Episode:Jesus Faces Death—The Crucifixion (Part 5)

From Symmetry of Soul


Jesus’ only words, as they nailed him to the crossbeam, were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He could not have so mercifully and lovingly interceded for his executioners if such thoughts of affectionate devotion had not been the mainspring of all his life of unselfish service. The ideas, motives, and longings of a lifetime are openly revealed in a crisis.

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Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Intense Sufferings, Great Patience, Quiet Fortitude

Summary by Kermit

Commentary after Review

We briefly reiterated the difference between being satisfied with one’s spiritual advancement and growth, in contrast with finding contentment in one’s status as a beloved child of an all-loving Spirit Father on the path to promised perfection all the while cultivating the hunger and thirst for righteousness which characterizes genuine kingdom believers. Be content, not satisfied,we suggest.

Our discussion then addressed how we might approach of the idea of biblical inerrancy. We suggested that the recognition of goodness found in the scriptures is all too often casually taken to be true. If we accept that truth is a superadditive consequence of the relationship between fact and goodness, figment (non-fact) in a superadditive relationship with goodness will produce error. We recognize the scriptures were not written as a history text and certainly not a scientific text, and as such can be appreciated for the goodness it represents as a religious work. The 5th ER properly discriminates between the separate domains of the goodness of religion and facts of science, and their coming together in the pursuit of genuine philosophy. This is the goal of the next stage of progressive civilization—the quest for knowledge and wisdom. To this end we have noted the precision of detail concerning these events of Jesus’ life which the revelators provided in their joint tasks of authoritatively eliminating error and coordinating essential knowledge.

Looking even deeper at our narrative, we wondered at the purpose behind the backstory disclosures of the midwayers in their factual disclosures about Simon of Cyrene and his sons Rufus and Alexander. Perhaps careful study of church history and contemporaneous extrabiblical writings might enable us to identify more threads of connection and fill existing gaps in our historical record.

187:2. The Crucifixion

As we read through this very disturbing disclosure of the details of the crucifixion we recognize how many scriptural controversies and historical debates are sorted and more correctly informed. This discussion drew us back to the earlier consideration of the pursuits of religion and science and their roles in seeking truth. Each domain as pursued in itself does require some degree of philosophic oversight to benefit from the other’s progress. Initial assumptions of each discipline must start with the big picture whole (total reality) which provides a logic frame for the methods--faith and reason--to serve their respective domains of religion and science. It was mentioned that the revelators are expecting students to have internalized some of the goodness of the 4th ER to bring to the factual disclosures in the 5th ER in the pursuit of its truth.

The fruitful pursuit of the truths of the revelation demand synthetic assessment and reflection of the facts disclosed and analyzed in light of the recognized goodness. Preconceived opinions etc. and accompanying rationalizations devised to support them must be abandoned if one is to approach the truth in the revelation.

We examined in elucidating detail the philosophic commentary made by the midwayers concerning the well-nigh universally known statement by Jesus as he was being nailed to the crossbeam, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The midwayers continue, “He could not have so mercifully and lovingly interceded for his executioners if such thoughts of affectionate devotion had not been the mainspring of all his life of unselfish service. The ideas, motives, and longings of a lifetime are openly revealed in a crisis.” Listen to the archive for the unpacking of this material addressing the physics of the relation of ideas, motives, and longings, as well as the surprising intercession made by Jesus for his executioners. Follow the synthetic process whereby we recognize that Jesus was interceding for the soldiers with the onlookers present then and down through the centuries who have been tempted to judge the acts of the soldiers. We recall during his Mediterranean tour, Jesus’ talk with a condemned criminal about to die for his crime, where we are reminded that God judges us by our real motives and better intentions not our acts. Surprisingly, the text of the revelation, read uncritically, allows the old wineskin interpretation of Jesus interceding with God for his children.

We noted interesting details concerning Pilate’s inscription and why it so infuriated the Jewish leaders as well as details of John’s movements throughout the crucifixion, being the only apostle to witness the crucifixion, but even he was not present for the entire time.

It was fortuitous that Jesus’ garments were divided among the soldiers, eliminating the inevitable relic worship should his followers have gained possession of them. The Master wanted to leave mankind only the memory of a human life dedicated to the high spiritual ideal of being consecrated to doing the Father’s will. And remember the doing of the will of God is nothing more or less than an exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God. [111:5.1].

