Urantia Book Commentary and Articles

How Jesus Taught
by David Kantor

Contents of this study:
1. He received a comprehensive intellectual and spiritual education during his early life.
2. He prepared for his public ministry by engaging in personal ministry and travel.
3. Cosmic background for his career of ministry.
4. Specific techniques and approaches used by Jesus.
5. How can we particpate in Jesus' mission?

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He received a comprehensive intellectual and spiritual education during his early life

He asked questions. His parents answered his constant questions during his childhood -- "he was one continuous question mark." [123:2.3] (1358,1)

Later he continued to ask "many embarrassing questions concerning both science and religion . . ." [123:6.6] (1365,1)

He established an active prayer life. After his regular prayers he would always have "just a little talk with my Father in heaven." [123:3.6] (1360,2)

His home life was structured around an established system of parental involvement in children's education. [123:2.5] (1358,4)

He took care of plants, drew maps, studied the stars, and became fluent in three languages. [123:2.7] (1358,5)

He was exposed to many truth seekers because his family possessed a rare copy of the scriptures. [123:3.1] (1359,2)

He early learned about prudent financial management by administering the funds derived from the sale of doves. [123:4.4] (1361,4)

He later took over responsiblity for managing the family's affairs upon the death of Joseph. [126:2.2] (1388)

He received his moral and spiritual training at home, his theological and intellectual education from the Chazan at the Nazareth synagogue. [123:5.8] (1363,2)

He attended to the development of social skills. He spent a lot of time mingling with people and getting to know them. [123:5.6] (1362,7), [129:1.9] (1420,6)

He studied mathematics. [123:6.3] (1364,6)

He studied music. [123:6.5] (1364,8)

He interacted with religious leaders--the scribes and teachers in the temple.[125:4.1 through next three sections] (1381,4)

He took advanced courses in reading and was deeply involved in the intellectual and spiritual education of his younger brothers and sisters. [126:1.3] (1387,4), [126:3.3](1389,6)

He developed a variety of vocational skills. [126:1.1] (1387,2)

A good summary of the real achievements of his early education may be found at [127:6.12 through the end of the section] (1405,5 through the end of the section).

He prepared for his public ministry by engaging in personal ministry and travel
Tour of the Roman world and his personal ministry to more than 500 individuals.

[Paper 130](Page 1427) See also comments about his personal ministry during this trip. [132:4.1 through end of section] (1460, Section 4)

Caravan trip to the Caspian region and the Urmia lectures. [134:2.1 through end of section 6] (1484, Sections 2 and 3)

At Antioch, he lived for over two months, "working, observing, studying, visiting, ministering, . . . learning how man lives, how he thinks, feels and reacts to the environment of human existence." [134:7.3] (1492,4)

He spent time with God and critically evaluated his situation and opportunities. [134:7.1 through end of section] (1492, Section 7), [134:8.1 through end of section] (1492, Section 8)

Review Midwayer's comments about his perfected character, "The Acme of Religious Living." [100:7.1 through end of section] (1101, Section 7)

Cosmic background for his career of ministry

Review background of his bestowal. [120:1.1 through end of Paper 120] (1325, Section 1, through end of Paper 120)

Review the basics of the Nebadon educational system. [37:6.1 through end of section] (412,2 through end of section)

Review the basic objectives of Jesus' ministry. [140:8.18 through end of section] (1581,6 through end of section)

Review the objectives he had in training his disciples and apostles. [141:7.3 through end of section] (1593,5), also see "Four Months of Training." [137:7.1 through end of section] (1534, Section 7)

Specific techniques and approaches used by Jesus

Review Jesus' "Instructions for Teachers and Believers" -- "In teaching the gospel of the kingdom you are simply teaching friendship with God." [159:3.1 through end of section] (1765, Section 3)

His usual technique of social contact was to draw people out and into talking with him by asking questions. [132:4.2] (1460,7)

He used parables constructed around patterns and relationships in nature -- the vine and the branches, the mustard seed, the good shepherd.

He used symbols, particularly those which were associated with religious ceremonies in the minds of his hearers -- the light of the world, the living water, the bread of life.

He taught "as he passed by . . ." [171:7.1 through end of section] (1874, Section 7)

His teaching was appropriate to the context in which he found himself; he did not overteach [137:7.14] (1535,7)
Regarding overteaching, see comments about the approach used by the Prince's staff. [66:6.6] (750,1)

He built on what his listener already understood, enhancing and uplifting their ideals. See his interaction with Gadiah and the story of Jonah. [130:1.2] (1428, Section 1)

He did not attack the errors in his listener's beliefs; he was adept at enhancing the truth in scriptures or philosophies, wherever he found it. [132:0.4] (1455,4)

His teaching was "thrillingly dynamic," he "went about doing good." [141:3.6] (1590,2)

He didn't "grow weary" in his teaching; when he failed to reach the minds of all the apostles by means of one illustration, he would restate his message and attempt to use some other illustration. [141:4.3] (1590,7)

