Changes

132:4.1 [[Jesus]] did not [[devote]] all his [[leisure]] while in [[Rome]] to this [[work]] of [[preparing]] men and women to become [[future]] [[disciples]] in the oncoming kingdom. He spent much time gaining an [[intimate]] [[knowledge]] of all [[races]] and [[classes]] of men who lived in this, the largest and most [[cosmopolitan]] [[city]] of the world. In each of these numerous human [[contacts]] Jesus had a double [[purpose]]: He [[desired]] to [[learn]] their [[reactions]] to the life they were living in the [[flesh]], and he was also minded to say or do something to make that life richer and more [[worth]] while. His religious [[teachings]] during these weeks were no [[different]] than those which characterized his later life as teacher of [[the Apostles|the twelve]] and preacher to the multitudes.

132:4.1 [[Jesus]] did not [[devote]] all his [[leisure]] while in [[Rome]] to this [[work]] of [[preparing]] men and women to become [[future]] [[disciples]] in the oncoming kingdom. He spent much time gaining an [[intimate]] [[knowledge]] of all [[races]] and [[classes]] of men who lived in this, the largest and most [[cosmopolitan]] [[city]] of the world. In each of these numerous human [[contacts]] Jesus had a double [[purpose]]: He [[desired]] to [[learn]] their [[reactions]] to the life they were living in the [[flesh]], and he was also minded to say or do something to make that life richer and more [[worth]] while. His religious [[teachings]] during these weeks were no [[different]] than those which characterized his later life as teacher of [[the Apostles|the twelve]] and preacher to the multitudes.

132:4.2 Always the burden of his [[message]] was: the [[fact]] of the heavenly Father's [[love]] and the [[truth]] of his [[mercy]], coupled with the good news that man is a [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:6._THE_FAITH_SONS_OF_GOD faith-son] of this same [[God]] of [[love]]. Jesus' usual [[technique]] of [[social]] [[contact]] was to draw people out and into talking with him by asking them questions. The interview would usually begin by his asking them questions and end by their asking him questions. He was equally adept in teaching by either asking or answering questions. ''As a rule, to those he taught the most, he said the least.'' Those who derived most [[benefit]] from his [[personal]] [[ministry]] were overburdened, [[anxious]], and dejected [[mortals]] who gained much relief because of the [[opportunity]] to unburden their [[souls]] to a [[sympathetic]] and understanding [[listener]], and he was all that and more. And when these maladjusted [[human beings]] had told [[Jesus]] about their [[trouble]]s, always was he able to offer [[practical]] and immediately helpful suggestions looking toward the correction of their real difficulties, albeit he did not neglect to speak [[words]] of present [[comfort]] and immediate consolation. And invariably would he tell these distressed [[mortals]] about the [[love]] of God and impart the [[information]], by various and sundry [[methods]], that they were the [[children]] of this loving [[Father in heaven]].

132:4.2 Always the burden of his [[message]] was: the [[fact]] of the heavenly Father's [[love]] and the [[truth]] of his [[mercy]], coupled with the good news that man is a [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:6._THE_FAITH_SONS_OF_GOD faith-son] of this same [[God]] of [[love]]. Jesus' usual [[technique]] of [[social]] [[contact]] was to draw people out and into talking with him by asking them questions. The interview would usually begin by his asking them questions and end by their asking him questions. He was equally adept in teaching by either asking or answering questions. ''As a rule, to those he taught the most, he said the least.'' Those who derived most [[benefit]] from his [[personal]] [[ministry]] were overburdened, [[anxious]], and dejected [[mortals]] who gained much relief because of the [[opportunity]] to unburden their [[souls]] to a [[sympathetic]] and understanding [[listener]], and he was all that and more. And when these maladjusted [[human beings]] had told [[Jesus]] about their [[trouble]]s, always was he able to offer [[practical]] and immediately helpful suggestions looking toward the correction of their real difficulties, albeit he did not neglect to speak [[words]] of present [[comfort]] and immediate consolation. And invariably would he tell these distressed [[mortals]] about the [[love]] of God and impart the [[information]], by various and sundry [[methods]], that they were the [[children]] of this loving [[Father in heaven]].

132:4.3 In this [[manner]], during the [[sojourn]] in [[Rome]], Jesus personally came into [[affectionate]] and uplifting [[contact]] with upward of five hundred [[mortals]] of the realm. He thus gained a [[knowledge]] of the [[different]] [[races]] of [[mankind]] which he could never have acquired in [[Jerusalem]] and hardly even in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria]. He always regarded this six months as one of the richest and most informative of any like period of his [[earth]] life.

