Ch. 50, On the Way to Jerusalem

“Son of Man: Urantia,” 2nd edition

On the Way to Jerusalem

The day after the memorable sermon on the kingdom of heaven, Jesus announced that he and the apostles were going to Jerusalem for the Passover and they would visit numerous cities in southern Perea along the way. Jesus’ followers thought that he was preparing to launch the earthly kingdom of Jewish rule. Regardless of what Jesus said about the nonmaterial character of the kingdom, he was never able to remove the idea that the Messiah was going to establish a national government headquartered in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ Saturday sermon confused the majority of his followers: few people were enlightened by it or even understood his message. The leaders grasped something of what he said about the inner kingdom—the kingdom of heaven inside of you—but they also knew that he had earlier spoken about another kingdom coming sometime in the future. It was that kingdom that they now believed he was going to Jerusalem to establish. When this expectation did not happen and Jesus was rejected by the Jews and later Jerusalem was literally destroyed, his followers still clung to the hope that he would soon return to the world in majestic power and glory to establish their promised kingdom.

This Sunday afternoon, Salome, John and James Zebedee’s mother, went to Jesus with her two apostle sons just like she would approach an Asian king: she wanted Jesus to promise in advance that he would grant her whatever wish she desired. But Jesus would not do so and instead he asked “What do you want me from me?”

Salome replied “Master, now that you are going up to Jerusalem to establish the kingdom, I am asking you in advance to promise me that my sons will have honor with you: the one to sit on your right hand and the other to sit on your left hand.”

Jesus replied “Woman, you do not know what you ask.” Then looking straight into the eyes of the two honor-seeking apostles, Jesus said “I have long known and loved you; I have even lived in your mother’s house, and Andrew has assigned you to be with me at all times. Because of all of that you let your mother come to me secretly and make this unseemly request? But let me ask—are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”

Without a moment of thought, John and James replied “Yes Master, we are able.”

Jesus said “I am sad that you do not know why we go up to Jerusalem; I am pained that you do not understand the nature of my kingdom, and I am disappointed that you bring your mother to ask me this. But I know you love me in your hearts. Because of that I state that you will indeed drink my bitter cup and share in my humiliation. But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give. Such honors are reserved for those who have been designated by my Father.”

By this time someone had told Peter and the other apostles that this conversation was taking place between Jesus, Salome, and John and James Zebedee. They were offended that John and James would look to receive honor before them, and that they had secretly gone with their mother to Jesus and made such a request. When they started to argue among themselves, Jesus called them all together and said “You well understand how the rulers of the gentiles lord it over their subjects, and how those who are famous exercise authority. But it will not be like that in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever would be great among you, let him first become the other’s servant. He who would be first in the kingdom, let him become your minister. I am telling you that the Son of Man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister. Now I go up to Jerusalem to lay down my life doing the Father’s will and serving my people.” The apostles went off by themselves to pray. That evening with Peter’s help, John and James apologized to their ten friends and were restored to their good graces.

When Salome asked for her sons to be seated on the right and left hands of Jesus, the Zebedee sons little realized that in less than one month their cherished teacher would be hanging on a Roman cross with a dying thief on one side, and another criminal on the other. Their mother, who was present at the crucifixion, well remembered her foolish request in Pella and the honors she so unwisely sought for her apostle sons.

Leaving Pella

The morning of Monday, March 13^th Jesus and his twelve apostles left the Pella camp for the final time and walked south touring the cities of southern Perea. This was where Abner’s people were teaching, and they spent more than two weeks visiting with the seventy before going directly on to Jerusalem for the Passover. When they left Pella about one thousand disciples followed them. At the Jordan ford on the road to Jericho, about half of those people deserted after they heard Jesus preach the sermon on counting the cost.

