Leo Tolstoy Archive


The Teaching of Christ Narrated for Children
Chapter 45


Written: 1908
Source: From RevoltLib.com
Transcription/Markup: Andy Carloff
Online Source: RevoltLib.com; 2021


Leo Tolstoy

After that, Jesus raised his eyes to the sky and said: “My Father, you gave your son the freedom of life, so that he would receive the true life. Real life is the knowledge of the true God. And I have opened you to people. I have accomplished the matter you’ve entrusted me. They were yours even before, but according to your will I have opened them the truth that you're in them. And they came to know you. They realized that all that is in me, is also in them, and that all this is only from you. They have realized that all mine is yours, all yours is mine. I'm no longer in the world, and I’m coming to you, but they are in the world; and so I beg you, Father: keep them in truth. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, I’m asking you to deliver them from lies, and strengthen them in your truth. So that they are all one; just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you, so that they would get united in us. So that all would join in one, and so that people would understand that they are not born by themselves, but you have lovingly sent them into the world, just as you have sent me. Righteous Father! The world have not come to know you yet, but I have, and they have come to know you through me. And I have explained them that you, out of love to them, gave them their lives, so that your love to them would return back to you.” (John 17, 1-26)

Questions:
1) What is the true life?
2) What is it in Jesus’ disciples, and in all people?