositeľa; slzy, trápia svoje duše, plačú. Mnohé veľké katedrály, a tak ďalej, dnes oslávili tento veľký spomienkový čas. Ak tu bol niekedy čas, kedy by mal svet oslavovať, je to teraz v tejto hodine trápenia.
A zaujímalo by ma, či naša sestra, vidím tu tento malý starý organ... Milujem organ. Som len trocha staromódny. A zaujímalo by ma, či by sme mohli dostať akord na to: Ježiš, blízko kríža zdržuj ma.
Len jedna z tých dobrých staromódnych piesní od srdca, ktoré sme zvykli dávno spievať. A som zvedavý, či by sme sa ku tomu mohli všetci pripojiť. Milujem to.
Tam je vzácny prameň;
Zadarmo pre všetkých, uzdravujúci prúd;
Ktorý tečie z Golgotskej hory.
Každopádne, koľkí z vás poznajú z toho verše? V poriadku, môžete sa rovno teraz pripojiť ku mne. A teraz poďme len okolo seba zatiahnuť závesy a nastavme naše mysle o nejakých 1900 rokov pred týmto popoludním. Čo za Obeť, svet nikdy nič také nepoznal: otriasla celým svetom. A teraz, nechcete zostať blízko toho miesta, kde ste na mieste obecenstva a požehnania s Ním?
24Spievajme to teraz všetci, jednoducho tým staromódnym spôsobom, no, nie... presne tak, ako by ste to spievali, ak by ste teraz boli osamote. V poriadku. Brat Tom, pomôžeš mi to viesť, urobíš to? Nemám teraz dostatok hlasu. A potom, v poriadku. V poriadku. [Brat Robert Tom pomáha v spievaní piesne „Blízko kríža zdržuj ma“ - pozn.prekl.]
Ježiš, blízko kríža zdržuj ma;
Tam je vzácny prameň;
Zadarmo pre všetkých, uzdravujúci prúd;
Ktorý tečie z Golgotskej hory.
V kríži, v kríži;
Buď moja sláva vždy;
Kým moja vytrhnutá duša musí nájsť;
Pokoj za riekou.
Kým skloníte svoje hlavy, ak chcete, len to teraz skutočne pomaly pohmkávajme. [Brat Branham a zhromaždenie si začínajú pohmkávať „Blízko kríža zdržuj ma“ - pozn.prekl.]
Blízko kríža budem bdieť...
Dúfajúc a veriac vždy;
Kým sa dostanem na zlatý breh;
Len za rieku.
[Brat Tom naďalej znovu ticho spieva refrén. - pozn.prekl.]
Zaujímalo by ma, ak by ste len práve teraz chceli... Nikto to za vás neurobil. Zaujímalo by ma, či len... nechceli by ste znova zasvätiť svoj život Kristovi a, „Pane, pamätaj na mňa. Vážim si Tvoju... unavený a utrpenie, krvácanie a zomieranie za mňa. Som nehodný, ale dám teraz hore svoju ruku, Pane, a Ty ma uvidíš. Chcem svoj život nanovo zasvätiť.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Nech vás Boh žehná. „Chcem sa práve teraz nanovo zasvätiť Tebe, Pane, v tento večer na Veľký Piatok.“ Nech vás Boh žehná.
28 Otče, modlím sa, aby si požehnal tých, ktorí zodvihli svoje ruky, a tých, ktorí ani nemali odvahu urobiť to. Modlíme sa, aby Ten jediný všedostatočný požehnal každého z nich.
Premýšľame o Golgote, Boh náš Spasiteľ, zaťažený hriechom; sňatý, bol daný do rúk bohatým ľuďom, ktorí vzali Jeho telo potom, ako prosili Piláta; prevzali Ho a zabalili Ho do nejakého čistého plátna a uložili to do hrobu. Ó, Bože, čo za pocit to musel byť na tých biednych apoštoloch; zdalo sa, akoby boli v tom čase porazení. Ten, ktorému natoľko verili, bol teraz preč, ale nie na dlho. Skrátka krvácajúca Obeť, to bolo všetko. Jedného dňa, o niekoľko hodín neskôr, povstal z mŕtvych a potom prišla radosť.
30Pomôž nám dnes večer, Pane, keď sa nachádzame v tomto období sviatkov, nech to môže byť v nás, aby sme videli utrpenie, ktoré muselo byť zaplatené za naše vykúpenie, smútok, ktorý musel byť zaplatený, aby sme boli šťastní. A nech naše duše... Nech by sme Ti dnes večer zasvätili seba, Pane, a nech by naše duše boli zarmútené, hľadeli tam do diaľky a videli, čo, ó, Bože, čo za hrozná smrť. Aký krutý musí byť hriech. A modlím sa, Otče, aby si nás teraz spoločne požehnal.
Pomôž mi, ó, Bože, ako Tvoj služobník tu stojím s veľmi biednym hlasom a Tvoje deti čakajú, aby počuli niečo zo Slova. Pomôž mi, Pane, a bohato rozlám Slovo Života pre každého, ako nanovo zasväcujeme svoje životy a naše srdcia. Slzy našich sŕdc padajú hlboko dole v našej hrudi, keď premýšľame o tej Obeti. Pomôž nám teraz, lebo o to prosíme v Kristovom Mene. Amen.
32Chcem teraz len trochu čítať, ak mi na chvíľu venujete svoju plnú pozornosť a budete sa za mňa modliť. V Izaiášovi, 53. kapitola.
Dnes sme pravdepodobne počuli rádiové vysielania, a tak ďalej. Dnes som len premýšľal o Kristovi. Nemohol som si pomôcť od toho, aby som išiel niekam von a jednoducho pokľakol. A proste som musel plakať, keď som premýšľal o – keď sa moja myseľ vrátila späť, aby som sa pozrel, ku čomu došlo tam na Golgote.
Nedostal som sa ku tomu, aby som počul nejaký z rádiových programov, ale možno kázali z Evanjelia. A možno zajtra večer ku tomu pristúpime z tohto hľadiska.
36Ale dnes večer poďme späť do Starej Zmluvy. Chcem hovoriť na tému: Ukrutnosť hriechu a trest, ktorý musel byť zaplatený, aby bol hriech odstránený z našich životov. V Izaiášovi 53, prorok, pomazaný, sedemstodvanásť rokov pred Pánovým príchodom povedal tieto slová:
Kto uveril našej zvesti?... komu bolo zjavené rameno Hospodinovo? Lebo vyrástol pred ním ako nežný prútok a koreň z vypráhlej zeme; nemal podoby ani krásy; videli sme ho, ale nebolo na ňom vidieť toho, pre čo by sme ho boli bývali žiadostiví.
Opovrhnutý bol a opustený od ľudí, muž bolestí,... oboznámený s nemocou, a jako ten, pred ktorým skrývajú tvár, opovrhnutý, a preto sme si ho nevážili,
kým on vzal na seba naše nemoci... niesol naše bolesti, a my sme sa domnievali o ňom, že je ranený a zbitý od Boha a strápený.
A on bol smrteľne ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na neho, a jeho sinavicou sme uzdravení.
My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; každý z nás sme sa obrátili na svoju vlastnú cestu, a Hospodin uvalil na neho neprávosť všetkých nás.
Mučili ho, a ponižujúc sa znášal dobrovoľne a neotvoril svojich úst; vedený bol ako baránok na zabitie a zanemel ako ovca, ktorá zanemie pred tými, ktorí ju strihajú, a neotvoril svojich úst.
Vzatý bol z väzby a zo súdu. A čo do jeho pokolenia, ktože ho vyrozpráva? Pretože bol vyťatý zo zeme živých, pre prestúpenie môjho ľudu bola mu zadaná rana.
Dali mu s bezbožnými jeho hrob i s bohatým, keď zomrel ukrutnou smrťou, preto, že nespáchal nijakej neprávosti, ani ľsti nebolo nikdy v jeho ústach.
Ale Hospodinovi sa ľúbilo ho tak zdrtiť a strápiť nemocou, aby, ak jeho duša položí obeť za hriech, videl svoje semeno, bol dlhoveký, a to, čo sa ľúbi Hospodinovi, zdarilo sa v jeho ruke.
Ak by som dnes večer pomenoval tú tému z Písma, vzal by som 6. verš.
My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; a Hospodin...
každý z nás sme sa obrátili na svoju vlastnú cestu, a Hospodin uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás.
38Chcem len na chvíľu rozprávať. Vždy sme radi, keď to prichádza ku tomu, mať radosť Pánovu v našom strede; a ako sa s vami radujem, veľmi. Ale zastavili ste sa niekedy, aby ste sa zamysleli, čo to stálo, aby sme ju mali? Uvedomili ste si len niekedy tú cenu, ktorá je za tým; čím bol ten súd a čo bolo trestom za hriech? Aký krutý musí byť hriech, keď to zapríčinilo, že Syn Boží musel ísť na Golgotu a Boh Ho udrel, odvrátil od Neho Svoju tvár, potrestal Ho a On trpel. Pozrite, Kto On bol.
No, chcem teraz pre vás, ako hovorím, načrtnúť malý obraz. Poďme dnes večer všetci na malý výlet na malej lodi a poďme... malej vesmírnej lodi, alebo vzducholodi. Vráťme sa späť o stomiliónov rokov, predtým, než bol založený svet, predtým, než tam vôbec bola hviezda alebo niečo, a nemôžete tam vidieť nič iné, než priestor. A všetok ten priestor bol Boh. Na počiatku bol Boh. A teraz budeme sledovať, ako prichádza do existencie malé biele Svetlo. Nazveme to, niečo ako Svätožiara [po anglicky, „Nimbus, Halo“ - pozn.prekl.] A to bol Syn Boží, Logos, ktoré na počiatku vyšlo od Boha.
41A potom, ako tam On stál, a On, vo Svojej mysli začína premýšľať o tom, aký bude svet, a načrtol si to všetko, vyobrazil si to vo Svojej mysli. A povedal, „Nech je svetlo.“ A nejaký atóm sa rozštiepil, začína sa prelamovať a vybuchol atóm, prvá atómová explózia. A potom sa tie atómy začínajú hromadiť, až sa to sformovalo do popola, ako vlhkosť, čokoľvek to bolo, začína sa to lámať a štiepiť atómy. A po chvíli tam prišla hviezda, alebo kúsok niečoho, čo odletelo a odplachtilo vzduchom. Sledoval to možno po dobu niekoľko miliónov rokov a potom to zastavil. Neponáhľal sa. Bol – mal veľa času, navždy. Bol od počiatku až do konca. Nebol tam u Neho žiaden čas. A potom prilieta niečo ďalšie a zastavuje sa tu.
43Čo robí? Píše Svoju prvú Bibliu. Prvá Biblia, ktorá bola kedy napísaná, bola napísaná na oblohe, zverokruh. Začína sa s pannou; to je spôsob, akým prišiel prvýkrát. A končí s levom, druhý príchod. A On píše Svoju prvú Bibliu.
Druhá Biblia, ktorá bola napísaná, bola napísaná Enochom a umiestnená v pyramíde.
Tretia Biblia, ktorá bola napísaná a je tou poslednou, je Táto. [Brat Branham označuje svoju Bibliu - pozn.prekl.]
Boh vždy robí veci v trojkách. Boh je dokonalý v troch. On je dokonalý. [Brat Branham si odkašle. - pozn.prekl.] Prepáčte mi. On je dokonalý v Otcovi, Synovi a v Duchu Svätom. On je dokonalý v ospravedlnení, posvätení a v krste Duchom Svätým. On je dokonalý vo Svojich trojkách.
My sme učinení podľa Neho, a tak sme dokonalí v troch: duša, telo a duch. A naše telo je riadené nervami, krvou a bunkami (telo): tri. Všetko zdokonalené v troch...
48Potom povedal, potom, keď mal toto všetko učinené, predtým, než vôbec učinil niečo iné... Vidím, ako sa tá malá Svätožiara pohybuje nad touto zemou, ktorá bola iba zamrznutým popolom, visí tam ako obrovský ľadovec. A On ju posunul bližšie ku slnku. A začal ju takto otáčať okolo slnka. Začala sa topiť a veľké ľadovce sa sypko potrhali. Bol sformovaný Texas a tie nížiny; ako sme učení, ako tadiaľ zostúpili tie veľké ľadovce, najlepší dejepisci, ktorí určujú letopočty, to môžu vypočítať. A potom celá zem, potom to išlo dole do Mexického zálivu, a tak ďalej, začínalo sa to zalievať vodou. „A zem bez formy (neladná) a pustá...“ Teraz sme v Genezis, prvej kapitole. Vidíte? Tak teda Boh posunul a oddelil oblohu od vôd. A vytvoril svetlá.
A potom stvoril všetky Svoje stvorenia. Potom, keď to učinil, vyšli stromy a rastliny, a tak ďalej. Čo za nádherný systém mal. On to miloval. Bolo to nádherné. A On si myslel, že je to skvelé.
51Tak to nemohol skrátka nechať v tom stave; musel s tým niečo zanechať. A tak povedal, „Učiňme (množné číslo) človeka (množné číslo) na Náš Vlastný obraz. Učiňme človeka na Náš Vlastný obraz.“ A tak potom, keď Boh učinil Svojho prvého človeka, bol to duchovný človek. On bol niečo na spôsob Boha, alebo Syna Božieho, Logos. To bol prvý človek. Potom dal človeku právomoc nad – aby viedol celý zvierací život tak, ako dnes Duch Svätý vedie veriaceho: „Poď sem. Urob toto.“
No, ak sme boli dokonale podriadení Duchu Svätému, Boh nás povedie skrze Ducha Svätého tak, ako viedol Adam zvieratá v tom dni.
53A tak ich utvoril. A potom, keď to učinil, začína sa presúvať ku myšlienke, že potom – že utvoril človeka z prachu zeme. Nebol tam žiaden človek, ktorý by obrábal pôdu, nikto, kto by pracoval, žiadna fyzická bytosť. A tak utvoril človeka z prachu zeme. No, tu je to miesto, kde si myslím, že botanik, či veda a Kresťanstvo si navzájom neodporujú. Pretože veda hovorí, že človek pochádza z iného života; a my hovoríme, keď sa tu pozriete na človeka, on je na obraz Boží. Toto je, nebol to obraz Boží, s ktorým začal. Toto bol obraz zvieracieho života. A on... A evolucionisti tvrdia, že sme... Neverím v reťazec evolúcie spôsobom, ako oni, že všetko pochádza z jedinej bunky. Ale verím, že sme sa vyvíjali, iste, evolúcia jedného človeka od druhého. Ale potom, keď Boh vytvoril toto všetko, a mal – umiestnil človeka do...
55Utvoril ho z prachu zeme, no, nie na Svoj Vlastný obraz. On už mal učineného človeka. Potom do neho vdýchol dych života a on sa stal živou dušou. Takže ľudská duša je povahou ducha.
No, keď ste znovuzrodení, nedostanete nového ducha. Dostanete novú povahu toho ducha. Je to ten istý duch, ale má novú povahu. Vezmite si dvoch ľudí, postavte ich spolu, obaja vyzerajú rovnako; jeden z nich je hriešnik a jeden z nich je Kresťan. Jeden človek povie, „Mám takého istého ducha, ako máš ty.“ Rozumiete? Ale jeden z nich je odlišný, jeho duša, jeho povaha je odlišná. On bol zmenený.
