Urantia Book 98. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua bin Joseph, Yeshua, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of Nebadon. The Master, knowing his time was short, continued speaking. He said: “When I have left you, be not discouraged by the enmity of the world. Be not downcast even when fainthearted believers turn against you and join hands with the enemies of the kingdom. If the world shall hate you, you should recall that it hated me even before it hated you. Always remember the words I have spoken to you: the servant is not greater than his master. If they dare to persecute me, they will also persecute you. If my words offend the unbelievers, so also will your words offend the ungodly. And all this they will do to you because they believe not in me nor in Him who sent me; so will you suffer many things for the sake of my gospel. But when you endure these tribulations, you should recall that I also suffered before you for this gospel of the heavenly kingdom. Many of those who assail you are ignorant of the light of heaven, but this is not true of some who now persecute us. If we had not taught them the truth, they might do many strange things without falling under condemnation, but now, since they have known the light and presumed to reject it, they have no excuse for their attitude. He who hates me hates my Father. It cannot be otherwise; the light which would save you if accepted can only condemn you if it is knowingly rejected. I will not leave you alone in the world. After I have gone, I will send you a spirit helper. He will take my place and continue to teach you the way of truth. Let not your hearts be troubled. I will not be far from you. You believe in the Father. Continue to believe in me. And although you cannot now follow me, you will follow me in the ages to come. When Jesus sat down, Thomas immediately stood up and said: “We will follow you this very night if you will show us the way.” Jesus answered: “Thomas, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man goes to the Father except through me. All who find the Father, first find me. If you know me, you know the way to the Father. And you do know me, for you have lived with me and you now see me.” This teaching was too deep for many of the apostles, especially for Phillip, who stood up and said: “Master, show us the Father and everything you have said will be made plain.” Jesus answered: “Phillip, have I been so long with you and yet you do not even know me? Again do I declare: He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you then say, ‘Show us the Father?’Do you not believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father?I speak for the Father and not for myself. Or believe me for the very life I have lived–for the work’s sake” (180.3.1-9)**** Jesus continued to speak, indicated that all of the apostles, who had been in a lively conversation, should sit down. He said: “After I have received the sovereignty of this universe of Nebadon from my Father, and when the Father approves, I will pour out the Spirit of Truth upon all flesh. On that day you will have me as you now have the Father. You will receive this gift in your hearts and he will abide with you. You thus perceive that I am not going to leave you without help and guidance. I will not leave you desolate. Today I can be with you only in person. In the times to come I will be with you and all other men and women who desire my presence, wherever they may be, and with each of you at the same time. Do you not discern that it is better that I go away; that I leave you in the flesh so that I may better and more fully be with you in the spirit? Unbelievers will not at first listen to the teachings of this Spirit, but the sons of light will all receive him gladly and with a whole heart. As I have lived with you in person, then I shall live in you. I shall be one with your personal experience in the spirit kingdom. As my Father has given me of his spirit, so I give you of my spirit. And this Spirit of Truth which I will bestow upon you shall guide and comfort you and eventually lead you to all truth. And this spirit friend will bring to remembrance everything I have taught you.” When Jesus paused, Judas Alpheus asked a question: “Master, how will we know you when you are a spirit and not a body? How will you show yourself to us?” Jesus looked down at his apostles, smiled, and said: “My little children, I’m going away, back to my Father, but I’m going to send you my spirit, just like me, except for this material body. The Spirit of Truth will live with each one of you in your hearts, and so all the children of light will be made one and be drawn together. And in this manner my Father and I will be able to live in the souls of each one of you and also in the hearts of all other people who love us and make that love real in their experiences by loving one another, as I am now loving you” (180.4.1-5).