132:4.3 In this [[manner]], during the [[sojourn]] in [[Rome]], Jesus personally came into [[affectionate]] and uplifting [[contact]] with upward of five hundred [[mortals]] of the realm. He thus gained a [[knowledge]] of the [[different]] [[races]] of [[mankind]] which he could never have acquired in [[Jerusalem]] and hardly even in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria]. He always regarded this six months as one of the richest and most informative of any like period of his [[earth]] life.

132:4.4 As might have been [[expected]], such a [[versatile]] and aggressive man could not thus [[function]] for six months in the world's metropolis without being approached by numerous [[persons]] who desired to secure his [[services]] in connection with some [[business]] or, more often, for some project of [[teaching]], social reform, or religious [[movement]]. More than a dozen such proffers were made, and he utilized each one as an [[opportunity]] for imparting some [[thought]] of [[spiritual]] ennoblement by well-chosen [[words]] or by some obliging [[service]]. Jesus was very fond of doing things—even little things—for all sorts of people.

132:4.4 As might have been [[expected]], such a [[versatile]] and aggressive man could not thus [[function]] for six months in the world's metropolis without being approached by numerous [[persons]] who desired to secure his [[services]] in connection with some [[business]] or, more often, for some project of [[teaching]], social reform, or religious [[movement]]. More than a dozen such proffers were made, and he utilized each one as an [[opportunity]] for imparting some [[thought]] of [[spiritual]] ennoblement by well-chosen [[words]] or by some obliging [[service]]. Jesus was very fond of doing things—even little things—for all sorts of people.

132:4.5 He talked with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_senate Roman senator] on [[politics]] and [[statesmanship]], and this one contact with [[Jesus]] made such an impression on this legislator that he spent the rest of his life vainly trying to induce his [[colleagues]] to [[change]] the [[course]] of the ruling [[policy]] from the [[idea]] of the government supporting and feeding the people to that of the people [[supporting]] the [[government]]. [[Jesus]] spent one evening with a [[wealthy]] slaveholder, talked about man as a [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:5._MORTALS_OF_TIME_AND_SPACE son of God], and the next day this man, Claudius, gave [[freedom]] to one hundred and seventeen [[slaves]]. He [[visited]] at dinner with a [[Greek]] [[physician]], telling him that his patients had [[minds]] and [[souls]] as well as [[bodies]], and thus led this able doctor to attempt a more far-reaching [[ministry]] to his fellow men. He talked with all sorts of people in every walk of life. The only place in [[Rome]] he did not visit was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_baths public baths]. He refused to accompany his [[friends]] to the baths because of the [[sex]] [[promiscuity]] which there prevailed.

132:4.5 He talked with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_senate Roman senator] on [[politics]] and [[statesmanship]], and this one contact with [[Jesus]] made such an impression on this legislator that he spent the rest of his life vainly trying to induce his [[colleagues]] to [[change]] the [[course]] of the ruling [[policy]] from the [[idea]] of the government supporting and feeding the people to that of the people [[supporting]] the [[government]]. [[Jesus]] spent one evening with a [[wealthy]] slaveholder, talked about man as a [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:5._MORTALS_OF_TIME_AND_SPACE son of God], and the next day this man, Claudius, gave [[freedom]] to one hundred and seventeen [[slaves]]. He [[visited]] at dinner with a [[Greek]] [[physician]], telling him that his patients had [[minds]] and [[souls]] as well as [[bodies]], and thus led this able doctor to attempt a more far-reaching [[ministry]] to his fellow men. He talked with all sorts of people in every walk of life. The only place in [[Rome]] he did not visit was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_baths public baths]. He refused to accompany his [[friends]] to the baths because of the [[sex]] [[promiscuity]] which there prevailed.

