593 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
593 lines
36 KiB
Plaintext
Urantia Book Paper 163 Ordination Of The Seventy At Magadan
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SPIRITWEB ORG, PROMOTING SPIRITUAL CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE INTERNET.
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Subjects Archive The Urantia Book Urantia Book PART IV: The Life and Teachings
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of Jesus : The Bestowal Of Michael On Urantia The Times Of Michael's Bestowal
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Birth And Infancy Of Jesus The Early Childhood Of Jesus The Later Childhood Of
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Jesus Jesus At Jerusalem The Two Crucial Years The Adolescent Years Jesus'
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Early Manhood The Later Adult Life Of Jesus On The Way To Rome The World's
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Religions The Sojourn At Rome The Return From Rome The Transition Years John
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The Baptist Baptism And The Forty Days Tarrying Time In Galilee Training The
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Kingdom's Messengers The Twelve Apostles The Ordination Of The Twelve Beginning
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The Public Work The Passover At Jerusalem Going Through Samaria At Gilboa And
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In The Decapolis Four Eventful Days At Capernaum First Preaching Tour Of
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Galilee The Interlude Visit To Jerusalem Training Evangelists At Bethsaida The
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Second Preaching Tour The Third Preaching Tour Tarrying And Teaching By The
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Seaside Events Leading Up To The Capernaum Crisis The Crisis At Capernaum Last
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Days At Capernaum Fleeing Through Northern Galilee The Sojourn At Tyre And
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Sidon At Caesarea-philippi The Mount Of Transfiguration The Decapolis Tour
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Rodan Of Alexandria Further Discussions With Rodan At The Feast Of Tabernacles
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Ordination Of The Seventy At Magadan At The Feast Of Dedication The Perean
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Mission Begins Last Visit To Northern Perea The Visit To Philadelphia The
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Resurrection Of Lazarus Last Teaching At Pella The Kingdom Of Heaven On The Way
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To Jerusalem Going Into Jerusalem Monday In Jerusalem ...
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Paper 163 Ordination Of The Seventy At Magadan
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Introduction
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A FEW days after the return of Jesus and the twelve to Magadan from Jerusalem,
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Abner and a group of some fifty disciples arrived from Bethlehem. At this time
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there were also assembled at Magadan Camp the evangelistic corps, the women's
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corps, and about one hundred and fifty other true and tried disciples from all
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parts of Palestine. After devoting a few days to visiting and the
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reorganization of the camp, Jesus and the twelve began a course of intensive
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training for this special group of believers, and from this well-trained and
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experienced aggregation of disciples the Master subsequently chose the seventy
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teachers and sent them forth to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. This
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regular instruction began on Friday, November 4, and continued until Sabbath,
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November 19.
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Jesus gave a talk to this company each morning. Peter taught methods of public
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preaching; Nathaniel instructed them in the art of teaching; Thomas explained
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how to answer questions; while Matthew directed the organization of their group
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finances. The other apostles also participated in this training in accordance
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with their special experience and natural talents.
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1. ORDINATION OF THE SEVENTY
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The seventy were ordained by Jesus on Sabbath afternoon, November 19, at the
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Magadan Camp, and Abner was placed at the head of these gospel preachers and
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teachers. This corps of seventy consisted of Abner and ten of the former
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apostles of John, fifty-one of the earlier evangelists, and eight other
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disciples who had distinguished themselves in the service of the kingdom.
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About two o'clock on this Sabbath afternoon, between showers of rain, a company
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of believers, augmented by the arrival of David and the majority of his
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messenger corps and numbering over four hundred, assembled on the shore of the
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lake of Galilee to witness the ordination of the seventy.