57A tak, potom On vdýchol do tohto človeka. No, neviem, ako ho utvoril. Umiestnil ho do piatich zmyslov, aby sa mohol kontaktovať so svojím pozemským domovom a vidieť, mať chuť, cítiť, voňať a počuť. A On ho utvoril takýmto spôsobom. No, tie zmysly neboli na kontakt s Bohom. Jeho zmyslom na kontakt s Bohom bol jeho duch, jeho duša bola na... „Duša, ktorá hreší, tá duša zomrie.“
No, idem okolo toho dlhými cestami, aby som niečo dostal, ale dúfam, že rozumiete každému bodu z toho, a tak môžete presne vidieť to, čo musel Boh urobiť na Golgote.
60No, keď tento človek, potom, keď ho On umiestnil do jeho zmyslov, jeho piatich zmyslov... A potom bol človek osamelý, a tak mu utvoril ženu, pomocnicu, vzal z boku jeho rebro a utvoril ženu.
Tam je nádherný predobraz (všetko v predobraze) Boha, ktorý berie z Kristovho boku Nevestu. Vidíte? Boh otvoril Adamov bok a vzal rebro; ktoré, muž má v štruktúre tela o jedno rebro menej ako žena. A teraz Boh otvoril Kristov bok na Golgote a vybral von Nevestu. Cirkev prichádza do Kristovho Tela cez Kristovu Krv. Rozumiete?
To je spôsob, ako vchádzame dnu, a cez žiadnu inú cestu. Nezáleží na tom, do akej cirkvi patríš, akým dobrým mužom si, akou dobrou ženou si; musíš prijať Božiu všedostatočnú Obeť, Jeho pripravenú cestu, inak si stratený. To je pravda. To je jediný spôsob, ako môžete vojsť dnu, je to tadiaľ. No, je tu len jedna cesta, a to sú Dvere.
63Ježiš učil toto známe podobenstvo, keď bol tu na zemi. Rozprával, že bola prihotovená svadobná večera a každý človek dostal rúcho, a on tam našiel jedného človeka, ktorý nemal rúcho. Povedal, „Priateľu, čo si... Ako prichádzaš a nemáš rúcho?“
No, orientálny zvyk tohto je, že keď ženích pozval každú osobu, on dal – pozval. Ak pozval päťdesiat ľudí, potom mal päťdesiat rúch. A postavil niekoho ku dverám a zakaždým, keď prišiel človek dnu, bohatý alebo chudobný, on mu dal rúcho. Potom nikto nevedel, či boli bohatí alebo chudobní. On, všetci vyzerali v rúchu rovnako.
A to je spôsob, ako to dnes robí Boh. On dáva Ducha Svätého; čo je predobrazom. Každý človek, ktorého On pozýva, všetci sme rovnakí; nie tohto, lebo je trocha lepší než iný a tento je trocha vyšší ako tamten. Všetci sme v Božích očiach rovnakí, každý, kto je pozvaný na svadobnú večeru.
66Potom, keď vošiel dnu a našiel teraz jedného človeka... No, sú tam iba jedny dvere, cez ktoré sa dá vojsť, pretože tam je to miesto, kde boli rozdávané rúcha. A on našiel pri stole s večerou človeka, ktorý nemal oblečené rúcho. Povedal, „Priateľu, čo tu robíš? Prečo nemáš oblečené rúcho?“ A ten človek zanemel. On vošiel dnu cez okno, nejakou inou cestou. Nevošiel cez dvere.
A každý človek, ktorý prichádza cez Krista do Kristovho Tela, prijíma Ducha Svätého, Rúcho. On stojí rovno tam, aby Ho na vás dal hneď, ako prichádzate dnu. Rozumiete? To je to, čo zasľúbil, a to je to, čo robí.
68Nuž, tam na počiatku v Edene, potom pre neho utvoril ženu, alebo pomocnicu.
No, vidíte tie obrázky v časopisoch, niekedy, od nejakých umelcov. Nuž, to je veľmi biedna inšpirácia. Ak by ste videli Evu s takto natiahnutými vlasmi a, ó, čo za hrozne vyzerajúca vec a hovoria, „To bola naša matka,“ no, tam na svete by nemal byť nikto, kto by to mohol obdivovať. Verím tomu, že Eva bola najkrajšou ženou, aká kedy na zemi bola. To je pravda. Keď sa na ňu Adam díval, jeho, on... No, to ukazuje, že tie vlastnosti prechádzajú rovno späť skrze ľudské bytosti dnes. Ak nie, bolo by to naopak.
70A tak si Adam vzal Evu za svoju manželku. A potom, keď vošiel dnu hriech... A mám svoju predstavu o tom, čo to bolo. Nevyjadrujem to vonku v cirkvách, jedine, že mám nejakú malú triedu, kde môžem ukázať, čím bol hriech na počiatku. Ale v každom prípade, keď sa to stalo, oddelilo ich to od obecenstva s Bohom.
No, tu je obraz, ktorý chcem ukázať. No, keď si to Boh uvedomil, alebo nejaký Anjel, alebo prišla nejaká bytosť a povedala Bohu, že, „Tvoj syn je stratený. On zhrešil. Upadol.“...
No, sledujte ľudskú snahu, prvá vec je urobiť si nejaké náboženstvo. Človek, on má nejaký druh náboženstva.
Jedného dňa som tu v meste hovoril so slávnym človekom. Povedal, „Vieš, moje náboženstvo, brat Branham, je dodržiavanie 'zlatého pravidla'“ [po anglicky 'golden rule' - 'rob iným tak, ako chceš, aby iní robili tebe'. - pozn.prekl.]. To je dobre. Ale, brat, ak človek nie je znovuzrodený, on zahynie. Áno. Má byť; on musí byť znovuzrodený. No, 'zlaté pravidlo' je v poriadku; človek, ktorý má morálku, to dokáže robiť. Ale to musí byť všetko v nadprirodzenej línii. A uvidíte, čo Boh musel vykonať, aby sme sa mohli nadprirodzene narodiť.
75No, keď potom zhrešil, vytvoril si nábož... Slovo "náboženstvo" znamená "prikrytie". Je to, ako niečo zakrývať. Tento kabát je pre mňa morálne náboženstvo, pretože zakrýva moju bytosť. A vaše oblečenie funguje rovnakým spôsobom. A to je... Je to prikrytie.
76No, všimnite si, keď potom Adam, jeho figové listy boli v poriadku tak dlho, kým sa nemusel postaviť pred Boha tvárou v tvár. Ale keď sa musel postaviť pred Boha tvárou tvár, uvedomil si, že jeho figové listy mu boli nanič. A teraz, priateľu, mohol by si si myslieť, že si veľmi dobrou osobou (Rozumieš?), a môžeš ňou byť. To je pravda. Ale keď prídeš ku tomu, že sa budeš musieť postaviť pred Boha tvárou v tvár, si... ak si neprijal Božiu pripravenú Obeť pre teba, si stratený a zistíš to.
77Stál som po ich boku, pozoroval som ich zomierať, videl som, ako im lekár do rúk pichá injekcie, aby ich udržal potichu, a počul som ich kričať a vyvádzať. Poviete, „Ó, oni sú len bez seba.“
Povedal som, „Doktor, vydržte s tým ešte minútku.“ Rozumiete? A môžete ich počuť, ako si myslia, že máte pravdu.
„Niektorá cesta je priamou pred človekom, ale jej koniec cestami smrti.“ A každý človek, ktorý nie je vytvorený, nie je znovuzrodený z Boha, pôjde tou cestou záhuby. Nemôžete tomu pomôcť. Vaša vlastná duša vás vedie. Ak ste znovuzrodení, ste nútení ísť hore. Ak nie ste znovuzrodení, musíte ísť dole. Skrátka vaša vlastná duša to urobí. Práve tak, ako kúzelnícka palička, ktorá by otvorila dvere, alebo niekde; ak nemáte kúzelnícku paličku, dvere sa neotvoria. A ak nie ste znovuzrodení, ste jednoducho automaticky odmietnutí; to je celé. No...
81A potom, keď to tam vidím, keď potom vychádzajú a Boh vedel, že by sa pred Neho nemohli postaviť. A On to vedel. A oni sa ukrývali, schovávali sa vzadu v nejakom kroví, predsa zakrytí, ale vedeli, že ich prikrytie nebolo dostatočné.
A každý muž, alebo žena, ktorá chodí do cirkvi... Dnes som premýšľal o tom, ako katedrály vyzváňajú a zvony zvonia, a tak ďalej a podobne; a ľudia idú do cirkvi, pripravujú sa a ženy si kupujú svoje Veľkonočné klobúky, a tak ďalej. Ku čomu to dospelo? Ó, ako nedokážem pochopiť, kde má králik niečo spoločné so vzkriesením (Rozumiete? Nie veru.), alebo ako má vianočný stromček niečo spoločné s narodením Krista. To je pohanské, priatelia. Niekde sme museli vybočiť z cesty. To je pravda. Ale teraz, skutočne znovuzrodený muž alebo žena si to uvedomujú, pretože tam vo vás je Život, ktorý vám hovorí, že to je zlé. Je to pravda? [Zhromaždenie hovorí, „Amen.“ - pozn.prekl.]
83No, sledujte; Adam a Eva. Ó! Keď o tomto premýšľam, prestávam myslieť o mojej chrípke, akákoľvek bola. Keď sa zamyslím, tam na začiatku... Dávajte pozor! Rozprávate o krvi?
Tu, prednedávnom na veľkom metodistickom koncile, oni sa o tom dohadovali a vylúčili z metodistického spevníka všetky piesne o Krvi... Povedali, „To nie je nejaké zabijacké náboženstvo.“ Povedali, „My... Chceme niečo pekné a dôstojné.“ Brat, to nie je spôsob, ako to Boh prijíma. Buď je to...
„Keď uvidím Krv, preskočím vás.“ Krv! Boh, je tam iba zástupná, je iba v... „Život leží v krvi. Môžete teda jesť mäso, ale tá krv z neho, ktorá je toho životom, vylejete ju na zem.“ Rozumiete, nejete život...
Všimnite si, aké nádherné. Ako o tom premýšľam. Potom si Boh pomyslel, „No, vyjdite odtiaľ, Adam a Eva. A predtým, ako vás môžem priviesť von, budem musieť niečo urobiť.“ A tak, On ide tam po stráni a vezme ovcu, zabije ju, stiahne z nej kožu a nechá ju zomrieť.
87Pretože Boh musí Svoje Slovo dodržať, nezáleží na tom, aký dobrý muž si, aká dobrá si žena, čím si. To je Boh. Boh musí Svoje Slovo dodržať.
Z toho dôvodu musela ísť panna Mária na deň Letníc hore a prijať krst Duchom Svätým rovnako, ako to urobil zvyšok z nich, pretože sa tu narodila ako smrteľník a musela sa znovuzrodiť predtým, ako by mohla ísť do neba. Amen.
89No, pozri sa, pani, dovoľ mi niečo ti povedať. Len preto, že doba sa zmenila, Boh sa nezmenil. Ak prichádzaš s niečím bez tamtoho, si stratená. Rozumieš? No, hovorím to v mene toho, čo Boh urobil pred 1900 rokmi od dneška na Golgote, aby som vám ukázal, čo za obeť to musela byť, aby toto zaplatila, a to je Božia cesta. No, existuje cesta, ktorá vyzerá byť priama; ale Boh má pripravenú cestu. Ak pôjdete vždy po Božej pripravenej ceste, nikdy nepôjdete nesprávne.
90Ako keď začnete ísť do Indianapolis, alebo cez most a poviete, „No, tu, je tamto Louisville?“
„Áno.“ A skrátka sa vydáte rovno naprieč týmto smerom; čoskoro sa stratíte. To je pravda. Radšej si zaobstarajte plán, mapu, preskúmajte ju a uvidíte, ktorým smerom idete.
A potom, Tu je Boží plán do Slávy. Preskúmajte To. Tam To je. Celou cestou je to pokropené Krvou. Nemôžete stratiť stopu, ak budete nasledovať Krv. Amen. No, môžete ju vidieť. Len sa držte rovno s Krvou a budete v poriadku, lebo je tam krvavá stopa na každom kroku cesty.
92 No, všimnite si, ako tam Boh predtým, ako by to mohol urobiť, vtedy by mohol postaviť, alebo... Dokonca, ak by sa postavili, aby to mohli prijať, On by ich rovno vtedy zabil. Musel by, pretože On je suverénny. On musí Svoje Slovo dodržať. Povedal, „V deň, keď z neho budete jesť, v ten deň zomriete.“ Tým to bolo navždy vybavené. Potom Ho tam vidím, keď zabil tie ovce. Poviete, „Boli to ovce, brat Branham?“ Verím tomu. On bol Baránkom, ktorý bol zabitý pred založením sveta.
A bola to ovčia koža; vzal ich, hodil ich dozadu do krovia a povedal im, aby sa do nich zabalili a vyšli von a prijali to.
94A vidím, ako si Adam a Eva okolo seba natiahli tie zakrvavené, zvädnuté kože. Dokážete si predstaviť nádherné a pekné telá tých dvoch dokonalých ľudských bytostí teraz zabalené v krvavej ovčej koži? Vidím ich tam stáť.
Boh povedal, „Adam, pretože si namiesto Mňa počúval svoju ženu, nuž, vzal som ťa zo zeme a do zeme sa navrátiš.“
A „Eva, pretože si namiesto Mňa počúvala hada, nuž, priniesla si život – vzala si zo sveta život, budeš musieť na svet prinášať život. Rozmnožím tvoje bolesti a tvoja túžba sa ponesie k tvojmu mužovi,“ a tak ďalej.
A potom povedal, „Had, pretože si toto urobil, kráčal...“ On nebol plazom. Bol zvieraťom, kráčal, bol najchytrejší zo všetkých zvierat poľných. Vidzte, či hovorím pravdu, to je Písmo. Chodil ako človek a oklamal ju. A On povedal, „A pretože si toto urobil, prídeš o nohy a budeš sa plaziť na svojom bruchu po všetky dni svojho života. A prach bude tvojím pokrmom.“
A rovno tam boli: súd. Boh musel dodržať Svoj súd, pretože On to vypovedal. A On je Bohom; On od toho nemôže ustúpiť. Musí zostať... Aby bol Bohom, Boh musí držať Svoje Slovo. To je pravda.
99A tak si tam dokážem predstaviť pohľad na tú biednu malú Evu, keď sa dívala na Adama, jej dlhé blonďavé vlasy jej visia na chrbte, tie veľké, jasné, modré oči, ktoré vyzerali ako obloha, kde ich Boh stvoril, tiekli jej slzy, zmiešané s krvou na odevoch a kvapkajú dole okolo jej tela, Evinho... Adam so svojím silným telom ju chytil, privinul ju na svoju hruď a sú tam slzy, ktoré sa miešajú a padajú, ako stekajú po tých ovčích rúchach, kvapká dole krv. Krv, celou cestou. Tam. No, On hovorí, „Musíte odísť z Mojej Prítomnosti.“
A vidím, ako Eva a Adam idú s rukami okolo seba, takto odchádzajú, ich staré ovčie kože plieskali o ich nohy, krvavé, udieralo im to o nohy.
