Author: newworldorderconspiracieschristianitysatanism
Urantia Book 7. The life of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Christ Michael, Sovereign God of Nebadon. On the first day of the week after Passover ended, the company who had come to Jerusalem together arranged to meet near the Temple. While his parents were waiting for others to gather, Jesus went into the Temple to hear discussions. He was left behind when the company departed, men together and women together. The Bible is accurate on this incident, but it doesn’t convey the length of time his parents looked for Jesus. Jesus was so absorbed in these conferences that he did not realize the passage of time. His parents didn’t miss him because Mary thought he was with Joseph (now that he was a man), and Joseph thought he was with Mary because he had come with the women. They did not notice his absence until they stopped for the night at Jericho. They asked all the travelers had they seen Jesus but they received negative answers all around. They spent a sleepless night, wondering what could have happened to him. Jesus was enjoying the Temple after the Passover crowds had left Jerusalem. The atmosphere was quiet and decorous. Jesus went to Lazarus’ house for the night and spent the evening in the garden meditating. The next morning Jesus decided to take part in the discussions. Joseph and Mary came back to Jerusalem and looked for him everywhere. Jesus, in the discussions, asked questions, and “Sometimes his pointed questions were somewhat embarrassing to the learned teachers of Jewish law, but he evinced such a spirit of candid fairness, coupled with an evident hunger for knowledge, that the majority of the Temple teachers were disposed to treat him with every consideration” (125.4.3). But Jesus brought down the wrath on himself of a teacher when he questioned putting to death a drunken gentile who had wondered too close to the Holy of Holies. Jesus spent his second night in Bethany and again meditated in the garden. These meditations were very deep because they involved his future. On the third day people gathered at the conferences to see Jesus confuse the teachers of the law. He was gaining quite a reputation. Meanwhile, his parents were looking for him all over the Temple. By the end of the day, Jesus had focused the entire attention of the chief discussion group by asking these questions: “1.What really exists behind the veil in the Holy of Holies? 2.Why should mothers in Israel be segregated from the male Temple worshipers? 3. If God is a Father who loves his children, why all this slaughter of animals to gain divine favor–has the teaching of Moses been misunderstood? 4. Since the Temple has been dedicated to the worship of the Father in heaven, is it consistent to permit the presence of those who engage in secular barter and trade? 5. Is the expected Messiah to become a temporal prince to sit on the throne of David, or is he to function as the light of life in the establishment of a spiritual kingdom?” (125.5.2-7). Jesus actually taught his elders through the questions he asked them. His questions were thought-provoking and heart-searching. By the subtle phrasing of a question he would challenge their teaching and suggest his own. Jesus had a combination of humor and wisdom that endeared him to even those who resented his youthfulness. That night he again went to Bethany and meditated on how to enlighten his fellows. He was interested in one thing: to proclaim everlasting truth and thus effect a fuller revelation of the eternal God (125.5.8). As he meditated he tried to think of some kind of lifework in which he could reveal to his spiritually blinded countrymen a concept of a loving Father; and set them free from their bondage to the law. But he received no light on these questions.******************************* I have a problem with Jesus’ lack of awareness that his parents might be worried about him. I can only understand it if Jesus is in a fugue brought on by God-hood suddenly entering his psyche. He wouldn’t be able to think of anything else. And the way he charms the elders–an average boy could never do that.********* On the fourth day Lazarus’ mother remarked that Jesus’ parents must be home by now. This passed right over Jesus’ head. That afternoon the leader of the discussion invited Jesus to come up, sit by him and talk about his views on prayer and worship. At this time Jesus’ parents decided to take one last walk through the Temple. Imagine their surprise when they recognized the voice that was expounding to the elders! And soon they saw him sitting among the teachers. When Mary rebuked Jesus, it was close to the Bible: “My child, why have you treated us like this? It is now more than three days that your father and I have been searching for you sorrowing. Whatever possessed you to desert us?” (125.6.5). Being treated like a child in front of these teachers must have been acutely embarrassing to Jesus. But Jesus didn’t show the anger he may have felt. Instead, the UB says, “the lad was equal to the occasion.” He answered, “Why is it that you have so long sought me? Would you not expect to find me in my Father’s house since the time has come when I should be about my Father’s business?” (125.6.7)********************* When leaving Jerusalem, Jesus paused on the brow of Olivet, raised his staff and quivering from head to foot with the surging of intense emotion, said: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem and the people thereof, what slaves you are–subservient to the Roman yoke, and victims of your own traditions–but I will return to cleanse yonder Temple and deliver my people from this bondage” (125.6.9).