"Again and again he warned his apostles against the formulation of creeds and the establishment of traditions as a means of guiding and controlling believers..." [141:5.4] (1592,3)

First bring people into the kingdom; make sure they know God as their Father. After this it may then be appropriate to discuss matters related to the progressive advancement of the soul . [141:6.4] (1592,7)

He wasn't concerned about the association of his gospel with other teachings. When John forbade a stranger from teaching in the name of Jesus, Jesus said, "Forbid him not. . . how can you expect that all who believe this gospel will be subject to your direction?" [159:2.1] (1764, 3)

He refused to use power to manipulate situations for spiritual purposes. [136:8.8] (1521,3)

How can we participate in Jesus' mission?

By taking up his unfinished business of actualizing the kingdom of heaven in our world. Review "Christianity's Problem," and "The Future." [195:9.1 through end of Paper 195] (2082, Section 9)

Review his last words of admonition prior to departing from our world at the end of his bestowal -- ". . . you shall begin the new proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom . . . Love men with the love wherewith I have loved you and serve your fellow mortals even as I have served you . . . By the fruits of your lives impel souls to believe . . . Remember all I have taught you and the life I lived among you . . . My love overshadows you, my spirit will dwell with you, and my peace shall abide upon you . . ." [193:5.2] (2057,4)

Labels: David Kantor, Jesus, Jesus's life, mission, public ministry, teaching

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Monday, June 04, 2007

Science in Jesus' Life

by Jeffrey H. Wattles
Scientific Symposium I 1988

We all want to live the integrated life, with science as part of a growing mind in a progressive personality. But how do we do it? How do we approach this great ideal?

Are we all just supposed to go out and get super-involved with science? Somehow it seems that there's more to it than that.

It's not easy.

o Modern technology can be so complex that some people just get turned off.

o There is so much poor science these days that fails to distinguish correlation from causation.

o There is so much confusing dispute between the experts.

o And there are the well-known ethical problems with science.

So how are we going to strengthen the scientific component in our lives? My two-part answer is philosophic and biographic.

I can put the philosophic part very briefly. We can begin by recognizing and affirming our God-given intuitive capacity for recognizing facts and discerning causal relationships. Some popular books today tell their readers about releasing the mystic within you or releasing the artist within you. We could equally well speak of actualizing the scientist within you. We all have capacities beyond what most of us usually use. We simply need the courage to affirm and sharpen our scientific intuition.

The biographic part of the answer is a reflection on Jesus' life.

The apostles had not been successful in their teaching. They were fleeing through northern Galilee and bewildered about what was going on. Jesus' blunt explanation to them included these words:

"Consider the Greeks, who have a science without religion, while the Jews have a reli- gion without science. And when men become thus misled into accepting a narrow and confused disintegration of truth, their only hope of salvation is to become truth-co-ordinated--converted.

"Let me emphatically state this eternal truth: If you, by truth co-ordination, learn to exemplify in your lives this beautiful wholeness of righteousness, your fellow men will then seek after you that they may gain what you have so acquired." (*1726)

We can understand this teaching by looking at Jesus' life.

First, Jesus became acquainted with nature as a child and continued his interest into adulthood.

"Jesus' earliest training, aside from that of the home hearth, had to do with a reverent and sympathetic contact with nature." (*1364) He asked lots of questions concerning science. (*1365) He studied the habits of the fish on the Sea of Galilee so closely that he could predict catches that others regarded as miraculous.

Next, Jesus understood the essential truths of philosophy of science, as we see in his discourse on science. He knew the limitations of science and taught a friendly universe in which fact and value have a common cause in the Paradise Father. (*1477)

Next, Jesus got to know all kinds of people well. In order to understand how Jesus exemplified his teaching about science and the beautiful wholeness of righteousness, we need to expand the concept of science to include social science. The scientific component in his righteousness included more than a superb knowledge of weather and the habits of fish. Jesus carried out a thorough study of how men make a living. (*1371) We are told that "The real purpose of his trip around the Mediterranean Basin was to know men. He came very close to hundreds of humankind on this journey. He met and loved all manner of men, rich and poor, high and low, black and white, educated and uneducated, cultured and uncultured, animalistic and spiritual, religious and irreligious, moral and immoral." (*1424)

Next, Jesus thoroughly studied the scriptures and associated literature. One of the humanistic sciences is the science of interpreting texts. At the age of 13 Jesus began a painstaking topical study of the scriptures and associated literature in order to deal with every implication they might hold for his life work. (*1390-91) At age 26 in Capernaum,"he spent at least five evenings a week at intense study." (*1420) During the four months of intensive training with the first six apostles, Jesus explained that "they should spend three hours every evening in study and preparation for their future work." (*1533)

Jesus never wore his learning on his sleeve; his apostles were surprised to hear him discourse on a sophisticated level. But his masterful knowledge was always there when he needed it, for example, during his last week in the flesh, when he was challenged by the Sadducees who did not believe in resurrection. They were the professional specialists in the first five books of the Bible. Jesus showed that from those very scriptures a subtle inference could be drawn to overturn their skeptical doctrine: "And even your Father Moses understood this, for, 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.' " (*1900) The present tense of that verb--I am the God of Abraham, rather than I was the God of Abraham--implies that the relationship is a present one, and hence that Abraham has been resurrected. Jesus saw the implication that the specialists had missed--but he didn't go around showing off this grammatical subtlety. It was merely ready in case it was ever needed.