187:3. Those Who Saw the Crucifixion

Again, we find the revelators establishing a factual foundation of these events in their detailed narration of those who witnessed the crucifixion even including the unseen hosts of a universe. Numerous biblical details are confirmed and clarified. Those present beheld Jesus’ great patience and fortitude, even to the astonishment of the soldiers at his tolerant regard in the face of their ridicule and mocking.

We who have studied the struggles with his creator powers Jesus faced in his public ministry know all too well how a moment’s merciful sentiment on his part could result in the miraculous as was the case in the winemaking episode or the healing at sundown. That he lived these final hours of intense suffering without resorting to his supernatural power is eloquent testimony to his human character and dedication to doing his father’s will, living and dying as an ordinary mortal.

Notes by Brad

  • This author reports elevated anxiety in the last week. But knowing that mind-born feels are not spirit-born feelings helped to contextualize that experience.


  • Biblical inerrancy arises because religioninsts recognize goodness in the Bible, but then assume that implies truth.
    • But in fact, truth, and goodness, truth is the superadditive consequence.
    • And truth is living--not words on a page.
    • Let religionists focus on goodness. Let scientists focus on facts. From these truth and philosophy can superadditively arise.


  • Alexander and Rufus (Simon of Cyrene's son) were known in the days when Mark was writing his gospel.
    • They were doing things in Africa.
    • Somewhere there is likely a record of these doings in Africa. This would allow you to link that record with these two men.
    • Probably not the Rufus in the Book of Romans. It was a common name.
    • When reading names like this, don't approach them so analytically.


  • More factual details about the crucifixion.
    • The facts and goodness here ought to be able to help you to get truth flowingand to find your philosophic frame of understanding.
    • Helps clear up the fragmentary, muddled descriptions in the gospel.
    • Each paragraph deals with a different issue:
      • cross mechanics
      • Jesus body
      • Perception of crucifixion in Jerusalem


  • Synthesis, not analysis
    • "Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) was designed with six levels in order to promote higher order thinking. Synthesis was placed on the fifth level of the Bloom’s taxonomy pyramid as it requires students to infer relationships among sources. The high-level thinking of synthesis is evident when students put the parts or information they have reviewed as a whole in order to create new meaning or a new structure."


  • The mainspring metaphor here is about a spiritual driving force (a motive)
  • Ideas, motives, and longings, taken in order
  • "Father forgive them...", what to make of this? He "interceded"?
    • Did the brigands need forgiveness? Was God offended? No. We know better.
      • Jesus knows you're judged by your motives. See how he spoke to the condemned criminal in our Jesus the Tutor arc. [133:4.12]
      • Jesus can't go into a discourse on the nature of motives and forgiveness. So he is pithy here.
      • Jesus "interceded". Between whom? The soldiers and God? No. That's an old wineskin. Between the soldiers and the crowd observing thisand reading about it.
      • Is there a twinkle in the revelators eye? Did they write this to challenge us to feel the tension?
  • "The ideas, motives, and longings of a lifetime are openly revealed in a crisis."
    • Very timely. But also universal reflection.
    • "Never waste the opportunity in a crisis" is a well-known aphorism amongst people seeking change.
      • So, change is the longing of many a politician and person.
      • But what is their motive?
      • And from that longing and the mainspring underlying motive, flow forth new ideas (new laws we are seeing all about us)
      • Getting one's motives oriented properly is so important! Longings will always be there in you,but what will be the motive that drives to an idea in a crisis?



  • Jesus wore a turban? That's bound to ruffle some feathers.


  • Ideas versus ideals here. "The high spiritual ideal of being consecrated to doing the Father’s will."
    • Always look for opportunities to distinguish these concepts when reading the 5th ER.
    • Potentialities are ideal-like. Actualities are idea-like.
    • "The doing of the will of God is nothing more or less than an exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God."
      • Don't drop the bold words. Many often do when quoting this. They're what make it an ideal, a potentiality.


  • Rebecca was there. Very poignant. See [127:5],when Jesus was 19, to see why.
    • Here is the dramatic romantic flourish you might need for the screenplay...


  • Can you avoid, in the last paragraph of section 2, the old wineskin?
    • Doing the Father's will is not about ideas. It's about an ideal.


  • Don't underestimate how hard it was for Jesus to die naturally.
    • To not have a stray thought, in all this agony, occur and then then having it come to pass.