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==CHAPTER 10==

==CHAPTER 10==

When Jesus perceived Annas's coldness, he took immediate leave, saying as he departed:  

When Jesus perceived Annas's coldness, he took immediate leave, saying as he departed:  

*"Fear is man's chief enslaver and pride his great weakness. Will you betray yourself into bondage to both of these destroyers of joy and liberty?"

*<u>"'''Fear''' is man's chief enslaver and '''pride''' his great weakness. Will you betray yourself into bondage to both of these destroyers of joy and liberty?"</u>

But Annas made no reply.   

But Annas made no reply.   

====Teaching in the Temple====  

====Teaching in the Temple====  

   

   

Throughout this month Jesus or one of the apostles taught daily in the temple. The burden of their message was:

Throughout this month Jesus or one of the apostles taught daily in the temple.  

**1. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The burden of their message was:

**2. By faith in the fatherhood of God you may enter the kingdom of heaven, thus becoming the sons of God.  

:*1. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  

**3. Love is the rule of living within the kingdom -- supreme devotion to God while loving your neighbor as yourself.  

:*2. By faith in the fatherhood of God you may enter the kingdom of heaven, thus becoming the sons of God.  

**4. Obedience to the will of the Father, yielding the fruits of the spirit in one's personal life, is the law of the kingdom.

:*3. Love is the rule of living within the kingdom -- supreme devotion to God while loving your neighbor as yourself.

 

:*4. Obedience to the will of the Father, yielding the fruits of the spirit in one's personal life, is the law of the kingdom.

Said Jacob to Jesus:  

Said Jacob to Jesus:  

*"But, Rabbi, Moses and the olden prophets tell us that Yahweh is a jealous God, a God of great wrath and fierce anger. The prophets say he hates evildoers and takes vengeance on those who obey not his law. You and your disciples teach us that God is a kind and compassionate Father who so loves all men that he would welcome them into this new kingdom of heaven, that you proclaim is so near at hand."  

*<u>"But, Rabbi, Moses and the olden prophets tell us that Yahweh is a jealous God, a God of great '''wrath''' and fierce anger.</u> The prophets say he hates evildoers and takes vengeance on those who obey not his law. You and your disciples teach us that God is a kind and compassionate Father who so loves all men that he would welcome them into this new kingdom of heaven, that you proclaim is so near at hand."  

When Jacob finished speaking, Jesus replied:  

When Jacob finished speaking, Jesus replied:  

====Flavius and Greek Culture====  

====[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_142_-_The_Passover_at_Jerusalem#142:4._FLAVIUS_AND_GREEK_CULTURE Flavius and Greek Culture]====  

Flavius, the Greek Jew, was a proselyte of the gate, having been neither circumcised nor baptized. Since he was a great lover of the beautiful in art and sculpture, the house that he occupied when sojourning in Jerusalem was a beautiful edifice. This home was exquisitely adorned with priceless treasures that he had gathered up here and there on his world travels. The Master saw that his host was bewildered at his friendly attitude toward art.  

Flavius, the Greek Jew, was a proselyte of the gate, having been neither circumcised nor baptized. Since he was a great lover of the beautiful in art and sculpture, the house that he occupied when sojourning in Jerusalem was a beautiful edifice. This home was exquisitely adorned with priceless treasures that he had gathered up here and there on his world travels. The Master saw that his host was bewildered at his friendly attitude toward art.

Therefore, when they had finished the survey of the entire collection, Jesus said:

Therefore, when they had finished the survey of the entire collection, Jesus said:

*"Because you appreciate the beauty of things created by my Father and fashioned by the artistic hands of man, why should you expect to be rebuked? Because Moses onetime sought to combat idolatry and the worship of false gods, why should all men frown upon the reproduction of grace and beauty? I say to you, Flavius, Moses' children have misunderstood him. Now do they make false gods of even his prohibitions of images, and the likeness of things in heaven and on earth. But even if Moses taught such restrictions to the darkened minds of those days, what has that to do with this day when the Father in heaven is revealed as the universal Spirit Ruler over all? Flavius, I declare that in the coming kingdom they shall no longer teach `do not worship this and do not worship that'. No longer shall they concern themselves with commands to refrain from this and take care not to do that, but rather shall all be concerned with one supreme duty. This duty of man is expressed in two great privileges, sincere worship of the infinite Creator, the Paradise Father, and loving service bestowed upon one's fellow men. If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you really know that you are a son of God.

