Urantia Book 62. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of Nebadon. The new and vital feature of Peter’s confession was the clear-cut recognition that Jesus was the Son of God, of his unquestioned divinity. In the second confession more emphasis was placed on the combined nature, the supernal fact that he was the Son of Man and the Son of God. Jesus would build his kingdom on this truth that he was both. Knowing that he could never fulfill their expectations of a Messiah, he tried to modify their concepts of a Messiah. But then he had a better idea: directly proclaim to the 12 that he was the Son of God. So, upon the combined nature of the Son of Man and the Son of God, he determined to build the kingdom of heaven. Neither Peter nor the other apostles had a very adequate conception of Jesus’ divinity. They little realized that this was the beginning of a new epoch in their Master’s career on earth. Henceforth, his one ideal of living was the revelation of the Father, while his one idea in teaching was to present to his universe the personification of that supreme wisdom which can be only understood by living it. Jesus now entered upon the fourth and last stage of his human life in the flesh. The first stage was that of his childhood, the years when he was only dimly conscious of his origin, nature and destiny as a human being. The second stage was the increasingly self-conscious years of youth and manhood, when he more clearly comprehended his divine nature and human mission. The second stage ended with the revelations associated with his baptism. The third stage extended from the baptism through the early years of his ministry and up to this momentous hour of Peter’s confession. The fourth period extended on to the crucifixion. People regarded him as the Messiah. Thus did Jesus exemplify in his life what he taught in his religion: the growth of spiritual nature by the technique of living progress. He did not place emphasis, as did his later followers, upon the incessant struggle between the soul and the body. He rather taught that spirit was easy victor over both and effective in the profitable reconciliation of much of this intellectual and instinctual warfare (157.6.1-4)******* Jesus sought to establish the Father’s kingdom as the Son of Man, but his followers wouldn’t go along. Jesus then decided to meet them part-way and prepared to assume the role of the Son of God. Jesus talked to his followers about some strange ideas they’d never heard before. He said: “1. From this time on, if any man would have fellowship with us, let him assume the obligations of sonship and follow me. And when I am no longer with you, think not that the world will treat you better than it did your Master. If you love me, prepare to prove this by preparing to make the supreme sacrifice. 2. And mark well my words: I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners. The Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to bestow his life as the gift for all. I declare to you that I have come to seek and to save those who are lost. 3. No man in this world now sees the Father except the Son, who came forth from the Father. But if the Son be lifted up, he will draw all men to himself, and whoever believes this truth of the combined nature of the Son, shall be endowed with life that is eternal. 4. We may not yet proclaim openly that the Son of Man is the Son of God, but it has been revealed to you. Therefore I speak boldly to you concerning these mysteries. Though I stand here in this physical body, I came forth from the Father. Before Abraham was, I AM. I must presently leave this world and return to the work of my universe. 5. Now do you understand why the Son of Man cannot be your Messiah? My kingdom is not of this world. Can you understand why the foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but I have not where to lay my head? 6. The Father is working with me in all these things, and he will never leave me alone in my mission, even as I will never forsake you when you go forward to proclaim this gospel.” The apostles listened to these bold and startling statements in silence; they were stunned. They could not grasp the full meaning of what Jesus was (157.6.5-15).************** That evening Andrew had a serious conference with each of his fellow apostles. The talks were profitable, except the talk with Judas Iscariot. Judas’ attitude was so peculiar that Andrew mentioned it to Jesus. Jesus said there was nothing anyone could do about it. Jesus didn’t say he had been watching Judas for months. Judas had been shocked by the death of John, hurt by the Master’s rebukes, disappointed that Jesus refused to be king, humiliated when he fled from the Pharisees, chagrined when Jesus refused to give the Pharisees a sign, bewildered at Jesus’ refusal to demonstrate his powers and missed the stimulation of the multitudes. The other apostles felt some of the same things, but they loved Jesus and would stay with him loyally. But Judas, when sent off to pray, would brood on little injustices or jealousies. The next morning Jesus said they would be going up Mount Hermon, and told them to gather food (157.7.1-5).** It was near sundown on Friday afternoon on August 12, AD 29, when Jesus and his associates reached the foot of Mount Hermon. Since he could not take all of his apostles up the Mount with him (some were unqualified for the experience Jesus would have), he took the three that always came with him: Peter, James and John. On Monday morning they started the ascent of Mount Hermon. Jesus had been summoned to go up on the mountain, apart by himself, for the transaction of important matters having to do with the progress of his bestowal in the flesh as this experience was related to the universe of his creation. During lunch Jesus told the apostles about his previous trip up Mount Hermon. Now he ascended Mount Hermon to receive the endowment which was to prepare him to descend to the plains of the Jordan to enact the closing scenes of the drama of his bestowal on Urantia. The Master could have relinquished the struggle this day and returned to his rule of the universe domains, but he not only chose to meet the requirements of his order of divine sonship embraced in the mandate of the Eternal Son on Paradise, but he also elected to meet the last and full measure of the present will of his Paradise Father. The apostles saw him decline to be invested with full universe authority. Jesus then left the apostles and went off by himself; he had a long conference with Gabriel and the Father Melchizedek, not returning until 6:00 PM. The three fell asleep and later were awakened by a crackling sound, and to their amazement, they saw two brilliant figures standing with Jesus. And Jesus shined like the sun. The three were speaking a strange language. Peter thought the two were Moses and Elijah, but they were Gabriel and Father Melchizedek. Peter, after the vision had ended, told Jesus he would build tents for Moses and Elijah–he was over-stressed. And then a cloud came over them and a voice said: “This is my beloved Son; give heed to him.” At this they were terrified and said nothing as they descended the mountain.