Ch. 53, Tuesday Morning in the Temple
“Son of Man: Urantia,” 2nd edition
Tuesday Morning in the Temple
At seven o’clock in the morning Jesus met with the apostles, the women’s corps, and a couple dozen leading disciples at Simon’s house. He said good bye to Simon and Lazarus and gave the women his final parting advice. This was when Jesus told Lazarus to not let himself get caught by the Sanhedrin, and soon after Lazarus fled to Philadelphia.
Jesus greeted each of the apostles individually. To Andrew he said “Do not be discouraged by what soon happens. Keep a firm hold on your friends; do not let them find you downcast,” to Peter, “Do not put your trust in the arm of flesh, or in weapons of steel. Establish yourself on the spiritual foundation of eternity,” to James, “Do not falter because of outward appearances. Remain firm in your faith and you will soon know of the reality of what you believe,” to John, “Be gentle and love even your enemies; be tolerant. Remember that I have trusted you with many things,” to Nathaniel, “Judge not by appearances: remain firm in your faith when everything seems to vanish, and be true to your commission as an ambassador of the kingdom,” to Philip, “Do not be moved by the events coming ahead. Remain unshaken even when you cannot see the way: be loyal to your oath of consecration,” to Matthew, “Do not forget the mercy that received you into the kingdom: let no person cheat you out of your eternal reward. As you have withstood the inclinations of the mortal nature, be willing to be steadfast,” to Thomas, “No matter how difficult it may be right now, you have to walk with faith and not by sight. Do not doubt that I am able to finish the work I have begun, and that I will eventually see all of my faithful ambassadors in the kingdom beyond,” to the Alpheus twins, “Do not allow the things that you cannot understand to crush you. Be true to your hearts and do not put your trust in either celebrated men or the changing attitudes of the people. Stand by your friends,” to Simon Zelotes, “Simon, you may be crushed by disappointment but your spirit will rise above all that may come to you. What you have failed to learn from me my spirit will teach you. Seek the true realities of the spirit and cease to be attracted by unreal and material shadows,” and to Judas Iscariot Jesus said “Judas, I have loved you and I have prayed that you would love your friends. Do not get weary doing well, and I would warn you to beware of the poison darts of ridicule and the slippery paths of flattery.”
After Jesus spoke to each of the apostles, he, John, James, Peter, and Andrew left for Jerusalem while the others set up the Gethsemane camp: this was to be their headquarters for the rest of Jesus’ life on Earth.
Divine Forgiveness
For several days Peter and James had debated Jesus’ lesson on the forgiveness of sin, and then they decided to take the matter to him. During a conversation about the differences between praise and worship, Simon Peter interrupted Jesus and said “Master, James and I are not in agreement about your lesson on forgiving sin. James claims that you are saying that the Father forgives us even before we ask him, and I am saying that repentance and confession must happen before a person can be forgiven. Which of us is right? What do you say?”
After a short silence, Jesus said “My brethren, you are mistaken in your opinions because you do not understand the nature of the loving and intimate relationship between the Creator and the creature: between God and humanity. You are failing to grasp the understanding sympathy that a wise parent has for his immature and sometimes blundering child. It is doubtful that intelligent and affectionate parents ever need to forgive a normal and average child. Relationships based on love prevent situations that later require the child to repent to be forgiven by the parent.’
“A part of every father lives in the child. The father enjoys priority and a better understanding of the child-parent relationship: the parent is able to view the child’s immaturity in light of their having more life experience and subsequent parental maturity. With the earthly child the divine parent has infinite sympathy and loving understanding. Divine forgiveness is inevitable, and God’s understanding is inherent and absolute: his knowledge is perfect in all that concerns a child’s mistakes. Divine justice is so eternally fair that it always embodies understanding mercy.’
“When wise people understand the inner urges of others, they will love them; when you love others you have already forgiven them: this capacity to understand people’s natures and to forgive their apparent wrongdoings is Godlike. If you are wise parents this is how you will love and understand your children, even forgive them when brief misunderstandings apparently separate you. The child, being immature and lacking the fuller understanding of the child-father relationship, must frequently feel a sense of guilt from being separated from a father’s full approval but the true father is never conscious of any such separation. Sin is an experience of creature consciousness—it is not a part of God’s consciousness.’
