Urantia Book 18. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of the Universe of Nebadon. When Jesus was in Rome, he was approached many times to help with businesses, religious teaching or social reform. He was happy to serve these people while injecting some thought of spiritual uplift. Jesus talked with a Roman senator on politics and statesmanship; and such an impression was made on this senator that he spent the rest of his life trying to change government policy from supporting people to having people support the government. Jesus talked one evening to a slaveholder about man as a son of God, and the next day this man, Claudius, gave 117 slaves their freedom. He had dinner with a Greek physician and told him that his patients had minds and souls as well as bodies; this led the doctor to a more far-reaching ministry to his patients. The only place Jesus refused to go was the public baths because of the promiscuity in these places. He also may have known about germs.**************************** There was one incident in Rome that came close to a public appearance. “Jesus met a poor man who had been falsely accused, and went with him before the magistrate. Having obtained special permission to appear on the man’s behalf, Jesus made a superb defense as follows:”Justice makes a nation great, and the greater the nation, the more solicitous it will be to see that injustice shall not befall even its most humble citizen. Woe upon any nation when only those who possess money and influence can secure ready justice before its courts. It is the sacred duty of a magistrate to acquit the innocent as well as to punish the guilty. Upon the impartiality, fairness and integrity of its courts the endurance of a nation depends. Civil government is founded on justice, even as true religion is founded on mercy…The judge re-opened the case, and when the evidence had been sifted, he discharged the prisoner”(132.4.8).*********************** A rich man introduced by Angamon asked Jesus what he should do with his great wealth. Jesus, not taking him seriously, told him to leave it to his descendants. But the man was serious, so Jesus told him to analyze his wealth and find the sources of the wealth. And what are they? 1. Inherited 2. Discovered-oil 3.Trade 4. Unfair wealth 5.Interest on investments 6. Genius wealth from inventions 7. Accidental wealth 8. Stolen wealth 9.Trust funds 10. Earned wealth. Then, said Jesus, divide your wealth into these 10 divisions and when in doubt about the equity and justice of these divisions, favor those who are in need, favor those who suffer the misfortune of undeserved hardships. Claudius wanted Jesus to be more specific, so this is what Jesus told him: 1. If any of your inherited wealth was obtained illegally, give it to the needy. 2. Discovered wealth is usually developed with partners. 3. Trade should always be honest. 4. There is no place for slavery in the life of a god-loving mortal. 5. Capital lent must be legitimate wealth. 6. The inventor and the company he works for deserve a portion of the wealth from the invention. 7. Accidental wealth must be shared by the God-loving mortal. 8. If wealth is procured by fraud, it must be returned immediately. 9. Only take from a trust what is allowed. 10. Your wages are rightfully your own. When the man said goodnight, he promised to begin the administration of his wealth according to Jesus’ advice.*************** During their stay in Rome, Jesus and Ganid encountered a lost child and devoted their time to finding his home. Jesus said to Ganid, “You know, Ganid, most human beings are like the lost child. They spend much of their time crying in fear and suffering in sorrow when, in very truth, they are but a short distance from safety and security, even as this child was only a little way from home…Did we not supremely enjoy this ministry of restoring the child to his mother? So do those who lead men to God experience the extreme satisfaction of human service”(132.6.1).***************** The trio made 5 trips away from Rome to points of interest in the surrounding territory. They met a man casually that Jesus did not converse with, and this puzzled Ganid. Jesus explained that the man was not ripe for the harvest of salvation; he must be allowed more time for the trials and difficulties of life to prepare him for the reception of wisdom and higher learning. And you cannot reveal God to those who do not seek for him; you cannot lead unwilling souls into the joys of salvation. In Switzerland Jesus had a day-long talk with both father and son about Buddhism. Gonod asked Jesus a direct question about the Buddha. (Ganid had asked questions and received evasive answers.) But Jesus gave Gonod a direct reply: “Your Buddha was much better than your Buddhism. Buddha was a great man, but early he lost sight of his spiritual Father, the Father in heaven. His experience was tragic. He tried to live and teach as a messenger of God, but without God. His ship ran aground very close to the harbor of salvation. His followers must abandon his philosophy and seize upon his spirit, and then they can enter the harbor.******************* As they neared Terentum the three saw a big bully of a boy beating up a small boy. Jesus quickly intervened and held the bully while the small boy disappeared. That was the end of it, but Ganid wasn’t satisfied. He said Jesus should have punished the bully. Jesus told him justice doesn’t work that way. The government metes out justice. He also said he would defend himself if attacked, no matter the consequences to the attacker. This made more sense to Ganid.