In general, most of Jesus’ immediate followers understood that the Pella camp had been abandoned. But they also thought this meant Jesus finally intended to go to Jerusalem to assume David’s throne. Acting on Andrew’s order, David Zebedee closed the visitors’ camp at Pella on Wednesday, March 15^th. At the time there were almost four thousand people lodged in the camp, and more than one thousand people were at what they called the teacher’s camp. As much as David did not want to, he sold all of the equipment to several buyers and then went with the money to Jerusalem where he later turned it over to Judas Iscariot.

David was in Jerusalem during Jesus’ last tragic week, and then after the crucifixion he took his mother back with him to Bethsaida. While he was waiting for Jesus and the apostles, David stopped to visit with Lazarus at Bethany; he became angry when he learned how the Pharisees were harassing and persecuting him since his resurrection. Andrew had told David to discontinue the messenger service, and this was taken by everyone as an indication of the early establishment of the kingdom in Jerusalem. But David also found himself without a job. He had just about decided to become Lazarus’ self-appointed defender when Lazarus had to escape to Philadelphia. So sometime after the resurrection and also after the death of his mother, David went to Philadelphia after first helping Mary and Martha sell their land. There, along with Abner and Lazarus, David spent the rest of his life as the financial overseer of all of the large kingdom projects that were centered at Philadelphia during Abner’s life.

Within a short time after Jerusalem was destroyed, Antioch became the headquarters of Pauline Christianity while Philadelphia remained the center of the Abnerian kingdom of heaven. From Antioch, the Pauline version of Jesus’ teaching spread to all the Western world; from Philadelphia the missionaries of the Abnerian version of the kingdom spread throughout Arabia and Mesopotamia until later when Jesus’ uncompromising teachers were suddenly overwhelmed by the rise of Islam.

On Counting the Cost

When Jesus and the host of almost one thousand followers arrived at the Bethany ford on the Jordan, the place sometimes called Bethabara, his disciples realized that Jesus was not going directly to Jerusalem. While they debated among themselves Jesus climbed up on to a huge rock and delivered the sermon that has become known as “Counting the Cost.”

Jesus said “Those of you who want to follow me from this time on must be willing to pay the price of wholehearted dedication to doing my Father’s will. If you want to be my disciples you must be willing to give up your wife, mother, father, children, sisters, and brothers. If any one of you wants to now be my disciple you must be willing to give up even your life, just like the Son of Man is about to offer up his life to complete doing the Father’s will in the flesh on Earth.’

“If you are not willing to pay the full price you can hardly be my disciple. Before you go further you should each sit down and count the cost. Which one of you would start to build a watchtower on your land without first sitting down to add up the cost to see whether or not you had enough money to complete it? If you fail to reckon the cost, after you have laid the foundation you may find that you cannot finish what you started, and because of that your neighbors will mock you saying ‘Look, this man began to build but could not finish his work.’ Again, what king when he prepares to make war on another king does not first sit down and get advice as to whether or not he will be able, with ten thousand men, to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? If the king cannot afford to meet his enemy because he is unprepared, he sends a messenger to this other king even when he is still a long way off asking for terms for peace.’

“Now each of you must sit down and count the cost of being my disciple. You will be required to face bitter persecution, to bear witness, and to uphold your faith for this gospel in the face of crushing disappointment. If you are not willing to give up all that you are and to dedicate all that you have, then you are not worthy to be my disciple. If you have already conquered yourself in your own heart, you do not have to fear that outward victory you must gain when the Son of Man is rejected by the Sanhedrin and given into the hands of mocking unbelievers.’

“Now you should examine yourself to find out your motive for being my disciple. If you seek honor and glory, if you are worldly minded, then you are like salt that has lost its saltiness. And when what is valued for its saltiness has lost its taste, with what will it be seasoned? Such a spice is useless; it is only fit to be thrown into the garbage. Now I have warned you to turn back to your homes in peace if you are not willing to drink with me the cup that is being prepared. Many times I have told you that my kingdom is not of this world, but you will not believe me. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus then stepped down from the large stone and led the twelve apostles to Heshbon, followed by about five hundred people. After a brief delay the other half of the crowd went on to Jerusalem. His apostles thought much about Jesus’ words, but they still clung to the belief that after a brief period of trial and adversity the kingdom would come about according to their long-cherished hopes.