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Before Jesus laid his hands upon the heads of the seventy to set them apart as
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gospel messengers, addressing them, he said: "The harvest is indeed plenteous,
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but the laborers are few; therefore I exhort all of you to pray that the Lord
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of the harvest will send still other laborers into his harvest. I am about to
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set you apart as messengers of the kingdom; I am about to send you to Jew and
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gentile as lambs among wolves. As you go your ways, two and two, I instruct you
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to carry neither purse nor extra clothing, for you go forth on this first
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mission for only a short season. Salute no man by the way, attend only to your
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work. Whenever you go to stay at a home, first say: Peace be to this household.
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If those who love peace live therein, you shall abide there; if not, then shall
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you depart. And having selected this home, remain there for your stay in that
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city, eating and
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top of page - 1801
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drinking whatever is set before you. And you do this because the laborer is
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worthy of his sustenance. Move not from house to house because a better lodging
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may be offered. Remember, as you go forth proclaiming peace on earth and good
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will among men, you must contend with bitter and self-deceived enemies;
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therefore be as wise as serpents while you are also as harmless as doves.
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"And everywhere you go, preach, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand,' and
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minister to all who may be sick in either mind or body. Freely you have
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received of the good things of the kingdom; freely give. If the people of any
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city receive you, they shall find an abundant entrance into the Father's
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kingdom; but if the people of any city refuse to receive this gospel, still
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shall you proclaim your message as you depart from that unbelieving community,
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saying, even as you leave, to those who reject your teaching: `Notwithstanding
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you reject the truth, it remains that the kingdom of God has come near you.' He
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who hears you hears me. And he who hears me hears Him who sent me. He who
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rejects your gospel message rejects me. And he who rejects me rejects Him who
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sent me."
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When Jesus had thus spoken to the seventy, he began with Abner and, as they
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knelt in a circle about him, laid his hands upon the head of every man.
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Early the next morning Abner sent the seventy messengers into all the cities of
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Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. And these thirty-five couples went forth preaching
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and teaching for about six weeks, all of them returning to the new camp near
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Pella, in Perea, on Friday, December 30.
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2. THE RICH YOUNG MAN AND OTHERS
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Over fifty disciples who sought ordination and appointment to membership in the
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seventy were rejected by the committee appointed by Jesus to select these
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candidates. This committee consisted of Andrew, Abner, and the acting head of
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the evangelistic corps. In all cases where this committee of three were not
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unanimous in agreement, they brought the candidate to Jesus, and while the
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Master never rejected a single person who craved ordination as a gospel
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messenger, there were more than a dozen who, when they had talked with Jesus,
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no more desired to become gospel messengers.
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One earnest disciple came to Jesus, saying: "Master, I would be one of your new
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apostles, but my father is very old and near death; could I be permitted to
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return home to bury him?" To this man Jesus said: "My son, the foxes have
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holes, and the birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to
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lay his head. You are a faithful disciple, and you can remain such while you
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return home to minister to your loved ones, but not so with my gospel
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messengers. They have forsaken all to follow me and proclaim the kingdom. If
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you would be an ordained teacher, you must let others bury the dead while you
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go forth to publish the good news." And this man went away in great
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disappointment.
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Another disciple came to the Master and said: "I would become an ordained
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messenger, but I would like to go to my home for a short while to comfort my
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family." And Jesus replied: "If you would be ordained, you must be willing to
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forsake all. The gospel messengers cannot have divided affections. No man,
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having put his hand to the plough, if he turns back, is worthy to become a
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messenger of the kingdom."
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Then Andrew brought to Jesus a certain rich young man who was a devout
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believer, and who desired to receive ordination. This young man, Matadormus,
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top of page - 1802
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was a member of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin; he had heard Jesus teach and had been
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subsequently instructed in the gospel of the kingdom by Peter and the other
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apostles. Jesus talked with Matadormus concerning the requirements of
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ordination and requested that he defer decision until after he had thought more
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fully about the matter. Early the next morning, as Jesus was going for a walk,
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this young man accosted him and said: "Master, I would know from you the
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assurances of eternal life. Seeing that I have observed all the commandments
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from my youth, I would like to know what more I must do to gain eternal life?"