Urantia Book 6. The story of Jesus of Nazareth, Joshua ben Joseph, Christ Michael, God of the Universe of Nebadon. In Jesus’ 13th year (AD 7) he passed into manhood due to several experiences. His voice started to change. He also became assured that he had a special mission for the enlightenment of man and the revelation of God. Also, on Sunday night, January 9, his brother Amos was born. On March 20 Jesus graduated from the course of training at the Nazareth synagogue. “This was a great day in the life of any ambitious Jewish family, the day when the first-born son was pronounced “a son of commandment” and the ransomed first-born of the Lord God of Israel, “a child of the Most High” and servant of the Lord of all the earth” (124.5.4). To explain: Yahweh demanded the sacrifice of the first-born male child, but He waived that sacrifice and settled for the dedication of the child to Himself. Joseph traveled from a work site to be present at the graduation. He was in charge of the work on a new public building in Sepphoris. The elders were very proud of Jesus and planned his further education in Jerusalem at the “renowned Hebrew academies.” Jesus knew he wouldn’t be fulfilling these plans, but had no idea that he would be raising his brothers and sisters, making higher education impossible.************ Jesus attended his first Passover, which fell on April 9. The family departed for Jerusalem as part of a group of 103 worshipers. They traveled through Archelaus’ region, but he had been deposed, so there was nothing to fear. By the 4th day the road was clogged with worshipers attending Passover. When Joseph told Jesus that the Holy City lay just beyond the next ridge, his “heart beat fast with joyous anticipation of soon beholding the city and house of his heavenly Father” (124.5.8). At Bethany the family was invited to rest and have a snack. Mary, Martha and Lazarus were about the age of Jesus, and they became lifelong friends. Jesus experienced his first human thrill in gazing down on Jerusalem from Olivet. As they hurried through Jerusalem, Jesus was impressed by the crowds, who came from every part of the known world. The family stayed in the large house of a relative who knew the story of Jesus and John through Zacharias. Joseph took Jesus to the Temple where it was planned that he would continue his education when he reached 15 years of age. Joseph couldn’t understand Jesus’ lack of interest in these plans. But Jesus did ask some embarrassing questions, such as why the heavenly Father required the death of so many helpless and innocent animals.**** “The day before the Passover Sabbath was one of the most extraordinary days that the Son of God spent in the flesh; and during the night, for the first time in his earth career, there appeared to him an assigned messenger from Salvington, commissioned by Immanuel, and this messenger said, “The hour has come. It is time that you began to be about your Father’s business.”” (124.6.15). The UB interprets this message to mean that Jesus must now take responsibility of running the universe as well as continue his bestowal activities. He was 13 at the time, so I’m not sure I agree with the UB interpretation of the message. I think the message means that he should start to preach the Word or the Revelation of God. He did decide to go back to Salvington after his Baptism, but he grew up after the experience at Passover.***** Jesus was consecrated in the Temple, another milestone in his becoming a man. He was shocked, indignant and angry that his mother wasn’t allowed to witness his consecration–no women were allowed–there was a women’s court for women. He was also disappointed with the routine, perfunctory nature of the ritual. Afterwards, Joseph took Jesus on a tour of the Temple, which could hold 200,000 worshipers at one time. Jesus heard too much about God’s anger and punishment. He did not accept explanations of worship and religious devotion which involved belief in the wrath of God or the anger of the Almighty. When Joseph insisted that Jesus accept orthodox Jewish beliefs, Jesus appealed to Joseph, saying, “My father, it cannot be true–the Father in heaven cannot so regard his erring children on earth. The heavenly Father cannot love his children less than you love me. And I well know, no matter what unwise thing I might do, you would never pour out wrath upon me, nor vent anger against me. If you, my earthly father, possess such human reflections of the Divine, how much more must the heavenly Father be filled with goodness and overflowing with mercy. I refuse to believe that my Father in heaven loves me less that my father on earth” (125.0.6). Jesus was sickened by the court of the gentiles: noise, bleating of sheep, cursing, fighting, money changers, prostitutes, screams of dying animals–he couldn’t believe this was happening in his Father’s house. Farther in, the priests slaughtered the animals: more dying animals, blood, blood all over the priests. And the smell! And everywhere he went, he was depressed by the spirit of irreverence, and noise, clamor and yelling. Jesus complained to his parents about all this, but they didn’t say anything. They never again tried to change his mind about his Father’s love and mercy.