Ch. 71, Appearances in Galilee

“Son of Man: Urantia,” 2nd edition

Appearances in Galilee

The apostles left for Galilee early Monday morning. Without their approval or knowledge, John Mark followed them out of the city and after they had passed well beyond Bethany he boldly came up among them confident he would not be sent back. The apostles paused several times on the way to Galilee to tell the story of their arisen Master, and did not arrive at Bethsaida until late on Wednesday night. Peter was now the acting head of the apostles. Jesus never gave him this authority nor did his fellow apostles: he just naturally assumed and held it by common consent. After their return from Galilee they chose Matthias to replace Judas as their treasurer.

Appearance by the Lake

Jesus made his first appearance in Galilee—the thirteenth overall—to the ten apostles as their boat drew near the shore at the Bethsaida landing: it was about six o’clock Friday morning, April 21^st. The apostles had spent the afternoon and early Thursday evening waiting at the Zebedee home when Simon Peter suggested that they go fishing. All that night they worked their nets but caught no fish. They were not too concerned about their luck; their minds were preoccupied and they were recounting many of their recent experiences in Jerusalem. At dawn they returned to Bethsaida with an empty boat, and as they neared shore they saw someone standing by a fire on the beach close to the boat landing. At first they thought John Mark had come down to welcome them back, but as they drew closer they realized that the man was too tall to be John.

It had not occurred to any of them that the person on the shore was the Master. The apostles did not altogether understand why Jesus wanted to meet with them in places that were familiar from their earlier life together, or out in the open surrounded by nature far away from Jerusalem’s closed-in environment and tragic links to fear, death, and betrayal. Jesus had told them that if they went into Galilee he would meet them there, and he was about to fulfill that promise. After they dropped anchor and were boarding their dingy to go ashore, the man on the beach called out to them and asked “Lads, have you caught anything?”

After they replied no, he said “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find fish.” The apostles did not suspect it was Jesus advising them because it was common when coming ashore to be approached by the fish merchants from Tarichea who were buying product for the drying establishments.

All together the apostles cast the net as they had been told, and immediately it was so full they were hardly able to handle it. When John Zebedee saw their catch, he realized that it was the Master who had yelled out to them. Leaning over he whispered to Peter, “It is the Master.” Peter had always been a man of hotheaded devotion: one who often acted before thinking. As soon as John whispered this in his ear he immediately got up and dove into the water and swam to shore so he could more quickly reach his Master’s side. The others came up close behind him in the dingy hauling in the net of fish.

John Mark, seeing the apostles coming ashore with the heavy net ran down to the beach to greet them. When he saw eleven men instead of ten, he assumed one of them was the arisen Jesus. As the astonished apostles stood by in silence the young man rushed up to the Jesus, kneeled at his feet, and said “My Lord and my Master.” This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the apostles as a group.

When Jesus replied it was not in a formal tone like he had used in Jerusalem when greeting them with “Peace be on you,” but instead he spoke like he had when living with them and said “Well John, I am glad to see you again and in carefree Galilee where we can have a good visit. Stay with us and have breakfast.”

The ten apostles were so astonished they just stood there forgetting about the fish until Jesus brought them back to their senses, saying “Bring in your fish and cook some for breakfast. Already we have the fire and enough bread.”

While John Mark had been paying his respects to the Master, Peter was standing there frozen in place by the sight of the glowing coals, his mind replaying the midnight scene by the charcoal fire in Annas’ courtyard where he had disowned the Master. Eventually he shook himself free of his thoughts and kneeling at the Jesus’ feet cried “My Lord and my Master!”

Peter then joined his friends hauling in the net. When done they had 153 large fish. Again they made the mistake of calling this another miracle, but there was no wonder connected with this event. It was merely an exercise of the Master’s pre-knowledge. He knew the fish were there and that was where he told the apostles to cast the net.