The Perean Tour

Jesus and the twelve were followed by a crowd of several hundred disciples for more than two weeks as they traveled through southern Perea visiting the towns where the seventy were teaching. Jesus met Abner at Heshbon, where Andrew then ordered the seventy not to interrupt their work to attend the Passover feast: Jesus’ advice was that the messengers should go on with their work completely disregarding what was about to happen in Jerusalem, and for Abner to let the women’s corps go to the Passover. This was the last time Abner ever saw Jesus in the flesh. In his farewell to Abner, Jesus said “My son, I know you will be true to the kingdom, and I pray that the Father grants you wisdom so that you may love and understand your friends.” As they traveled from town to town many of the people deserted them and went ahead to Jerusalem.

Despite the risks of going to Jerusalem for the Passover, the apostles were not as alarmed as when they had been told they were going to Bethany to see Lazarus. The apostles’ shift from intense fear to hushed expectancy was mostly because Lazarus had been resurrected; they had reached the conclusion that Jesus might, in an emergency, use his divine power and put his enemies to shame. This hope coupled with their more mature faith in Jesus’ spiritual supremacy was the reason for his apostles’ outward courage, and now they prepared to follow him into Jerusalem in the face of the Sanhedrin’s declaration that he must die. But the majority of the apostles and inner disciples did not believe that it was possible for Jesus to die. They, believing that he was the resurrection and the life, regarded him as already immortal and triumphant over death.

Teaching at Livias’

On Wednesday evening, March 29^th Jesus and his followers camped at Livias’ on their way to Jerusalem. Simon Peter and Simon Zelotes had previously conspired to have more than one hundred swords delivered for anyone who would wear one concealed beneath their cloaks: Simon Peter was still wearing his sword on the night he betrayed Jesus in the garden.

Early on Thursday morning Jesus woke Andrew and said “Wake up the others! I have something to say to them.” Jesus knew about the swords and that his apostles were wearing them, but he never told anyone he was aware of them being armed.

After Andrew had woken up the other apostles and they had all gathered together, Jesus said “My children you have been with me for a long time and I have taught you much that is needed for right now, but I warn you not to put your trust in the uncertainties of the flesh or in the weakness of people’s defense against the trials that lie ahead. I have called you apart here so I can once more plainly tell you that we are going to Jerusalem where you know the Son of Man has already been condemned to death. Again, I am telling you that the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and that they will condemn him and give him to the gentiles. They will mock the Son of Man, even spit on him and scourge him, and then they will kill him. But when they kill the Son of Man do not worry because on the third day he will arise. Take heed to yourselves and remember that I warned you beforehand.”

Again the apostles were stunned. They could not bring themselves to take his words literally; they could not understand that Jesus meant exactly what he said. They were so blinded by their persistent belief in the material kingdom coming to Earth that they could not or would not let themselves accept Jesus’ words as being literal. All that day they wondered what Jesus could mean by such strange statements, but none of them dared to ask him a question. Not until after his death did these bewildered apostles wake up to the realization that Jesus had spoken to them in plain language when he anticipated his crucifixion.

It was here at Livias’ just after breakfast that some friendly Pharisees came to Jesus and said “Flee quickly from these parts because now Herod, just as he did with John, wants to kill you. He fears an uprising of the people. We bring you this warning so that you can escape.” This was partly true. Lazarus’ resurrection had frightened Herod, and knowing that the Sanhedrin had dared to condemn Jesus even in advance of a trial Herod made up his mind to either kill him or to drive him out of his lands: he preferred the latter because he feared Jesus.

Jesus replied “I know all about Herod and his fear of this gospel of the kingdom. But mistake not, he would much rather that the Son of Man go to Jerusalem to suffer and die at the hands of the Sanhedrin. He does not want, after having stained his hands with the blood of John, to be responsible for the death of the Son of Man. Go and tell that fox that the Son of Man preaches today in Perea and tomorrow in Judea, and after a few days he will be perfected in his mission on Earth and prepared to arise to the Father.”

