Episode:Jesus the Tutor—Return from Rome (Part 2)

From Symmetry of Soul


Said Jesus: “My brother, always remember that man has no rightful authority over woman unless the woman has willingly and voluntarily given him such authority.  The loving care and consideration which a man is willing to bestow upon his wife and their children are the measure of that man’s attainment of the higher levels of creative and spiritual self-consciousness.”

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Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, Men and Women, Spirit Father, Spirit Mother

Note: Brad's father passed away two days before this episode, and we briefly discussed this in light of a lifetime growing up with The Urantia Book.

Summary by Kermit

Commentary on the Review

Reflecting on last week’s section on mercy and justice we called attention to the fact that in the administration of universe justice, judgment is administered according to spiritual motives and not mindal intentions. Motives take origin in the spirit to mind interface in the spiritualized mind. Intentions represent mind to matter transactions. In assessing the actions of another for the purposes of discerning motive, there are situations in which there aren’t any spiritual motives operating. For clarification it is helpful to consider motives as being good or bad, and intentions being true or false. These matters are difficult of discussion and understanding inasmuch as the spirit to mind realm is little known throughout human history. The good motive translated into a true intention is conditioned by and dependent on the function of wisdom.

133:2. Embarking at Tarentum

Here we have a tender and instructive vignette of Jesus intervening with a man mistreating his wife in public. Jesus presents a model for addressing an emotionally charged situation in such a manner as to de-escalate anger, preserve dignity, and deliver wise instruction to this married couple, as a man among men, not as an incarnated Creator Son. Jesus recognized the potentiality of this husband for objective consciousness and simply reminded him of consecrations the man had previously made. The midwayers then present his instruction to the couple about their different roles in marriage and family responsibilities, and their partnership with God in the creation of future cosmic citizens. We discern in this instruction the foundational spiritual equality of men and women as well as the differences of duties demanded by the realities of evolutionary life as material mortals.

And as we’ve come to expect, the narrative demonstrates precise consistency with advanced material in the revelation pertaining to Father and Mother Deity.

At the end of this section the midwayers provide more details connecting Jesus’ and the Indians’ encounters with individuals who find mention in the New Testament as associates of Paul as he traveled these same parts decades later establishing the Christian church.

133:3. At Corinth

This section continues with illuminating many more intriguing connections with Jesus’ Mediterranean tour and the early leaders of the Christian church.

Here we are treated to an endearing narrative of Jesus and Ganid, encountering two public women and effecting their rehabilitation with the assistance of Martha, wife of Justus, who in turn later hosted Paul during his (Paul’s) church work in Corinth. One must be impressed and perhaps amused at the masterly manner of Jesus’ ministry to these women, bringing them into relationship with Martha, who answered the call to service on the spur of the moment and without hesitation.

An interesting tangent illustrative of the delightful work of the revelators involves the parallel between Ganid’s indignation when accosted by the public women mentioned above and Jesus’ youthful indignation at the sight of the painted women parading about in the courts of the temple at Jerusalem when he was in attendance to celebrate his first Passover [125:1.2, p. 1378]. This parallel is ingeniously linked using the word “courtesan.” Courtesan is used only in these two places in the revelation.

Notes by Brad

  • This author's father died 2 days ago. He read The Urantia Book, too. What are we to say of these things?
    • James says, "What are my beliefs? I am eternalist. I have an eternal perspective. So it's adieu for now."
    • One thought: shall we celebrate? The 5th ER says that someday will happen!
      • Sure. But we are not in light and life yet. Our society doesn't do this. Our society offers material comfort (letter) and nutrition (food).
      • If we did try to celebrate, it wouldn't seem authentic, as it wouldn't match the times in which we live.
    • A test of one's faith?
      • No, this has not tested this author's faith. I have not been angry at God, forsaken him, shaken my fist, etc. Lots of questions, but the faith is intact.
    • The eulogy tomorrow may incorporate some or all of (without overtly citing the text):


  • Intention versus motivation: the words aren't the same.
    • Some natural (nature and/or nurture) propensity would lead to an intention
    • Motivation is deeper. Perhaps there is no motive in play. If your coworker is just naturally behaving badly, there is nothing there to judge. There is nothing artificial (personal) there to judge in that matter.
    • Judgment in the cosmic sense is only even possible with motivations, which derive from personal behavior.
    • Intentions make the body move, they manifest physiologically.
    • How is my art? My art of living? My spirit over mind? There lies motivation.
    • There's no precedent for this distinction, it has been unexamined on Earth. But it is an essential one.
  • Still having trouble with this above?
    • Can a 3-year old have a motive? No! We all intuitively know this. They're behaving naturally. (The 5th ER also tell sus they have no spirit interface yet).
    • And in a way, we children of God are not so different than 3-year-olds right now.
    • Most of the things we fret about "judginess" over is really irrelevant.
  • You can have good or bad motives (spirit words)
  • You can have true or false intentions.
    • "He had good intentions" is almost always said, and is almost always backwards.


  • One of the most famous and emotional stories in The Urantia Book: Jesus talking to an husband mistreating his wife
    • The textbook approach here: the teacher already knew the answer ("you foolishly lost your head") but he saved it to the very end after paving the way.
    • Jesus made it easy for the man to admit his wrongdoing and impose the sentence on himself. No opportunity to set up his defense.
    • This man was teachable, he had an objective foundation. This wasn't a "thoughtless man," not really, perhaps only temporarily.
    • If he hadn't been teachable like this, Jesus would have walked on by (as we have read him do). Casting pearls before swine and what not.
    • Does your car bumper say "practice random acts of kindness?" If so, is random action really the best way?
  • Meanwhile, in our daily life, instead of tossing Urantia Books at people (which hardly works), we observe that just sincerely offering coworkers a moment to "Stop. Reflect." Help them step outside the situation. None of this involves proselytizing, only sincerely serving.
  • Equality versus equity comes up in this story as well.
    • Men and women are spiritual equals, but not materially so.
    • Equity allows differences to work together.
    • And the Universal Father willingly and freely put himself into cooperative subordination to the "whole"--the Paradise Trinity. So the statement about "authority over woman" is timelessly truthful.
    • In order to be more than an island universe, in the outer life you must surrender some sovereignty (not that you really had any in the outer life to begin with!)
    • Truth cannot enter into an absolutist mentality. "Man has no authority over women. Women has not authority over man. Period." Is there much to work with there?


  • Ganid was imbued with the spirit of personal ministry.
    • Oh yeah? So are many 20 year olds, including this writer. Knowledge and wisdom were hardly in play for Ganid.
    • Fun pun: imbue's root is about making things wet. And this was on a boat, and Ganid wandered into "deep waters." The writing is so admirable.


  • These names of people Jesus taught and then later appeared in the Book of Acts in the Bible... it's no surprise these people would rise to the top in the Bible, because some 35 years earlier their minds had been prepared by Jesus.
  • See [125:1.2] for a parallel "courtesan" story from Jesus' young life. The only other time this word is used in the 5th ER. Again, masterful writing inviting deep study.


  • Minister with the kairos in the moment of the chronos.