**************** Jesus’ family celebrated Passover with his friends in Bethany. He was asked to recount the origin of Passover, but, to his parents’ chagrin, he included comments on the condition of the Temple. Jesus began to think of someday having a bloodless Passover–no lamb. His sleep was very disturbed that night, with dreams of slaughter and suffering. His mind and heart were tortured by the eyes of the innocent animals. He obsessed about the inconsistencies of the theology of the Jewish ceremonial system. His parents couldn’t sleep, either. They were upset by their son’s strange reaction to everything. Why was this not a good experience for Jesus? Why was he reacting this way? Why was he different? They were both afraid to talk to Jesus, but he would have freely told them what was in his mind. In fact, he should have had somebody he could have talked to. The next day was much better for Jesus. Lazarus took Jesus to parts of the Temple where discussions took place, and they spent a large part of the day listening to these discussions. Also the day’s services were more acceptable to Jesus. He also visited the Holy of Holys and reflected on what might or might not be behind the curtain. During Passover week Jesus was deep in contemplation of many problems that he had to work out in order to assume the status of a man and a God. His parents would come upon him sitting with his head in his hands, and this caused them to want him safely back in Nazareth.
Urantia Book 5. Jesus, in hanging at the workshop at Nazareth, had the opportunity to make constant contact with a large number of men and women from every part of the civilized world. This, more than higher Hebrew education, prepared him to understand gentiles and gave him a balanced idea of the Babylonian and Hellenic views of Hebrew theology. When Jesus was 9 in AD 3, he got into trouble at school. The Jews allowed no statues, drawings or paintings, considering them idolatrous. Jesus drew a charcoal picture of the teacher on the floor of the schoolroom. Another student told the teacher, and a big fuss ensued. The elders sent a committee to Joseph “to demand that something be done to suppress the lawlessness of his eldest son” (124.1.4). This was the most serious of all the many accusations that Mary and Joseph had faced. Jesus didn’t like his parents being blamed for his misdeeds, so he confronted his accusers. The adults had various reactions to this assertive upstart. But he finally announced he would obey Joseph in this and all other controversial matters. The committee left silently. Jesus was prohibited from making objects out of clay, a favorite activity. Joseph decreed that the rabbinical interpretation of the 2nd commandment should prevail, so Jesus never drew again, either. This was the year that Jesus’ second sister, Martha, was born, on Thursday night, September 13. Joseph built an addition on their house, a combined workshop and bedroom. A small workbench was made for Jesus and he was given his own tools. On and off he would work at this bench, and became expert in the making of yokes. During the winter there was ice, and Jesus pondered the fact that water had three forms: solid, liquid and vapor. And yet this child had created the universe and decided what form the animals would take, decided what form the will creatures on planets would take, decided what kind of vegetation habitable planets would have.