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In answer to this question Jesus said: "If you keep all the commandments--do
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not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do
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not defraud, honor your parents--you do well, but salvation is the reward of
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faith, not merely of works. Do you believe this gospel of the kingdom?" And
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Matadormus answered: "Yes, Master, I do believe everything you and your
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apostles have taught me." And Jesus said, "Then are you indeed my disciple and
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a child of the kingdom."
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Then said the young man: "But, Master, I am not content to be your disciple; I
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would be one of your new messengers." When Jesus heard this, he looked down
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upon him with a great love and said: "I will have you to be one of my
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messengers if you are willing to pay the price, if you will supply the one
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thing which you lack." Matadormus replied: "Master, I will do anything if I may
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be allowed to follow you." Jesus, kissing the kneeling young man on the
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forehead, said: "If you would be my messenger, go and sell all that you have
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and, when you have bestowed the proceeds upon the poor or upon your brethren,
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come and follow me, and you shall have treasure in the kingdom of heaven."
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When Matadormus heard this, his countenance fell. He arose and went away
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sorrowful, for he had great possessions. This wealthy young Pharisee had been
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raised to believe that wealth was the token of God's favor. Jesus knew that he
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was not free from the love of himself and his riches. The Master wanted to
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deliver him from the love of wealth, not necessarily from the wealth. While the
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disciples of Jesus did not part with all their worldly goods, the apostles and
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the seventy did. Matadormus desired to be one of the seventy new messengers,
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and that was the reason for Jesus' requiring him to part with all of his
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temporal possessions.
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Almost every human being has some one thing which is held on to as a pet evil,
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and which the entrance into the kingdom of heaven requires as a part of the
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price of admission. If Matadormus had parted with his wealth, it probably would
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have been put right back into his hands for administration as treasurer of the
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seventy. For later on, after the establishment of the church at Jerusalem, he
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did obey the Master's injunction, although it was then too late to enjoy
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membership in the seventy, and he became the treasurer of the Jerusalem church,
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of which James the Lord's brother in the flesh was the head.
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Thus always it was and forever will be: Men must arrive at their own decisions.
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There is a certain range of the freedom of choice which mortals may exercise.
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The forces of the spiritual world will not coerce man; they allow him to go the
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way of his own choosing.
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Jesus foresaw that Matadormus, with his riches, could not possibly become an
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ordained associate of men who had forsaken all for the gospel; at the same
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time, he saw that, without his riches, he would become the ultimate leader of
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all of them. But, like Jesus' own brethren, he never became great in the
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kingdom
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top of page - 1803
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because he deprived himself of that intimate and personal association with the
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Master which might have been his experience had he been willing to do at this
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time the very thing which Jesus asked, and which, several years subsequently,
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he actually did.
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Riches have nothing directly to do with entrance into the kingdom of heaven,
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but the love of wealth does. The spiritual loyalties of the kingdom are
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incompatible with servility to materialistic mammon. Man may not share his
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supreme loyalty to a spiritual ideal with a material devotion.
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Jesus never taught that it was wrong to have wealth. He required only the
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twelve and the seventy to dedicate all of their worldly possessions to the
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common cause. Even then, he provided for the profitable liquidation of their
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property, as in the case of the Apostle Matthew. Jesus many times advised his
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well-to-do disciples as he taught the rich man of Rome. The Master regarded the
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wise investment of excess earnings as a legitimate form of insurance against
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future and unavoidable adversity. When the apostolic treasury was overflowing,
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Judas put funds on deposit to be used subsequently when they might suffer
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greatly from a diminution of income. This Judas did after consultation with
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Andrew. Jesus never personally had anything to do with the apostolic finances
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except in the disbursement of alms. But there was one economic abuse which he
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many times condemned, and that was the unfair exploitation of the weak,
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unlearned, and less fortunate of men by their strong, keen, and more
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intelligent fellows. Jesus declared that such inhuman treatment of men, women,
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and children was incompatible with the ideals of the brotherhood of the kingdom
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of heaven.
