Episode:Jesus Faces Death—Farewell Instruction (Part 6)

From Symmetry of Soul


Concerning leadership, Jesus said: "In my universe and in my Father's universe of universes, our brethren-sons are dealt with as individuals in all their spiritual relations, but in all group relationships we unfailingly provide for definite leadership. Our kingdom is a realm of order, and where two or more will creatures act in co-operation, there is always provided the authority of leadership."

Listen to the broadcast

Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Patience, Compassion, Sympathetic Affection

Note: Ann Garner filled in for Andrea Barnes this week.

Summary by Kermit

Commentary after Review

In preparing to depart this world Jesus leaves his apostles with all of his peace they will receive. In our discussion of this peace which passes understanding we were led to considering the difference between feeling the presence of God and knowing the fact of God. It is certainly the case that operating at the 6th level of meaning of God knowingness positive feelings accrue. However, initially and directly pursuing the feeling of God’s presence ties the believer to the temporal. To cultivate the feeling of the presence of God, it may be more profitable to use God’s gift of faith to grasp the fact of the real God. This constitutes identification with the existential and eternal nature of God. The subsequent feelings generated in this top down direction confer on the believer a peace in the presence of God. Listen to our further discussion concerning the evolutionary history of man’s beginning with the feelings of reverence tied to the concept of God, and the long ages of ever more elaborate ceremonies and complex rituals designed to produce more intense feelings about the Ghost-cult God. Note also that God knowingness is not equivalent to knowledge (knowingness that can be given), it is transcendent thereof.

In answer to a question from last week concerning John’s marital status, careful reading of [Paper 139] reveals that John eventually married his martyred brother James’ widow.

181:2.12

MATTHEW LEVI

The Master relieves Matthew of his responsibilities providing funds for the apostolic treasury. He is trying to prepare them all for the trying times ahead with instruction of a practical and pragmatic nature. Jesus also includes nuggets of truth which are designed to come to mind as they recover from the shock of Jesus’ murder. He goes on to include teachings which are intended to serve as our message to souls today as the good news that faith-quickened mortals are the Sons of God. Note our discussion concerning the more truthful nomenclature when referring to Mother and Father Deity. We are sons of the Father and children of the Mother. Regardless of gender we are

  • sons of God the Father through our indwelling Father fragments, and
  • children of God the Mother through our grace gift encircuitment in the Holy Spirit (HS).

The Master explains that the new helper the Spirit of Truth (SoT) will lead the apostles abroad to labor for the extension of the kingdom. We addressed the finer details of the function of the SoT initially as the spirit of unification in helping to unify the mind making it more readily able to synchronize with a sense of wholeness that is truth producing a dynamic directionizing of mind to those who thus identify with the Master. Remember the differential nature of the spirit of the Master Son and the HS, the former being directional and the latter being place based. The still small voice of the SoT saying “this is the way” at life’s many crossroads is definitely more subtle than the voice of conscience and requires reflection and discrimination to discern.

Jesus acknowledges Matthew’s bias to win the Jews to the kingdom cause, but encourages him to expand his efforts to include the gentiles. The New Testament gospel of Matthew reflects this Jewish bias.


JAMES ZEBEDEE

The nature of the Master’s remarks speak to his recognition that James’ aggressiveness may attract the harshest of response by the authorities of the day, resulting in his early death. Which is why Jesus commends James to cultivate sagacity and patience. But alas as history tells us James was the first of the apostles to be put to death.


ANDREW

Jesus goes to some lengths to relieve Andrew of his responsibilities as chief of the apostolic corps. He also makes the point that in the Father’s kingdom provision is always made for leadership, even to the case where two or more will creatures act in cooperation.

We discussed hierarchy in relation to leadership and noted that the Lucifer rebellion consisted in the rejection of the hierarchy chain of command of God the Sevenfold. Much of the current emergency of which we speak often on the broadcast is to be found in the immature and unwise rejection of hierarchical authority. Well executed hierarchical authority provides for harmonious functioning of the parts within a greater whole. Even the Universal Father put himself in cooperative subordination to the authority of the whole, the Paradise Trinity. The importance of the harmonious differential functioning of parts in relation to the whole is illustrated in Jesus’ instruction to Andrew to dedicate the remainder of his life to promoting the practical aspects of brotherly love among his brethren, whereas he directed John to dedicate his life to teaching his brethren how to practice Fatherly love.


ALPHEUS TWINS

Jesus’ message to the Alpheus twins was in keeping with their childlike nature and capacities. He appealed to older notions of traditional religion by forecasting the twins’ experiences on high in fellowship with seraphic hosts and high Sons of God. He also released them from kingdom labors to resume their work of former days and marked them as examples of the nobility and sacredness of earthly labor.


PHILIP

Jesus appears to be most harsh in directly pointing out Philip’s shortcomings with his many foolish questions, unspiritual (but honest) mind, and job failures. Yet he goes on to describe Philip’s attainment of spiritual vision and real career of leading mankind to search for God and to seek eternal realities with the eyes of spiritual faith.

Notes by Brad

  • This author reports a recently enhanced richness in engaging Part IV of the 5th ER.
    • Something about reading about all the apostles and Jesus together in one one, just themselves tending to their business.
    • [Paper 139] is a fine place to start.