“Your inability or unwillingness to forgive your fellows is the measure of your immaturity: your failure to attain adult love, sympathy, and understanding. You hold grudges and nurse vengefulness in direct proportion to your ignorance of the inner nature and true longings of your children and your fellow human beings. Love is the outworking of the inner and divine urge of life. It is perfected in wisdom, founded on understanding, and nurtured by unselfish service.
Questions by the Jewish Rulers
On Monday evening the Sanhedrin met with some fifty other leaders selected from the scribes, Pharisees, and the Sadducees. They decided that it would be dangerous to arrest Jesus in public because right then he held the people’s affection. The majority of them also agreed that they should try to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people before arresting him. They selected several groups of learned men be on hand the next morning in the temple to try and trap him with difficult questions, and otherwise seek to embarrass him before the people. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and even the Herodians were finally all united in this effort to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the people.
Jesus had just begun to teach Tuesday morning in the temple when a group of young students from the academies—who had been rehearsed just for this purpose—stepped forward and their leader said “Master, we know that you are a righteous teacher; we know that you state the ways of truth and that you only serve God for you fear no man and are no respecter of persons. We are only students, and we want to know the truth about a matter that troubles us. Our difficulty is this—is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar? Will we give, or will we not give?”
Jesus realized their hypocrisy and craftiness, and said “Why do you come like this to tempt me? Show me the money to pay the tax, and I will answer you.”
After the leader handed Jesus a denarius, he looked at it and said “Whose name and image is on this coin?”
The young man replied “Caesar’s.”
Jesus said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and render to God the things that are God’s.”
Everyone present—the crowd, Sadducees, and even the young scribes and their Herodian accomplices—marveled at Jesus’ unexpected wisdom. The day before the rulers had tried to trap him before the crowd on matters of church authority, and having failed they now tried to involve him in a damaging discussion about civil authority. Both Herod and Pilate were in Jerusalem at the time and Jesus’ enemies figured that if he dared to advise people not to pay the tribute to Caesar, they could go at once to the Roman authorities and charge him with subversion. But if he directly told the people to pay the tax, they rightly believed that such a statement would wound the Jews’ national pride and alienate Jesus from their good will.
Jesus avoided their trap because it was a well-known ruling of the Sanhedrin—made to guide the Jews scattered among the gentile nations—that the right of coinage carried with it the right to levy taxes. To have answered “no” to their question would have been equivalent to inciting rebellion; to have answered “yes” would have shocked the deep-rooted nationalist feelings of that day. Jesus did not evade the question, he just used the wisdom of making a double reply: Jesus was never evasive, but he was always wise in his dealings with those who tried to harass and destroy him.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
Before Jesus could resume teaching another group came forward, this time crafty and learned Sadducees. Their spokesman said “Master, Moses said that if a married man died leaving no children his brother should take the wife and raise children for the deceased brother. Now there occurred a case where a certain man who had six brothers died childless, and his next brother took his wife but also soon died leaving no children. Likewise did the second brother take the wife, but he also died leaving her no offspring. And so on until all six of the brothers had been with her, and all six of them passed on without leaving children. Then the woman herself died. What we want to ask you is this—In the resurrection, whose wife will she be since all seven of these brothers had been with her?”
Jesus knew, and so did the people, that these Sadducees were not sincere because it was not likely that such a case would occur; besides, this practice of a dead man’s brothers wanting to have children for him was practically abolished by this time among the Jews. Regardless, Jesus condescended to answer their malicious question and said “You all make a mistake asking such questions because you do not know either the scriptures or God’s living power. You know that the sons of this world can marry and are given in marriage, but you do not seem to understand that they who are accounted worthy to attain the worlds to come through the resurrection of the righteous neither marry or are given in marriage. Those who experience the resurrection from the dead are more like the angels of heaven, and they never die. These resurrected ones are eternally the sons of God: they are the children of light resurrected into the progress of eternal life. Even your Father Moses understood this because in connection with his experiences at the burning bush he heard the Father say, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So along with Moses I declare that my Father is not the God of the dead, but of the living. In him you all live, reproduce, and possess your mortal existence.”
The Sadducees left, and some of the Pharisees forgot themselves so much that they yelled out “True, true, Master you have well answered these unbelieving Sadducees.” The Sadducees did not dare to ask him any more questions, and the common people marveled at the wisdom of his teaching. They had tried to subject Jesus to the weakening influence of ridicule knowing full well that if he was persecuted in public it would increase the people’s sympathy for him.
