Adapted from the Urantia Book original paper, here.
1. While on Earth, Jesus had to master the full life in the flesh. He was to reveal the Fatherhood of God to us, and learn how to better lead us to the Universal Father. This completed his requirements for complete rule of Nebadon.
2. Jesus was 21 years old. He knows he’s both son of man, and Son of God. Jesus works to master the human side of his being. He gets bored, hungry, and thirsty. He has joys and sorrows. He suffers as we do, and learns to better minister to us.
3. At 22 years old Jesus went to Sepphoris to work under a blacksmith for six months. He used this time to transfer responsibility for the household to James. Jesus got to know the gentiles well, but their low moral standards eventually got to him.
4. When Jesus was 23 years old, the family had more money. Four boys were working. Miriam sold milk and butter. Martha sold her weavings. Jesus now knew well most of Palestine north of Jerusalem. Jesus takes Simon to Passover.
5. At the Passover Jesus met Steven, a Greek. They talked for hours. Steven was impressed, and never forgot Jesus’ words. Years later Steven would call Jesus the world’s savior not knowing he was the same man.
6. Steven was the first Christian martyr. Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul, watched a mob of Jews stone Steven to death. Paul was impressed with Steven’s faith, and went on to found the new religion about Jesus, not about his teachings.
7. Jesus went to Damascus to meet people who wanted him to run a new religious university. Jesus refused and returned to Nazareth. They also never knew he was the same Jesus many years later. Jesus chose to live so people could not put all of his works to the doings of one man.
8. When 25 years old Jesus took Jude to the Passover in Jerusalem. Jude was a rebellious lad. He yelled at a guard and was thrown in jail. They both missed the Passover. Jesus got Jude off with a warning. The judge warned Jesus to watch out for Jude, that he was a trouble-maker.
9. Jesus loved children. He had blocks of wood for them to play with in his shop. He was Uncle Joshua, and the kids laughed with joyful innocence. Jesus would put one or two littles on his knees, and tell them all stories about nature, animals, and his trips to Jerusalem.
10. By 26 years old, Jesus knows he has creator powers but also that he’s not to use them. He’s been preparing his family to live without him. He still had much to learn and experience about being one of us, and he was going to need the freedom to come and go at will.
11. Jesus took Jude to Magdala to learn to be a fisherman. James and Miriam had a double wedding in November, and they moved out. Joseph took over as head of the household, and Jesus transferred all property to James. Jesus was now ready to live away from home.
12. Those are the highlights of, Son of Man: Urantia, “Jesus’ Early Manhood.” Next week is Chapter 8, “The Later Adult Life of Jesus.” Have a fantastic week out there.
Bob