Episode:Jesus Goes Public—Preparation and Preaching (Part 14)

From Symmetry of Soul


Said the Master: "I declare that the kingdom of heaven is the realization and acknowledgment of God’s rule within the hearts of men. True, there is a King in this kingdom, and that King is my Father and your Father. We are indeed his loyal subjects, but far transcending that fact is the transforming truth that we are his sons. In my life this truth is to become manifest to all."

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Keywords: Urantia, Jesus, God’s Law, The Father’s Will, God Is Your Father

Opening thought: What an awakening the world would experience if it could only see Jesus as he really lived on earth and know, firsthand, his life-giving teachings! Descriptive words of things beautiful cannot thrill like the sight thereof... [195:9.8]

Note: Justin Armstrong filled in for Andrea Barnes this week.

Summary by Kermit

Commentary after Review

Frequently we read that Jesus’ teachings were beyond the understanding of his apostles, but the essence of his message was more or less communicated in the very life he lived among them. This is confirmation of one of his teachings, “By their fruits you shall know them.” Genuine fruits of the spirit are powerful and convincing manifestations of an inner religious life. Discernment and insight are required to distinguish these fruits from the trappings of merely pious conduct exercised in conformity with social usage and adherence to religious dogma.

As we ponder the meanings and seek the truths in Jesus’ bestowal, we are advised to keep in mind the Master’s audience, and recognize how different were the religious, philosophic, political, and social conditions of 1st century Palestine from those of 21st century secular western civilization. Jesus addressed genuine religionists in person, and we have vivid description of his sublime character, compelling personal presence and spiritual gravity. But let us recognize when considering the Master, the written account on the printed page cannot compel like the personal presence thereof.

141:2 God’s Law and the Father’s Will

Comments preparatory to beginning our reading focused on the section title and the inseparability of God’s law and the Father’s will. We have been persistently intentional in warning the readership of the 5th ER of the dangers of embracing the love of the Father (will) to the exclusion of the law of God. Aversion to the idea of following God’s instructions and requirements on the part of nominal religionists has resulted in the secularization of religious institutions in an effort to stem the flight of followers. Listen to the archive for further elucidation.

Jesus tirelessly tries to enable his men to internalize the idea of God as king in their hearts, and not in the Jewish messianic traditions and teachings of a king as temporal ruler. Jesus prompts his followers to transcend their ideas of being loyal subjects (5th level of meaning-Duty) to approach the truth of sonship with God (6th level of meaning-Personal realization of divine fellowship). Stop to consider that the cosmic fact of personality is without gender, thus are we all, male AND female loyal subjects but also faith-sons of the Father.

The legalistic Jews were most familiar with the idea of earthly kingdoms and quite naturally could imagine themselves as subjects of a king, obedient to the commandments of God’s law in the conduct of their outer life affairs. Jesus challenges his hearers to faith discover their sonship with God and in so doing transcend the notion that God’s will is their law to the status of free children of God where the Father’s will becomes their will. This enhanced function of creature will signals the faith son’s establishment in the kingdom of heaven as a personal spiritual experience.

The exhibition of creature willingness to share the inner life with God is the revelation’s simple definition of the doing of the will of God [111:5.1]. Many of our previous discussions have addressed the issue of the disrupting presence in the inner life of preconceived opinions, settled ideas, and long-standing prejudices. Further complicating the man’s inner life is the establishment of scientific dictation, social usage, and religious dogma as standards of authority in place of the genuinely authoritative reality responses of the cosmic intuitions of causation, duty, and worship. What is the remedy for making such an inner life fit for sharing with the pure and perfect indwelling Father presence?

141:3 The Sojourn at Amathus

Misunderstandings and disagreements between John the Baptists’ disciples and Jesus’ apostles were constantly in need of resolution. Jesus declined any involvement in Andrew’s efforts to effect such resolution, in keeping with his focus as spiritual uplifter and minister to the individual.

The midwayers proceed to provide a description of Jesus’ character and personality. These depictions show the combination of favorable conditions and fruits of the spirit which make Jesus such a compelling personality. Jesus was the perfect representation of a religionist of philosophic attainment.

The Master’s well-known admonition to resist not evil is intended to teach forgiveness, to resist not evil treatment of one’s personality, evil injury to one’s feelings of personal dignity. It does not mean to condone sin or counsel fraternity with iniquity.

141:4 Teaching About the Father

The Jews long held God to be a king over all even the Father of the nation, but now Jesus is inviting his followers to see God as a loving Father of the individual. He sought to instill the idea of God as a father not a fault-finding judge. However, the 5th ER does tell us that the Father may not be the supreme bookkeeper of the transgressions of his creatures, yet there is judgement and there are Judges who operate as agencies of the Paradise Trinity in justice administration.

Jesus taught the twelve more concerning the three kinds of human affliction they would encounter in their mission to comfort the afflicted and minister to the sick. Those three being:

  1. physical sickness,
  2. emotional and mental disturbances, and
  3. possession of evil spirits.

While he was unable to make the issue of evil spirit possession fully understandable he did assure them these evil spirits would be rendered impotent to cause further harm upon his ascension on high. Throughout the coming year healing ministry to the sick occupied more and more of their attention.

Notes by Brad

  • Jesus' personal presence was an instructive aid. That can happen to us, too.
    • But only if we embody truth as we understand it.
    • This author described a philosophically inclined humanities professor from a course he just completed. This Professor seems to teach just by his presence and bearing, as well.
    • Humility is key. Genuine humility, not lip service.
    • The 5th ER has no one personality associated with it here. It's a book. How shall we do this?
  • 75% of Jesus early followers set themselves apart from the mass culture of being a Jew.
    • They wanted to consecrate themselves even more deeply. They followed John.
    • These people are serious about wanting to get closer to God. To now what god expects of his children.
    • Jesus needs a desire to go deeper--the find the inner life--among his followers. Simply managing the outer life per social usage and religious dogma is not enough.


  • Notice [141:2]'s title: "God’s Law and the Father’s Will"
    • The second item is the foundational element in the list of two. As is always the case by the rules of English grammar the revelators employ.
    • Law and will, with will as the foundation for top-down law. Not traditional bottom-up law above all else.
    • In [148:4] "the divine law, the Father's will" over and over with respect to evil, sin, and iniquity.
    • Don't lose the law when you find the love that is associated with the Father's will.


  • [141:2.1] Jesus points out the Jews have a concept of a universal law that must rule all. A king upon a throne.
    • But that's not enough to only have law. And you cannot throw out the law and only have love.
    • You can't truly realize anything apart from divine law. If you do, that's self-righteousness.
    • The kingdom concept frame works better as a starting point than the family concept frame for people in this day and age.
    • If you're in the kingdom of heaven you will be "made to hear the law of the Universe Ruler."
    • Don't hear the law? You're not in the kingdom, and are probably letting godless ideals pollute your inner life
    • Law, law, law! Even in prayer [146:2.3], very vigorous paragraph: "That prayer which is inconsistent with the known and established laws of God is an abomination to the Paradise Deities..."