Then turning to his apostles, Jesus said “From ancient times the prophets have died in Jerusalem. It is only right that the Son of Man should go to the city of the Father’s house to be offered up as the price of human bigotry and as the result of religious prejudice and spiritual blindness. O Jerusalem that kills the prophets and stones the teachers of truth! How many times I would have gathered your children together even as a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, but you would not let me! Behold, your house is about to be left to you desolate! Many times you will want to see me, but you will not. You will then look for but not find me.” Jesus turned to those around him and said “Regardless, let us go up to Jerusalem to attend the Passover and do what becomes us fulfilling the will of the Father in heaven.”

It was a confused group of believers who followed Jesus into Jericho that day. The apostles sensed the certain note of final triumph in Jesus’ announcements about the kingdom, but they could not bring themselves to listen to the warnings of the upcoming setback. When Jesus spoke about arising on the third day, they took him to mean the kingdom would triumph immediately following an unpleasant preliminary skirmish with the Jewish leaders. The term, “the third day” was a common Jewish expression that meant presently or soon thereafter, and when Jesus spoke of arising they thought he meant the arising of the kingdom. These believers had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but the Jews knew little or nothing about a suffering messiah. They did not understand that Jesus was going to accomplish many things by his death that could never have been achieved by his life. While it was Lazarus’ resurrection that gave the apostles the courage to enter Jerusalem, it was the memory of the transfiguration that sustained Jesus during this trying period.

The Blind Man at Jericho

Late Thursday afternoon, March 30^th Jesus and his apostles approached the walls of Jericho leading a band of about two hundred followers. Nearby was a group of beggars, including an elderly man, Bartimeus, who had been blind from his youth: he had heard about Jesus, and knew that he had healed the other blind man, Josiah, in Jerusalem. After missing Jesus the last time he was in Jericho, Bartimeus had promised himself he would never again let Jesus go through town without asking him to restore his sight.

News of Jesus’ approach had been broadcast throughout Jericho and hundreds of people went out to meet him. When this huge crowd came back into the city escorting Jesus, Bartimeus heard the heavy tramping of feet and knew that something unusual was happening. After one of the beggars said “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” Bartimeus cried out loudly “Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me!” As he continued to raise his voice and to yell louder, some of the people next to Jesus scolded Bartimeus to hold his peace. But it was no use; Bartimeus just cried out louder.

On hearing Bartimeus, Jesus stood still. When he saw him, Jesus told the beggar’s friends to bring him closer. When they went to Bartimeus and said “Be happy; come with us because the Master is calling for you,” Bartimeus threw off his cloak and sprang forward into the middle of the road, his friends then guiding him to Jesus. Looking at Bartimeus, Jesus asked “What do you want me to do for you?”

Bartimeus replied “I would have my sight restored.”

After Jesus heard this request and saw the blind man’s faith, he said “You will receive your sight. Go on your way; your faith has made you whole.” Immediately Bartimeus could see; he remained near Jesus glorifying God until Jesus left for Jerusalem the next day, and then he went before the crowds and told everyone how his sight had been restored.

The Visit to Zaccheus

It was close to sundown when Jesus entered Jericho: it was his intention to lodge there for the night. The chief tax collector for Jericho was Zaccheus. He had heard about this prophet of Galilee and wanted to see what kind of man he was. When Jesus passed by the customs house Zaccheus tried to press through the crowd to get closer, but the people were packed too tightly and being short of height he could not see over the other people’s heads. Instead, Zaccheus followed along with the crowd until they approached the city center not far from his own house. When he saw that again he could not push through the crowd and assuming that Jesus was going to continue right on through the city without stopping, he ran ahead of everyone and climbed up a sycamore tree whose branches hung over the road. He knew that from there he could have a good view of Jesus on the road below. Zaccheus was not disappointed. Jesus walked directly under the tree, paused, and then looking up straight into Zaccheus’ eyes said “Hurry up Zaccheus, and get down from there because tonight I have to stay at your house.” Zaccheus was astonished, and almost fell out of the tree in his rush to get down.