Jesus appealed only to Moses in his encounter with the Sadducees because this religious-political sect only acknowledged as valid the five so-called Books of Moses; the teachings of the prophets could not be used as a basis of doctrinal dogma. In his answer, even though he affirmed the fact of mortal creatures survival by resurrection Jesus did not in any way affirm the Pharisaic beliefs in the resurrection of the actual human body. The point Jesus wanted to emphasize was that the Father had said “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” not I was their God.
The Great Commandment
Another group of Sadducees had been instructed to ask Jesus entangling questions about angels, but when they saw their comrades’ fate they wisely decided to leave. It had been the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians plan to fill up the entire day ensnaring Jesus with questions, discrediting him before the people, and preventing him from teaching his disturbing ideas.
Then a group of Pharisees came forward to try their luck, and the leader said “Master, I am a lawyer and I would like to ask you, which in your opinion is the greatest commandment?”
Jesus replied “There is but one commandment and that one is the greatest of all, and that commandment is ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul; with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second commandment is like the first, indeed it springs directly from it and it is, ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment over these two; on them hang the law and all of the prophets.”
After the lawyer realized that Jesus had not only answered according to the highest idea of the Jewish faith but that he had also wisely answered in the eyes of the crowd, he decided it was best to openly praise Jesus’ reply. He said “Of a truth, Master, you have well said that God is one and that there is none beside him; that we are to love him with all our heart, strength, and understanding and also to love our neighbor as ourselves; that this is the first and great commandment, and we are agreed that it is greater than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
After the lawyer’s discreet answer, Jesus looked down at him and said “My friend, I sense that you are not far from the kingdom of God.” Jesus spoke the truth when he said that this lawyer was not far from the kingdom because that night the man went out to Jesus’ camp near Gethsemane, professed his faith in the gospel and was baptized by Josiah, one of Abner’s disciples. After responding to the lawyer no man dared to ask Jesus another question in public.
It was almost noon and Jesus did not resume teaching. Instead, he addressed the Pharisees and asked “Since you are not asking any more questions, I want to ask you one. What do you think of the Deliverer? That is, whose son is he?”
After a brief pause, one of the scribes said “The Messiah is the son of David.”
Since Jesus knew that there had been much debate even among his own disciples as to whether or not he was the son of David, he asked “If the Deliverer is indeed the son of David, how is it that in the Psalm that you accredit to David he himself speaking in the spirit says ‘The Lord said to my lord, sit on my right hand until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.’ If David calls him Lord, how then can he be his son?”
Although the rulers, scribes, and chief priests did not reply to Jesus, they likewise held off trying to entangle him further. They never did answer the question, but after his death they tried to escape this problem by changing the interpretation of the Psalm to refer to Abraham instead of the Messiah. Others tried to escape the dilemma by claiming that David was the author of this so-called Messianic Psalm.
Before, the Pharisees had enjoyed seeing the Sadducees silenced by the Master; now, the Sadducees were delighted by the Pharisees’ failure. But the rivalry did not last long and they quickly forgot their time-honored differences in their united effort to stop Jesus.
The Inquiring Greeks
Philip was buying supplies for the new camp when he was approached by a group of Greeks from Rome, Athens, and Alexandria. Their spokesman said “You have been pointed out to us by those who know you, and we come to you, Sir, with the request to see Jesus, your Master.”
Philip was taken by surprise and since Jesus had clearly ordered the twelve not to engage in any public teaching during the Passover week, he was puzzled how to handle the matter. Philip was unsettled because these men were foreign gentiles. If they had been Jews, or even familiar gentiles, he would not have hesitated. So Philip asked the Greeks to remain right there and he hurried off to Joseph’s house where he knew Andrew and the other apostles were having lunch. Calling Andrew outside he explained the situation and the two of them returned to the Greeks and took them back to Joseph’s.
