Episode:Jesus Faces Death—Farewell Instruction (Part 7)

Jesus Faces Death—Farewell Instruction (Part 7)
Broadcast on	November 19, 2019
Episode #	469
Study of	[Paper 181:2.21-31, p. 1960]

To the apostles Jesus said: "Be not dismayed that you fail to grasp the full meaning of the gospel. You are but finite, mortal men, and that which I have taught you is infinite, divine, and eternal. Be patient and of good courage since you have the eternal ages before you in which to continue your progressive attainment of the experience of becoming perfect, even as your Father in Paradise is perfect."

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Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Sincerity, Discretion, Supernal Tenderness

Summary by Kermit

Commentary after Review

We reflected on the idea that where two or more will creatures act in cooperation, there is always provided the authority of leadership. This discussion led to a consideration of leadership and consequent hierarchies. Hierarchies are increasingly viewed today with suspicion as an affront to equality. All persons are in truth spiritually equal, but materially and temporally most certainly not. This confounding of spiritual equality and material equality is part of the emergency often referred to on this broadcast.

We then proceeded to etymologically explore the word “cooperation” to find its meaning in the idea of people choosing to work together, lifting intention up to the level of purpose. I can not possibly hope to summarize this discussion, so please listen to the full discussion for the details.

181:2.21 Farewell Personal Admonitions (cont.)

We concluded the Master’s personal remarks to the eleven apostles.

NATHANIEL

This apostle “without guile” was admonished to continue to learn to live above prejudice and practice increased tolerance. Jesus suggested that his well-known and appreciated sincerity is most serviceable when wedded to discretion. We discussed at some length this juxtaposing of sincerity with discretion. Sincerity, of origin in the spiritual consciousness of the inner life is balanced by discretion, the quality of separating the inner and outer life. Inner life impulses require modulation in their outer expression. Sincerity, the purity of spiritual consciousness is not equivalent to depth of cosmic consciousness, and without discretion it is not balanced. Wisdom is required for the harmonious function of sincerity and discretion. And we know wisdom is not attained without tribulation.

The character trait of Jesus most admired by Nathaniel was tolerance. We considered how unbridled sincerity and frankness can be disruptive and lead to intolerance. We mused over the meaning of the revelator’s statement ascribed to Jesus, “If you would learn to work with your brethren, you might accomplish more permanent things, but if you find yourself going off in quest of those who think as you do, in that event dedicate your life to proving that the God-knowing disciple can become a kingdom builder even when alone in the world and wholly isolated from his fellow believers”, especially in light of Nathaniel’s taking the his gospel message through Mesopotamia and eventually to far-off India.

We note that Jesus reiterates the extension of the ministry of the Spirit of Truth beyond the earthly life and even beyond the Creator Sons’ local universe. We reflected that our earthly lives will likely not bear the quantity of spiritual fruit we might hope, but that Jesus’ instructions to his chosen ones can be taken to heart by us in developing patience and courage in our cosmic progress. We further noted how patience entails eternalizing our perspective.

THOMAS

Jesus praised Thomas’ courage and critical thinking even though he often lacked faith and struggled with doubting. The Master expresses confidence in Thomas’ capacity for surmounting his perplexities and embodying the new commandment. Note the necessity of ascertaining the proper meaning of the words used by the revelators, in this case “critical” as applied to Thomas meaning involving skillful judgement as to truth and not finding fault.

PETER

Acknowledging Peter’s genuine love for him, Jesus speaks plainly to him concerning his impetuosity and the trouble it has caused for all of them. He warns Peter that failure to master this frailty will make even further trouble for him. To all assembled Jesus reiterates his forecast of what is to happen to him and solemnly warns them of the danger that they will stumble because of what befalls him. Peter in keeping with his temperament fervidly promises he will not thus stumble. Whereupon Jesus pointedly predicts Peter’s famous denial of his master to transpire that very night.

Jesus concludes his comments reiterating his intention to tarry with the apostles for a season before ascending to the Father and repeating his instruction to practice the new commandment.

Notes by Brad

• The idea of not needing leaders (in the name of flatness and "equality") is spiritual candy—poisonous sophistry.
  • Reality really contains differences—parts. Leadership that knows how to appropriately coordinate the parts is essential.
    • That is, the universe is not as continuum-like as we might want to idealistically think.
  • Even when 2 or more Divine Counselors get together, there is not self-leading. Self-leading is a presumption of the Lucifer rebellion.
  • And just because poor leaderships exists and is easily observed, it does not follow you should throw out the concept of leadership and embrace, more or less, the Lucifer rebellion.
  • Humility is what helps your animal-origin clamoring self to not question all leadership.