101Potom vidím všetok ten priestor, čo bol vlastne Boh. Boh nemal začiatok dní, koniec rokov. On je navždy a navždy. Vidím, ako sa všetok ten obrovský priestor začal takto spolu pohybovať, zostupuje takto do tvaru lievika a pohybovalo sa to rovno dole, keď začal pozorovať ten malý pár, ktorý šiel dole cez záhradu Eden, krvavé kože im plieskali o nohy. Nemohol to vydržať. A pohlo sa to dole, ó, pohlo sa to dole od samotného srdca Božieho a píše l-á-s-k-a, „Boh tak miloval...“ On by ich skrátka nedokázal vidieť odísť.
Zavolal ich späť a povedal, „Položím nepriateľstvo medzi tvojím Semenom a satanovým semenom.“ Potom, keď sa toto stalo, bolo to na Golgote, keď Samotný Boh zostúpil dole cez ženu, narodený z panny.
103Ako rád by som sa tam tým len na chvíľu zaoberal, v Edene. Všimnite si, keď boli vyhnaní zo záhrady kvôli priestupku, všetky požehnania zostali odrezané kvôli tomu priestupku.
A myslím si, že to je to, čo sa dnes večer deje s cirkvou. Všetky požehnania sú odrezané kvôli priestupku. Tam to máte.
105Vyhnaní zo záhrady Eden! No, chcem, aby ste si všimli, že tu prichádza... Keď Kain a Ábel, dvaja synovia Adama a Evy prišli dopredu, aby vykonali obeť... Myslím si, že ten veľký Cherubín bol na východnej strane brány a ten Meč sa krútil tam a späť, ako tam strážil tú bránu, ktorou sa vchádzalo do Edenu... Všimnite si, Oheň, Oheň Ducha Svätého stráži bránu.
A dnes, To je to, čo stráži bránu. Ak ste vystrašený z Ducha Svätého a Ohňa, nikdy sa nedostanete do vnútra. Ohnivý Meč Boží, Boh je stravujúci Oheň, dáva pozor na ten Strom, stráži ten Strom Života.
108A teraz si všimnite, potom to je nádherný obraz. Ó! Vidím, ako Adam, alebo lepšie povedané Kain a Ábel sa teraz namáhali, alebo vyšli von, aby zaobstarali obeť. Verím, že vybudovali svoj oltár rovno pri bráne, pri Tróne, kde by mohli uctievať.
Všimnite si, tu prichádza Kain. Pravdepodobne pracoval celý rok, namáhal sa, robil všetko, čo mohol, aby vypestoval tie najväčšie jablká, alebo tie najväčšie tekvice, alebo čokoľvek to mal, a priniesol to hore ku bráne. Postavil oltár rovno pri boku brány v Prítomnosti Božej, položil všetko svoje ovocie a veľké ľalie a všetko možné a položil ich bezchybne na oltár, potom si kľakol a uctieval Boha.
110No, chcem, aby ste... Dúfam, že toto jednoducho vsiakne tak smerom dole, ako nikdy predtým, až kým to pochopíte. Rozumiete? No, všimnite si. Ak od vás Boh požaduje iba to, aby ste chodili do cirkvi, Kain bol rovnako spravodlivý ako Ábel. Kain Pánovi vybudoval oltár. Poviete, „No, brat Branham, nerobím iba to, ale ja robím obeť. Prispievam na zahraničné misie a...“ Všetky tie veci sú v poriadku. To je v poriadku, ale Boh požaduje viac.
Samotný Kain to robil. Rozumiete? On priniesol obeť. On uctieval Pána. Pokľakol a obetoval chválu Bohu a hovoril, „Pane, tu som. Tu som a priniesol som Ti obeť. Vybudoval som oltár.“ Amen.
Mnohými inými slovami, „Som členom cirkvi.“ Zasiahlo to dno? Pozrite sa. „Som členom cirkvi. Verím v Teba.“ Teraz to pôjde ku dnu. Nech to vsiakne skutočne hlboko. „Som veriaci v Boha. Postavil som oltár. Priniesol som obeť. A tu som, Pane. Uctievam Ťa.“ Boh sa im obrátil chrbtom. Správne.
114„A Veľkonočné ráno,“ ako povedal jeden pastor z tohto mesta, „vieš, čo robím na Veľkonočné ráno, kazateľ?“
Povedal som, „Čo?“
On povedal, „Poviem všetkým mojim ľuďom, zaželám im 'Veselé vianoce.'“
Povedal som, „Prečo?“
On povedal, „Už ich viac neuvidím, až do ďalšej Veľkej noci.“
Každý prichádza na Veľkú noc, to je všetko, kupujú si nové klobúčiky a nové oblečenie. A čo má toto spoločné s Kristom? Ó! A v tomto roku tam bude investovaných milióny dolárov, zajtra v protestantskej sfére, do ľalií, veľkých nádherných ľalií; každý člen pôjde okolo a položí to na oltár. Boh sa nestará o tie ľalie na oltári. On chce na tom oltári vás. To nie je ľalia; to nie je vaša obeť. Vy ste tou osobou, ktorá má byť na oltári. To je ten rozdiel. To, čo Boh vyžaduje, aby ste kládli na oltár, ste vy.
116No, chcem, aby ste si všimli, ako tam bola tá črta, to bol Satan v Kainovi. A sledujte to veľmi...
No, toto by malo spôsobiť, že sa budete cítiť naozaj dobre, niektorí z vás, ktorí ste pútnikmi a putujúcimi. A možno hovoríme, „No, kiežby sme mohli v našej cirkvi robiť toto a tamto.“ Buďte spokojní. Haleluja. Radšej by som uctieval v malej starej miestnosti niekde v zadnej ulici a mal v nej Boha, než v katedrále, v ktorej by nebol Boh. To je pravda. Samozrejme. Tam! On bol chudobný. Všimnite si. Potom priniesol svoju obeť Kain a položil to tam. No, všimnite si, on prišiel zo satanovej línie, pretože od Boha očakával, že to prijme kvôli tomu, že to bolo nádherné ovocie, niečo, čo on sám vytvoril.
118A tak mnoho ľudí hovorí, „No, patrím k nejakým určitým rádom. A prispievam na Červený Kríž a dávam na charitu. Prispievam na cirkvi. Čo s týmto, brat Branham?“ To všetko je v poriadku.
Ale, „Ak sa niekto nenarodí znova, nijakým spôsobom nevojde do Kráľovstva.“ Všimnite si to.
Tie charitatívne veci sú skvelé, ale mimo... To jednako nie je Božia pripravená cesta. Kain prišiel svojou vlastnou cestou. A dnes večer prichádzajú mnohí svojou vlastnou cestou.
121 Nemôžete to dokonca vysvetliť. No, zdôvodnenia nemôžu dokonca... Vaše logické úvahy nie sú dostačujúce. Nie ste spôsobilý, aby ste to logicky vysvetlili. Ak by ste to mohli logicky vysvetliť, už by to viac nebolo z viery. Musíte to obetovať skrze vieru.
No, poviete, „Brat Branham, chceš povedať, že sa musím dostať tam dole a byť naplnený Svätým Duchom a vyvádzať ako tí ostatní?“ Ak očakávaš, že budeš s tými ostatnými, tak áno. To je všetko. Tak veru. To je všetko. Môžete vziať...
Náman mal rovnakú vec. Boh povedal prorokovi, „Povedz mu, 'Choď dolu a ponor sa sedemkrát.'“
On povedal, „Nie je táto voda čistejšia a lepšia?“ Ale to bola tá voda Jordánu; niekedy vyzerá veľmi zle.
125Ale prajem si, aby tu dnes večer každý hľadel na Golgotu a na cenu, ktorú Boh musel pred 1900 rokmi zaplatiť, a aby zodvihol svoju ruku a povedal, „Vyberám si cestu s tými niekoľkými Pánovými pohŕdnutými.“
Poviete, „Musím sa pripojiť ku tým ľuďom, ktorých brat Tom, alebo niektorí z nich nazývajú 'svätými povaľačmi'?“ Brat, bol som okolo sveta celkom tri razy a ešte nikdy som nevidel 'svätého povaľača'. Nie veru. Videl som svätých, ale nie 'svätých povaľačov'. To je meno, ktoré na Cirkev pripol diabol. Boh povedal, „Bez posvätenia nikto neuvidí Boha.“ Posúďte sami. To je Božia cesta.
128Poviete, „Ľudia, ktorí kričia a vykrikujú, a tak ďalej?“ Brat, to je to, čo to je. „No,“ poviete, „to, to sa mi zdá šialené.“
To je dôvod, prečo by si mal byť znovuzrodený. Keď si znovuzrodený, potom to nebude šialené. Budeš s nami. Oni si raz mysleli to isté, čo ty. To je pravda. Mysleli si to isté, čo ty, pokiaľ sa do Toho sami nedostali. To je zmena, obrátenie. "Obrátiť" znamená niečo "zmeniť". A ak človek nezomrie samému sebe a nepovie, „Pane, nič o Tom neviem. Len ma vezmi dnu.“ Amen. Potom to Boh urobí. Rozumiete?
130No, Kain povedal, „Položil som sem toto všetko.“ Boh to odmietol. On to všetko urobil pekné. A možno si pomyslíte, „No, idem na bohoslužbu pri východe slnka; musím mať nový klobúčik.“
Raz na mojom zhromaždení išlo spievať jedno dievča. A povedala, „Brat Branham...“ Jej matka prala v koryte, aby sa uživili. A ona musela mať vo vlasoch jednu z tých „skrútenín,“ viete.
Čo to je, manikúra? Alebo ako voláte tie veci, nejaká taká vec, ktorá je vo vlasoch? Viem, že to je nesprávne. Nikdy si nedokážem spomenúť ako sa to nazýva. Neviem o tom mnoho.
Toni? [Niekto hovorí, „Nie. Trvalá.“ - pozn.prekl.] Trvalá, to je to, čo to bolo.
A ona strašne chcela mať vlasy na trvalú, predtým, ako mohla spievať v zbore. A jej biedna stará matka prala v koryte, aby ju uživila. Keď išla a mala už trvalú, ja som povedal, že ju nenechám spievať, pretože nie je spôsobilá na to, aby spievala, keď si to takto s tými vlasmi urobila. Správne.
135Nech nám Boh pomáha v každom prípade udržať kazateľňu čistú. To je to, čo sa dnes deje so svetom v ich cirkvách. No, počúvaj, brat. Verím v staromódne „sassafras“ [americký strom – pozn.prekl.] prežitie, tam dávno v kroví, kde vyhrabávate všetky korene horkosti a premiešavate pôdu (to je pravda), sadíte semeno.
No, všimnite si teraz, Kain si pomyslel, „Nádhera.“
Oni si myslia, „No, náš kostol... Postavili sme nový kostol.“ To je v poriadku. Všetko je krásne, to je v poriadku, ak budete mať spolu s tým Pána Ježiša. Potom, ako Ho len dáte na prvé miesto, On sa postará o to ostatné.
137Niekto povedal, „Brat Branham, myslíš, že by to dievča malo prísť ku oltáru, keď takto vyzerá?“
Povedal som, „Brat, prichádza jar. Všetky tie krovité duby, ktoré tu sú, každý z nich má listy rovno tam, kde ich mali minulú jeseň. Ale my nemusíme ísť potrhať tie listy, aby prišli nové listy. Len nech vstúpi nový život a starý list odpadáva.“ To je pravda. Amen.
Počúvajte. Dovoľte mi povedať toto. Ak ten starý list neodpadne, to ukazuje, že ešte neprišiel ten nový Život. Nehnevajte sa teraz na mňa. Rozprávam o Ježišovi. V poriadku. To je ono. V poriadku.
140Sledujte, čo to stálo nášho nebeského Otca. Pozrite sa, čo teraz urobil. A prišiel tam Kain a vykonal svoju obeť. On uctieval. Išiel do cirkvi. Bol rovnako dobrý, ako ten druhý človek.
Ezav bol taký istý. Ezav bol vo svojom charaktere lepším človekom ako Jakob, väčší džentlmen. Miloval svojho otca; a veci, ktoré urobil. Ale Boh vybral Jakoba.
143Všimnite si teraz, keď prišiel Ábel, aby vykonal svoju obeť, no, bolo to celkom odlišné, keď prišiel Ábel. Tu prichádza Ábel. On nepracoval; nesnažil sa nájsť najväčšiu cirkev v meste, aby do nej išiel. Nepokúšal sa nájsť najkrajšiu skupinu ľudí, aby sa s nimi spolčoval. Amen. On iba vzal niečo, čo mal, a prišiel. To je celé. On bol pastierom oviec. A tak sa len načiahol, vzal baránka a zviazal... Predpokladám, že oni v tej dobe nemali žiaden konopný povraz a tak on musel mať letorast z viniča a jednoducho ho omotal okolo jeho krku.
Ale o čom to hovorí? Oni Ho viedli na Golgotu. On bol Baránkom. Povedali, „Prečo sa narodil v maštali?“ No, jahniatka sa nerodia v domoch. Rodia sa v maštaliach. A viedli... viedli Ho na porážku ako baránka. A odviedli Ho preč, viedli Ho hore na Golgotu. On bol Boží Baránok (amen) zpred založenia sveta. Keď o tom premýšľam, tam prichádza Ábelov malý baránok. Tam prichádza Boží Baránok.
145Keď o tom premýšľam, moje srdce sa len krúti znova a znova. Keď sa zamyslím, mne, biednemu, nehodnému, bezbožnému hriešnikovi, ktorý zomieral bez Boha, bez Krista vo svete, bez nádeje... A v potrebnom čase zomrel Kristus na mojom mieste, Ten jediný nádherný a stal sa opovrhnutým a odmietnutým, aby som v Jeho očiach mohol byť prijatý, namiesto mňa. Ó, skrátka sa cez to nemôžem dostať. Jednoducho si nedokážem predstaviť, ako to pre mňa mohol urobiť. Kým som bol? Potom poviete, „Urobil to pre teba?“ Áno.
Prišiel Duch Svätý, jedného dňa ma ulovil a povedal, „On to urobil pre teba,“ a ja som Mu uveril. Uveril som Mu. Tak veru. Prijal som Ho a zistil som, že to tak bolo. Nezáleží na tom, čo hovorili ľudia, že oni povedali, „to sú fanatici,“ alebo čokoľvek boli; ja verím Bohu. A ja... A On urobil práve to, čo povedal.
147Vidím malého Ábela. Teraz dávajte pozor. Ó, vidím Ábela, ako ide a berie tento malý letorast z viniča, načahuje sa a berie malého baránka, prvorodeného od starej matky ovce, a omotal ten viničový letorast okolo jeho krku. Tu prichádza, vlečie ho (Nie je na tom mnoho nádhery, že?), ťahá ho tam hore. Potom ho dostal hore na veľkú skalu a kladie ho tam ku východnému koncu brány... No, všimnite si.
Kain pravdepodobne celý rok drel, aby vypestoval najlepšie plodiny, aké mohol, a myslel si, že by sa tým Bohu mohol zapáčiť.