Jesus said “Come now all of you to breakfast. Even the twins should sit down while I visit with you; John Mark will clean the fish.” After he had done so, John Mark brought seven good-sized fish to Jesus that he then put on the fire and when cooked the lad served to the ten apostles. Jesus then broke the bread and handed it to John, who in turn served it to the others. When the ten had their food, Jesus urged John Mark sit down while he himself served the fish and the bread to him. As they ate they visited and recalled their many experiences in Galilee and fishing on this very lake.

Jesus visited with John Mark and the ten apostles for more than an hour. Then he took the apostles in pairs, but not the same pairs as before, and talked with them as they walked along the shore. Simon Zelotes was not present for any of this because as the apostles approached Galilee when returning from Jerusalem, he had become increasingly depressed. By the time they reached Bethsaida he had decided to leave his friends and return home. Jesus, before leaving the apostles, said that two of them should volunteer to go to Simon Zelotes and bring him back that day, and it was Peter and Andrew who did so.

Visiting With the Apostles in Pairs

While the others sat by the fire Jesus, John, and Peter strolled down the beach. To John, Jesus said “John, do you love me?” When John replied that he did with all of his heart, Jesus said “Then John give up your intolerance and learn to love people as I have loved you. Devote your life to proving that love is the most important thing in the world. It is the love of God that impels people to seek salvation. Love is the ancestor of all spiritual goodness: the essence of the true and the beautiful.”

Jesus then turned to Peter and asked “Peter, do you love me?”

Peter replied “Lord, you know I love you with all my soul.”

Jesus said “If you love me Peter, feed my lambs. Do not neglect to minister to the weak, the poor, and the young. Preach the gospel without fear or favor; always remember that God is no respecter of persons. Serve people even as I have served you; forgive people even as I have forgiven you. Let experience teach you the value of meditation and the power of intelligent reflection.”

After walking farther, Jesus again turned to Peter and asked “Peter, do you love me?”

Simon replied “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said “Then take good care of my sheep. Be a good and a true shepherd to the flock: do not betray their confidence in you. Do not be taken by surprise at the enemy’s hand; be on guard at all times, and watch and pray.”

Jesus turned to Peter, and for the third time asked “Peter do you truly love me?”

Peter, being slightly upset at what seemed to be the Master’s distrust in him, said with much feeling “Lord, you know all things and so you know that I really and truly love you.”

Jesus said “Feed my sheep: do not abandon the flock. Be an example and an inspiration to all your fellow shepherds. Love the flock as I have loved you and devote yourself to their welfare, even as I have devoted my life to your welfare; follow after me even to the end.”

Peter took this last statement, that he should continue to follow after Jesus, literally and pointing to John he asked “If I follow on after you, what will this man do?”

Seeing that Peter misunderstood his words, Jesus said “Peter, do not be concerned about what your friends will do. If it is my will that John should stay after you are gone, even until I come back, what is that to you? Only make sure that you follow me.” This remark spread among the brethren, and they took it as meaning that John would not die before the Master returned to establish the kingdom in power and glory. It was this interpretation of what Jesus had said that helped Simon Zelotes return to service and stay at work.

After they returned to the others, Jesus went for a walk with James and Andrew. A short distance down the beach Jesus turned to Andrew and said “Andrew, do you trust me?”

When the former chief of the apostles heard Jesus ask such a question, he stopped and replied “Yes Master, of course I trust you, and you know that I do.”

Jesus said “Andrew if you trust me trust your friends more, even Peter. I once trusted you with the leadership of your fellow apostles. Now you must trust others as I leave you to go to the Father. When your friends scatter abroad because of bitter persecutions, be a wise and considerate counselor to James, my brother in the flesh, when they put heavy burdens on him that he is not qualified by experience to bear. Then go on trusting for I will not fail you: after you are through on Earth, you will come to me.”

Continuing their walk, Jesus turned to James and asked “James, do you trust me?”

James replied “Yes Master, I trust you with all my heart.”