They went immediately to Zaccheus’ house; the people were shocked that Jesus agreed to stay with the chief tax collector. While he and the apostles were talking with Zaccheus in front of his house, one of the Jericho Pharisees standing close by said “You see how this man has gone to spend the night with a sinner, a renegade son of Abraham who robs and extorts his own people.” When Jesus heard this he looked at Zaccheus and smiled. For his part, Zaccheus then stood up on a stool in the middle of all of the people and yelled out, “Men of Jericho, hear me! I may be a sinner and a tax collector but the illustrious Teacher has come to spend the night in my house, and before he goes in I am telling you that I am going to give one half of all of my possessions to the poor, and starting tomorrow if I have wrongfully taken anything from any person I will give it back four times over. I am going to look for salvation with all of my heart and to learn to do good in God’s eyes.”

When Zaccheus had finished speaking, Jesus said “Today salvation has come to this home, and you have indeed become a son of Abraham.” Turning to the crowd gathered around them, Jesus said “And do not marvel at what I say or take offense at what we do, because all along I have said that the Son of Man has come to look for and to save what is lost.” Jesus and the apostles stayed with Zaccheus for the night, and in the morning they took the road of robbers to Bethany on their way to the Passover in Jerusalem.

As Jesus Passed By

Jesus spread joy everywhere he went: he was truth and grace. His associates never ceased to wonder at his gracious words. You can cultivate gracefulness, but graciousness is the aroma of friendliness that emanates from a love-saturated soul. Goodness always compels respect, but when it is devoid of grace it will often repel affection: it is universally attractive only when it is gracious, and effective only when attractive.

Jesus understood people; he could show genuine sympathy and sincere compassion but he seldom indulged in pity. While his compassion was boundless his sympathy was personal, practical, and constructive. Never did his familiarity with suffering breed indifference, and he was able to help distressed souls without increasing their self-pity.

The reason Jesus could help people was because he so sincerely loved them. He truly loved each man, woman, and child. He could be such a true friend because of his remarkable insight: he knew what was in the person’s mind and heart. Jesus was a keen and interested observer: he was expert at understanding human need and he was clever at detecting human longings.

Jesus was never in a hurry. He had time to comfort others “as he passed by.” Jesus always made his friends feel at ease: he was a charming listener and he never engaged in the meddlesome probing of his friend’s lives. As he comforted hungry minds and ministered to thirsty souls, the people who received his mercy did not so much feel that they were confessing something to him, as they felt like they were discussing something with him. They had complete confidence in Jesus because they saw that he had so much faith in them.

Jesus never showed a desire to direct, manage, or follow-up on people. He inspired robust courage and self-confidence in everyone who enjoyed his friendship. When he smiled at people they experienced an increased capacity for solving their problems. Jesus loved people so much and so wisely that he never hesitated to be severe with them when the occasion demanded. He frequently set out to help a person by asking them for help. That way he stimulated their interest and appealed to their better side of human nature.

Jesus could detect a degree of saving faith in the gross superstition of the woman who had looked for healing by touching his garment’s hem. He was always willing to stop a sermon or hold up a crowd while he ministered to the needs of a single person, even to a little child. Magnificent things occurred not only because people had faith in Jesus, but also because Jesus had so much faith in them. Most of the important things that Jesus did or said seemed to happen casually, “as he passed by.” There was little of the professional or the premeditated or the well-planned in Jesus’ earthly ministry. He healed people and spread happiness naturally and gracefully as he traveled through life. It was literally true, “He went about doing good.” It benefits Jesus’ followers in all ages to learn to minister as they pass by: to do unselfish good as they go about their daily lives.