149A mnoho ľudí hovorí, „Prestanem klamať. Prestanem kradnúť. Prestanem fajčiť. Obrátim sa do lepšej skupiny ľudí. Dostanem sa do nejakej spoločnosti.“
Tu to je! Boh sa nestará o vaše obrátenie novej strany. On chce, aby ste obrátili vaše srdce ku Kristovi a nechali Jeho, aby to od vás vzal preč. Nie to, čo môžete urobiť vy, nie sme spasení skrze skutky, ale sme kúpení skrze Jeho milosť. „Nie zo skutkov, aby sa niekto nechválil.“ Lebo my patríme Bohu, pretože... To nie je to, čo som ja; to nie je to, čo ja robím, ja sám. To je to, čo urobil Kristus v Bohu pre mňa a pre teba.
151Všimnite si, nádherný predobraz. Tu prichádza, vlečie malého baránka, ťahá ho vpred. Dokážem si predstaviť, ako to malé stvorenie padá, pravdepodobne vedel, čo bolo nablízku, vliekol svoje malé nohy. Dokonalý predobraz Krista vlečúceho kríž, Boží Baránok prechádza dolu cez Jeruzalem, padá, oslabený.
Tu prichádza to maličké stvorenia a bečí. A keď ho dostal hore ku veľkej skale, položil ho na skalu a berie kúsok ostrého kameňa... Neviem, predpokladám, že oni v tých dňoch nemali žiadne nože. Takto ho položil. Chytil ho za zadnú časť jeho hlavy a takto ho potiahol hore, vzal nôž... či kameň a začal presekávať jeho malé hrdlo a ten kameň sa začal predierať skrz jeho hrdlo. Na tej skale zomrel baránok, krvácajúci, bľačiaci, krv striekala a jeho malé tepny boli rozsekané, krv striekala všade. Jeho malá biela vlna sa vtedy stala dočervena vykúpaná od krvi. Boh sa pozrel dole z nebies a povedal, „To je ono. No, zvládol si to. To je cesta.“ Krv tiekla z jeho malých žíl...
153Čo to bolo? Krv Syna Božieho, tisíc deväťsto a niečo rokov pred týmto popoludním. On bol vedený z väzenia. Bol vzatý na súdnu stolicu, odtiaľ do nádvoria na zbičovanie a odtiaľ hore na Golgotu, vyvlečený na kopec. Šimon Cyrenejský mu pomáhal niesť kríž. A tam zomrel, na Skale Vekov, s Jeho Krvou, ktorá z Neho bola vytlčená, Jeho telo bolo doráňané. Haleluja! Veľké, hromada posmievajúcich sa vojakov pľula na Jeho tvár. A On povedal, „Keby bolo Moje Kráľovstvo z tohoto sveta, požiadal by som Svojho Otca; On by Mi dal légie Anjelov, ktorí by prišli a bojovali za Mňa. Ale toto nie je Moje Kráľovstvo. Ale nech príde Tvoje Kráľovstvo! Nech sa stane Tvoja vôľa.“ A to tu bude čoskoro. „Nech príde Tvoje Kráľovstvo, nech sa stane Tvoja vôľa.“ Ó!
155Keď raz Billy Sunday povedal, že „Na každom strome sedel Anjel,“ povedal, „len vytiahni a uvoľni Svoju ruku a ukáž prstom; to je všetko, čo musíš urobiť. Vyriešime tu dole ten problém. Ó, či to nie je pravda?
Kaifáš sa díval a povedal, „Iných zachraňoval; Sám Seba nemôže zachrániť.“ Bola to najväčšia pocta, ktorá Mu vôbec bola preukázaná. Ak by zachránil Sám Seba, nemohol by zachrániť ostatných. A tak dal Svoj Život, aby mohol zachrániť ostatných. Haleluja. Amen.
„My všetci sme zblúdili ako ovce; Boh uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás. Vedený bol ako ovca na zabitie; a vedený ako ovca, ktorá zanemie pred tými, ktorí ju strihajú, neotvoril Svojich úst. A On bol ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na Neho, a Jeho ranami sme uzdravení.“ Ako by ste mohli odmietnuť tak jedinečnú lásku? Vidieť Ho, ako potácajúco ide hore do kopca: biedne, úbohé, slabé a krehké telo, ktoré sa prehýba pod bremenom.
158Premýšľam o básnikovi, keď tam v ten deň sedel; zachytil záblesk toho a napísal:
Uprostred mohutných skál a zatemnenej oblohy;
Môj Spasiteľ sklonil Svoju hlavu a zomrel;
Otvorená opona odhalila cestu;
K nebeským radostiam a nekonečnému dňu.
Čo za Spasiteľ. Ó. Ako by sme vôbec mohli, ako by som mohol odmietnuť tak jedinečnú lásku k Tomu, ktorý mohol toto urobiť pre mňa a pre teba?
160Verím, dnes večer, môj brat, sestra, že prídete. Boh, to bola Božia pripravená cesta. To je cesta pre vás. To je Ten jediný, ktorý s vami môže mať niečo do činenia. To je Ten, ktorý zaujal vaše miesto. To je Ten, ktorý dnes večer stojí, zmŕtvychvstalý Vykupiteľ, ktorý stojí po pravici Otca, dnes večer; vidím Ho úpenlivo prosiť a naliehať na každého hriešnika, ktorý je v tejto budove, aby k Nemu prišiel. Verím, že to urobíte. Verím, že nezanecháte toto Veľkonočné preskočenie.
Drahí priatelia, sme na konci cesty. Verím z celého srdca, že sme. Sme na konci cesty. Nech vás Pán Ježiš žehná. Nech vás dnes večer v Sebe učiní novým stvorením, to je mojou modlitbou. Nech vás vedie. Raz v...
162Bol tam v Biblii jeden starý slepý muž, ktorý sa volal Bartimeus. Starý slepý Bartimeus mal dve malé holubice, my sme to povedali podľa histórie. Že tieto malé holubice zvykli tak sedieť a robili kotrmelce jedna cez druhú a ľudia držali svoje... On držal svoj pohár a potom, keď ľudia prišli a sledovali tieto malé hrdličky, ako robia kotrmelce, tak hodili nejaké mince pre toho starého slepého žobráka. On bol ženatý muž a mal malú dcérku. Ešte nikdy vo svojom živote to malé dievčatko nevidel. Mala asi dvanásť, štrnásť rokov v tom čase, v akom teraz chceme nahliadnuť do jeho života. A on sedával...
Raz v noci povedali, že jeho malá dcérka je chorá a on išiel ku Pánovi. A povedal, „Pane, ak len uzdravíš moje malé dievčatko, obetujem Ti zajtra moje dve hrdličky.“ A tak oni... Pán uzdravil jeho malé dievčatko a on obetoval dve holubice. Po chvíli jeho...
164A to prvé, čo ste zistili, bolo, že jeho drahá žena onemocnela a myslela si, že bola... Oni si mysleli, že zomiera. Tak on odchádza tej noci k Pánovi, ohmatáva svoju cestu pozdĺž bočnej steny svojho domu, pokľakol na poli a povedal, „Bože, Bože, ak len ušetríš život mojej ženy, zajtra Ti obetujem môjho baránka.“
No, videli ste dnes slepého človeka, ktorého viedol pes. Trénujú tie psy, aby ich viedli. V ich dňoch vycvičili ovce, aby viedli ľudí, a tak on mal baránka, ktorý ho viedol.
A povedal, „Pane, ak len uzdravíš moju ženu, no, potom Ti zajtra obetujem môjho baránka.“ A jeho manželka bola uzdravená.
167A na druhý deň šiel hore do chrámu a povedal veľkňazovi Kaifášovi, ktorý tam vystúpil a povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, kam to ideš?“
On povedal, „Idem hore do chrámu, ó, veľkňaz, aby som obetoval môjho baránka. Sľúbil som Pánovi, že ak uzdraví moju ženu, darujem mu svojho baránka.“
Povedal, „Nemôžeš darovať tohto baránka, Bartimeus, pretože ten baránok je tvojimi očami.“ Povedal, „Dám ti nejaké peniaze a môžeš si kúpiť baránka od obchodníkov v chráme.“
Ale Bartimeus povedal, „Ó, veľkňaz, nikdy som nesľúbil Bohu „nejakého“ baránka; sľúbil som Mu „tohto“ baránka.“ Ó.
171Zaujímalo by ma, či ste takto učinili sľuby. A ak dnes večer vidíte Toho vše-dostatočného Baránka, pomyslite si, „Pane, ak Ma uzdravíš, sľubujem Ti, že Ti budem slúžiť; urobím všetko, čo môžem, ak necháš moje dieťa nažive...“ Alebo, keď stojíte a vaša matka išla dole do hrobu, alebo váš otec, alebo vaši milovaní, „Ó, Bože, stretnem ich, opäť ich stretnem.“ Som zvedavý, či to tak naozaj myslíte. Zaujímalo by ma, či táto Veľká noc príde a odíde bez toho, aby ste vyplnili to, čo ste sľúbili.
172Pokračoval ďalej hore a obetoval svojho baránka. Vrátil sa, niekto ho viedol sem a tam. A tak potom povedal, keď prišiel naspäť, povedal, „Bartimeus, nemôžeš to urobiť.“ Kňaz, ktorý prišiel, aby vzal jeho baránka, povedal, „Nemôžeš vybrať tohto. Nemôžeš obetovať tohto baránka.“ Povedal, „Slepý Bartimeus, vieš o tom, že ten baránok je tvojimi očami?“
On povedal, „Áno, viem to. Ale dal som Bohu sľub a Boh pripraví baránka pre oči slepého Bartimeusa.“
175Onedlho potom, sa jedného dňa triasol v zime; počul hluk. Boh pripravil Baránka pre oči slepého Bartimeusa. Prichádzal po ulici. Povedal, „Čo znamená všetok ten hluk?“ Tam, kde je On, je zvyčajne hluk. Povedal, „Čo znamená všetok ten hluk?“
On povedal, „Nejaký Ježiš z Nazaretu prešiel okolo.“
Zhodil dole svoj kabát, nedíval sa, kam dopadol; nestaral sa o to. Boh pripravil Baránka. Mal právo na Baránka. Povedal, „Ó, Ježišu, Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa. Zmiluj sa.“
Bohatí ľudia a tí, ktorí stáli navôkol, aby sa dostali bližšie ku Prorokovi, ku Kráľovi; hovorili, „Ó, buď ticho; On ťa nemôže počuť.“ On kričal o to viac.
Niekto z nich povedal, „Dni zázrakov pominuli. Neexistuje žiadna taká vec, ako v tamtom dni.“
Vykríkol hlasnejšie, „Synu Dávidov, zmiluj sa nado mnou! Zmiluj sa nado mnou!“ Boh pripravil Baránka.
180Toho istého Baránka, ktorého pripravil pre oči slepého Bartimea, pripravil pred tisíc deväťsto a niečo rokmi aj dnes pre vás, keď vyšiel tam na Golgotu a obetoval Samého Seba, celý zranený a strápený.
Počúvaj, priateľu. Pamätaj, Ábel vyšiel do svojho stáda, obstaral baránka a zabil ho na obetnom kameni. [Prázdne miesto na páske. - pozn.prekl.]... radšej to teraz uchyťte. Ábel zomrel na tej istej skale, na ktorej zomrel jeho baránok.
Ste dnes večer ochotní odumrieť samému sebe? Ste ochotní odumrieť všetkým svojim myšlienkam? Len sa položte tam na skale so svojím Baránkom a odumrite, povedzte, „Ó, Bože, zmiluj sa.“ Keď pomyslím na mužov a ženy, ktorí myslia na pýchu, mladí muži a ženy, ktorí vydávajú svoje životy iným veciam. A starší muži, tiež premýšľajú o svojej práci, o svojej prestíži a o svojom okolí, alebo o niečom takom.
Ó, prečo dnes večer nevyleziete tam na Golgotu? Haleluja. Nechajte svoj vlastný život odseknúť preč a zomrite tam s Ním na kríži. Hoďte svoje ruky okolo, „Skala Vekov, rozštiepená pre mňa, dovoľ mi v Tebe sa skryť. Zatiaľ čo sa valia tie mohutné vody, zatiaľ čo sa rúti búrka, ukry ma, ó, môj Spasiteľu, ukry ma. Nech svet robí čokoľvek, čo chcú robiť. Nech teológovia robia čokoľvek, čo chcú robiť; ja nechcem ich teológiu. To, čo chcem, je Ježiš Kristus v mojom srdci. Nechajte ma zomrieť s mojím Baránkom.“
184Ó, viem, aké to bolo ťažké v ten večer, keď som vošiel do tamtej malej starej farebnej misie a všetci tí bieli ľudia tam stáli naokolo a hovorili, „On ide tam do tej farebnej misie.“ Bolo to ťažké. Vyšiel som tam s celou svojou Kentackou pýchou v sebe, takto, ale Boh povedal, „Ak To chceš, choď rovno tam dnu.“ A vkráčal som rovno tam dnu a pokľakol ku oltáru a zostal som tam, pokiaľ Baránok... Zomrel som starému vlastnému “ja“, Billymu Branhamovi, pred dvadsiatimi rokmi. Haleluja.
„Bol som ukrižovaný s Kristom. Jednako žijem; nie ja, ale žije vo mne Kristus.“ Jedného dňa v tom slávnom zmŕtvychvstaní, keď On príde, moje telo môže odpočívať tam vonku pod trávnikom. Ale keď sa to bude diať, uvidíte, ako sa tráva posunie nabok a ja vyjdem na Jeho veľký slávny obraz, vedľa tých mnohých z nich (haleluja), lebo Ho poznám v moci Jeho zmŕtvychvstania. Verím, že to je to, čo dnes večer robí každý z vás, štverá sa dnes večer rovno hore tam na Golgotu. Poďme teraz na malý výlet.
Dáš nám zatiaľ tón, sestra, ak chceš, „Bližšie ku Tebe, môj Bože.“ Kým sme... Poviete, „To je pohrebná pieseň.“ No, brat, ak tu bol kedy čas, že sme potrebovali pohrebnú pieseň, je to práve teraz, keď ľudia idú zomrieť samým sebe a pýche.
Skloňme teraz v tichosti svoje hlavy, kým nám dáva malý akord, ak je to v poriadku.
190Ó, Bože, ó, keď pomyslím na to, čo sa tam stalo. Ó. Dokonca moje kosti sa chvejú, keď o tom premýšľam. Premýšľam o videní toho Baránka, keď Ho doriadili, áno, nasadili na Jeho hlavu tŕne a zatlačili ich dolu. Vojaci pľuli do Jeho tváre a hovorili, „Ty, Kráľ, teraz s tým niečo urob.“
On bol Prorokom prorokov. Dali okolo Jeho tváre handru a udierali Ho do hlavy s trstinou a hovorili, „No, prorokuj, povedz nám, kto Ťa udrel.“ Ale prorok povedal, „On neotvoril Svojich úst.“ On to už vypovedal.