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3. THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WEALTH
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By the time Jesus had finished talking with Matadormus, Peter and a number of
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the apostles had gathered about him, and as the rich young man was departing,
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Jesus turned around to face the apostles and said: "You see how difficult it is
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for those who have riches to enter fully into the kingdom of God! Spiritual
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worship cannot be shared with material devotions; no man can serve two masters.
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You have a saying that it is `easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
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needle than for the heathen to inherit eternal life.' And I declare that it is
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as easy for this camel to go through the needle's eye as for these
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self-satisfied rich ones to enter the kingdom of heaven."
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When Peter and the apostles heard these words, they were astonished
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exceedingly, so much so that Peter said: "Who then, Lord, can be saved? Shall
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all who have riches be kept out of the kingdom?" And Jesus replied: "No, Peter,
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but all who put their trust in riches shall hardly enter into the spiritual
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life that leads to eternal progress. But even then, much which is impossible to
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man is not beyond the reach of the Father in heaven; rather should we recognize
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that with God all things are possible."
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As they went off by themselves, Jesus was grieved that Matadormus did not
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remain with them, for he greatly loved him. And when they had walked down by
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the lake, they sat there beside the water, and Peter, speaking for the twelve
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(who were all present by this time), said: "We are troubled by your words to
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the rich young man. Shall we require those who would follow you to give up all
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their worldly goods?" And Jesus said: "No, Peter, only those who would become
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apostles, and who desire to live with me as you do and as one family. But the
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Father requires that the affections of his children be pure and undivided.
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What-
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top of page - 1804
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ever thing or person comes between you and the love of the truths of the
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kingdom, must be surrendered. If one's wealth does not invade the precincts of
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the soul, it is of no consequence in the spiritual life of those who would
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enter the kingdom."
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And then said Peter, "But, Master, we have left everything to follow you, what
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then shall we have?" And Jesus spoke to all of the twelve: "Verily, verily, I
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say to you, there is no man who has left wealth, home, wife, brethren, parents,
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or children for my sake and for the sake of the kingdom of heaven who shall not
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receive manifold more in this world, perhaps with some persecutions, and in the
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world to come eternal life. But many who are first shall be last, while the
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last shall often be first. The Father deals with his creatures in accordance
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with their needs and in obedience to his just laws of merciful and loving
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consideration for the welfare of a universe.
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"The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who was a large employer of men,
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and who went out early in the morning to hire laborers to work in his vineyard.
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When he had agreed with the laborers to pay them a denarius a day, he sent them
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into the vineyard. Then he went out about nine o'clock, and seeing others
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standing in the market place idle, he said to them: `Go you also to work in my
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vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will pay you.' And they went at once to
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work. Again he went out about twelve and about three and did likewise. And
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going to the market place about five in the afternoon, he found still others
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standing idle, and he inquired of them, `Why do you stand here idle all the
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day?' And the men answered, `Because nobody has hired us.' Then said the
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householder: `Go you also to work in my vineyard, and whatever is right I will
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pay you.'
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"When evening came, this owner of the vineyard said to his steward: `Call the
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laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending
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with the first.' When those who were hired about five o'clock came, they
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received a denarius each, and so it was with each of the other laborers. When
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the men who were hired at the beginning of the day saw how the later comers
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were paid, they expected to receive more than the amount agreed upon. But like
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the others every man received only a denarius. And when each had received his
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pay, they complained to the householder, saying: `These men who were hired last
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worked only one hour, and yet you have paid them the same as us who have borne
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the burden of the day in the scorching sun.'
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"Then answered the householder: `My friends, I do you no wrong. Did not each of
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you agree to work for a denarius a day? Take now that which is yours and go
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your way, for it is my desire to give to those who came last as much as I have
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given to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? or do you
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begrudge my generosity because I desire to be good and to show mercy?'"
