Episode:Jesus in Galilee—Crisis and Consequences (Part 4)

From Symmetry of Soul


The more or less composite and compromising transition stage, between the materialistic concepts of the kingdom held by the Master’s followers and those more idealistic and spiritual concepts taught by Jesus, definitely ended in the wake of the epochal sermon. From then on there was a more open proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom in its larger scope and in its far-flung spiritual implications.

Listen to the broadcast

Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Militant Attitude, Sifting of the Kingdom, Moral Courage

Summary by Kermit

Commentary on the Review

We expanded on our use of the term Jesusism. Unlike the more common use of the term referring to Jesus’ teachings and sayings separate from Pauline Christianity, SoS employs this term to indicate a belief system centered solely on Jesus. In other words, Jesus is all you need for a complete religious life. This leads to serious distortion of meaning as many of his sayings and teachings are only understood in their fullness in light of his pre- and post-baptismal earthly career as well as his pre- and post-bestowal career as Paradise Creator Son. The revelators suggest this in their use of the two terms Islam and Mohammedanism. The former signifying the religion and the latter representing the worldview and religion centered entirely on the person of Mohammed.

The problematic process of seizing upon an idea in the outer life, imbuing it with the religious impulse (zeal) and exalting it to existential status leads to the formation of -isms, and their promulgation as a totality expression of an ideology. The core issue lies in the failure of discriminating between an idea and an ideal. The simplest helpful distinction between the two can be had by seeing ideas as time-bound, and ideals as connected to eternity.

In response to a caller we further explicated the manner whereby, it is that which takes origin in the heart and is given expression which defiles and spiritually contaminates an individual. The heart (spiritualized mind) is by grace righteous, however through freewill can be perverted to unrighteousness or self-righteousness, further underscoring the truth that spirit and the spiritual are not innately divine (spirit is not innately divine).

153:5. The Saturday Evening

Following the Master’s militant manner of addressing and responding to the religious leaders the apostles were left in a mixture of negative thoughts and feelings including, disappointment, sorrow, depression, fear, and bewilderment.

At this point in the story we looked more closely at the question of the Master’s militancy. Earlier in this arc [149:2.11] we learned to view the Master as a progressive evolutionist, not a militant revolutionist. Yet, in this epochal sermon we see an unexpected militancy. Further, in the cleansing of the temple mere days before his crucifixion we see what has been misinterpreted in the gospels, Jesus as a social justice warrior, depicted as actually overturning the moneychangers’ tables himself, militant indeed! Yet, with the 5th ER we see a more restrained rendition of this event. We concluded that Jesus’ general approach in his ministry was aimed at overcoming evil with goodness. But in these more extreme cases where he was confronted by wickedness (sin), particularly at the hands of those in positions of authority and leadership over the populace, his natural righteous indignation found focused expression as God incarnate, inasmuch as goodness is powerless to overcome willful evil (wickedness).

The coda to be noted on the temple cleansing episode is that Jesus did not look with approval on the refusal to employ force to protect the majority against unfair and enslaving practices of unjust minorities entrenched behind political, financial, or ecclesiastical power.

Back home late into the evening loyal disciples came and went with reports of widespread desertions including about a third of the evangelists, while Jesus remained secluded in the upper chamber. When Jesus finally rejoined the apostles and associates, he reminded them of their training and preparation for such times as this. He challenged them to see this kingdom sifting as a necessary phase preparatory to a new day of enhanced spiritual teachings of the kingdom and intimated even more trying times ahead when he must return to the Father. Jesus then addressed them tenderly, and with words more encouraging, yet warning them that one amongst them was in grave danger. At which point Peter with the silent assent of his fellows pledged enduring loyalty to the Master.

Paper 154 Last Days at Capernaum

The religious leaders lost no time in moving against Jesus and company. The same Saturday evening a special commission representing the Sanhedrin met with Herod attempting to pressure him to arrest Jesus, but he withstood their entreaties, thanks to the testimony of Chuza, steward to Herod and spouse to one of the twelve women evangelists.

154:1. A Week of Counsel

For the next week, only the tried and trusted disciples held intimate counsel with Jesus at the Zebedee house in preparation for the impending dispersion of the kingdom workers. The number of disciples who had the moral courage to stand up to the opposition of the Pharisees had sunk to a mere one hundred or so. Meanwhile the Capernaum synagogue was officially to Jesus and his followers.

The disaffection of the people should not be attributed to the lack of universally bestowed Thought Adjuster, as the Holy Spirit encircuitment with its triune mind endowment is sufficient to enable genuine spiritual choosing. Note today with universal TA bestowal we have an emergency!

154:2. A Week of Rest

The Jerusalem Sanhedrin next, in an unprecedented usurpation of authority, decreed all synagogues in Palestine closed to Jesus and his followers. Jesus then declared a week’s holiday for his followers to repair to their homes or friends for spiritual restoration and mutual encouragement.

Interestingly during this week Nathaniel and James Zebedee came down with more than a slight illness. Jesus ministered to them. While he could have healed them immediately, he never resorted to any supernatural intervention with any of his family or immediate followers.

The midwayers go on to make the point that meeting such difficulties is an essential ingredient in experience training for all Paradise ascenders. Environmental ease does not serve us lower forms of will creatures. As the midwayers conclude, problematic situations, coupled with exertion stimuli, conspire to produce those activities of mind, soul, and spirit which contribute mightily to the achievement of worthy goals of mortal progression and to the attainment of higher levels of spirit destiny.

Notes by Brad

  • We mention Jesusism often here on SoS. It's not a new term we coined, though.
    • But the popular definition is somewhat benign. For us here, there is nothing benign.
    • -ism is a negative suffix. It indicates an idea that's been exalted through the use of religious zeal.
      • To make the one idea a panacea.
      • "Jesus is all you need" declares Jesusism.
    • So what is a true ideal? It's a tricky word, because it points to the spiritual.


  • Concerning the militant attitude and wickedness.
    • Should we follow after him? What can we take from this?
    • See [149:2.11] "He was not a militant revolutionist; he was a progressive evolutionist."
      • Overcome evil with goodness. Support evolution. Yes, we see him doing that all the time.
    • See [173:1.11]
      • When sin is in play, it cannot be overcome with goodness. It takes force to overcome sin, even "war in the heavens."
    • The militant attitude seen here arises because wickedness is in play.
    • But don't think you're a wickedness-destroyer. Battling sin is impersonal (justice, etc)
      • And we can't pattern ourselves after Jesus here, because really it's Michael of Nebadon doing this (post baptism)


  • Jesus not eating. What's this about? Self-denial?
    • It's more like: look, I'm OK food-wise. I have important matters to attend to given what just happened.
      • A child of the kingdom might thing he's pouting, because they'd certainly be prone to pouting.
    • Or maybe: Jesus turned on his militant attitude. It's an animal-origin phenomenon, and not innately mastered.


  • Jesus is trying to comfort his followers here.
    • "Enwomb" them, we said.
    • But not too far with that. He needs to explain to them the way things are, with this sifting of the kingdom matter.


  • What convenient... coincidences, eh? In supremacy, there are no coincidences.
    • Jesus refusing to be proclaimed king (a vivid event) made it back to Herod, and gave Jesus political breathing room for his last year on Earth.
    • And how convenient that Chuza and his wife's association with Jesus' women's ministry.


  • As the Sanhedrin usurped unprecedented power here, and damaged their credibility, they were sowing the seeds of Jerusalem's destruction some decades later.