********** When Jesus was 10 years old, he became the leader of a group of boys who formed themselves into a society for promoting the acquirements of manhood—physical, intellectual and religious. Also, Jesus introduced new games and physical recreation. When Jesus was 10 in AD 4 he, while on a walk with Joseph, revealed that he was somewhat conscious of his mission. Later, he revealed the same to Mary. Neither parent asked a question or said anything. It was 2 years before Jesus revealed to his parents again that he was aware of the nature of his personality and the character of his mission on earth. At school Jesus continued asking questions, but he had one outstanding trait: he was unwilling to fight for his rights. He was strong and well-developed for his age, so it was strange that he let himself be abused. His friend, Jacob, however, so to it that Jesus was not harmed. Oddly, Jesus was the leader of the boys; he was fair and sympathetic. About this time Jesus started visiting with older people. He liked to talk about culture, education, social and economic issues, and political and religious ideas. But Mary and Joseph tried to steer Jesus to children his own age. Some of the parents of the other children spoke of Jesus as being too pert and lacking in proper humility. Jesus tended to direct the other children into a thoughtful mode. He played teacher with them. “Joseph and Mary were often tempted to show some special favoritism for Jesus or otherwise to betray their knowledge that he was a child of promise, a son of destiny… The few times they did in any manner exhibit any preference for him, even in the slightest degree, the lad was quick to refuse all such special consideration”(124.3.2)***************** Joseph instructed Jesus in the many ways to gain a livelihood, explaining to him the advantages of agriculture over industry and trade. But in a trip to the Lake of Galilee, he decided to be a fisherman. Later, his father’s work influenced him to become a carpenter. Still later, a combination of influences led him to the final choice–to become a religious teacher of a new order. On Wednesday, June 24, AD 5, Jude was born, Jesus was 11 years old. Mary was ill with this baby and Joseph had to stay at home to take care of her. He sent Jesus on numerous errands. This is when Jesus lost his childhood, and the world became a serious place. “From the time of his mother’s illness he was compelled to assume the responsibilities of the first-born son and do all this one or two years before these burdens should normally had fallen on his shoulders” (124.3.4). The rabbi continued to help Jesus at home, but he couldn’t understand why Jesus was so indifferent to studying with the learned rabbis at Jerusalem. In the middle of May, Jesus went with Joseph to the Greek city of Scythopolis. Jesus was impressed with how clean it was and the well-ordered arrangement of the beautiful buildings. He was amazed at the marble temple dedicated to a pagan god. There were annual games taking place, and Jesus begged Joseph to take him. Joseph didn’t understand any of Jesus’ reactions to this city, but he let Jesus drag him to the games. Later, Joseph tried to convince Jesus that the games were pagan and evil, but Jesus wasn’t on his frequency. Nor did Jesus realize he was in danger. Jesus went on and on and thought it would be great to have games and competition in Nazareth. At this point Joseph exploded and told Jesus a lot of things about being Jewish vs. being pagan, which Jesus should have known by then and then told Jesus “never to express an such an evil thought again.” Jesus was shocked because Joseph had never revealed this side of himself before. Later, though, he used these games as recreation for his Apostles.***** When Jesus was 12 in AD 6, he began doing regular work in the carpenter shop. He was allowed to manage his own money, which was unusual in Jewish families. He also learned to keep such matters secret in the family. He also became conscious of the ways he had caused trouble in the village, and became discrete in the ways he was different from the other children. “But his natural developing human mind did not yet fully grasp the reality of his dual nature. The fact that he had a single personality rendered it difficult for his consciousness to recognize the double origin of those factors which composed the nature associated with that self-same personality” (124.4.2) Jesus took pains to get along with his brothers and sisters, but he had trouble with Jude. Joseph and Mary increasingly realized that there was something superhuman in Jesus, but it never occurred to them that he was the Creator of the universe. They lived and died not knowing that unbelievable fact about their son. Jesus, at 12 years old, taught the home school for his younger brothers and sisters. During this year Jesus had a conflict between two great commandments: 1.” Be loyal to the highest convictions of truth and righteousness. and 2. Honor your father and mother, for they have given you life and the nurture there-of…Jesus was able to blend these personal convictions and family obligations into a concept of group solidarity based on loyalty, fairness, tolerance and love.”
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