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4. FAREWELL TO THE SEVENTY
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It was a stirring time about the Magadan Camp the day the seventy went forth on
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their first mission. Early that morning, in his last talk with the seventy,
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Jesus placed emphasis on the following:
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1. The gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed to all the world, to gentile as
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well as to Jew.
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2. While ministering to the sick, refrain from teaching the expectation of
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miracles.
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top of page - 1805
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3. Proclaim a spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God, not an outward kingdom
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of worldly power and material glory.
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4. Avoid loss of time through overmuch social visiting and other trivialities
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which might detract from wholehearted devotion to preaching the gospel.
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5. If the first house to be selected for a headquarters proves to be a worthy
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home, abide there throughout the sojourn in that city.
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6. Make clear to all faithful believers that the time for an open break with
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the religious leaders of the Jews at Jerusalem has now come.
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7. Teach that man's whole duty is summed up in this one commandment: Love the
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Lord your God with all your mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself. (This
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they were to teach as man's whole duty in place of the 613 rules of living
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expounded by the Pharisees.)
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When Jesus had talked thus to the seventy in the presence of all the apostles
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and disciples, Simon Peter took them off by themselves and preached to them
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their ordination sermon, which was an elaboration of the Master's charge given
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at the time he laid his hands upon them and set them apart as messengers of the
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kingdom. Peter exhorted the seventy to cherish in their experience the
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following virtues:
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1. Consecrated devotion. To pray always for more laborers to be sent forth into
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the gospel harvest. He explained that, when one so prays, he will the more
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likely say, "Here am I; send me." He admonished them to neglect not their daily
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worship.
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2. True courage. He warned them that they would encounter hostility and be
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certain to meet with persecution. Peter told them their mission was no
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undertaking for cowards and advised those who were afraid to step out before
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they started. But none withdrew.
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3. Faith and trust. They must go forth on this short mission wholly unprovided
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for; they must trust the Father for food and shelter and all other things
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needful.
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4. Zeal and initiative. They must be possessed with zeal and intelligent
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enthusiasm; they must attend strictly to their Master's business. Oriental
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salutation was a lengthy and elaborate ceremony; therefore had they been
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instructed to "salute no man by the way," which was a common method of
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exhorting one to go about his business without the waste of time. It had
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nothing to do with the matter of friendly greeting.
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5. Kindness and courtesy. The Master had instructed them to avoid unnecessary
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waste of time in social ceremonies, but he enjoined courtesy toward all with
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whom they should come in contact. They were to show every kindness to those who
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might entertain them in their homes. They were strictly warned against leaving
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a modest home to be entertained in a more comfortable or influential one.
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6. Ministry to the sick. The seventy were charged by Peter to search out the
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sick in mind and body and to do everything in their power to bring about the
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alleviation or cure of their maladies.
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And when they had been thus charged and instructed, they started out, two and
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two, on their mission in Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.
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top of page - 1806
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Although the Jews had a peculiar regard for the number seventy, sometimes
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considering the nations of heathendom as being seventy in number, and although
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these seventy messengers were to go with the gospel to all peoples, still as
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far as we can discern, it was only coincidental that this group happened to
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number just seventy. Certain it was that Jesus would have accepted no less than
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half a dozen others, but they were unwilling to pay the price of forsaking
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wealth and families.
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5. MOVING THE CAMP TO PELLA
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Jesus and the twelve now prepared to establish their last headquarters in
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Perea, near Pella, where the Master was baptized in the Jordan. The last ten
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days of November were spent in council at Magadan, and on Tuesday, December 6,
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the entire company of almost three hundred started out at daybreak with all
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their effects to lodge that night near Pella by the river. This was the same
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site, by the spring, that John the Baptist had occupied with his camp several
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years before.