Jesus said “James, if you trust me more you will be less impatient with your friends. If you will trust me it will help you to be kind to the brotherhood of believers. Learn to weigh the consequences of what you do and say. Remember that the reaping is in accordance with the sowing. Cultivate patience and pray for tranquility of spirit. These graces with living faith will sustain you when the hour comes to drink the cup of sacrifice. But never be dismayed: when you are through on Earth you will also come to be with me.”

Next, Jesus took Thomas and Nathaniel to walk with him down the beach. To Thomas he asked “Thomas, do you serve me?”

Thomas replied “Yes Lord, I serve you now and always.”

Jesus said “If you would serve me serve my brethren in the flesh even as I have served you. Be not weary in doing well but persevere as one who has been ordained by God for this service of love. When you have finished your service with me on Earth you will serve with me in glory. Thomas, you must cease doubting; you must grow in faith and in the knowledge of truth. Believe in God like a child but quit acting so childishly. Have courage; be strong in faith and mighty in the kingdom of God.”

To Nathaniel, Jesus asked “Nathaniel, do you serve me?”

The apostle replied “Yes Master, and with all of my love.”

Jesus said “If you serve me with a whole heart make sure that you are devoted to the welfare of my brethren on Earth with tireless love. Mix friendship with your advice and add love to your philosophy. Serve people even as I have served you: be faithful to people as I have watched over you. Be less critical; expect less of some people and thereby lessen the extent of your disappointment. And when the work down here is over you will serve with me on high.”

Jesus then strolled with Philip and Matthew. Turning to Philip, Jesus asked “Philip, do you obey me?”

Philip replied “Yes Lord, I will obey you even with my life.”

Jesus said “If you would obey me then go into the lands of the gentiles and announce this gospel. The prophets have told you that to obey is better than to sacrifice. By faith you have become a God-knowing kingdom son. There is but one law to obey; that is the command to go forth announcing the gospel of the kingdom. Cease to fear people; be unafraid to preach the good news of eternal life to your fellows who languish in hunger and darkness for the light of truth. No more Philip will you busy yourself with money and goods. You are now free to preach the glad tidings just like your friends. I will go before you, and be with you even to the end.”

Talking with Matthew, Jesus asked “Matthew, do you have it in your heart to obey me?”

Matthew replied “Yes Lord, I am dedicated to doing your will.”

Jesus said “Matthew, if you would obey me go forth to teach all people this gospel of the kingdom. No longer will you serve your friends the material things of life: from here on you are also to announce the good news of spiritual salvation. From now on only have your eye on obeying your commission to preach this gospel of the Father’s kingdom. As I have done the Father’s will on Earth, so will you fulfill the divine commission. Remember, both Jew and gentile are your brethren. Fear no person when you announce the saving truths of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. And where I go you will presently come.”

The last two apostles to walk down the beach hearing Jesus’ personal instructions were the Alpheus twins, Judas and James. Speaking to both of them Jesus asked “Judas and James, do you believe in me?”

When they both replied that they did, Jesus said “I will soon leave you. You see that I have already left you in the flesh. I stay only for a short time in this form before I go to my Father. You believe in me; you are my apostles, and you always will be. Go on believing and remembering your time with me when I am gone and after you have maybe returned to the work that you use to do before you came to live with me. Never allow a change in your daily labor to influence your loyalty. Have faith in God to the end of your days on Earth. Never forget that when you are a faith son of God all upright work of the realm is sacred: nothing that a son of God does can be common. Do your work from this time on as for God. When you are through on this world I have other and better worlds where you will likewise work for me, and on this world and all other worlds I will work with you and my spirit will dwell in you.”

It was almost ten o’clock when Jesus and the Alpheus twins returned to the other apostles. Before leaving, Jesus said “Farewell until I meet you all on the mount of your ordination, tomorrow at noon.” Then Jesus vanished from their sight.