These Greeks had faithfully attended Jesus’ lessons in the temple. On Monday evening they had held a meeting at Nicodemus’ house that lasted until dawn, and thirty of them decided to enter the kingdom. Jesus met with the group and said “My Father sent me to this world to reveal his loving-kindness to humanity, but those to whom I came first have refused to receive me. True indeed, many of you have believed my gospel for yourselves but the children of Abraham and their leaders are about to reject me, and in so doing they will reject Him who sent me. I have freely announced the gospel of salvation to this people; I have told them of sonship with joy, life, and liberty more abundant in the spirit. My Father has done many wonderful works among these fear-ridden sons of humanity. But truly the Prophet Isaiah referred to these people when he wrote, ‘Lord, who has believed our teachings? And to whom has the Lord been revealed?’ Truly have the leaders of my people deliberately blinded their eyes so they see not, and hardened their hearts lest they believe and be saved. All these years I have tried to heal them of their unbelief so that they could be recipients of the Father’s eternal salvation. I know that not everyone has failed me: some of you have believed my message. In this room now are a full score of men who were once members of the Sanhedrin or who were high in the councils of the nation, albeit some of you still shrink from openly confessing the truth so as not to be thrown out of the synagogue. Some of you are tempted to love the glory of men more than the glory of God. But I am obliged to show patience since I fear for the safety and loyalty of even some of those who have been near me for so long and who have lived so closely by my side.’
“In this banquet chamber I see that there are assembled Jews and gentiles in about equal numbers. I will address you as the first and last of this type of mixed group that I instruct in the affairs of the kingdom before I go to my Father.”
As Jesus stood before everyone he sensed the end of one dispensation and the beginning of another. Turning his attention to the Greeks, Jesus said “He who believes this gospel believes not merely in me, but in him who sent me. When you look at me you see not only the Son of Man, but also him who sent me. I am the light of the world, and whosoever will believe my teaching will no longer abide in darkness. If you gentiles will hear me, you will receive the words of life and will enter forthwith into the joyous liberty of the truth of sonship with God. If my fellow Jews choose to reject me and refuse my teachings, I will not sit in judgment on them for I came not to judge the world but to offer it salvation. Regardless, they who reject me and refuse to receive my teaching will be brought to judgment in due season by my Father and those whom he has appointed to sit in judgment on the people who reject the gift of mercy and the truths of salvation. Remember, all of you, that I speak not of myself but that I have faithfully declared to you what the Father commanded I should reveal to humanity. These words that the Father directed me to speak to the world are words of divine truth, eternal life, and everlasting mercy.’
“But to both Jew and gentile I am telling you that the hour has about come when the Son of Man will be glorified. You well know that if a grain of wheat falls on hard dirt it dies alone, but if it dies in good soil it springs up again to life and bears much fruit. Those who selfishly love their life stand in danger of losing it, but those who are willing to lay down their life for my sake and the gospel’s will enjoy a more abundant existence on Earth and in heaven—life eternal. If you will truly follow me even after I have gone to my Father, then you will become my disciples and the sincere servants of your fellow human beings.’
“I know my hour is approaching and I am troubled. I sense that my people are determined to spurn the kingdom, but I am rejoiced to receive these truth-seeking gentiles who come here today inquiring for the way of light. Still, my heart aches for my people and my soul is distressed by what lies just before me. What will I say as I look ahead and perceive what is about to happen to me? Will I say ‘Father save me from this awful hour?’ No! For this purpose I have come into the world and even to this hour. Rather will I say and pray that you will join me, ‘Father glorify your name; your will be done.’”
After Jesus finished speaking the Personalized Adjuster of his indwelling during pre-baptismal times appeared before him, and as Jesus noticeably paused this now mighty spirit representing the Father spoke to Jesus of Nazareth and said “I have glorified my name in your bestowals many times, and I will glorify it once more.”
While the people present heard no voice, they could not fail to see that Jesus had paused while a message came to him from some superhuman source. They all said, every man to the one next to him, “An angel has spoken to him.”
Jesus said “All of this has not happened for my sake but for yours. I am certain that the Father will receive me and accept my mission on your behalf, but it is needed that you be encouraged and be made ready for the fiery trial that is just ahead. Let me assure you that victory will eventually crown our united efforts to enlighten the world and liberate humanity. The old order is bringing itself to judgment; the Prince of this world I have cast down and all people will become free by the light of the spirit that I will pour out on all flesh after I have ascended to my Father in heaven.’
“Now I am telling you that if I am lifted up on Earth and in your lives I will draw all people to me and into the fellowship of my Father. You have believed that the Deliverer would remain on Earth forever, but I am telling you that the Son of Man will be rejected by people and that he will go back to the Father. I will be with you only a little while: for only a short time will the living light be among this darkened generation. Walk while you have this light so that the oncoming darkness and confusion will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness know not where they go. But if you choose to walk in the light you will all indeed become liberated sons of God. Now all of you come with me while we go back to the temple and I say farewell words to the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, chief priests, and the unenlightened rulers of Israel.”