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After the breaking up of the Magadan Camp, David Zebedee returned to Bethsaida
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and began immediately to curtail the messenger service. The kingdom was taking
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on a new phase. Daily, pilgrims arrived from all parts of Palestine and even
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from remote regions of the Roman Empire. Believers occasionally came from
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Mesopotamia and from the lands east of the Tigris. Accordingly, on Sunday,
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December 18, David, with the help of his messenger corps, loaded on to the pack
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animals the camp equipage, then stored in his father's house, with which he had
|
||
formerly conducted the camp of Bethsaida by the lake. Bidding farewell to
|
||
Bethsaida for the time being, he proceeded down the lake shore and along the
|
||
Jordan to a point about one-half mile north of the apostolic camp; and in less
|
||
than a week he was prepared to offer hospitality to almost fifteen hundred
|
||
pilgrim visitors. The apostolic camp could accommodate about five hundred. This
|
||
was the rainy season in Palestine, and these accommodations were required to
|
||
take care of the ever-increasing number of inquirers, mostly earnest, who came
|
||
into Perea to see Jesus and to hear his teaching.
|
||
|
||
David did all this on his own initiative, though he had taken counsel with
|
||
Philip and Matthew at Magadan. He employed the larger part of his former
|
||
messenger corps as his helpers in conducting this camp; he now used less than
|
||
twenty men on regular messenger duty. Near the end of December and before the
|
||
return of the seventy, almost eight hundred visitors were gathered about the
|
||
Master, and they found lodging in David's camp.
|
||
|
||
6. THE RETURN OF THE SEVENTY
|
||
|
||
On Friday, December 30, while Jesus was away in the near-by hills with Peter,
|
||
James, and John, the seventy messengers were arriving by couples, accompanied
|
||
by numerous believers, at the Pella headquarters. All seventy were assembled at
|
||
the teaching site about five o'clock when Jesus returned to the camp. The
|
||
evening meal was delayed for more than an hour while these enthusiasts for the
|
||
gospel of the kingdom related their experiences. David's messengers had brought
|
||
much of this news to the apostles during previous weeks, but it was truly
|
||
inspiring to hear these newly ordained teachers of the gospel personally tell
|
||
how their message had been received by hungry Jews and gentiles. At last Jesus
|
||
|
||
top of page - 1807
|
||
|
||
was able to see men going out to spread the good news without his personal
|
||
presence. The Master now knew that he could leave this world without seriously
|
||
hindering the progress of the kingdom.
|
||
|
||
When the seventy related how "even the devils were subject" to them, they
|
||
referred to the wonderful cures they had wrought in the cases of victims of
|
||
nervous disorders. Nevertheless, there had been a few cases of real spirit
|
||
possession relieved by these ministers, and referring to these, Jesus said: "It
|
||
is not strange that these disobedient minor spirits should be subject to you,
|
||
seeing that I beheld Satan falling as lightning from heaven. But rejoice not so
|
||
much over this, for I declare to you that, as soon as I return to my Father, we
|
||
will send forth our spirits into the very minds of men so that no more can
|
||
these few lost spirits enter the minds of unfortunate mortals. I rejoice with
|
||
you that you have power with men, but be not lifted up because of this
|
||
experience but the rather rejoice that your names are written on the rolls of
|
||
heaven, and that you are thus to go forward in an endless career of spiritual
|
||
conquest."
|
||
|
||
And it was at this time, just before partaking of the evening meal, that Jesus
|
||
experienced one of those rare moments of emotional ecstasy which his followers
|
||
had occasionally witnessed. He said: "I thank you, my Father, Lord of heaven
|
||
and earth, that, while this wonderful gospel was hidden from the wise and
|
||
self-righteous, the spirit has revealed these spiritual glories to these
|
||
children of the kingdom. Yes, my Father, it must have been pleasing in your
|
||
sight to do this, and I rejoice to know that the good news will spread to all
|
||
the world even after I shall have returned to you and the work which you have
|
||
given me to perform. I am mightily moved as I realize you are about to deliver
|
||
all authority into my hands, that only you really know who I am, and that only
|
||
I really know you, and those to whom I have revealed you. And when I have
|
||
finished this revelation to my brethren in the flesh, I will continue the
|
||
revelation to your creatures on high."