Parable of the Pounds

Jesus and the apostles stayed up late into the night teaching Zaccheus and his family the gospel of the kingdom, and then left Jericho the next morning close to noon. About halfway up the road rising to Bethany, the party took a break for lunch while the crowd continued on to Jerusalem unaware that Jesus and the apostles intended to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.

The parable of the pounds, unlike the parable of the talents that was intended for all of the disciples, was given more exclusively to the apostles: it was largely about Archelaus’ experience with his wasted attempt to rule the kingdom of Judea. This was one of the few parables that Jesus used that was founded on an actual historical character. It was not strange that they had Archelaus in mind because Zaccheus’ house in Jericho was close to Archelaus’ ornate palace, and as they were leaving Jericho they were walking alongside the aqueduct he had built.

Jesus said “You think that the Son of Man goes up to Jerusalem to receive a kingdom, but I am telling you that you are doomed to disappointment. Do you not remember the story of a certain prince who went into a far-away country to receive a kingdom for himself, but even before he returned the citizens who had already rejected him sent a messenger to him saying ‘We will not have this man reign over us’? As this king was rejected in the earthly rule, so is the Son of Man to be rejected in the spiritual rule. Again I am telling you that my kingdom is not of this world. But if the Son of Man had been given the spiritual rule of his people, he would have accepted such a kingdom of people’s souls and he would have reigned over such a kingdom of human hearts. Even though these people reject my spiritual rule over them, I will return again to receive from other people the kingdom of spirit that is now denied me. You will see the Son of Man rejected, but in another age what Abraham’s children spurn will be received and glorified.’

“Since I am the rejected nobleman of this parable I am calling before me my twelve servants, my special stewards, and giving each of you one pound. I am cautioning each of you to follow my orders well so that you can carefully trade with your trust fund while I am away, and so that you can justify your stewardship when I return and a reckoning is required of you.’

Pointing to himself, Jesus said “Even if this rejected Son, I, should not return, another Son will be sent to receive this kingdom, and this Son will then send for all of you to hear your report of stewardship and to be happy with your gains.’

“When these stewards were later called together to give an accounting, the first one came forward and said ‘Lord with your pound I have made ten more pounds.’ His master replied ‘Well done: you are a good servant. Because you have proved faithful in this matter I will give you authority over ten cities.’ Then the second steward stepped up and said ‘Your pound that you left with me Lord has made five pounds.’ The master said ‘I will likewise make you ruler over five cities.’ And so it went down on through the other stewards until the last of the servants when called to give his account said ‘Lord look, here is your pound that I have kept safely wrapped up in this napkin. I did this because I feared you; I believed that you were unreasonable seeing that you take up what you have not laid down, and that you seek to reap what you have not sown.’ Then the lord said ‘You negligent and unfaithful servant, I will judge you by your own words. You knew that I reap where I seem to have not sown, so you knew that you would be required to give this reckoning. Knowing this you should have at least given my money to the banker so that when I came back I would have had it with proper interest.’

“Then this ruler said to those who stood by, ‘Take the money from this lazy servant and give it to the man who has ten pounds.’ After they reminded the master that the man already had ten pounds, he said ‘To everyone who has will be given more, but from him who has not even what he has will be taken from him.’”

When the apostles asked to know the difference between the meaning of this parable and the former parable of the talents, Jesus would only say “Ponder these words well in your hearts while each of you finds out their true meaning.”

It was Nathaniel who best understood these two parables, and in the years after the resurrection he taught the following conclusions. Ability is the practical measure of life’s opportunities: you will never be held responsible for something beyond your ability. Faithfulness is the absolute measure of human trustworthiness: the person who is faithful in little things is likely to be faithful in everything else, and Jesus grants the lesser reward for lesser faithfulness when there is like opportunity and a like reward for like faithfulness when there is lesser opportunity.

After they finished their lunch, Jesus, standing before the apostles in the shade of an overhanging rock by the road looking cheerful, dignified, gracious, and majestic pointed his finger to the west and said “Come on my friends, let us go into Jerusalem to receive what awaits us and fulfill the will of the heavenly Father in all things.”