Zviazali Jeho ruky, odstúpili za Neho s obrovským bičom a bičovali Ho, dokiaľ sa Jeho vzácne rebrá neodhalili skrz Jeho chrbát; Krv stekala dole po Jeho boku, cvendžala na zemi. Počujem Ho teraz kráčať; z Jeho sandálov počujem čľapkanie Krvi. To bol Immanuel. To bol Boh, Božia Krv.
194A videl som, ako vzali, dali na Jeho chrbát ten kríž, ten starý, mozoľovitý, zodratý, drsný kríž. A tam On ide, klesá zo strany na stranu kvôli bolesti chrbta, ako šiel dolu ulicou, burácajúci dav sa smeje a robí si z Neho žarty, „Tam ide ten Prorok. Tam ide ten veľký Učiteľ. Tam ide ten Božský Uzdravovateľ.“ Ale On je mojím Pánom. Ó, Bože... Nechaj ma liezť tam s Ním.
Tam vystupuje na ten kopec. Vidím, ako mladé, polooblečené ženy, behajú okolo a robia si žarty. Ich priatelia sa s nimi objímajú, ako kráčajú hore na kopec. Brat Ward, doteraz sa to príliš nezmenilo.
Vidím, ako veľkí členovia cirkvi hovoria, „Pozrite sa, to bol ten Chlapík, ktorý šiel roztrhať našu cirkev; kázal proti nášmu pastorovi. Pozrite sa teraz na Neho.“ Ale prorok povedal, že sa to musí stať takým spôsobom. On bol Baránkom Božím.
197Vidím Ho, ako otáča Svojou hlavou a pľuvanec steká dole z Jeho brady. Obracia Svoje oči hore k nebu; stoná a posúva sa o kúsok ďalej.
Pane, vierou chcem teraz kráčať s Ním. Chcem Ho potľapkať po chrbte a povedať, „Pane, budem tu stáť. Len mi povedz, čo robiť, a ja to urobím. Ako som Ti vďačný, Pane.“
Tam na kopci, keď Ho položili na zem, potiahli dozadu Jeho drahé ruky. Tie ruky, ktoré zastavili horúčku; tie ruky, ktoré povedali... keď sa tie ruky dotkli toho chlapca tej chudobnej vdovy, jeho čela, alebo tej postele, na ktorej ležal, on prišiel do života.
Ten, ktorý povolal Dorkas naspäť do života, Ten, ktorý povolal do života dcéru Jaira, Ten, ktorý povedal, „Lazar, poď von.“ Tie pery teraz krvácajú, vyprahnuté, a kričia.
201Zatiaľ čo pribíjali veľké ukrutné klince do Jeho rúk a Jeho nôh. „Prebodli moje ruky i moje nohy,“ povedal prorok, sedemsto rokov predtým, ako sa to stalo. Čo to bolo? To bol Ábelov Baránok. Tam Ho hodili na zem a roztrhali Jeho telo. Jeho biedne telo sa chvelo.
Povedal, „Žíznim.“ Dávajú Mu ocot.
Zlostili sa, vysmievali a robili si z Neho žarty, hovorili, „Ty veľký činiteľ zázrakov, teraz s tým niečo urob.“
Ale potom sa obloha začala stmievať, začali blýskať blesky. Boh skrýval Svoju tvár; Nemohol to viac vydržať. Ó, Bože, aký krutý musí byť hriech, aký krutý, aký krutý, že spôsobil to, aby Ten jediný predrahý toto urobil. Dokonca zaplatil takú cenu, že až Samotný Boh skryl Svoju tvár. Anjeli zahalili svoje tváre a otočili sa, aby s Ním plakali. Mesiac a hviezdy nemohli ďalej ísť. Nemohli viac svietiť. Samotný Boh, ktorý ich stvoril, zomieral na kríži. A sklonil Svoju hlavu.
204Predtým, ako to urobil, pozrel sa tam dole na tých ľudí, ktorí losovali o Jeho rúcho, vypĺňali to, čo povedal prorok. Povedal, „Otče, odpusť im; nevedia, čo činia.“ Všetko v láske, Adamov Baránok, Boží pripravený Baránok zabitý od založenia sveta... Tam zomrel, opustený, dokonca opustený Samotným Bohom. Boh a potom, Jeho Vlastný Otec Ho opustil, krvácajúceho.
Jednako chodíme okolo a smejeme sa, rozpustilí, ako keby sa nič nestalo.
Ó, Bože, to bola tá Krv. Keď tam v nemocnici doktor povedal, „On zomiera,“ to bola tá Krv, ktorá ma uzdravila. Malý hriešny chlapec, ktorý tu pobehoval naokolo, to bola tá Krv, ktorá odpustila moje hriechy. Bola to tá Krv, ktorá vzala – ma vzala preč z toho skazeného miesta, kde som žil, a umiestnila ma a učinila ma Tvojím synom. Ó,...?... a zomierajúci Baránku, Tvoja predrahá Krv. Drž ma blízko kríža, Pane.
207To je moja vízia. To je to, čo tam je, láska, celé Božie obrovské srdce, ktoré sa pohybuje tam dole. A všetko, čo prichádza skrze Neho, nebude odmietnuté. Oni všetci obdržia Večný Život. „Toho, kto príde ku Mne, nevyženiem von.“
Bože, nech každý jednotlivec, ktorý tu je, ide dnes večer domov s týmto vo svojej mysli, premýšľajúc o tom, „Čo za Obeť. Čo to stálo, aby to bolo vykúpené? Čo to stálo Boha?“ Nás to nikdy nič nestálo. Boha to stálo Jeho Syna. Boha to stálo najvyššiu cenu. Krista to stálo Jeho Život. On bol Sáronská Ruža; ale aby ste dostali z ruže parfum (vôňu), musíte ju rozdrviť. Jeho nádherný život bol rozdrvený vo veku mladého Muža, tridsaťtriapolročného, aby sme my mohli žiť. Bližšie ku Tebe, môj Bože. Stoj blízko mňa, Pane. Stoj blízko mňa. A keď prídem ku koncu tejto cesty, môj život končí, Pane, nech On, ktorý tam zomrel, príde potom bližšie ku mne. Nech každý jeden, kto tu je, je na tom rovnako.
210Zajtra, Pane, alebo pozajtra pochováme mladú ženu, ktorá raz sedávala tu v zbore a počúvala kázanie. Ty o nej teraz vieš všetko. Ak prišla, je spasená. Ak nie, je preč.
Ó, Bože, zmiluj sa. Nech každý muž i žena, keď dnes večer opustia túto budovu a pôjdu do svojich domovov, nech idúc vážne premýšľajú, „Nemám na svojich rukách nič, idem len ku Tvojmu krížu.“ A nech každý jeden zomrie na tom kríži.
Pane, zatiaľ čo som dnes večer tu za touto kazateľňou, touto drobnou betónovou konštrukciou, zasväcujem Ti svoj život. Ďakujem Ti za to, čo si pre mňa vykonal. A zasväcujem sa Ti nanovo v tento večer spomienky ukrižovania. Vezmi si ma, Pane. Odpusť mi všetky moje chyby a ťažkosti. Učiň ma silným a mocným, Pane, v Duchu Božom, aby som pre Teba mohol získať duše.
A požehnaj toto zhromaždenie, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Odpusť každému hriešnikovi. Priveď späť každého odpadlíka.
214Kým máme sklonené naše hlavy a každý hriešny muž a žena, ktorí tu práve teraz sú, malí chlapci a dievčatá, všetci z vás... Niektorí z vás tam vzadu, mladí ľudia, musel som ku vám hovoriť minulý večer ostro. Neznášam to robiť. Nech Boh požehná vaše srdcia. Možno si myslíte, že brat Branham bol hrubý, ale ja vás milujem. Sedel som tam, kde ste začali. Viem, čo to je; to je dôvod, prečo som to hovoril, aby som videl, či by ste len nemilovali nášho Pána. Modlím sa za vás, modlím sa, aby bol toto pre vás čas zasvätenia. Niektoré z vás matiek a otcov, starších ľudí, urobte toto časom zasvätenia, práve teraz, urobili by ste to? Prijmite Ho vo svojom srdci. Verte Mu z celej vašej duše.
No, kým sú všetky hlavy sklonené, bol by niekto rád spomenutý v modlitbe? Ak áno, len pozdvihnite svoju ruku a povedzte, „Brat Branham, pamätaj na mňa. Chcem sa priblížiť k Bohu.“ V poriadku. Tucty rúk.
216Otče, pamätaj na nich všetkých. Modlím sa, aby si to udelil; oni budú mať pokoj.“ Zatiaľ čo slzy stekajú dole po našich lícach a kvapkajú tu dole, s mojimi, na kazateľňu. Niektorí z nich s vreckovkami. Niektorí z tých veľkých, statne vyzerajúcich, drsných mužov, ktorí sú tu vnútri, sedia tu predo mnou, slzy stekajú dole z ich tváre, ich vráskavých tvárí. Prijmi nás, Pane. Odpusť každému jednému z nás, ktorí sme dnes večer v Božej Prítomnosti Tohto Ducha Svätého, odpusť nám, Pane, mladým i starým. Nech môžeme byť v ten deň spasení a vzatí do Tvojho Kráľovstva, lebo o to prosíme v Jeho Mene. Amen.
No, môžete sa potichu postaviť na svoje nohy. No, len nechajte sklonené svoje hlavy. Pomaly:
Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe, bližšie ku Tebe;
Hoci by to bol kríž, ktorý ma dvíha,
Stále bude moja pieseň...
[Brat Branham sa potichu modlí za ľudí. - pozn.prekl.] „Bože, môj Bože, môj Bože, prečo si ma opustil?“ Príď, Pane, požehnaj tieto srdcia. [Brat Branham pokračuje v modlitbe za ľudí. - pozn.prekl.]
219Buďte len úctiví, bez rozprávania sa s niekým, celkom, bez hovorenia ďalšieho slova, len opustite budovu, teraz v tichosti a choďte do svojich domovov. Len sa teraz otočte a poďte do svojho domu. Bez hovorenia slova, otočte sa a choďte von. Nech je Boh s vami.
[Brat Branham sa odmlčí, ako zhromaždenie začína v tichosti opúšťať budovu, zatiaľ čo organista a klavirista stále hrajú „Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe.“ - pozn.prekl.]
„My všetci sme zblúdili jako ovce; Hospodin uvalil na Neho neprávosť všetkých nás. Ale On bol smrteľne ranený pre naše prestúpenia, zdrtený pre naše neprávosti; kázeň nášho pokoja bola vzložená na Neho...?... my sme sa domnievali o ňom, že je ranený a zbitý od Boha a strápený.“
[Brat Branham v tichosti pokračuje v modlitbe za ľudí, zatiaľ čo organista a klavirista stále hrajú „Bližšie, môj Bože, ku Tebe.“ - pozn.prekl.]
1 Thank you, Brother Thom. Will you give that little thing all the volume you have got there, if you will. I almost got out of coming down here tonight. I got the flu. And I promised to be here. And I said to Brother Neville, to have Brother Cox to come up and tell him. I said, "Tell Brother Neville to go ahead and have the service, 'cause I'm so hoarse. I can hardly make a squeak."
And he said, come back and said, "You better come up, Brother Bill. I believe it'd be a good thing." So I--I'm always willing to make some sort of an effort. If a... I'm really too hoarse to preach to you, but I can talk to you just a little while, by the help of this little gadget here. I...
Every time when I come to Indiana, I--I get hoarse. I don't know why, but I--I do, every time, take a cold. It's so low right in here. I drop down in here, and it just looks like I just can't keep from it. I pray, looks like it comes anyhow. But--but I always try to do the best I can with what I have to do with. So that's the way I've always tried to do, the best that we can. That's all God respects--expects, rather, excuse me; is all He expects.
4 Now, I trust that--that our Lord will bless you all and will give you a great blessing throughout this service this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The services will go on tonight, tomorrow night. Isn't it, Brother Neville? [Brother Neville says, "Yes."--Ed.] Just goes right on tomorrow night.
I've got to come down here, and then leave here and go over to speak to a group of missionaries that's in Louisville. I think--I think it's either seventeen or twenty-seven nations represented at a missionary rally. They wanted me to have a few minutes over there tomorrow night. Sun... Sunday morning is the...
6 What is it? [A man says, "Would you pray for this man right here now?"--Ed.] Lay your hand right on him, brother.
Our heavenly Father, we pray in the Name of Thy beloved Child, Jesus, just at this time, that Thy mercy may be extended to us tonight, in the way of healing of our brother, the man setting that's there who seems to be very sick at this time. You said, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." And I pray with these people tonight, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, that You'll heal our brother at this time. As our brother stands there with his hands laid upon him, representing the hand of our Lord Jesus, and we together join our prayers and send them to Thee in Christ's Name, that our brother may recover quickly from this sickness that he has. Amen.
The Lord bless you, brother. You all give him a little air. He's kind of penned in there a little bit. Why, let him walk out. If you want to walk out, sir, why, go right ahead and get you a seat in the back of the building there, where you get you some air.
Now, the Lord Jesus knows all of our troubles. He is our burden barrier.
10 And now, Sunday morning, early, six o'clock, sunrise service... How many likes sunrise services at Easter? We're expecting a great blessing. So then, if the Lord willing, I will have the sunrise services; it's from six until seven. Then return home to your breakfast, be back. And at nine-thirty, the regular Sunday school service; Brother Neville will be here. And immediately after the Sunday school service, I will have baptismal services for those who are to be baptized, Easter Sunday morning.
If you haven't been baptized by immersing, and desire so, and you're a Christian, believe in the Deity of--of the--Jesus Christ being the Son of God, and want to take your--your place in our fellowship, to be baptized, we would be happy to have you here Easter morning about ten-thirty for immersing. Bring your garments. If you do not have any, of course, why, especially the women, they have robes in there, different sizes for the ladies. I don't think they have yet for all the men. But we very happy to have you here with us Easter morning.
12 Then Sunday afternoon is a funeral service to be held, from someone lived out in the country, or somewhere from here, that was... I believe was converted here under Brother Neville's preaching here sometime ago. I believe the name is East, or something another. They called me from the funeral home and asked if I and Brother Neville and a bunch of us would come and sing and have the services for Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, at the Mottaz Funeral Home.
I don't remember the lady, East, Yast or East. Many of you seen it in the paper, I suppose, tonight. And... [A sister says, "Brother Bill?"--Ed.] Yes. ["That used to be Edna Justice; used to come here quite a bit."] Edna Justice, you may know her. She's perhaps a young woman. Is she? Is that right, sister? ["Twenty-nine. Uh-huh."] A young woman. I believe they... Her mother was calling me and said that she leaves two or three little children. That's sure too bad.
14 It just goes to show the evil of--of this mortal life, doesn't it? But in... If she was in Christ Jesus, she's far better off, tonight, than any person that's sitting in this building. She just walked through the valley of the shadow of death that all mortals have to go. And someday you and I will have to journey that way, too but we'll not have to cross Jordan alone, for He is our Saviour. So we--we...
If you desire to come to the Mottaz Funeral Home, which is located on Maple Street, between Walnut and... No, I believe it's Locust and Wall Street, on the right-hand side as you go west. The... I don't know where their... What is the number of that? [Someone says, "221"--Ed.] 221. It's where the old Scott and Combs Funeral Home used to be, when I was young. And that's for Sunday afternoon, and two o'clock.
