Who was Jesus and why did he come on earth.
Since Easter is near in our experience once again, I thought I would share information about the life of Jesus from a compelling book I have been reading, The Urantia Book. Seven hundred and forty nine pages out of the two thousand and ninety- seven pages describe month by month his entire life and much of his way of thinking, his important decisions and how he met the real human challenges of life. The source of the book derives from two medical doctors and a handful of others who present over a period of time from 1935 transcribed the in-trance channelled words of a now deceased and confidential person, much like the transcribed words of the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce. The rest of the book reads about the mysteries of God, the universe and our world history. The source of these lessons is ascribed to seventeen celestial beings that are listed in the table of contents. Whether or not a reader accepts the record as valid is of course a matter of personal discernment. My measure of acceptance is, does it inspire me to a more loving and broad minded consciousness? Does it set a standard that empowers me to act and live in a clearer understanding of my family, friends and view humanity as one brotherhood?
It has taken me eight full decades of living and searching, journeying through various religious approaches, new age orientations and reading through hundreds of spiritual books to finally become convinced that there is indeed a universal father that has gifted a part of himself, within all of us that keeps us intimately connected to that source of all life regardless of the incredible vastness of the universe. That is a gift of unconditional love, a wellspring of potential growth and only requires that we acknowledge and love in return.
So who then was Jesus and why did he live a human life? This Urantia book tells us that Jesus was born of the Universal Father to be a creator son and apparently all universes have their own creator sons referred to as Michael sons. Jesus, and all Michel sons are grandsons of the prime creator having been born of one of the combinations of the Trinity. Each son is a unique being bringing that uniqueness to their universe creation. All creator sons commit to the Father, that they will incarnate and live a similar life to their created, evolutionary children so that they fully and completely understand every aspect of the full experience of a human life.
While here, fulfilling his prime directive from the Father, Jesus wanted to remind, and to display to humanity, that the Universal father, his father, was not a nasty, vengeful angry, jealous God as had been characterized by evolving religions for millenia.
The family life occupied the very centre of Jesus’ philosophy of life. The family is the master civilizer. A child learns most of the essentials of life from his family and neighbours. And here we are today, in the midst of a pandemic that forces us to think about and live with our families as never before required. We are also being nudged to think about the whole world as a family unit, one that we cannot ignore.
Jesus’ (named Joshua ben Joseph) family experience was intense. When he had just turned 14 years of age, his father Joseph was unexpectedly killed in an accident at work. As the eldest son in a Jewish family, he now had to assume the role of head of that family. Mary was pregnant with her ninth child and as head of the family, Jesus became the father of his seven brothers and sisters, assuming the financial, educational and disciplinary responsibilities of that role. Jesus cheerfully accepted the responsibility so suddenly thrust upon such a young boy, but he carried out them faithfully to the end.
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At age 13, Joshua had graduated from the synagogue school. H spoke Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew. He had studied mathematics from a private tutor. He had studied the rudiments of the Book of the Laws and was frequently asked to read the scriptures in the synagogue which he attended with his family on the sabbath. He was a skilled harpist, loved and promoted vocal music among his friends and he loved to draw and model in clay. He had already worked with several of his uncles in farming and fishing. He was skilled at carpentry in his father’s workshop.
Throughout his teenage years, he devoted himself fully to the family. Thus, while he labored by day in the carpentry shop, in the evening he taught each of his siblings (including the girls) to read and write. He spent every possible hour with the youngsters. He spent time with each member of his family individually, often taking each one for long walks in the hillsides. As each brother graduated from the synagogue school, he took them to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to be inducted into the commonwealth of Israel as his father had done with him.
The children were always welcome at the repair shop. He provided sand and blocks and stones by the side of the shop and bevies of youngster from the neighborhood flocked there to play, sometimes interrupting him at work and entreating him to tell them a story. The children loved Jesus and he loved the children.
In his 22nd year, with his siblings ranging in age from 7 to 18, Joshua took up employment in a neighboring town. This was the first step in preparing his family for his eventual separation from them. He invested James to be the acting head of the family in his stead. He continued to send most of his earnings home to support the family.
By the time of his 26th year, Joshua saw to it that each of his brothers and sisters were settled in marriage (excepting baby Ruth) and settled in a satisfactory livelihood and his mother was securely cared for by his brother James.
Now with his family life duties and experience successfully competed, he could now begin to think and plan his other reasons for being on earth, to begin his ministry to all mankind.
Was Jesus married? There is no evidence in the book that he was. He replied to his mother’s question about his intent to marry that he must be about his Father’s business and stated that the fact that the son of man pursues his earthy mission alone is in no way a reflection of the desirability of marriage and to the establishment of homes for the consequent joy and training of children. Many of the disciples that he called together were husbands and fathers. His apostles were often entreated to “go home, rest and spend time with your family”. When they travelled, he appointed the youngest apostle’ Nathaniel to look after the apostles’ families, often being there with the family in times of need and illness. Most importantly, Mathew, who raised money for the apostles’ ministry, was instructed by Jesus to give money to Nathaniel to take money each week to the family of the apostles. The twelve were always secure in the knowledge that the welfare of their families was taken care of. This was in accord with his plan to illustrate the love of a heavenly Father in the most practical of terms.
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In future articles I would like to address the record of his major decisions in that life, what the apostles who lived with him intimately said about him, and how he learned to understand man to the pleasure and satisfaction of his Universal Father.
Submitted for publication by Patricia Kristie, former nurse, M.A. Counselling
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