|
||
|
||
When Jesus had thus spoken to the Father, he turned aside to speak to his
|
||
apostles and ministers: "Blessed are the eyes which see and the ears which hear
|
||
these things. Let me say to you that many prophets and many of the great men of
|
||
the past ages have desired to behold what you now see, but it was not granted
|
||
them. And many generations of the children of light yet to come will, when they
|
||
hear of these things, envy you who have heard and seen them."
|
||
|
||
Then, speaking to all the disciples, he said: "You have heard how many cities
|
||
and villages have received the good news of the kingdom, and how my ministers
|
||
and teachers have been received by both the Jew and the gentile. And blessed
|
||
indeed are these communities which have elected to believe the gospel of the
|
||
kingdom. But woe upon the light-rejecting inhabitants of Chorazin,
|
||
Bethsaida-Julias, and Capernaum, the cities which did not well receive these
|
||
messengers. I declare that, if the mighty works done in these places had been
|
||
done in Tyre and Sidon, the people of these so-called heathen cities would have
|
||
long since repented in sackcloth and ashes. It shall indeed be more tolerable
|
||
for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment."
|
||
|
||
The next day being the Sabbath, Jesus went apart with the seventy and said to
|
||
them: "I did indeed rejoice with you when you came back bearing the good
|
||
tidings of the reception of the gospel of the kingdom by so many people
|
||
scattered throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. But why were you so
|
||
surprisingly elated? Did you not expect that your message would manifest power
|
||
in its delivery? Did you go forth with so little faith in this gospel that you
|
||
come back
|
||
|
||
top of page - 1808
|
||
|
||
in surprise at its effectiveness? And now, while I would not quench your spirit
|
||
of rejoicing, I would sternly warn you against the subtleties of pride,
|
||
spiritual pride. If you could understand the downfall of Lucifer, the
|
||
iniquitous one, you would solemnly shun all forms of spiritual pride.
|
||
|
||
"You have entered upon this great work of teaching mortal man that he is a son
|
||
of God. I have shown you the way; go forth to do your duty and be not weary in
|
||
well doing. To you and to all who shall follow in your steps down through the
|
||
ages, let me say: I always stand near, and my invitation-call is, and ever
|
||
shall be, Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
|
||
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am true and loyal, and you
|
||
shall find spiritual rest for your souls."
|
||
|
||
And they found the Master's words to be true when they put his promises to the
|
||
test. And since that day countless thousands also have tested and proved the
|
||
surety of these same promises.
|
||
|
||
7. PREPARATION FOR THE LAST MISSION
|
||
|
||
The next few days were busy times in the Pella camp; preparations for the
|
||
Perean mission were being completed. Jesus and his associates were about to
|
||
enter upon their last mission, the three months' tour of all Perea, which
|
||
terminated only upon the Master's entering Jerusalem for his final labors on
|
||
earth. Throughout this period the headquarters of Jesus and the twelve apostles
|
||
was maintained here at the Pella camp.
|
||
|
||
It was no longer necessary for Jesus to go abroad to teach the people. They now
|
||
came to him in increasing numbers each week and from all parts, not only from
|
||
Palestine but from the whole Roman world and from the Near East. Although the
|
||
Master participated with the seventy in the tour of Perea, he spent much of his
|
||
time at the Pella camp, teaching the multitude and instructing the twelve.
|
||
Throughout this three months' period at least ten of the apostles remained with
|
||
Jesus.