16 And then Sunday evening, the regular Easter services here again. We'll probably be preaching the--the death, burial, and resurrection, for Sunday night. And we just don't know what our Lord will do for the following week coming on, whether the services will continue, or just what, for the coming week. We trust that you'll all be--be here Sunday, that can be.
I recognize many of the preachers around. Somebody told me that Mr. Fuller was here, that was used to be... or come to our meetings. Is the man here? Brother Fuller, aren't you the man that used to take me in New York, from place to place, go down to the meeting? Happy to see you, Brother Fuller. The Lord bless you.
Then I seen another little minister here that--that Brother Thom didn't know. I don't even know the boy's last name, but I know they call him Junior back there: Jackson, Brother Jackson, Junior Jackson, just raise up your hand, Brother Jackson. We're glad to have you with us. He's from down around Elizabeth, Methodist church down there, where I'm to hold a service pretty soon, the Lord willing, before we go back into the field.
Now, the great call to India. And everything is going denser and denser, every day. Pray for me.
20 Now, tonight, this is Good Friday. It's a night that when we all... Oh, I guess, in Jerusalem, by this time, it's--sun's up pretty well now, on Saturday morning. But all day, the people has crawled up that same old path there where the cross drug out the bloody footprints of the Bearer: tears, afflicting their souls, crying. Many great cathedrals, and so forth, today, have celebrated this great memorial time. If there ever was a time that the world ought to be celebrating, it's--it's now, in this hour of trouble.
And I wonder if our sister, seeing this little, old organ here... I--I love an organ. I'm just kind of old fashion. And I--I wonder if we could get a chord on that:
Jesus, keep me near the cross.
Just one of those good old fashion, heart songs we used to sing a long time ago. And wonder if we could all join in on that. I love it.
There's a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
That flows from Calvary's mountain.
How many knows a verse of it, anyhow? All right, you join right in with me now. And now, let's just pull down the curtains around us and set our minds to some nineteen hundred years ago this afternoon. What a Sacrifice, the world's never knowed nothing like that: shook the whole world. And now, don't you want to stay near that place, where you're in the place of fellowship and blessings with Him?
24 Let's all sing it now, just the old fashion way, now, don't... just--just the way you'd sing it if you was by yourself now. All right. Brother Thom, you help me lead it, will you? I haven't got much of a voice now. And then, all right. All right. [Brother Robert Thom helps in singing "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
While you bow your heads, if you will, let's just hum it real slowly now. [Brother Branham and congregation begin to hum "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
Near the cross I will watch...
Hoping, trusting, ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
[Brother Thom continues to softly sing the chorus again, "Near The Cross"--Ed.]
I wonder if you just would want to just now... Nobody did it for you. I wonder if you just won't... wouldn't want to reconsecrate your life to Christ, and, "Lord, remember me. I appreciate Your... the tired, and suffering, bleeding, dying for me. I'm unworthy, but I'm going to slip up my hand now, Lord, and You'll see me. I want my life rededicated." God bless you. God bless you. "Want to rededicate myself to Thee just now, Lord, on this Good Friday night." God bless you.
28 Father, I pray that You'll bless these who lifted their hands, and those who did not even have the courage to do it. We pray that the all-sufficient One tonight, will bless every one of them.
We're thinking of Calvary, God our Saviour, laden with sin; taken down, was given into the hands of a wealthy man who taken His body, after begging Pilate; took it over and wrapped Him in some clean linen and laid it in the grave. O God, what a feeling must have been over those poor disciples; seemed like they were defeated at that time. The One they had trusted so much was now gone, but not for long. Just a bleeding Sacrifice, that was all. Someday, a few hours later, He arose and then joy came.
30 Help us, tonight, Lord, as we're in this season, may it be upon us, that we'll see the suffering that it cost for our redemption, the sadness it cost for us to be happy. And may our souls... Tonight, Lord, may we consecrate ourselves to Thee, and our souls be afflicted, to look yonder and see what, O God, what a horrible death. How cruel sin must be. And I pray, Father, that You'll bless us together now.
Help Thou me, O God, as Your servant standing here with a very poor voice, and Your children waiting to hear something from the Word. Help me Lord and break the Word of Life freely to everyone, as we rededicate our lives and our hearts. The tears of our hearts drop down deep in our bosom, when we think of the Sacrifice. Help us now, for we ask it in Christ's Name. Amen.
32 Just want to read a little now if you'll give me your undivided attention for a little while, and pray for me. In Isaiah, the 53rd chapter.
We have probably, today, heard radio broadcasts, and so forth. I just thought of Christ today. I couldn't help from going out somewhere and just kneeling down. And I just had to weep, when I thought of--when my mind went back to see what taken place there at Calvary.
I didn't get to hear any of the radio programs, but perhaps out of the Gospel they preached. And maybe tomorrow night we'll approach it from that standpoint.
36 But tonight, let's go back in the Old Testament. I want to talk on: "The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To--To Rid Sin From Our Lives." In Isaiah 53, the prophet, anointed, seven hundred and twelve years before the coming of the Lord, he said these words:
Who has believed our report?... to whom are the arm of the LORD is revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and... a root out of... dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow,... acquainted with grief: and we hid as it was our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our grief,... carried our sorrow: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquity: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD... laid upon him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and... afflicted,... he opened not his mouth: he--he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so opened he not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment:... who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgressions of my people he was stricken.
... he (was) made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was there deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shall make a soul... or when thou shall... and thou shall see... his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, and shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
If I would call it a Scripture text, tonight, I'd take the 6th verse.
All we like sheep have gone astray; and the LORD... turned every one to his own way; and the LORD... Laid upon him the iniquity of us all.
38 I want to talk just a few moments. We always happy when it comes to having the joy of the Lord in our midst; and how I rejoice with you, greatly. But did you ever stop to think what it cost to have it? Did you ever realize just the price that's behind it, what judgment was and what the penalty of sin? How cruel must sin be, when it caused the Son of God to go to Calvary, and God would strike Him, and turn His face from Him, and smite Him, and--and He'd be afflicted. Look Who He was.
Now, I want to draw just a small picture to you, talking now. Let's all of us take a little trip tonight, on a little ship, and let's... a little spaceship, or airship. Let's go back a hundred million years before there was a world, before there even was a star or anything, and there you can see nothing but space. And all that space was God. In the beginning was God.
And now, we'll watch coming into existence a little white Light. We'll call it, like, a Halo. And that was the Son of God, the Logos that went out of God in the beginning.
41 And then that how that He was standing there; and He, in His mind He begin to think of what the world would be and drew all this, pictured in His mind. And He said, "Let there be light."
And a atom split and begin to break forward, and a atomic went off, the first atomic explosion. And then them atoms begin to accumulate till it made into cinders, as the moisture, ever what it was, begin to break, and the atoms split. And after while, there came a star, or a piece of the--a missile that flew off and went sailing through the air. He watched it maybe for a few million years, and then stopped it. He had no hurry. He was--had plenty of time, forever. He was from the beginning to the end. There was no--no time with Him. And then another one flies off, and He stops it over this a way.
43 What's He doing? He's writing His first Bible. The first Bible was ever written, was written in the skies, the zodiac. It starts out with the virgin; that's how He come first. It ends up with Leo the lion, the second coming. And He's writing His first Bible.
The second Bible was written, was written by Enoch, and put in the pyramid.
The third Bible was written, and the last one, is this One. [Brother Branham indicates his Bible--Ed.]
God always does things in threes. God is perfect in three. He's perfect. [Brother Branham clears his throat--Ed.] Pardon me. He's perfect in Father, Son, Holy Spirit. He's perfect in justification, sanctification, baptism of the Holy Spirit. He's perfected in His threes.
We are in His making, so we are perfected in three: soul, body, and spirit. And our body's controlled of--of nerves, of blood, and of cells (flesh): three. All perfected in three...
48 Then He said, after He had got all of that made, before He'd ever done anything else... I can see this little Halo move over--over this world, which was merely a cinder, frozen, hanging out there like a great iceberg. And He moved it over near the sun. And He begin to turn it like that, around the sun. It begin to melt, and the big ice glaciers tore loose. Texas was being formed, and the plains there; as we're taught how the icebergs come down through there, best chronologists can figure out. And then the whole world, after it run down into the Gulf of Mexico, and so forth, begin to berm up with water. "And the world, without form, and void..." Now we're in Genesis 1. See? Now then, God moved and separated the firmament from the waters. And He made the lights.
And then He created all His creations. Then after He made it, all the trees come up, and the plants, and so forth. What a beautiful setup He had. He loved it. It was beautiful. And He thought that was fine.
51 So He couldn't just leave it in that state; He had to leave something with it. So He said, "Let us (plural) make man (plural) in our own image. Let us make man in our own image." So then when God made His first man, He was a spirit man. He was something on the order of God, or the Son of God, the Logos. That was the first man. Then He gave the man jurisdiction over the--to lead all the animal life, just like the Holy Spirit leads the believer today: "Go here. Do this."
Now, if we were perfect in submission to the Holy Spirit, God would lead us by the Holy Spirit, just like Adam led the animals of that day.
53 So He--He made them. And then, when He did, He begin to move upon--upon the idea then that--that He had made man out of the dust of the earth. There was no man to till the soil, no one to do work, no physical being. So He made man out of the dust of the earth.
Now, there's where I think that a--a botanist, or--or science and Christianity, does not conflict one with another. Because science says, the man came from different a life; and we say, when you look at a man here, he's in the image of God. This is, was not the image of God to begin with. This was the image of animal life. And he... And the evolutionists argues that we... I don't believe in the chain of evolution the way they do, all coming from the single cell. But I believe we evolute, certainly, the evolution one man from another. But then when God made all of that, and got--put the man in the...
55 Made him out of the dust of the earth, now, not in His Own image. He had already made the man. Then He breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul. So the soul of man is the nature of the spirit.
Now, when you're reborn, you don't get a new spirit. You get a new nature of that spirit. It's the same spirit, but a new nature of it. You take two men, stand them together, both look alike; and one of them is a sinner, and one of them is a Christian. One man say, "I got a spirit the same as you have." See? But one of them is a different, his soul, his nature's different. He's been changed.
57 So then He breathed into this man. Now, I don't know how--how He made him. He--He put him in five senses so he could contact his earthly home, and see, taste, feel, smell, and hear. And He made him in that manner. Now, those senses was not to contact God.
His sense to contact God was his spirit, his soul was to con... "The soul that sinneth, the soul shall die."
Now, I'm going a long ways around to get something, but I hope you get every point of it, so you can see exactly what God had to do at Calvary.
60 Now, when this man, then, when He put him in his senses, his five senses... And then, the man, he was lonesome, so He made him a wife, a helpmate, taken from his side a rib and made a woman.
A beautiful type there, all in type, of God taking from the side of Christ, the Bride. See? God opened up Adam's side, taken a rib; which, a man has one less rib than a woman in the structure of the--the body. And now God opened up the side of Christ, in the--at Calvary, and taken out the Bride. The Church comes through the Blood of Christ into the Body of Christ. See?
That's how--how we come in, and through no other way. No matter how church you belong to, how good a man you are, how good a woman you are; you must accept God's all-sufficient Sacrifice, His provided way, or you're lost. That's right. That's the only way that you can come in, is through there. Now, there's only one way, and that's the Door.
63 Jesus taught that famous parable, when He was here on earth. He said the wedding supper was made and--and every man was given a--a garment, and he found one man there without a garment. He said, "Friend, what are you... How--how comes you haven't got a garment?"
Now, the oriental custom of that, when the bridegroom invited every person, he put--he invited. If he invited fifty people, then he had fifty robes. And he stood someone at the door, and every time a man come in, rich or poor, he put the robe on him. Then no one knew whether they was rich or poor. He, all looked the same under a robe.
And that's the way God does today. He gives the Holy Spirit; which is a type. Every man that He invites, we're all the same; not this one 'cause a little better than the other one, and that one a little higher than this one. We're all the same in the sight of God, everyone that's invited to the wedding supper.
66 Then when he came in and he found one man now... Now, there's only one door to come through, because there's where the garments was given out. And he found a man at the supper table, without a garment on. He said, "Friend, what's you doing here? Why haven't you got a garment on?" And the man was speechless. He came in by a window, some other way. He didn't come by the door.
And every man that comes by Christ, into the Body of Christ, receives the Holy Spirit, the Robe. He's standing right there, to put It on you, just as soon as you come in. See? That's what He's promised and that's what He does.
68 Now, back there in the--in the beginning, in the Eden, then He made a wife for him, or a helpmate.
Now, you see these pictures in magazines, sometime, of some artists. Now, that's very poor inspiration. If you'd see Eve with hair sticking out like that, and, oh, what a horrible looking thing, and say, "That was our mother," why, there wouldn't be no one in the world could admire that. I believe Eve was the most beautiful woman that was ever on the earth. That's right. When Adam looked at her, his, he--he... It just, why, it goes to show that strain comes right on down through human beings today. If it didn't, it would be vice versa.
70 So, Adam taken Eve as his wife. And then when sin came in... And I have my idea of what that was. I don't express it out in the church, less I just having a little class of some sort, of what the sin was in the beginning. But anyhow, when it did, it separated them from fellowship with God.
Now, here's the picture I want to get. Now, when God realized, or some Angel, or some being had come up and told God, that, "Your son is lost. He--he sinned. He's fallen."...
Now, watch the strain of man, the first thing, is make hisself a religion. A man, he's got some kind of a religion.
I was talking to a famous man here in the city the other day. Said, "You know, my religion, Brother Branham, is keeping the Golden Rule." That's good. But, brother, unless a man is born again, he will perish. Yes. He's got to; he's got to be borned again. Now, the Golden Rule is all right; that, a moral man can do that. But it's got to be all in the supernatural line. And you'll see what God had to do in order that we could be supernaturally born.
75 Now, when, then, he sinned, he--he made hisself a reli... A word "religion" means "covering." It's like something covers. This coat is a--is a--a moral religion to me, because it covers my being. And your clothes is the same way. And it's a... It's a--a covering.
Now, notice then, when Adam, his fig leaves were all right as long as he didn't have to face God. But when he had to face God, he realized his fig leaves was no good. And now, friend, you might think you're a pretty good person (See?), and you might be. That's right. But when you come to face God, you're... if you haven't accepted God's provided Sacrifice for you, you're lost and you'll know it.
77 I have stood by their side, watch them die, see the doctor shoot hypos in their arms to keep them quiet, and hear them scream and carry on. Say, "Oh, they're just beside themselves."
I said, "Doc, please keep it out, just a minute longer." See? And you can hear them when they--they think you're right.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death."
And every man that's ungenerated--unregenerated of God, will go that way of destruction. You can't help it. Your own soul guides you. If you're borned again, you're bound to go up. If you're not born again, you've got to go down. Just your--your own soul will do it. Just like a--a magic wand that would open a door or somewhere; if you haven't got the--the wand, the door won't open. And if you're not borned again, you're just rejected automatically; that's all. Now...
81 And then when I--I see there, then, when they come out, and God knew that they could not stand before Him. And He knew. And they were hiding, hiding back in some bushes, yet covered up, but they knowed their covering wasn't sufficient.