• Recognize that then you are doing work, you already made a higher choice to do work. That's the true sense of the word co-operation.

• Nathaniel. Wed your sincerity with discretion.
  • Sincerity comes from spiritual consciousness. "Sincerity" basically is about purity, which spiritual consciousness loves.
  • But sincerity alone is not enough.
    • It can get out of hand if unbridled and in an over-spiritualized mind.
    • "Surely if we're sincere nothing can go wrong!" Not so much.
  • Discrete is like the word "discern," as in separate apart. Spiritual consciousness doesn't do that so well!
  • Nathaniel was so well-educated, which can be a dangerous juicing of sincerity. But dry sands of knowledge can work against you if wisdom and discretion are never cultivated to temper this sincerity.
  • The unfortunate use of your personal nature is what can get you into trouble in these matters.
• The Alpheus twins were balanced, yes. But as a very low and basic level. They were not storytellers, poets, humorists, philosophers, like Nathaniel.
  • But it takes ever more objectivity to maintain balance at a higher level.
  • To him whom is given much is much expected.
  • "Sincerity, sincerity, and more sincerity" the revelators write elsewhere. Yes. But in a cosmic context. Untempered, you can use that sentence in a huge erroneous way.

• That which is eternal cannot let you down. Feelings eventually let you down, because feelings are temporal.
• The biggest old wineskin of them all: confusing exalted feelings with spirit.
  • Yes, feelings are higher than matter. They're mind. Now your religion is in your mind. You'll come up short.
  • Can you seek a religion of spirit?

• Even when Jesus walked among them, most of his teachings went in one ear, and out the other.
  • Hence how Jesus had "done all he could do."
  • How much moreso, then, is the 5th ER prone to go in one ear and out the other?

• Our age is one filled with material techniques.
  • Take care that the wonderment of these techniques doesn't draw you away from spiritual techniques.
  • There also is the psychologic procedure: let go of your unfortunate grip on your mind, and let your by-grace enciruitment with the cosmos re-establish things.
  • So there are material techniques (hand grasp) and spirit techniques (faith grasp). Mind is not a substance, it's more of a fluid energy, so to speak, so it's a procedure there (not a technique).
  • "Prayer ever has been and ever will be a twofold human experience: a psychologic procedure interassociated with a spiritual technique." [91:3:6]

• Remember that eternal ages stretch out before you. Be patient!
  • The only way to be truly patient is, to some degree, eternalize yourself. Be anchored in eternity.
  • Even a non-enduring peace, wherein you grasp eternity only for a little while, is an improved condition. Start somewhere.

• Thomas. He has a critical mind, but that's OK since that also is a discerning mind.
  • Critical is not a negative word. Nor is the word discriminate.
    • Humans must separate one thing from another, to make sense of it all.
  • It's not easy to hold the tension we have between material and spiritual natures in us.
    • But that's the voltage potential that must be generated, that we need. The key is to resolve the tension. Onward, forwever, for all eternity.
    • "the human intellect protests against being weaned from subsisting upon the nonspiritual energies of temporal existence." [100:4.2]
  • And these tensions get bigger and bigger the higher we ascend int he cosmos.
    • Though also does our capability to bridge these gaps, so don't worry.

• Simon Peter. Watch your mouth! Subdue your own tongue. That might make you a great man.
  • Should we conquer cities with the 5th ER? No. How about you see if it can help you cultivate wisdom and a cosmic context in yourself.
    • Re-establish this within yourself. or mature it in yourself. Discover the balance and proportion the 7th adjutant can offer.
  • Jesus calls this in Simon Peter a frailty, not just a weakness or some little matter to polish up. This is a "major divot" in Simon's life.
  • Can you stop pointing your finger at others who haven't mastered themselves? Can you start with yourself?
  • Jesus points out Simon's "presumptuous self-confidence," and then in the very next paragraph Simon does that very thing.
  • Peter denied Jesus not "three or four times," but five times later that night! An over-achiever.
    • Jesus was not time traveling; he understood Simon's mind and mortal nature, as Jesus the man.
  • So Simon leaped instead of looking.
    • There's a certain beauty to observing someone learning by leaping. "Just deserts" and what not. It can allow others the potential to learn by looking first.

• This all was evolutional. They end by singing an Old Testament hymn. An old wineskin. But that's evolution.