*<u>"Because you appreciate the beauty of things created by my Father and fashioned by the '''artistic''' hands of man, why should you expect to be rebuked?</u> Because Moses onetime sought to combat idolatry and the worship of false gods, why should all men frown upon the reproduction of grace and beauty? I say to you, Flavius, Moses' children have misunderstood him. Now do they make false gods of even his prohibitions of images, and the likeness of things in heaven and on earth. But even if Moses taught such restrictions to the darkened minds of those days, what has that to do with this day when the Father in heaven is revealed as the universal Spirit Ruler over all? Flavius, I declare that in the coming kingdom they shall no longer teach `do not worship this and do not worship that'. No longer shall they concern themselves with commands to refrain from this and take care not to do that, but rather shall all be concerned with one supreme duty. This duty of man is expressed in two great privileges, sincere worship of the infinite Creator, the Paradise Father, and loving service bestowed upon one's fellow men. If you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you really know that you are a son of God.

*"In an age when my Father was not well understood, Moses was justified in his attempts to withstand idolatry, but in the coming age the Father will have been revealed in the life of the Son. This new revelation of God will make it forever unnecessary to confuse the Creator Father with idols of stone or images of gold and silver. Henceforth, intelligent men may enjoy the treasures of art without confusing such material appreciation of beauty with the worship and service of the Father in Paradise, the God of all things and all beings."  

*"In an age when my Father was not well understood, Moses was justified in his attempts to withstand idolatry, but in the coming age the Father will have been revealed in the life of the Son. This new revelation of God will make it forever unnecessary to confuse the Creator Father with idols of stone or images of gold and silver. Henceforth, intelligent men may enjoy the treasures of art without confusing such material appreciation of beauty with the worship and service of the Father in Paradise, the God of all things and all beings."  

   

   

====[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_142#142:5._THE_DISCOURSE_ON_ASSURANCE The Discourse on Assurance]====  

====[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_142#142:5._THE_DISCOURSE_ON_ASSURANCE The Discourse on Assurance]====  

A man asked Jesus:  

A man asked Jesus:  

*'''"But, Rabbi, how shall we know of a certainty that you are sent by God, and that we may truly enter into this kingdom that you and your disciples declare is near at hand?"'''

*<u>"But, Rabbi, how shall we know of a '''certainty''' that you are sent by God, and that we may truly enter into this kingdom that you and your disciples declare is near at hand?"</u>

And Jesus answered:

And Jesus answered:

*"Said the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of these times `when the spirit is poured upon us from on high, then shall the work of righteousness become peace, quietness, and assurance forever.' For all who truly believe this gospel, I will become surety for their reception into the eternal mercies and the everlasting life of my Father's kingdom. You, then, who hear this message and believe this gospel of the kingdom, are the sons of God, and you have life everlasting. The evidence to all the world that you have been born of the spirit is that you sincerely love one another."

*"Said the Prophet Isaiah, speaking of these times `when the spirit is poured upon us from on high, then shall the work of righteousness become peace, quietness, and assurance forever.' For all who truly believe this gospel, I will become surety for their reception into the eternal mercies and the everlasting life of my Father's kingdom. You, then, who hear this message and believe this gospel of the kingdom, are the sons of God, and you have life everlasting. The evidence to all the world that you have been born of the spirit is that you sincerely love one another."