|
||
|
||
The women's corps also prepared to go out, two and two, with the seventy to
|
||
labor in the larger cities of Perea. This original group of twelve women had
|
||
recently trained a larger corps of fifty women in the work of home visitation
|
||
and in the art of ministering to the sick and the afflicted. Perpetua, Simon
|
||
Peter's wife, became a member of this new division of the women's corps and was
|
||
intrusted with the leadership of the enlarged women's work under Abner. After
|
||
Pentecost she remained with her illustrious husband, accompanying him on all of
|
||
his missionary tours; and on the day Peter was crucified in Rome, she was fed
|
||
to the wild beasts in the arena. This new women's corps also had as members the
|
||
wives of Philip and Matthew and the mother of James and John.
|
||
|
||
The work of the kingdom now prepared to enter upon its terminal phase under the
|
||
personal leadership of Jesus. And this present phase was one of spiritual depth
|
||
in contrast with the miracle-minded and wonder-seeking multitudes who followed
|
||
after the Master during the former days of popularity in Galilee. However,
|
||
there were still any number of his followers who were material-minded, and who
|
||
failed to grasp the truth that the kingdom of heaven is the spiritual
|
||
brotherhood of man founded on the eternal fact of the universal fatherhood of
|
||
God.
|
||
|
||
top of page - 1809
|
||
|
||
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
Subjects Archive The Urantia Book Urantia Book PART IV: The Life and Teachings
|
||
of Jesus : The Bestowal Of Michael On Urantia The Times Of Michael's Bestowal
|
||
Birth And Infancy Of Jesus The Early Childhood Of Jesus The Later Childhood Of
|
||
Jesus Jesus At Jerusalem The Two Crucial Years The Adolescent Years Jesus'
|
||
Early Manhood The Later Adult Life Of Jesus On The Way To Rome The World's
|
||
Religions The Sojourn At Rome The Return From Rome The Transition Years John
|
||
The Baptist Baptism And The Forty Days Tarrying Time In Galilee Training The
|
||
Kingdom's Messengers The Twelve Apostles The Ordination Of The Twelve Beginning
|
||
The Public Work The Passover At Jerusalem Going Through Samaria At Gilboa And
|
||
In The Decapolis Four Eventful Days At Capernaum First Preaching Tour Of
|
||
Galilee The Interlude Visit To Jerusalem Training Evangelists At Bethsaida The
|
||
Second Preaching Tour The Third Preaching Tour Tarrying And Teaching By The
|
||
Seaside Events Leading Up To The Capernaum Crisis The Crisis At Capernaum Last
|
||
Days At Capernaum Fleeing Through Northern Galilee The Sojourn At Tyre And
|
||
Sidon At Caesarea-philippi The Mount Of Transfiguration The Decapolis Tour
|
||
Rodan Of Alexandria Further Discussions With Rodan At The Feast Of Tabernacles
|
||
Ordination Of The Seventy At Magadan At The Feast Of Dedication The Perean
|
||
Mission Begins Last Visit To Northern Perea The Visit To Philadelphia The
|
||
Resurrection Of Lazarus Last Teaching At Pella The Kingdom Of Heaven On The Way
|
||
To Jerusalem Going Into Jerusalem Monday In Jerusalem Tuesday Morning In The
|
||
Temple The Last Temple Discourse Tuesday Evening On Mount Olivet Wednesday, The
|
||
Rest Day Last Day At The Camp The Last Supper The Farewell Discourse Final
|
||
Admonitions And Warnings In Gethsemane The Betrayal And Arrest Of Jesus Before
|
||
The Sanhedrin Court The Trial Before Pilate Just Before The Crucifixion The
|
||
Crucifixion The Time Of The Tomb The Resurrection Morontia Appearances Of Jesus
|
||
Appearances To The Apostles And Other Leaders Appearances In Galilee Final
|
||
Appearances And Ascension Bestowal Of The Spirit Of Truth After Pentecost The
|
||
Faith Of Jesus
|
||
|
||
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