And every man or woman that goes to church... Today I was thinking of the cathedrals a ringing out, and the bells a tolling, and so forth like that; and people going to the church, and making ready, and the women buying their Easter hats and so forth. What has this come to? My, how I can't understand where a rabbit has anything to do with the resurrection (See? No, sir.), or how a Christmas tree has anything to do with the birth of Christ. It's pagan, friends. We've got off the path somewhere. That's right. But now a real born again man or woman realizes, because there's life within you, tells you that that's wrong. Is that right? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.]
83 Now, watch; Adam and Eve. Oh, my! When I think of that, I lose the thoughts of my influenza, ever what I had. When I think, way back in the beginning... Watch! You talk about blood?
Here not long ago, when they were figuring on now, in the great Methodist council, they're taking all of the Blood songs out of the Methodist hymnal... Said, "It's not a slaughter block religion." Said, "We don't... We want something nice and dignified." Brother, that's not the way God receives it. It's either...
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Blood! God, only substitutionary there is, is in only... "The life lays in the blood. You may eat the meat therefore, but the blood thereof, which is the life thereof, pour it upon the ground." See, not eat the life...
Notice, how beautiful. How I think of that. Then God thought, "Now, come out here, Adam and Eve. And before I can bring you out, I'm going to have to do something." So He goes over there on the hillside and gets a sheep, kill him, pull the skin off of him, let him die.
87 Because God has to keep His Word, no matter how good a man you are, how good a woman you are, what you are. It's God. God has got to keep His Word.
That's the reason the virgin Mary had to go up at the day of Pentecost, and receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, just like the rest of them did, because she was born here as a mortal and had to be borned again before she could go to heaven. Amen.
89 Now, look, lady, let me tell you. Just because the times has changed, God hasn't changed. You come anything short of that, you're lost. See? Now, I'm only speaking in behalf of what God did nineteen hundred years ago today on Calvary, to show you what a sacrifice that had to be made to pay this, and that's God's way. Now, there's a way that seems right; but God has a provided way. If you'll always go in God's provided way, you'll never go wrong.
90 Like if you start to go to Indianapolis, or across the bridge, and you say, "Well, here, is that Louisville over there?"
"Yes." And just take right across this way; you'll be caught up pretty soon. That's right. You better get the blueprint, the map, study it out and see which a way you're going.
And then, Here is God's blueprint to glory. Study It out. There It is. It's Blood-sprinkled all the way. You can't lose the track, if you'll follow the Blood. Amen. Now, you can see. Just keep right with the Blood and you'll be all right, for there's a bloody footprint every step of the way.
92 Now, notice how God back there, before He could do it, now He could stand or... Even they could stand to receive, He'd kill them right now. He had to, because He's sovereign. He has to keep His Word. He said, "The day you eat thereof, that day you die." That settled it forever. Then I can see Him back there, when He killed these sheep. You say, "Were they sheep, Brother Branham?" I believe it. He was the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.
And it was a sheepskin; take and throwed them back in the bushes, and told them to wrap up in these, and come out, and to receive.
94 And I can see Adam and Eve pull these old bloody, flappy skins around them. Could you imagine, the lovely, beautiful bodies of those two perfect human beings, now wrapped in bloody sheepskin? I can see them stand out there.
God said, "Adam, because you listened to your wife instead of Me, then, I took you out of the dust, and dust you'll return."
And, "Eve, because you listened to the--the serpent instead of Me, why, you brought life--took life out of the world, you'll have to bring life into the world. I will multiply your sorrows, and your desire shall be to your husband," and so forth.
And He said then, "Serpent, because you did this, walked up..." He wasn't a reptile. He was a beast, walked up, more subtle than all the beasts of the field. Bear me record: that's Scripture. Walked up, like a man, and he had deceived her. And He said, "And because you did this, off comes your legs, and on your belly you'll go, all the days of your life. And dust shall be your meat."
And right there they was: judgment. God had to keep His judgment, 'cause He'd spoke it. And He's God; He can't back up on it. He's got to stay... In order to be God, God has to keep His Word. That's right.
99 So there I can imagine seeing that poor little Eve, when she looked at Adam, her long blond hair hanging down her back, those big, bright, blue eyes that looked like the skies, where God had made them, the tears pouring down, mixing with the blood on the garments, and flapping down around her body, Eve... Adam, with his strong body, caught her and leaned her over on his bosom, and there the tears, mingling, falling, as it run through the sheepskins, blood dripping down. Blood, all the way. There. Now, He says, "You have to depart out of My Presence."
And I can see Eve and Adam, with their arms around one another, going, moving out like this, them old sheepskins flopping against their leg, bloody, beating on their leg. [Brother Branham clapped his hands together once--Ed.]
101 Then I can see all that space, which was God. God had no beginning of days, ending of years. He's forever and forever. I can see all that great space begin to move together like this, coming down to a funnel shape like that, and it moved right down, as He begin to eye that little couple going down through the garden of Eden, bloody skins flopping against their leg. He couldn't stand it. And it moved down, oh, it moved it down to the very heart of God, spelled l-o-v-e, "God so loved..." He just couldn't see them go.
He called them back, said, "I'm going to put enmity between your Seed and Satan's seed." Then when that was done, was at Calvary, when God Himself came down through a woman, born of a virgin.
103 How I would like to deal there just a little bit, in Eden. Notice, when they were driven from the garden because of transgression, all the blessings cut off because of transgression.
And I think, tonight, that's what's the matter with the Church. All the blessings are being cut off because of transgression. There you are.
105 Driven from the garden of Eden! Now, I want you to notice, here come... When Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam and Eve, came forward to make an offering...
I believe the great Cherubim was at the east side of the gate, and that Sword whirling back and forth, guarding that gate there that entered into Eden... Notice, Fire, the Holy Spirit Fire guarding the gate.
And, today, that's what guards the gate. If you're scared of Holy Ghost and Fire, you'll never get in. Fiery, the Sword of God, God is a consuming Fire, watching that Tree, guarding that Tree of Life.
108 And now notice, then this is a beautiful picture. Oh, my. I can see Adam, or Cain and Abel, rather, toiling now, or going out to make a sacrifice. I believe they built their altar right at the gate, at the Throne, where they could worship.
Notice, here comes Cain. He probably worked all year, toiling, doing everything he could to get the very biggest apples, or the very biggest pumpkins, or whatever he had, brought it up to the gate. Built him an altar right there by the side of the gate in the Presence of God, put all of his fruits, and the big calla lilies and everything, and laid them on the altar correctly, then knelt down and worshipped God.
110 Now, I want you to... I hope this just soaks way down, as it never before, till you get it. See? Now, notice. If God only required you to go to church, Cain was just as just as Abel was. Cain built an altar unto the Lord. You say, "Well, Brother Branham, I don't only do that, but I make a sacrifice. I pay to foreign missions, and I..." Them things are all right. Them's all right. But God requires more.
Cain did that, himself. See? He brought a sacrifice. He worshipped the Lord. He knelt down and offered praise unto the Lord, and said, "Lord, here am I. Here am I, and I've brought You an offering. I've built an altar." Amen.
In so many words, "I am a member of a church." Did it hit the bottom? Look. "I am a member of the church. I believe in You." It'll go to the bottom now. Let it soak real deep. "I am a believer in God. I have built an altar. I have brought a sacrifice. And here I am, Lord. I am worshipping You." God turned His back on them. Right.
114 "And Easter morning," like a pastor of this city said, "you know what I do, preacher, on Easter morning?"
I said, "What?"
Said, "I tell all my folks, I bid them a 'Merry Christmas.'"
Said, "Why?"
Said, "I won't see them any more till next Easter."
Everybody comes out on Easter, that's all, buy new bonnets and new clothes. And what's that got to do with Christ? Oh! And there'll be millions of dollars spent this year, tomorrow, in the Protestant realm, of lilies, great beautiful lilies; each member will come around and lay it on the altar. God don't care about the lily on the altar. He wants you on the altar. It isn't the lily; it isn't your sacrifice. You are the guy to be on the altar. That's the difference. Putting what God requires on the altar, is you.
116 Now, I want you to notice how that, that strain, that was Satan in Cain. And notice that the very...
Now, this ought to make you feel real good, some of you that's a pilgrim and wayfaring person. And we have to maybe say, "Well, I wish we could do this in our church, and that." Be satisfied. Hallelujah. I'd rather worship in a little, old room somewhere in a back alley, and have God in it, than in a cathedral with God not in it. That's right. Sure. There! He was a poor man. Notice. Then he brought his offering, Cain did, and laid it upon there. Now, notice, he came from the line of Satan, because he expected God to receive it, because it was beautiful fruit, something that he done, himself.
118 And so many people say, "Well, I belong to the certain different orders. And I--I give to the Red Cross, and I give to charity. I donate to churches. What about that, Brother Branham?" That's all all right.
But, "Except a man be born again, he will in no wise enter the Kingdom." Notice it.
Those charitable things are fine, but out... That's not God's provided way yet. Cain come his own way. And many, tonight, are coming their own way.
121 You can't even reason it. Why, reasons can't even... Your reasons are not eligible. You're not eligible to reason it out. If you could reason it, it would no more be of faith. You've got to offer it by faith.
Now, you say, "Brother Branham, you mean I have to get down there and--and get filled with the Holy Ghost and carry on like the rest of them?" If you expect to be with the rest of them, you do. That's all. Yes, sir. That's all. You can take...
Naaman had the same thing. God told the prophet, "Tell him, 'Go down and dip seven times.'"
He said, "Isn't this water cleaner and better?" But it was that water of Jordan; looks pretty bad sometimes.
125 But I wish every one here tonight would look at Calvary, and what it cost God, nineteen hundred years ago, and would raise your hand, say, "I will take the way with the Lord's despised few."
You say, "I have to join with those guys that Brother Thom or some of them call 'holy-roller'?"
Brother, I've been around the world, pretty near three times, and I've never seen a holy-roller yet. No, sir. I've seen holiness, but not holy-rollers. That's the name the devil tacked on the Church. God said, "Without holiness, no man shall see God." You can suit yourself, about it. That's God's way.
128 You say, "People that scream and shout and go on?" Brother, that's what it is. "Why," you say, "that, that seems crazy, to me."
That's the reason you ought to be born again. When you are born again, then it won't be crazy. You'll be with us. They thought the same as you did, one time. That's right. They thought the same as you did, until they got into it themself. It's a change, a conversion. "Convert" means to "change" anything. And except a man dies out to himself and say, "Lord, I don't know nothing about it. Just take me in." Amen. Then God will do it. See?
130 Now, Cain said, "I've laid all this down." God refused it. He made it all pretty.
And maybe you think, "Well, I'm going to sunrise service; I got to have a new bonnet."
A girl one time was going to sing in my meeting. And she said, "Brother Branham..." Her mother washed over a washtub to make a living. And she had to have one of them "kinking" in her hairs, you know.
What is it, manicure? Or what is it you call the thing, ever what the thing is in her hair? I know that's wrong. I can't never think of that name of that. I don't know much about it. Toni? [Someone says, "No. Permanent."--Ed.] Permanent in it, that's what it was.
And she had to have one in her hair before she could sing in the choir. And her poor old mammy washing over a washtub to make her a living. When she went and got her a permanent, and I said I wouldn't let her sing, 'cause she wasn't fit to sing when she did that to it. Right.
135 God help us to keep the pulpit clean, anyhow. That's what's the matter with the world today, in their...?... Now, listen, brother. I believe in an old fashion, sassafras experience, way back yonder in bushes, where you grub out all the roots of bitterness, and stir up the ground (that's right), plant the seed.
Now, notice now, Cain, he thought, "The beauty."
They think, "Well, now, our church... We'll build a new church." That's all right. Everything's of beauty, is all right, if you take along with it the Lord Jesus. Then if you'll just get Him first, He will take care of the rest of it.
137 Someone said, "Brother Branham, do you believe this girl should come to the altar, looking like this?"
I said, "Brother, it's coming springtime. All those scrub oaks out here, every one of them has got the leaves right on them they had last fall. But we don't have to go pick the leaves off, to let new leaves come on. Just let the new life come up, and the old leaf drops off." That's right. Amen.
Listen. May I say this too. If the old leaf don't drop off, it shows the new Life hasn't come. Don't get angry with me now. I'm talking about Jesus. All right. That's it. All right.
140 Watch what it cost our heavenly Father. Look what He did now.
And there come Cain, and he made his offering. He worshipped. He went to church. He's just as good as the next fellow.
Esau was the same. Esau, in his character, was a better man than Jacob, more of a gentleman. He loved his father; and the things that he done. But God chose Jacob.
143 Notice now when Abel come to make his offering, well, it was quite a difference when Abel come. Here come Abel. He didn't work; he didn't try to find the biggest church in town to go to. He didn't try to find the nicest bunch of people to associate with. Amen. He just took something that he had and come on. That's all. He was a sheepherder. So he just reached over and got a lamb, and tied... I suppose they didn't have any hemp in that day, so he must've got a grapevine and just wrapped it around his neck.
But what did it speak of? They led Him to Calvary. He was the Lamb. Said, "Why was He born in a barn?" Well, lambs are not born in houses. They're born in barns. And they was led... they led to the slaughter like a lamb. And they led Him away, leading Him up Calvary. He was God's Lamb (amen) from the foundation of the world. When I think of it, there--there come Abel's little lamb. There come God's Lamb.
145 When I think of it, my heart just turns over and over. When I think, me, a poor, unworthy, ungodly sinner, dying without God, without Christ in the world, without hope... And in due season Christ died in my stead, the beautiful One, and became despised and rejected, that I might be accepted in His sight, in my stead. Oh, I just can't get over it. I just can't imagine how He could do that for me. Who was I? Then, you say, "Did He do it for you?" Yes.
The Holy Spirit come, hunted me up, one day, and said, "He did it for you," and I believed Him. I believed Him. Yes, sir. I accepted Him, and I found it was so. No matter what the people said they was, "they were fanatics," or whatever they was; I believe God. And I... And He done just what He said.
147 I can see little Abel. Watch now. My, I can see Abel go and get this little grapevine, reach out and get a little male lamb, first from the old mother ewe, wrapped this vine around his neck. Here he comes, dragging him (Not much beauty to that, is there?), pulling him up there. Then he got him up to a big rock, laying there at the east end of the gate... Now, notice.
Cain had probably toiled all year to make the best of crop that he could, thought he could please God by that.
149 And many people say, "I'm going to quit lying. I'm going to quit stealing. I will quit smoking. I will turn to a better class of people. I will get in some society."
Here it is! God don't care about your turning a new page. He wants you to turn your heart to Christ, and let Him make out of you. Not what you can do, it's not by good works we're saved, but by His mercy are we bought. "Not by works, lest any man should boast." For we are--for we are God's because... It isn't what I am; it isn't what I do, myself. It's what Christ, in God, has did for me and for you.
151 Notice, beautiful type. Here he comes, dragging the little lamb, pulling him along. I can imagine the little fellow falling, probably knew what was near, dragging his little feet. Perfect type of Christ dragging the cross, God's Lamb coming down through Jerusalem, falling, weak.