  • Can one feel the presence of God, to achieve peace?
    • Be careful with the verb "feel" and your old wineskins.
      • This verb is inevitable for our experiences, but it's baggage-laden.
      • Starting with feelings is, to some degree, inevitable and a beginning step for a child. We all must start somewhere.
      • Trouble is, many stay here all their lives, having merely stabilized their daily living.
    • Starting with feelings is far more likely to be un-enduring peace. Peace that slips through your fingers.
    • There IS a measure of objectivity given to you, by grace. Can you grasp that measure of with your hands ("faith grasp"), and then work toward planting your feet in eternity?
      • Can you have feelings that endure beyond the immediacy of sensory inputs? Feelings that are stirred by in the inner life?


  • Matthew Levi. A reminder of the practical issues about to intrude. A recurring theme: You'll need money. You'll be scattered. You'll need new associates. Etc.
    • The tax-collector is the best of the 11 to relay this practical admonition to.
    • "Faith-quickened mortals are the sons of God." Important leading adjective pair.
      • Yes, your relationship to God the Mother is inherent in your material nature. But that is not God the Father. You must have faith.
    • "The Spirit of Truth will lead you abroad..." How does that work?
      • Remember that, first, it beings with its initial aspect, which we might denominate the spirit of unification.
      • Any linear "I must go this way" is just a shadow being cast from some non-linear synchronization in the upper domain in the hourglass analogy of your mind.
      • A shadow that is improved direction-ization.
      • This this not conscience--another voice that can speak to you, on behalf of the mores of society--the stuff you've allowed in from the outside.
      • Incidentally, conscience voice is never a "still, small voice." Can you listen past its bullhorn blaring?
    • Jesus' advice here seems to stick. Reading the gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus "whether you're a Jew or gentile," so Matthew remembered it!


  • James Zebedee. Oh James, try to not get yourself killed with your temper, needlessly, before your time.
    • Looking before leaping isn't James' natural tempermental disposition.
    • Is Jesus doing mental time travel? No. Foresight doesn't need magical time travel.
      • Does this speak to you? Can you find sagacity (insight and foresight)? Can you learn by looking, not just learn by leaping?
      • Sagacity is character, not temperament.
    • Still, James was the first of the 11 to die. He appears to have lived for 11-14 years after Jesus left.


  • Andrew. A key element of cosmology is said to Andrew: leadership is essential, always.
    • Hence the present emergency. "You're not the boss of me!"
    • Just because some authority should be questioned, it does not follow that all authority should be rejected.
    • Just because you have free will, that doesn't mean hierarchical authority should be rejected.
    • The word co-operation literally implies choice, which is a high word.
    • He's speaking to more than just Andrew.
      • Other apostles? Well, sure. But a universe is listening. As are we, today. How does this speak to us today?
    • Authority provides a framing. We all need a framing, contrary to popular opinion of today.
      • Material authority could keep you from being hit by a car.
      • But spiritual authority's frame can help your soul from falling into eternal peril!
      • Jesus' spiritual authority is about to be imposed worldwide, for all future time: the Spirit of Truth. And you don't get to opt out. That's spiritual authority.
    • Andrew is already being told he's going to be an administrator in the afterlife. I guess Andrew found his true career!
    • Unlike John's call to show high fatherly love, he tells Andrew to show brotherly love (kindness, kin-like-ness). Intriguing contrast.


  • Correct understanding of "two or more will creatures act in co-operation" is essential here.
    • Co- + -operate: literally, work together. Pretty straightfroward.
    • But it's more precise to say this is to choose together. And choice is a high word.
      • "op" means work in ancient proto-Indo-European tongue.
      • "er" is the genertive. So more like "of the work", or "as relates to work"
    • "Together, as relates to work."
    • So people are involved. And choice to work together is involved.
    • The choice is to choose to work with other humans. Then, the intentions that derive from this choice--the work itself--derives from it.
    • And "will" creatures and "act" also suggest very human choice at play.
    • Co-operation is much more than rudimentary 5th adjutant function to build an anthill
      • Animals can work together in packs or clans (that's the 5th of the seven adjutant mind-spirits). Humans can potentially co-operate.
      • And our budding 6th adjutant (zeal for self in its initial manifestation!) makes co-operation all the harder in the natural sense.


  • The Alpheus Twins. Always such sweet words told to them.
    • Interesting that Jesus invokes high celestial beings with them. A shout-out to the old wineskin of the ghost cult?
      • It's okay to be a child first in the kingdom! And they exemplify this.
    • Jesus leaves the door open for their free will, but he knows in all likelihood they'll "just" go back to their former labor. Which is fine, which is what he underscores.
    • Today we see a denigration of common labor. An unfortunate driving (back) to the times of elite lords and downcast serfs.
    • Today people might observe Jesus giving leadership to Andrew instead of the Alpheus twins and accuse Jesus of bigotry.
      • That's a problem today. We are not all materially or intellectually equal.


  • Philip. Some fairly withering criticisms from Jesus to him. Must be a reason.
    • Jesus knows he can push Philip, Nathaniel, and Thomas pretty hard. He knows what they need to hear.
    • He also knows they are so over-awed in this emotional moment, that this probably won't soak in.
    • But the vividness of these ideas might stick.
    • This author notes that Philip also had a really cool wife and family. She stood at the base of his cross and, offered mercy to her husband's murderers and was stoned to death on the spot. Then his daughter continued her parents' work.