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143:1.1 The first half of the month of August the apostolic party made its [[headquarters]] at the Greek cities of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archelais Archelais] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasaelis Phasaelis], where they had their first [[experience]] preaching to well-nigh exclusive gatherings of [[gentiles]]—[[Greeks]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_citizens Romans], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria Syrians]—for few [[Jews]] dwelt in these two Greek towns. In contacting with these Roman citizens, [[the apostles]] encountered new [[difficulties]] in the [[proclamation]] of the [[message]] of the coming [[The Kingdom|kingdom]], and they met with new objections to the teachings of [[Jesus]]. At one of the many evening [[conferences]] with his [[apostles]], [[Jesus]] [[listened]] attentively to these objections to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] as the twelve repeated their [[experiences]] with the subjects of their [[personal]] labors.
143:1.2 A question asked by [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]] was typical of their [[difficulties]]. Said Philip: " Master, these [[Greeks]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_citizenship Romans] make light of our [[message]], saying that such teachings are fit for only weaklings and [[slaves]]. They assert that the [[religion]] of the heathen is superior to our teaching because it [[inspires]] to the acquirement of a strong, robust, and [[aggressive]] [[character]]. They affirm that we would [[convert]] all men into enfeebled specimens of passive [[nonresisters]] who would soon perish from the face of the [[earth]]. They like you, Master, and freely admit that your teaching is heavenly and [[ideal]], but they will not take us seriously. They assert that your [[religion]] is not for this world; that men cannot live as you teach. And now, Master, what shall we say to these [[gentiles]]? "
143:1.3 After [[Jesus]] had heard similar objections to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] presented by [[Thomas, the Apostle|Thomas]], [[Nathaniel]], [[Simon, the Apostle|Simon Zelotes]], and [[Matthew, the Apostle|Matthew]], he said to [[the twelve]]:
143:1.4 " I have come into this world to do the will of [[Universal Father|my Father]] and to [[reveal]] his loving [[character]] to all [[mankind]]. That, my brethren, is my [[mission]]. And this one thing I will do, regardless of the misunderstanding of my teachings by [[Jews]] or [[gentiles]] of this day or of another [[generation]]. But you should not overlook the [[fact]] that even [[divine]] [[love]] has its severe [[disciplines]]. A [[father]]'s love for his son oftentimes impels the father to restrain the unwise [[acts]] of his thoughtless offspring. The [[child]] does not always [[comprehend]] the [[wise]] and loving [[motives]] of the father's restraining [[discipline]]. But I [[declare]] to you that [[Universal Father|my Father]] in [[Paradise]] does rule a [[universe of universes]] by the compelling [[power]] of his [[love]]. Love is the greatest of all [[spirit]] [[realities]]. [[Truth]] is a liberating [[revelation]], but love is the [[supreme]] [[relationship]]. And no matter what blunders your fellow men make in their world [[management]] of today, in an age to come the [[gospel]] which I [[declare]] to you will rule this very world. The [[ultimate]] goal of [[human]] [[progress]] is the [[reverent]] [[recognition]] of the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]] and the loving [[materialization]] of the brotherhood of man.
143:1.5 " But who told you that my [[gospel]] was intended only for [[slaves]] and weaklings? Do you, my chosen [[apostles]], resemble weaklings? Did [[John the Baptist|John]] look like a weakling? Do you [[observe]] that I am enslaved by [[fear]]? True, the [[poor]] and oppressed of this [[generation]] have the [[gospel]] preached to them. The [[religions]] of this world have neglected the [[poor]], but [[Universal Father|my Father]] is no respecter of [[persons]]. Besides, the [[poor]] of this day are the first to heed the call to [[repentance]] and [[acceptance]] of sonship. The [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] is to be [[preached]] to all men—[[Jew]] and [[gentile]], Greek and Roman, [[rich]] and [[poor]], free and bond—and equally to young and old, [[male]] and [[female]].
143:1.6 " Because [[Universal Father|my Father]] is a [[God]] of [[love]] and delights in the [[practice]] of [[mercy]], do not imbibe the [[idea]] that the [[service]] of [[the kingdom]] is to be one of monotonous ease. The [[Ascension Career|Paradise ascent]] is the [[supreme]] [[adventure]] of all time, the rugged [[achievement]] of [[eternity]]. The [[service]] of [[the kingdom]] on [[earth]] will call for all the [[courageous]] manhood that you and your coworkers can muster. Many of you will be put to [[death]] for your [[loyalty]] to [[the gospel]] of this kingdom. It is easy to die in the line of [[physical]] [[war|battle]] when your [[courage]] is [[strengthened]] by the [[presence]] of your fighting [[comrades]], but it requires a higher and more [[profound]] form of [[human]] [[courage]] and [[devotion]] calmly and all [[Solitude|alone]] to lay down your life for the [[love]] of a [[truth]] enshrined in your [[mortal]] [[heart]].
143:1.7 " Today, the unbelievers may taunt you with [[preaching]] a [[gospel]] of [[nonresistance]] and with living lives of [[nonviolence]], but you are the first volunteers of a long line of [[sincere]] believers in the [[gospel]] of [[The Kingdom|this kingdom]] who will astonish all [[mankind]] by their [[heroic]] [[devotion]] to these teachings. No [[armies]] of the world have ever displayed more [[courage]] and bravery than will be portrayed by you and your [[loyal]] successors who shall go forth to all the world [[proclaiming]] the good news—the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]] and the brotherhood of men. The [[courage]] of the [[flesh]] is the lowest form of [[bravery]]. [[Mind]] bravery is a higher type of human [[courage]], but the highest and [[supreme]] is uncompromising [[loyalty]] to the [[enlightened]] [[convictions]] of [[profound]] [[spiritual]] [[realities]]. And such [[courage]] constitutes the [[heroism]] of the God-knowing man. And you are all God-knowing men; you are in very [[truth]] the [[personal]] [[associates]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Man Son of Man]. "
143:1.8 This was not all that [[Jesus]] said on that occasion, but it is the introduction of his address, and he went on at great length in amplification and in [[illustration]] of this pronouncement. This was one of the most im[[passion]]ed addresses which [[Jesus]] ever delivered to [[the twelve]]. Seldom did [[the Master]] speak to his [[apostles]] with evident strong [[feeling]], but this was one of those few occasions when he spoke with [[manifest]] [[earnestness]], accompanied by marked [[emotion]].
143:1.9 The result upon the [[public]] [[preaching]] and [[personal]] [[ministry]] of [[the apostles]] was [[immediate]]; from that very day their [[message]] took on a new note of [[courageous]] [[dominance]]. The twelve continued to acquire the [[spirit]] of [[positive]] [[aggression]] in the new [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. From this day forward they did not occupy themselves so much with the [[preaching]] of the [[negative]] [[virtues]] and the passive injunctions of [[Master Son|their Master]]'s many-sided teaching.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_143 Go to Paper 143]</center>
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[[Category:Paper 143 - Going Through Samaria]]