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==CHAPTER 55==

==CHAPTER 55==

As they walked along, Jesus said to John:

As they walked along, Jesus said to John:

*"John, do you love me?"  

*<u>"John, do you '''love''' me?"</u>

And when John answered:  

And when John answered:  

Jesus then turned toward Peter and asked:  

Jesus then turned toward Peter and asked:  

*"'''Peter, do you love me'''?"  

*<u>"Peter, do you '''love''' me?"</u>

Peter answered:  

Peter answered:  

Then said Jesus:  

Then said Jesus:  

*"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. Remember always that God is no respecter of persons. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you. Forgive your fellow mortals even as I have forgiven you. '''Let experience teach you the value of meditation and the power of intelligent reflection'''."

*"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. Remember always that God is no respecter of persons. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you. Forgive your fellow mortals even as I have forgiven you. <u>Let experience teach you the value of '''meditation''' and the power of intelligent '''reflection'''."</u>

After they had walked along a little farther, the Master turned to Peter and asked:  

After they had walked along a little farther, the Master turned to Peter and asked:  

When they returned to the others, Jesus went for a walk and talk with Andrew and James:

When they returned to the others, Jesus went for a walk and talk with Andrew and James:

*"'''Andrew, do you trust me'''?"  

*"Andrew, do you trust me?"  

He stood still and answered:  

He stood still and answered:  

Then Jesus turned to James, asking:  

Then Jesus turned to James, asking:  

*"'''James, do you trust me'''?"  

*"James, do you trust me?"  

And of course James replied:  

And of course James replied:  

Said he to Thomas:  

Said he to Thomas:  

*"'''Thomas, do you serve me'''?"  

*<u>"Thomas, do you '''serve''' me?"</u>

Thomas replied:  

Thomas replied:  

*"Yes, Lord, I '''serve''' you now and always."

*"Yes, Lord, I serve you now and always."

Then said Jesus:  

Then said Jesus:  

*"If you would '''serve''' me, serve my brethren in the flesh even as I have served you. Be not weary in this well doing 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 shall serve with me in glory. Thomas, you must cease doubting. You must grow in faith and in knowledge of the truth. Believe in God like a child but cease to act so childishly. Have courage. Be strong in faith and mighty in the kingdom of God."

*"If you would serve me, serve my brethren in the flesh even as I have served you. Be not weary in this well doing 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 shall serve with me in glory. Thomas, you must cease doubting. You must grow in faith and in knowledge of the truth. Believe in God like a child but cease to act so childishly. Have courage. Be strong in faith and mighty in the kingdom of God."

Then said the Master to Nathaniel:  

Then said the Master to Nathaniel:  

*"'''Nathaniel, do you serve me'''?"  

*<u>"Nathaniel, do you '''serve''' me?"</u>

And the apostle answered:  

And the apostle answered:  

Then said Jesus:  

Then said Jesus:  

*"If, therefore, you '''serve''' me with a whole heart, make sure that you are devoted to the welfare of my brethren on earth with tireless affection. Admix friendship with your counsel and add love to your philosophy. '''Serve''' your fellow men even as I have served you. Be faithful to men, as I have watched over you. Be less critical. Expect less of some men and thereby lessen the extent of your disappointment. And when the work down here is over, you shall serve with me on high."

*"If, therefore, you serve me with a whole heart, make sure that you are devoted to the welfare of my brethren on earth with tireless affection. Admix friendship with your counsel and add love to your philosophy. Serve your fellow men even as I have served you. Be faithful to men, as I have watched over you. Be less critical. Expect less of some men and thereby lessen the extent of your disappointment. And when the work down here is over, you shall serve with me on high."

To Philip he said:  

To Philip he said:  

*"'''Philip, do you obey me'''?"  

*<u>"Philip, do you '''obey''' me?"</u>

Philip answered:  

Philip answered:  

Then said Jesus:  

Then said Jesus:  

*"If you would '''obey''' me, go then into the lands of the gentiles and proclaim this gospel. The prophets have told you that to obey is better than to sacrifice. By faith have you become a God-knowing kingdom son. There is but one law to obey -- that is the command to go forth proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. Cease to fear men. Be unafraid to preach the good news of eternal life to your fellows who languish in darkness and hunger for the light of truth. No more, Philip, shall you busy yourself with money and goods. You now are free to preach the glad tidings just as are your brethren. And I will go before you and be with you even to the end."

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

And then, speaking to Matthew, the Master asked:

And then, speaking to Matthew, the Master asked:

*"'''Matthew, do you have it in your heart to obey me'''?"  

*<u>"Matthew, do you have it in your heart to obey me?"</u>

Matthew answered:  

Matthew answered:  

Then said the Master:  

Then said the Master:  

*"Matthew, if you would '''obey''' me, go forth to teach all peoples this gospel of the kingdom. No longer will you serve your brethren the material things of life. Henceforth you are also to proclaim the good news of spiritual salvation. From now on have an eye single only to obeying your commission to preach this gospel of the Father's kingdom. As I have done the Father's will on earth, so shall you fulfill the divine commission. Remember, both Jew and gentile are your brethren. Fear no man when you proclaim the saving truths of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. And where I go, you shall presently come."

*"Matthew, if you would obey me, go forth to teach all peoples this gospel of the kingdom. No longer will you serve your brethren the material things of life. Henceforth you are also to proclaim the good news of spiritual salvation. From now on have an eye single only to obeying your commission to preach this gospel of the Father's kingdom. As I have done the Father's will on earth, so shall you fulfill the divine commission. Remember, both Jew and gentile are your brethren. Fear no man when you proclaim the saving truths of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. And where I go, you shall presently come."

Then he walked and talked with the Alpheus twins, James and Judas, and speaking to both of them, he asked:  

Then he walked and talked with the Alpheus twins, James and Judas, and speaking to both of them, he asked:  

*"'''James and Judas, do you believe in me'''?"  

*"James and Judas, do you believe in me?"  

And when they both answered:  

And when they both answered:  

*"Yes, Master, we do '''believe''',"  

*"Yes, Master, we do believe,"  

He said:  

He said:  

*"I will soon leave you. You see that I have already left you in the flesh. I tarry only 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 association with me when I am gone, and after you have, perchance, returned to the work you used to do before you came to live with me. '''Never allow a change in your outward work to influence your allegiance'''. '''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, therefore, from this time on, as for God. And when you are through on this world, I have other and better worlds where you shall likewise work for me. And in all of this work, on this world and on other worlds, '''I will work with you, and my spirit shall dwell within you'''."

*"I will soon leave you. You see that I have already left you in the flesh. I tarry only 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 association with me when I am gone, and after you have, perchance, returned to the work you used to do before you came to live with me. Never allow a change in your outward work to influence your allegiance. 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, therefore, from this time on, as for God. And when you are through on this world, I have other and better worlds where you shall likewise work for me. And in all of this work, on this world and on other worlds, I will work with you, and my spirit shall dwell within you."

It was almost ten o'clock when Jesus returned from his visit with the Alpheus twins, and as he left the apostles, he said:  

It was almost ten o'clock when Jesus returned from his visit with the Alpheus twins, and as he left the apostles, he said: