Changes

==188:5. LESSONS FROM THE CROSS==

==188:5. LESSONS FROM THE CROSS==

188:5.1 The cross of Jesus portrays the full measure of the supreme devotion of the true shepherd for even the unworthy members of his flock. It forever places all relations between God and man upon the family basis. God is the Father; man is his son. Love, the love of a father for his son, becomes the central truth in the universe relations of Creator and creature—not the justice of a king which seeks satisfaction in the sufferings and punishment of the evil-doing subject.

188:5.1 The [[cross]] of [[Jesus]] portrays the full [[measure]] of the [[supreme]] [[devotion]] of the true [[shepherd]] for even the unworthy members of his flock. It forever places all [[relations]] between [[God]] and [[man]] upon the [[family]] basis. [[God]] is [[the Father]]; man is his son. Love, the [[love]] of a [[father]] for his [[Children|son]], becomes the central [[truth]] in the [[universe]] [[relations]] of [[Creator]] and [[creature]]—not the [[justice]] of a [[king]] which seeks [[satisfaction]] in the [[sufferings]] and [[punishment]] of the [[evil]]-doing subject.

188:5.2 The cross forever shows that the attitude of Jesus toward sinners was neither condemnation nor condonation, but rather eternal and loving salvation. Jesus is truly a savior in the sense that his life and death do win men over to goodness and righteous survival. Jesus loves men so much that his love awakens the response of love in the human heart. Love is truly contagious and eternally creative. Jesus' death on the cross exemplifies a love which is sufficiently strong and divine to forgive sin and swallow up all evil-doing. Jesus disclosed to this world a higher quality of righteousness than justice—mere technical right and wrong. Divine love does not merely forgive wrongs; it absorbs and actually destroys them. The forgiveness of love utterly transcends the forgiveness of mercy. Mercy sets the guilt of evil-doing to one side; but love destroys forever the sin and all weakness resulting therefrom. Jesus brought a new method of living to Urantia. He taught us not to resist evil but to find through him a goodness which effectually destroys evil. The forgiveness of Jesus is not condonation; it is salvation from condemnation. Salvation does not slight wrongs; it makes them right. True love does not compromise nor condone hate; it destroys it. The love of Jesus is never satisfied with mere forgiveness. The Master's love implies rehabilitation, eternal survival. It is altogether proper to speak of salvation as redemption if you mean this eternal rehabilitation.

188:5.2 The [[cross]] forever shows that the [[attitude]] of [[Jesus]] toward sinners was neither [[condemnation]] nor [[condonation]], but rather [[eternal]] and [[loving]] [[salvation]]. [[Jesus]] is truly a [[savior]] in the sense that his life and [[death]] do win men over to [[goodness]] and [[righteous]] [[survival]]. [[Jesus]] loves men so much that his [[love]] [[awakens]] the [[response]] of [[love]] in the [[human]] [[heart]]. [[Love]] is truly [[contagious]] and eternally [[creative]]. [[Jesus]]' [[death]] on the [[cross]] exemplifies a [[love]] which is sufficiently [[strong]] and [[divine]] to [[forgive]] [[sin]] and swallow up all [[evil]]-doing. [[Jesus]] [[Revelation|disclosed]] to this world a higher [[quality]] of [[righteousness]] than [[justice]]—mere technical right and wrong. [[Divine]] [[love]] does not merely [[forgive]] wrongs; it [[absorbs]] and actually destroys them. The [[forgiveness]] of [[love]] utterly [[transcends]] the [[forgiveness]] of [[mercy]]. Mercy sets the [[guilt]] of [[evil]]-doing to one side; but [[love]] destroys forever the [[sin]] and all [[weakness]] resulting therefrom. [[Jesus]] brought a new [[method]] of [[living]] to [[Urantia]]. He taught us not to [[resist]] [[evil]] but to find through him a [[goodness]] which effectually destroys [[evil]]. The [[forgiveness]] of [[Jesus]] is not [[condonation]]; it is [[salvation]] from [[condemnation]]. [[Salvation]] does not slight wrongs; it makes them right. True [[love]] does not [[compromise]] nor [[condone]] [[hate]]; it destroys it. The [[love]] of [[Jesus]] is never [[satisfied]] with mere [[forgiveness]]. [[The Master]]'s [[love]] implies [[rehabilitation]], [[eternal]] [[survival]]. It is altogether proper to [[speak]] of [[salvation]] as [[redemption]] if you mean this eternal [[rehabilitation]].

188:5.3 Jesus, by the power of his personal love for men, could break the hold of sin and evil. He thereby set men free to choose better ways of living. Jesus portrayed a deliverance from the past which in itself promised a triumph for the future. Forgiveness thus provided salvation. The beauty of divine love, once fully admitted to the human heart, forever destroys the charm of sin and the power of evil.

188:5.3 [[Jesus]], by the [[power]] of his [[personal]] [[love]] for men, could break the hold of [[sin]] and [[evil]]. He thereby set men [[free]] to [[choose]] better ways of [[living]]. [[Jesus]] portrayed a [[deliverance]] from the [[past]] which in itself [[promised]] a [[triumph]] for the [[future]]. [[Forgiveness]] thus provided [[salvation]]. The [[beauty]] of [[divine]] [[love]], once fully admitted to the [[human]] [[heart]], forever destroys the [[charm]] of [[sin]] and the [[power]] of [[evil]].

