Episode:Jesus in Galilee—Advancing Ministry (Part 6)

From Symmetry of Soul


Multitudes of both friends and foes would follow Jesus for weeks, just to hear his gracious words and behold his simple life. Devoted men and women loved Jesus with a well-nigh superhuman affection. And the better they knew him the more they loved him. And all this is still true; even today and in all future ages, the more man comes to know this God-man, the more he will love and follow after him.

Listen to the broadcast

Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Well-Balanced Character, Revolution/Evolution, Dogmatic Theology

Summary by Kermit

Commentary on the Review

Following up on the two great mistakes made by the early Christians in promulgating the new religion, we considered whether proponents of the 5th ER might be repeating the mistake of over emphasizing the person of Jesus, with the attendant risk of alienating followers of non-Christian religions in the process. However, unlike Christianity in the first century when the work of Paul was so prominent, today the 5th ER is being disseminated by many more individuals in diverse ways such that it is not a monolithic enterprise. Albeit, a very natural response to the revelation with its magnificent portrayal of Jesus’ life and personality is to exalt him above his saving message. We are reminded that Jesus is more properly viewed as an inspiration rather than an example.

Also in this discussion we examined the parallels between the word progressions:

  • BLUNDER, ERROR, MISTAKE
  • FACT, TRUTH, GOODNESS.

Listen to the archive for details. The first mistake, the effort to connect the gospel teaching directly onto Jewish theology e.g. the Christian atonement, is disruptive not so much for its erroneous depiction of a stern and wrathful Father, but rather that it de-universalized Jesus message and has persisted for generations down to modern times.

149:2.5 Attitude of the People (cont.)

In our reading of the remainder of this section on the attitude of the people SoS took some pains to explicate the depth of meaning in the revelators’ precision of language. The intricacies and nuances encountered do not lend themselves to succinct summarization, but are best appreciated in the context of the complete discussion which is why the student is often advised to re-visit the archive of these broadcasts. This greater depth of meaning is enabled through a recognition of the structure and function of the triunity of reality as portrayed throughout the revelation, the use of the analogy of the hourglass model of the human mind plus apprehension of the six levels of meaning. Also, recognition of the foundational elements in the ordering of word pairs helps to illuminate the truth content of the revelation.

Our authors continue, those who would teach the religion of Jesus are encouraged to emphasize truths held in common with other religions rather than highlight their differences.

As has been mentioned, Jesus’ fame at this time in his ministry was due to his reputation as a healer, and the healings made the most immediate appeal to the common people, yet he was increasingly sought for spiritual help. He always helped those who sought his ministry, teaching them the way of deliverance from moral enslavement and mental harassments. Fathers were helped in the management of their sons and mothers assisted in the guidance of their daughters.

Notwithstanding that Jesus was to only founder of a religion to perform supermaterial acts on earth we are admonished to avoid seeking Jesus through these so-called miracles, rather we are encouraged to approach the miraculous through Jesus.

Jesus’ attitude toward women is cited as the most revolutionary feature of his bestowal mission. He included women as teachers of the gospel in connection with his third tour of Galilee. The midwayers are pointed in their rebuke of Christianity’s moral cowardice in failing to carry this ennobling regard for women forward in subsequent generations.

The people found Jesus entirely free from superstition, religious prejudices, intolerance, and social antagonisms. He taught that the vicissitudes of this life in the flesh were not visitations of divine judgement while he denounced slavish devotion to meaningless ceremonials and exposed the fallacy of materialistic worship.

In the place of tradition Jesus put reality, and in place of the observance of outer life ritual (clean hands) he taught that the mark of real religion was the inner life of the spiritualized mind (clean hearts). He never destructively criticized or showed utter disregard for the religious, social, economic, and political usages of his day. Unlike today’s popular depictions of Jesus as a militant revolutionary, he was actually a progressive evolutionist.

Jesus’ personality was powerfully attractive. He was possessed of absolute authority, but was not dictatorial. And as a Master Son he permitted his followers to call him Master. He was admired by all, save those who saw political dangers in his teachings. He was feared only by those who were determined to pursue their path to iniquity at all costs.

The final paragraph of this section holds a subtle but key element in gaining a proper relationship to the Master. The midwayers state that the more man comes to know this God-man, the more he will love and follow after him. The significance of this is expanded upon in [196:1.3] where we are told that to follow Jesus means to personally share his religious faith and enter into his life of unselfish service for man. Further to find out what Jesus believed, to discover his ideals, and to strive for the achievement of his exalted life purpose.

149:3. Hostility of the Religious Leaders

The religious leaders were becoming increasingly alarmed and antagonistic. Recent events involving the conversion of Abraham the influential Pharisee plus the defection of the three Jerusalem spies drove them into panic. Their willful rejection of the appealing truths of the gospel effectively shut off the appeal to their indwelling spirit, tragically demonstrating the futility of attempting to overcome sin with goodness. With their hardened hearts they henceforth planned and plotted for the Master’s destruction.

Notes by Brad

  • It is so easy and natural for Jesus-ism to arise. Especially with the 5th ER giving us all these details of his life.
    • So, try not to be natural. Don't be sentimental.
    • Try to relate to him as your brother (not your father). Which is a horizontal relationship (the Father is vertically up)
    • The Father saves, not the brother.
    • See [129:4.7] for some guidance on how to approach the life of Jesus. An inspiration, not an example.


  • Blunder, error, and mistake are words the 5th ER suggest to us to distinguish.
    • In parallel with fact, truth, and goodness.
    • Error and mistake are supposed to refer to inner life issues.
    • A blunder is an outer life manifestation.
    • Popular sense of these words are almost reversed from their true sense. We are such externally oriented creatures, aren't we?


  • Some big questions from tonight's study. Don't assume you know what these mean:
    • What is truth?
    • What is "spiritual help?"
    • What is "moral enslavement?" It's incorrect exaltation of outer life mores into the inner life's 5th level of meaning.
    • What are "mental harassments?" An un-unified mind (unstable and flighty). Plenty of that going around naturally.


  • This author noticed the subtle place versus direction nod: the management of sons, and the guidance of daughters.


  • What happens if you try to approach Jesus through his miracles? You don't impress the scientifically minded these days. It's just a dusty tale from 2,000 years ago to them. And they kinds have a point.
  • Is the 5th ER "compatible" with the Bible? (a frequently asked question).
    • The paragraph referring to the "one shameful thing" of Christianty and its lack of moral courage... challenges any such compatibility.


  • Remember the elevated sense of the word heart in the 5th ER. It is not feelings or affection. It's the upper domain of the hourglass analogy of mind.


  • You can will a revolution only in a domain in which you're sovereign. And that's only your inner life.