On the Mount of Ordination

At noon on Saturday, April 22^nd the eleven apostles gathered on the hill near Capernaum and Jesus appeared among them. This meeting occurred on the mount where the Master had set them apart as his apostles and as ambassadors of the Father’s kingdom on Earth. This was Jesus’ fourteenth morontia manifestation.

The eleven apostles knelt in a circle around Jesus, heard him repeat their charges, and saw him re-enact the ordination scene just like he had when they were first set apart for the special work of the kingdom. To them, all of this was like a memory of their former dedication to the Father’s service, except for the Master’s prayer. When the morontia Jesus now prayed it was in tones of majesty and with words of power such as the apostles had never before heard. Their Master now talked with the rulers of the universes as one who in his own universe commanded all authority. These eleven men never forgot this experience of the morontia rededication to their former pledges of ambassadorship. Jesus spent just one hour on the mount with his ambassadors, and after a friendly farewell vanished from their sight.

No one saw Jesus for a full week. The apostles had no idea what to do, not knowing whether the Master had gone to the Father. Uncertain and afraid to go fishing incase Jesus came to visit them, they stayed in Bethsaida. Jesus, though, was occupied with the morontia creatures on Earth and with the affairs of the morontia transition that he was experiencing on this world.

The Lakeside Gathering

Word of Jesus’ appearances was spreading throughout Galilee; every day increasing numbers of believers arrived at the Zebedee home to ask about the Master’s resurrection and to find out the truth about these alleged appearances. Earlier in the week Peter had sent out word that a public meeting would be held by the seaside the following Saturday at three o’clock in the afternoon. On that Saturday afternoon, April 29^th more than five hundred believers from Capernaum and the surrounding area gathered at Bethsaida to hear Peter preach his first public sermon since the resurrection. The apostle was at his best and few of his listeners doubted that Jesus had arisen from the dead.

Peter ended his sermon saying “We confirm that Jesus of Nazareth is not dead; we declare that he has arisen from the tomb; we announce that we have seen him and talked with him.” Just as he finished making this declaration of faith, there by his side in full view of all of the people Jesus appeared in morontia form, and speaking to them in a familiar voice said “Peace be on you and my peace I leave with you.” Jesus then vanished from sight. This was the fifteenth morontia manifestation of the arisen Jesus.

Because of certain things that Jesus had said to the eleven while they were with him on the mount of ordination, the apostles had decided that Jesus would soon make a public appearance before a group of the Galilean believers, and that after he had done so they, the apostles, were to return to Jerusalem. So early the next day, Sunday, April 30^th the eleven left Bethsaida for Jerusalem. They taught and preached their way down the Jordan not arriving at the Mark’s home until late on Wednesday, May 3^rd.

This was a sad homecoming for John Mark. Just a few hours before arriving, his father, Elijah Mark, suddenly died from a stroke. Although the fact that they were certain of the resurrection of the dead did much to comfort everyone in their grief, at the same time they truly mourned the loss of their good friend who had been their staunch supporter even in times of disappointment and inordinate trouble. John Mark did all he could to comfort his mother, and speaking for her he invited the apostles to continue making her house their home, which the apostles did until after the Pentecost.

The apostles had entered Jerusalem after dark so they would not be seen by the Jewish authorities. Neither did they publicly appear at Elijah Mark’s funeral. All the next day they remained by themselves in the upper chamber. On Thursday night they all pledged to go forth preaching the new gospel of the arisen Lord except Thomas, Simon Zelotes, and the Alpheus twins. Already the first steps of changing the gospel of the kingdom—which is sonship with God and the brotherhood with humanity—into the announcement of the resurrection of Jesus had begun. Nathaniel opposed this change in their public message but he could not withstand Peter’s eloquence. Neither could he overcome the disciples’ enthusiasm, especially the women believers. Under Peter’s vigorous leadership and even before the Master arose to the Father, his well-meaning representatives began the subtle process of gradually and certainly changing the religion of Jesus into a new and modified form of religion about Jesus.