188:5.4 The sufferings of Jesus were not confined to the crucifixion. In reality, Jesus of Nazareth spent upward of twenty-five years on the cross of a real and intense mortal existence. The real value of the cross consists in the fact that it was the supreme and final expression of his love, the completed revelation of his mercy.

188:5.4 The [[sufferings]] of [[Jesus]] were not confined to the [[crucifixion]]. In [[reality]], [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] spent upward of twenty-five years on the [[cross]] of a real and [[intense]] [[mortal]] [[existence]]. The real [[value]] of the [[cross]] consists in the [[fact]] that it was the [[supreme]] and final [[expression]] of his [[love]], the completed [[revelation]] of his [[mercy]].

188:5.5 On millions of inhabited worlds, tens of trillions of evolving creatures who may have been tempted to give up the moral struggle and abandon the good fight of faith, have taken one more look at Jesus on the cross and then have forged on ahead, inspired by the sight of God's laying down his incarnate life in devotion to the unselfish service of man.

188:5.5 On millions of [[inhabited worlds]], tens of trillions of evolving [[creatures]] who may have been [[tempted]] to give up the [[moral]] [[struggle]] and [[abandon]] the [[good]] fight of [[faith]], have taken one more look at [[Jesus]] on the [[cross]] and then have forged on ahead, [[inspired]] by the [[sight]] of [[God]]'s laying down his [[incarnate]] life in [[devotion]] to the [[unselfish]] [[service]] of [[man]].

188:5.6 The triumph of the death on the cross is all summed up in the spirit of Jesus' attitude toward those who assailed him. He made the cross an eternal symbol of the triumph of love over hate and the victory of truth over evil when he prayed, " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. " That devotion of love was contagious throughout a vast universe; the disciples caught it from their Master. The very first teacher of his gospel who was called upon to lay down his life in this service, said, as they stoned him to death, " Lay not this sin to their charge."

188:5.6 The [[triumph]] of the [[death]] on the [[cross]] is all summed up in the [[spirit]] of [[Jesus]]' [[attitude]] toward those who assailed him. He made the [[cross]] an [[eternal]] [[symbol]] of the [[triumph]] of [[love]] over [[hate]] and the [[victory]] of [[truth]] over [[evil]] when he [[prayed]], " Father, [[forgive]] them, for they know not what they do. " [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_Luke#Chapter_23]That [[devotion]] of [[love]] was [[contagious]] throughout [[Nebadon|a vast universe]]; the [[disciples]] caught it from their Master. The very first [[teacher]] of his [[gospel]] who was called upon to lay down his life in this [[service]], said, as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen they stoned him to death], " Lay not this sin to their charge."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Acts_of_the_Apostles#Acts.7]

188:5.7 The cross makes a supreme appeal to the best in man because it discloses one who was willing to lay down his life in the service of his fellow men. Greater love no man can have than this: that he would be willing to lay down his life for his friends—and Jesus had such a love that he was willing to lay down his life for his enemies, a love greater than any which had hitherto been known on earth.

188:5.7 The [[cross]] makes a [[supreme]] [[appeal]] to the best in man because it discloses one who was willing to lay down his life in the [[service]] of his fellow men. Greater [[love]] no man can have than this: that he would be willing to lay down his life for his [[friends]]—and [[Jesus]] had such a [[love]] that he was willing to lay down his life for his [[enemies]], a love greater than any which had hitherto been known on [[earth]].

188:5.8 On other worlds, as well as on Urantia, this sublime spectacle of the death of the human Jesus on the cross of Golgotha has stirred the emotions of mortals, while it has aroused the highest devotion of the angels.

188:5.8 On [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_49 other worlds], as well as on [[Urantia]], this [[sublime]] [[spectacle]] of the [[death]] of the [[human]] [[Jesus]] on the [[cross]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvary Golgotha] has stirred the [[emotions]] of [[mortals]], while it has aroused the highest [[devotion]] of the [[angels]].

188:5.9 The cross is that high symbol of sacred service, the devotion of one's life to the welfare and salvation of one's fellows. The cross is not the symbol of the sacrifice of the innocent Son of God in the place of guilty sinners and in order to appease the wrath of an offended God, but it does stand forever, on earth and throughout a vast universe, as a sacred symbol of the good bestowing themselves upon the evil and thereby saving them by this very devotion of love. The cross does stand as the token of the highest form of unselfish service, the supreme devotion of the full bestowal of a righteous life in the service of wholehearted ministry, even in death, the death of the cross. And the very sight of this great symbol of the bestowal life of Jesus truly inspires all of us to want to go and do likewise.