====The Visit With Nicodemus====  

====The Visit With Nicodemus====  

Jesus:  

Jesus:  

*"Nevertheless, I declare to you, except a man be born of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. But you should not marvel that I said you must be born from above. When the wind blows, you hear the rustle of the leaves, but you do not see the wind -- whence it comes or whither it goes -- and so it is with everyone born of the spirit. With the eyes of the flesh you can behold the manifestations of the spirit, but you cannot actually discern the spirit."

*"Nevertheless, I declare to you, except a man be born of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. But you should not marvel that I said you must be born from above. When the wind blows, you hear the rustle of the leaves, but you do not see the wind -- whence it comes or whither it goes -- and so it is with everyone born of the spirit. <u>With the eyes of the flesh you can behold the manifestations of the '''spirit''', but you cannot actually discern the spirit."</u>

Nicodemus:  

Nicodemus:  

Jesus said:

Jesus said:

*"The people of another age will better understand the gospel of the kingdom when it is presented in terms expressive of the family relationship -- when man understands religion as the teaching of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, sonship with God."   

*<u>"The people of another age will better understand the gospel of the kingdom when it is presented in terms expressive of the '''family''' relationship -- when man understands religion as the teaching of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, sonship with God."</u>  

Although Jesus discoursed for several hours, Thomas was not yet satisfied, for he said:  

Although Jesus discoursed for several hours, Thomas was not yet satisfied, for he said:  

Jesus replied:

Jesus replied:

*"Thomas, Thomas, how long before you will acquire the ability to listen with the ear of the spirit? How long will it be before you discern that this kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and that my Father is also a spiritual being? Do you not understand that I am teaching you as spiritual children in the spirit family of heaven, of which the father head is an infinite and eternal spirit? Will you not allow me to use the earth family as an illustration of divine relationships without so literally applying my teaching to material affairs? In your minds cannot you separate the spiritual realities of the kingdom from the material, social, economic, and political problems of the age? When I speak the language of the spirit, why do you insist on translating my meaning into the language of the flesh just because I presume to employ commonplace and literal relationships for purposes of illustration? My children, I implore that you cease to apply the teaching of the kingdom of the spirit to the sordid affairs of slavery, poverty, houses, and lands, and to the material problems of human equity and justice. These temporal matters are the concern of the men of this world, and while in a way they affect all men, you have been called to represent me in the world, even as I represent my Father. You are spiritual ambassadors of a spiritual kingdom, special representatives of the spirit Father. By this time it should be possible for me to instruct you as full-grown men of the spirit kingdom. Must I ever address you only as children? Will you never grow up in spirit perception? Nevertheless, I love you and will bear with you, even to the very end of our association in the flesh. And even then shall my spirit go before you into all the world."  

*"Thomas, Thomas, how long before you will acquire the ability to listen with the ear of the spirit? How long will it be before you discern that this kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and that my Father is also a spiritual being? <u>Do you not understand that I am teaching you as spiritual children in the spirit '''family''' of heaven, of which the father head is an infinite and eternal spirit?</u> Will you not allow me to use the earth family as an illustration of divine relationships without so literally applying my teaching to material affairs? In your minds cannot you separate the spiritual realities of the kingdom from the material, social, economic, and political problems of the age? When I speak the language of the spirit, why do you insist on translating my meaning into the language of the flesh just because I presume to employ commonplace and literal relationships for purposes of illustration? My children, I implore that you cease to apply the teaching of the kingdom of the spirit to the sordid affairs of slavery, poverty, houses, and lands, and to the material problems of human equity and justice. These temporal matters are the concern of the men of this world, and while in a way they affect all men, you have been called to represent me in the world, even as I represent my Father. You are spiritual ambassadors of a spiritual kingdom, special representatives of the spirit Father. By this time it should be possible for me to instruct you as full-grown men of the spirit kingdom. Must I ever address you only as children? Will you never grow up in spirit perception? Nevertheless, I love you and will bear with you, even to the very end of our association in the flesh. And even then shall my spirit go before you into all the world."  

[[category: PART II: The God-Man (A.D. 26 - A.D. 29)]]

[[category: PART II: The God-Man (A.D. 26 - A.D. 29)]]