JESUS & EXODUS

This passage from Jerusalem is particularly rich in Biblical references. Jesus speaks to Jerusalem to support her in her time of troubles. Blake uses the experiences of Jesus from the New Testament and the experiences from the exodus in the Old Testament to intimate the journey that must be undertaken to arrive at what may be described as the 'Promised Land.' Biblical scholars point out the parallels between what was achieved in the Israelites release from slavery in Egypt, through their sojourn in the wilderness and their arrival in the promised land; and what Jesus achieved through his incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. The alteration in consciousness achieved through each of these examples of 'exodus' made possible new beginnings in mankind's psychic and spiritual development.

Here is an article linking Jesus and the Exodus: "The Exodus in the New Testament", by R.E. Nixon, M.A.

Jerusalem, Plate 62, (E 213)
"Jesus replied. I am the Resurrection & the Life.
John 11: 25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
I Die & pass the limits of possibility, as it appears
To individual perception. Luvah must be Created
And Vala; for I cannot leave them in the gnawing Grave.
John 11
[17] Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
[31] The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
[43] And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
[44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
But will prepare a way for my banished-ones to return
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Come now with me into the villages. walk thro all the cities.
Tho thou art taken to prison & judgment, starved in the streets
I will command the cloud to give thee food & the hard rock
To flow with milk & wine,
Deuteronomy 8
[15] Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
[16] Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
tho thou seest me not a season
John 16:16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
Even a long season & a hard journey & a howling wilderness!
Numbers 32
[13] And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.
Tho Valas cloud hide thee & Luvahs fires follow thee!
Exodus 13
[21] And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
[22] He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Only believe & trust in me,
Mark 5
[36] As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Lo. I am always with thee!
Matthew 28
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
___________________________________________Moses

Blake, through his prophetic writings, was proposing that man once again go on a journey of exodus out of the slavery of the limitations produced by our own inability to perceive the infinite world of the spirit which we can access through imagination. The world we live in reflects the minds which we choose to limit through being blind, deaf, and insensitive to the infinite, perfect and ever changing Eternal world. Jesus taught the same lessons that Blake taught, and demonstrated the path of death and rebirth, which leads to Eternal Life. Blake invites us to put aside selfhood in forgiveness, jealousy in brotherhood, sensation in vision, outward development in inward development, and Eternal Death in Eternal Life.

Larry reminds us to read this passage in Luke which speaks of the exodus Jesus was about to accomplish: Luke 9: 28-36. (Note verse 31.)