Here come the little fellow, bleating along. And when he got him up to the great rock, laid him upon the rock, taking a piece of sharp rock... I don't know, guess they had no knives in those days. Laid him like that. Took him by the back of his head, and pulled him up like this, took a kni... or the rock, and begin to chop his little throat, and the rock begin to beat through his throat. On that rock died the lamb, bleeding, bleating, blood splashing, his little arteries cut, the blood flying all over. His little white wool become bathed red then with blood. God looked down from the heaven, and said, "That's it. Now, you got it. That's the way." The blood spurting from his little veins...
153 What was it? Of the Son of God, nineteen hundred and something years ago this afternoon. He was led from prison. He was taken to the judgment seat, and from there, to the hall of scourging, from there, up Golgotha, pulled up the hill. Simon, the Cyrene, helping Him bear the cross. And there, died, on the Rock of Ages, with His Blood beat out of Him, His body striped. Hallelujah! Great big old gobs of mocking soldiers' spit upon His face. And He said, "If My Kingdom was of this world, I'd ask My Father; He would give me legions of Angels that would come and fight for Me. But this is not My kingdom. But Thy Kingdom come. Thine will be done." And it will be here pretty soon. "Thy kingdom come, Thine will be done." Oh, my.
155 When Billy Sunday said, one time, that, "In every tree set an angel," said, "He just pull your hand loose and point your finger; that's all you'll have to do. We'll settle the question down here." My, ain't it the truth.
Caiaphas looked by, and said, "He saved other; Himself He cannot save." It was the greatest compliment was ever paid Him. If He saved Hisself, He couldn't save others. So He gave His life, that He could save others. Hallelujah. Amen.
"All we like sheep have gone astray; God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was led to the slaughter like a sheep; and led like a sheep, dumb, before her shearers, opened not His mouth. Yet He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement of our peace upon him; and with His stripes we are healed." How could you reject such matchless love? To see Him as He goes staggering up the hillside: poor, little, weak, frail body bending beneath the load.
158 I think of the poet when he set there that day; he caught a glimpse of it, and he wrote.
Mid rendering rocks and darkening skies,
My Saviour bowed His head and died;
The opened veil revealed the way
To Heaven's joys and endless day.
What a Saviour. Oh, my. How could we ever, how could I reject such matchless love, for One Who would do that for me and you?
160 I trust, tonight, my brother, sister, that you will come. God, that was God's provided way. That's the way for you. That's the only One Who can have anything to do with you. That's the One that took your place. That's the One Who stands tonight, a resurrected Redeemer, standing at the right hand of the Father, tonight; see Him begging and pleading for every sinner that's in this building to come to Him. I trust that you will. I trust that you won't let this--this Easter pass.
Dear friends, we're at the end of the road. I believe we are, with all my heart. We're down to the end of the road. May the Lord Jesus bless you. May He make you a new creature in Him, tonight, is my prayer. May He lead you. One time in the...
162 There was an old blind man in the Bible, by the name of--of Bartimaeus. Old blind Bartimaeus, he had two little doves, we're told by history. That these little doves used to set out and do little tumbles over one another, and the people would--would hold their... He would hold his cup, and then when the--the people would come by, they'd watch these little turtledoves do little tumbles, and they'd drop in coins for the old blind beggar. He was a married man and had a little girl. He'd never seen the little girl in his life. She was about twelve, fourteen years old, at the stage that we're fixing to enter to his life now. And he was setting...
One night, said his little girl got sick, and he went to the Lord. And he said, "Lord, if You'll just heal my little girl, I will sacrifice my two doves for You, tomorrow." So they... The Lord healed his little girl, and he sacrificed the two doves. After while, his...
164 And the first thing you know, his dear wife got sick, and she thought she was... They thought she was going to die. So he goes out to the Lord in the night, feeling his way along the side of the wall of his house, knelt down in the field, and said, "God, God, if You'll just spare my wife's life, tomorrow I will sacrifice my lamb for You."
Now, you've seen blind men led by a dog today. They train those dogs to lead them. In them days they trained sheep to lead people, and so he had a--a--a lamb that led him around.
And he said, "Lord, if You'll just heal my wife, well, then, tomorrow I will sacrifice my lamb to You." And his wife got well.
167 And the next day he was going up to the temple, and said the high priest, Caiaphas, stood out and said, "Blind Bartimaeus, where are you going?"
He said, "I'm going up to the temple, O high priest, to sacrifice my lamb. I promised the Lord, if He'd heal my wife, I would give my lamb."
He said, "You can't give that lamb, Bartimaeus, because that that lamb is your eyes." Said, "I will give you some money, and you buy you a lamb with the sellers in the temple."
But Bartimaeus said, "O high priest, I never promised God a lamb; I promised Him this lamb." Oh, my.
171 I wonder if you've made promises like that. And if you see that all-sufficient Lamb tonight, think, "Lord, if You'll let me get well, I will promise you I will serve You; I will do everything I can. If You'll let my baby live..." Or, when you stand and your mother was going down in the grave, or your dad or your loved ones, "O God, I will meet them, I will meet them again." I wonder if you really meant that. I wonder if this Easter is going to come and go without you fulfilling that what you've promised.
172 He went on up and offered his lamb. Come back, someone leading him around.
So he said then, when he come back, said, "Bartimaeus you can't do that." The priest that went to take his lamb, he said, "You can't take this. You can't sacrifice this lamb." Said, "Blind Bartimaeus, do you know that lamb is your eyes?"
He said, "Yes, I know that. But I promised God, and God will provide a lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes."
175 Not long after that, he was shivering in the cold, one day; he heard a noise. God had provided the Lamb for blind Bartimaeus' eyes. He came along the street. He said "What's all this noise?" There's usually noise where He's at. Said, "What's all this noise?"
He said, "One, Jesus of Nazareth, passed by."
He threw down his coat, not looking where it went; he didn't care then. God had provided a Lamb. He got right to the Lamb. He said, "O Jesus, Thou son of David, have mercy. Have mercy."
The rich people and those who stood around, to get close to the prophet, to the king; he said, "Oh, be still; He can't hear you." He cried that much the more.
Some of them said, "The days of miracles is passed. There's no such a thing as that day."
He cried the louder, "Thou son of David, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me." God provided the Lamb.
180 That same Lamb He provided for blind Bartimaeus' eyes, He provided for you nineteen hundred and something years ago, today, as He climbed Golgotha, yonder, and offered Himself, all bruised and hacked together.
Listen, friend. Remember, Abel went out into his herd and got the lamb, and killed it on the sacrifice block. And [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]... better catch this now. Abel died on the same rock that his lamb died on.
Are you willing tonight, to die out to yourself? Are you willing to die out to all thoughts of yourself? Just lay on the rock, with your Lamb there, and die out, say, "O God, have mercy." When I think of men and women who think of pride, young men and women who will give their lives over to things. And men of age, too, thinking of their job and of their prestige and of their neighborhood, or something like that.
Oh, why don't you crawl up Calvary yonder tonight? Hallelujah. Let your own life be hacked out, and die yonder on the cross with Him. Throw your arms around the "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. While the near, old waters roll, while the tempest still is high, hide me, oh, my Saviour, hide me. Let the world do whatever they want to. Let the theologians do whatever they want to; I don't want their theology. What I want is Jesus Christ in my heart. Let me die with my Lamb."
184 Oh, I know how hard it was that night when I walked in that little old colored mission out there, and all the white folks standing around there, said, "There he goes into a colored mission." It was hard. I walked up there with a whole lot of Kentucky pride in me, like that, but God said, "If you want It, walk right on in there." And I walked right in there and knelt down to an altar, and there I stayed until the Lamb... I died to old self, Bill Branham, twenty years ago. Hallelujah.
"I was crucified with Christ. Yet I live; not me, but Christ lives in me." Someday in that glorious resurrection, when He comes, my body may be resting beneath the sod out yonder. But when it does, you'll see the grass move back and I will come forth in His great glorious image, besides a many of them (hallelujah), for I know Him in the power of His resurrection.
I trust that's what every one of you do tonight, crawl right up Golgotha yonder tonight. Let's take a little trip now.
While, you'll give us the key, if you will, sister, of "Nearer, My God, To Thee." While we are...
You say, "That's a funeral." Well, brother, if there ever was a time we needed a funeral, is right now, when men will die to theirself and pride.
Let's bow our heads, silently now, while she gives us a little chord, if that's all right.
190 O God, oh, when I think what happened yonder. Uh. Even my bones tremble to think. I think of seeing that Lamb, when they hacked Him, yes, put thorns on His head and pushed it down. The soldiers spit in His face, and said, "Thou King, now do something about it."
He was the Prophet of prophets. They put a rag around His face, and hit Him on His head with a reed, said, "Now, prophesy, tell us who hit You."
But the prophet said, "He opened not His mouth." He done told it.
Tied His hands up, behind Him, stood off, with a great whip, and lashed Him till His precious ribs showed through His back; the Blood running down His side, tinkling off on the ground. I hear Him walk now; out of His sandals I hear the blood squashing. That was Emmanuel. That was God, God's Blood.
194 And I seen them take, put that cross on His back, that old blistery, ragged, rugged cross. And there He goes, laying across that sore back, down through the street He went, the howling mob, laughing, making fun of Him, "There goes that prophet. There goes that great teacher. There goes that divine healer." But He's my Lord. O God, I've... Let me climb with Him.
There He goes up the hill. I see the young, half-dressed women, running around, making fun. Their boyfriends hugging one another, as they go up the hill. Brother Ward, it hasn't changed too much yet.
I can see the great church members, saying, "Look, that was the Guy that was going to tear our church up; preached against our pastor. Look at Him now." But the prophet said it must be that way. He was God's Lamb.
197 I see Him as He turns His head, and the spit sliding down off of His beard. Rolls His eyes up to Heaven; groans, and moves a little farther.
Lord, by faith, I want to walk that now with Him. I want to pat Him on the back, say, "Lord, I will stand here. Just tell me what to do, I will do it. How I appreciate You, Lord."
Yonder on the hill, when they laid Him down, pulled His precious hands back. Those hands that stood the fever; that hands that said... to that poor widow woman's boy, when it touched his brow, or the casket he was laying in; he come to life...
That One Who called Dorcas back to life, that One Who called Jairus' daughter to life, that One Who said, "Lazarus, come forth." Them lips are bleeding now, parching, crying.
201 As the great cruel nails drive into His hands and in His feet. "They pierced my hands and my feet," said the prophet, seven hundred years before it happened. What was it? It was Abel's Lamb. There they flung Him down in the ground, and the flesh tore. His poor body quivered.
Said, "I thirst." They give Him vinegar.
They riled and mocked, and made fun of Him, said, "You great miracle-worker, do something about it now."
But then the skies begin to get dark, lightning begin to flash. God was hiding His face; He couldn't stand it no more. O God, how cruel sin must be, how cruel, how cruel, that caused that precious One to do that. Even such a price He paid till God Himself hid His face. The Angels veiled their faces and turned around, to weeping with Him. The moon and stars could not go any farther. They could not shine no more. The very God that created them was dying on the cross. And He bowed His head.
204 Before He did that, He looked down there to them people gambling for His garment, fulfill what the prophet said. Said, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." All in love, Adam's Lamb, God's provided Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world... There He died, friendless, even forsaken by God Himself. God, and, then, His Own Father, forsaken Him, bleeding.
Yet, we go around laughing, gaiety, just like nothing had happened.
O God, it was that Blood. When yonder in the hospital, the doctor said, "He's dying," it was that Blood that healed me. A little old sinner boy running around here, it was that Blood that forgive my sins. It was that Blood that took--that taken me out of a debauch of a place that I was living, and set me and made me Your son. Oh,...?... and dying Lamb, Thy precious Blood. Keep me near the cross, Lord.
207 That's my vision. That's what it is yonder, love, all God's great heart moving down there. And all that comes by Him will not be rejected. They'll all receive Everlasting Life. "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
God, may every individual here go home tonight with this on their mind, thinking of, "What a Sacrifice. What did it cost to redeem? What did it cost God?" Never cost us nothing. It cost God His Son. It cost God the greatest price. It cost Christ His life. He was the Rose of Sharon; but to get the perfume out of a rose, you have to crush it up. His beautiful life was crushed at a young Man of thirty-three and a half years, that we might live.
Nearer, my God, to Thee. Stay near me, Lord. Stay near me. And when I come to the end of this road, my life is finishing, Lord, may He, Who died there, come near me then. May every one in here be likewise.
210 Tomorrow, Lord, or day after tomorrow, bury a little woman who set here in this church one time, listening at the sermon. Thou knowest all about her now. If she did come, she's saved. If she didn't, she's gone.
O God, have mercy. May every man and woman, as they leave this building tonight, go to their homes, go, thinking seriously, "Nothing in my arms; just simply to Thy cross." And may each one die on that cross.
Lord, while I'm here at this pulpit tonight, this little old concrete structure, I consecrate my life to You. I thank You for what You've done for me. And I consecrate myself anew, at this crucifixion night memorial to You. Take me, Lord. Forgive me, all my mistakes and troubles. Make me strong and powerful, Lord, in the Spirit of God, that I might win souls to You.
And bless this congregation, for we ask it in His Name. Forgive every sinner. Reclaim every backslider.
214 While we have our heads down, and every sinner man and woman in here just now, little boys and girls, all of you... Some of you young folks back there, had to speak sharp to you, the other night. I hate to do that. God bless your hearts. You might have thought Brother Branham was rough, but I--I love you. I've set where you started from. I know what it is; that's the reason I said that, see if you just wouldn't love our Lord. I pray for you, pray this will be the consecration time for you. Some of you mothers and dads, elderly people, make this the time of consecration, just now, would you? Accept Him in your heart. Believe Him with all of your soul.
Now, while every heads bowed, would somebody like to be remembered in prayer? If you would, just raise your hand, say, "Brother Branham, remember me. I want to grow closer to God." All right, dozens of hands.
216 Father, remember them all. I pray You'll grant it; they'll have peace. As the tears are rolling down our cheeks and dripping off here, with mine, pulpit. Some of them with handkerchiefs. Some of them, great, burly-looking, rough men in here, setting here before me, tears running down from their faces, their wrinkled cheeks. Receive us, Lord. Forgive every one of us that's in the Divine Presence of this Spirit of God, tonight, forgive us, Lord, young and old. May we be saved at that day, and taken to Thy Kingdom, for we ask it in His Name. Amen.
Now, you can stand to your feet, quietly. Now, just keep your heads bowed. Slowly:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee;
Even though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be...
[Brother Branham quietly prays for the people--Ed.] "God, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Come, Lord, bless these hearts. [Brother Branham continues praying with the people.]
219 Will you just, reverent, without speaking to anyone, at all, without saying one more word, just leave the building, quietly now, and go to your homes. Just turn and go to your home now. Without saying a word, turn and go out. God be with you.
[Brother Branham pauses as the congregation begins to quietly leave the building, while the organist and pianist continue playing "Nearer, My God, To Thee."--Ed.]
"Al l we like sheep have gone astray; the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him...?... Yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten, afflicted."
[Brother Branham continues to quietly pray for the people, while the organist and pianist continue playing "Nearer, My God, to Thee."--Ed.]