Urantia Book 75. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Yeshua, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of Nebadon. Jesus and the 12 now prepared to establish their last headquarters in Perea, near Pella, where the Master was baptized in the Jordan. On Tuesday, December 6, the entire company of 300 people started out at daybreak with all their effects to lodge that night near Pella by the river. David curtailed his messenger service and went to his father’s house to get the necessary items for setting up a camp. He set up his camp along the Jordan north of the main camp; he was able to offer hospitality to 1500 visitors. People were coming in from all over the empire and from east of the Tigris River. They were eager to see Jesus and hear his teaching. Before the return of the 70, there were 800 gathered around Jesus and David’s camp was full. On Friday, December 30, the evangelists started arriving by 2s, and they were very excited about their success. They said their message had been received by hungry Jews and gentiles. “At last Jesus was able to see men going out to spread the good news without his personal presence. The Master now knew that he could leave this world without seriously hindering the progress of the kingdom (163.7.1-4). The seventy also related that “even the devils” were subject to them, and they told how they cured the people of nervous disorders. Jesus said: “It is not strange that these disobedient minor spirits should be subject to you, seeing as I saw Satan falling as lightning from heaven. But rejoice not so much over this, for I declare to you that, as soon as I return to my Father, we will send forth our spirits into the very minds of men so that no more can these few lost spirits enter the minds of unfortunate mortals. I rejoice with you that you have power with men, but be not lifted up with this experience, but rejoice that your names are written on the rolls of heaven, and that you are thus to go forward in an endless career of spiritual conquest.”**** And it was at this time, just before dinner, that Jesus suddenly had a rare moment of emotional ecstasy. He said: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that, while this wonderful gospel was hidden from the wise and self-righteous, the spirit has revealed these spiritual glories to these children of the kingdom. Yes, my Father, it must have been pleasing in your sight to do this, and I rejoice to know that the good news will spread to all the world even after I have returned to you and the work which you have given me to perform. I am mightily moved as I realize that you are about to deliver all authority into my hands, that only you know really who I am, and that I only really know you, and those to whom I have revealed you. And when I have finished this revelation to my brethren in the flesh, I will continue the revelation to the creatures on high.” Jesus then turned to his apostles and said: “Blessed are the eyes which see and the ears which hear these things. Many prophets and great men of the past have desired to behold what you now see, but it was not granted them. And the generations of light to come will envy you who have heard and seen them.” Then speaking to all the disciples, he said: “You have heard how many cities and villages have received the good news of the kingdom, and how my ministers and teachers have been received by both the Jew and the gentile. And blessed indeed are these communities that have elected to receive the gospel of the kingdom. But woe upon the light-rejecting inhabitants of Chorazin, Bethsaida-Julias, and Capernaum, the cities which did not well-receive these messengers. I declare that, if the mighty works done in these places had been done in Tyre and Sidon, the people in these heathen cities would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. It shall indeed be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment.”********** It was no longer necessary for Jesus to go out to preach; the people came to him. The original corps of 12 women had trained a larger corps of 50 women and they went out in 2s when they preached. Perpetua, Peter’s wife became a member of the women’s corps. She went with Peter on all his missions and on the same day Peter was crucified in Rome, she was fed to wild beasts in the arena. The mothers of Philip, Matthew, and James and John were also members of the women’s corps. This phase of the kingdom was the final one before going to Jerusalem. This present phase was one of spiritual depth in contrast with the miracle-minded followers in the early days.