188:5.9 The [[cross]] is that high [[symbol]] of [[sacred]] [[service]], the [[devotion]] of one's life to the [[welfare]] and [[salvation]] of one's fellows. The [[cross]] is not the [[symbol]] of the [[sacrifice]] of the [[innocent]] [[Creator Son|Son of God]] in the place of [[guilty]] sinners and in order to appease the [[wrath]] of an offended [[God]], but it does stand forever, on [[earth]] and throughout [[Nebadon|a vast universe]], as a [[sacred]] [[symbol]] of the [[good]] bestowing themselves upon the [[evil]] and thereby saving them by this very [[devotion]] of [[love]]. The [[cross]] does stand as the token of the highest [[form]] of [[unselfish]] [[service]], the [[supreme]] [[devotion]] of the full [[bestowal]] of a [[righteous]] life in the service of wholehearted ministry, even in [[death]], the death of the [[cross]]. And the very [[sight]] of this great [[symbol]] of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_120 bestowal life of Jesus] truly [[inspires]] all of us to want to go and do likewise.

188:5.10 When thinking men and women look upon Jesus as he offers up his life on the cross, they will hardly again permit themselves to complain at even the severest hardships of life, much less at petty harassments and their many purely fictitious grievances. His life was so glorious and his death so triumphant that we are all enticed to a willingness to share both. There is true drawing power in the whole bestowal of Michael, from the days of his youth to this overwhelming spectacle of his death on the cross.

188:5.10 When [[thinking]] [[men]] and [[women]] look upon [[Jesus]] as he offers up his life on the [[cross]], they will hardly again [[permit]] themselves to [[complain]] at even the severest [[hardships]] of life, much less at petty harassments and their many purely fictitious [[grievances]]. His life was so [[glorious]] and his [[death]] so [[triumphant]] that we are all enticed to a willingness to [[share]] both. There is true drawing [[power]] in the whole [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_120 bestowal of Michael], from the days of his [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_123 youth] to this overwhelming [[spectacle]] of his [[death]] on the [[cross]].

188:5.11 Make sure, then, that when you view the cross as a revelation of God, you do not look with the eyes of the primitive man nor with the viewpoint of the later barbarian, both of whom regarded God as a relentless Sovereign of stern justice and rigid law-enforcement. Rather, make sure that you see in the cross the final manifestation of the love and devotion of Jesus to his life mission of bestowal upon the mortal races of his vast universe. See in the death of the Son of Man the climax of the unfolding of the Father's divine love for his sons of the mortal spheres. The cross thus portrays the devotion of willing affection and the bestowal of voluntary salvation upon those who are willing to receive such gifts and devotion. There was nothing in the cross which the Father required—only that which Jesus so willingly gave, and which he refused to avoid.

188:5.11 Make sure, then, that when you view the [[cross]] as a [[revelation]] of [[God]], you do not look with the eyes of the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_52#52:1._PRIMITIVE_MAN primitive man] nor with the [[viewpoint]] of the later [[barbarian]], both of whom regarded [[God]] as a relentless [[King|Sovereign]] of stern [[justice]] and rigid [[law]]-enforcement. Rather, make sure that you see in the [[cross]] the final [[manifestation]] of the [[love]] and [[devotion]] of [[Jesus]] to his life [[mission]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_119#119:7._THE_SEVENTH_AND_FINAL_BESTOWAL bestowal upon the mortal races] of [[Nebadon|his vast universe]]. See in the [[death]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man] the [[climax]] of the unfolding of [[the Father]]'s [[divine]] [[love]] for his [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:5._MORTALS_OF_TIME_AND_SPACE sons of the mortal spheres]. The [[cross]] thus portrays the [[devotion]] of willing [[affection]] and the [[bestowal]] of [[voluntary]] [[salvation]] upon those who are willing to [[receive]] such [[gifts]] and [[devotion]]. There was nothing in the [[cross]] which [[the Father]] required—only that which [[Jesus]] so willingly gave, and which he refused to avoid.

188:5.12 If man cannot otherwise appreciate Jesus and understand the meaning of his bestowal on earth, he can at least comprehend the fellowship of his mortal sufferings. No man can ever fear that the Creator does not know the nature or extent of his temporal afflictions.

188:5.12 If man cannot otherwise [[appreciate]] [[Jesus]] and [[understand]] the [[meaning]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_119#119:7._THE_SEVENTH_AND_FINAL_BESTOWAL his bestowal on earth], he can at least [[comprehend]] the fellowship of his [[mortal]] [[sufferings]]. No man can ever [[fear]] that the [[Creator]] does not know the [[nature]] or extent of his [[temporal]] [[afflictions]].

188:5.13 We know that the death on the cross was not to effect man's reconciliation to God but to stimulate man's realization of the Father's eternal love and his Son's unending mercy, and to broadcast these universal truths to a whole universe.

188:5.13 We know that the [[death]] on the [[cross]] was not to [[effect]] man's [[reconciliation]] to [[God]] but to [[stimulate]] man's [[realization]] of [[the Father]]'s [[eternal]] [[love]] and his [[Creator Son|Son]]'s unending [[mercy]], and to [[broadcast]] these [[universal]] [[truths]] to a whole [[universe]].

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

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

[[Category: PART IV: The Life and Teachings of Jesus]]

[[Category: PART IV: The Life and Teachings of Jesus]]