132:4.6 To a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_soldier Roman soldier], as they walked along the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiber Tiber], he said: " Be [[brave]] of [[heart]] as well as of hand. Dare to do [[justice]] and be big enough to show [[mercy]]. Compel your lower [[nature]] to [[obey]] your higher nature as you obey your superiors. [[Revere]] [[goodness]] and exalt [[truth]]. [[Choose]] the [[beautiful]] in place of the ugly. [[Love]] your fellows and reach out for [[God]] with a whole heart, for God is y[[our Father]] in heaven. "

132:4.6 To a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_soldier Roman soldier], as they walked along the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiber Tiber], he said: " Be [[brave]] of [[heart]] as well as of hand. Dare to do [[justice]] and be big enough to show [[mercy]]. Compel your lower [[nature]] to [[obey]] your higher nature as you obey your superiors. [[Revere]] [[goodness]] and exalt [[truth]]. [[Choose]] the [[beautiful]] in place of the ugly. [[Love]] your fellows and reach out for [[God]] with a whole heart, for God is y[[our Father]] in heaven. "

132:4.7 To the speaker at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_forum the forum] he said: " Your [[eloquence]] is pleasing, your [[logic]] is admirable, your [[voice]] is pleasant, but your teaching is hardly true. If you could only enjoy the [[inspiring]] [[satisfaction]] of [[knowing]] [[God]] as your spiritual [[Father]], then you might employ your [[Rhetoric|powers of speech]] to [[liberate]] your fellows from the [[bondage]] of [[darkness]] and from the [[slavery]] of [[ignorance]]. " This was the Marcus who heard [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] preach in [[Rome]] and became his successor. When they [[crucified]] Simon Peter, it was this man who defied the Roman persecutors and boldly continued to preach the new gospel.

132:4.7 To the speaker at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_forum the forum] he said: " Your [[eloquence]] is pleasing, your [[logic]] is admirable, your [[voice]] is pleasant, but your teaching is hardly true. If you could only enjoy the [[inspiring]] [[satisfaction]] of [[knowing]] [[God]] as your spiritual [[Father]], then you might employ your [[Rhetoric|powers of speech]] to [[liberate]] your fellows from the [[bondage]] of [[darkness]] and from the [[slavery]] of [[ignorance]]. " This was the Marcus who heard [[Peter, the Apostle|Peter]] preach in [[Rome]] and became his successor. When they [[crucified]] Simon Peter, it was this man who defied the Roman persecutors and boldly continued to preach the new gospel.

132:4.8 Meeting a [[poor]] man who had been falsely [[accused]], [[Jesus]] went with him before the [[magistrate]] and, having been granted special permission to appear in his behalf, made that superb [[Speech|address]] in the course of which he said: " [[Justice]] makes a nation great, and the greater a [[nation]] the more solicitous will it be to see that injustice shall not befall even its most [[humble]] [[citizen]]. Woe upon any nation when only those who [[possess]] [[money]] and [[influence]] can secure ready [[justice]] before its [[courts]]! It is the [[sacred]] [[duty]] of a magistrate to acquit the [[innocent]] as well as to [[punish]] the [[guilty]]. Upon the impartiality, [[fairness]], and [[integrity]] of its [[courts]] the [[endurance]] of a nation depends. Civil government is founded on [[justice]], even as true [[religion]] is founded on [[mercy]]. " The judge reopened the case, and when the [[evidence]] had been sifted, he discharged the prisoner. Of all [[Jesus]]' activities during these days of [[personal]] [[ministry]], this came the nearest to being a [[public]] [[appearance]].

132:4.8 Meeting a [[poor]] man who had been falsely [[accused]], [[Jesus]] went with him before the [[magistrate]] and, having been granted special permission to appear in his behalf, made that superb [[Speech|address]] in the course of which he said: " [[Justice]] makes a nation great, and the greater a [[nation]] the more solicitous will it be to see that injustice shall not befall even its most [[humble]] [[citizen]]. Woe upon any nation when only those who [[possess]] [[money]] and [[influence]] can secure ready [[justice]] before its [[courts]]! It is the [[sacred]] [[duty]] of a magistrate to acquit the [[innocent]] as well as to [[punish]] the [[guilty]]. Upon the impartiality, [[fairness]], and [[integrity]] of its [[courts]] the [[endurance]] of a nation depends. Civil government is founded on [[justice]], even as true [[religion]] is founded on [[mercy]]. " The judge reopened the case, and when the [[evidence]] had been sifted, he discharged the prisoner. Of all [[Jesus]]' activities during these days of [[personal]] [[ministry]], this came the nearest to being a [[public]] [[appearance]].

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_132 Go to Paper 132]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_132 Go to Paper 132]</center>

<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>

[[Category:Paper 132 - The Sojourn at Rome]]

[[Category:Paper 132 - The Sojourn at Rome]]

[[Category: Influence]]

[[Category: Influence]]