Next, Jesus courageously faced the hard facts. We are told that "Science is the source of facts, and mind cannot operate without facts." (*1222) My point is complementary: facts are the beginning of science. One of the reasons for Judas' downfall is that "he did not like to face facts frankly." (*2056)

We have a tendency to think that science has to do with those facts that are remote from us. We tend not to use our scientific abilities on intimate matters. But rigorous and tough-minded thinking must invade the realms of daily life. Scientific integrity begins at home.

Jesus at the age of 12 had been called by the celestial messenger to be about his Father's business; but then he found himself after Joseph's death faced with a family emergency. He faced the facts and "rightly reasoned that the watchcare of his earthly father's family must take precedence of all duties." (*1389)

Jesus told his followers about the hard facts of the social environment in which they were laboring for truth. In the Ordination Sermon he said, "In all the business of the kingdom I exhort you to show just judgment and keen wisdom. Present not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample your gems under foot and turn to rend you. I warn you against false prophets who will come to you in sheep's clothing, while on the inside they are as ravening wolves." (*1571)

Throughout Jesus' public career he was keenly aware of the political situation, staying clear of danger early in his public career when opposition began to mount in Jerusalem; confronting challenges in the Epochal Sermon when open conflict had become inevitable; telling his followers to be realistic--to count the cost of being a disciple; warning his disciples about the downfall of Jerusalem and the enmity of the world; all the while proclaiming the primal facts of the sovereignty of God and the love of the Father for the individual.

Finally, Jesus organized his knowledge into idea-decisions. So often we collect a piece of knowledge and leave it there, sitting on the shelf of the mind. We gather information, but we don't wrestle issues to the point of judgment, decision. We become passive consumers of information in a scientistic culture. But we have an alternative: to take that piece of knowledge and to bring to actualization its contribution to decision and action.

"Revelation teaches mortal man that, to start such a magnificent and intriguing adventure, he should begin by the organization of knowledge into idea-decisions." (*1112)

Right after his baptism, Jesus prepared for his great decisions by recalling his full range of planetary knowledge. We are told, "Jesus thought over the whole span of human life on Urantia, from the days of Andon and Fonta, down through Adam's default, and on to the ministry of the Melchizedek of Salem." (*1514)

We would like to know much more than we do about Jesus the scientist. We are given very little of the data he collected empirically. But we are given, from time to time, results of his knowledge of humankind. Jesus organized his knowledge into idea-decisions--and also into instructions for his followers. Consider a few of his teachings which embody the knowledge of cause and effect, of action and result:

He had his apostles begin with personal ministry before public preaching.

He taught that sharers of truth should "not undertake to show men the beauties of the temple until you have first taken them into the temple." (*1593)

And he predicted that "The persistent preaching of this gospel of the kingdom will some day bring to all nations a new and unbelievable liberation, intellectual freedom, and religious liberty." (*1930)

And what knowledge of humanity is embedded in his new commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you."!

There is a danger for us: we have not acquired the empirical foundation for these teachings; we may fail to understand why they are important; we may act contrary to their implicit wisdom; and we may have to rediscover their truth through a harvest of unhappiness.

We have the priceless opportunity of intelligent participation in the evolution of our universe. Science is on trial before the bar of human need. Will we utilize our scientific capacities to understand and act in accord with divine teaching or will we do something else with these abilities? Science requires courage and honest adventure. And it touches upon the beliefs at the root of our actions. Will we follow the Master fully in our devotion to truth?

"If you, by truth co-ordination, learn to exemplify in your lives this beautiful wholeness of righteousness, your fellow men will then seek after you that they may gain what you have so acquired." (*1726)

* * *
We can live in a more truth-co-ordinated way by basing our lives more perfectly on what we can learn from science. (This might involve exercise, nutrition, rest, recycling, or a more intelligent approach to our work or study.) What personal growth project would you like to undertake along these lines? Write down one or more needs that you would like to work on.
For each of these needs, answer the following questions:

1. How does this need require you to become more of a scientist yourself, making observations, testing hypotheses, etc.?

2. How does this need require you to explore more of what science has already discovered?

3. How does this need require you to put into practice what you already know?

Labels: cause and effect, courage, facts, Jeffrey Wattles, Jesus, Jesus's life, needs, organization, philosophy, science, social science, study