“There was one feature of the bestowal of Michael which was utterly foreign to the Jewish conception of the Messiah, and that was the union of the two natures, the human and the divine. The Jews had variously conceived of the Messiah as perfected human, superhuman, and even as divine, but they never entertained the concept of the union of the human and the divine. And this was the great stumbling block of Jesus’ early disciples. They grasped the human concept of the Messiah as the son of David, as presented by the earlier prophets; as the Son of Man, the superhuman idea of Daniel and some of the later prophets; and even as the Son of God, as depicted by the author of the Book of Enoch and by certain of his contemporaries; but never had they for a single moment entertained the true concept of the union in one earth personality of the two natures, the human and the divine. The incarnation of the Creator in the form of the creature had not been revealed beforehand. It was revealed only in Jesus (Yeshua); the world knew nothing of such things until the Creator Son was made flesh and dwelt among the mortals of the realm.” (136:1.6)

I must admit that when I first heard about the Urantia Book, what our community often calls the Book of Truth, Truth Book or simply “The Book,” I was skeptical. I started out by reading about the Book instead of initially reading the Book itself. This caused even more concern because what I was reading was written by detractors of the Book who had never even read it in the first place. I prayed for several weeks about it and finally had enough courage to begin reading, starting with Part IV, the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ. Coming from a Catholic background I was somewhat nervous as to what I was going to be reading. One of my main concerns was probably about how certain nominal Christians had claimed that the Book denied the divinity of the Messiah. As I continued reading and studying, with the Bible in one hand, I could see that their claims were not true. One verse in the Book stood out for me – 136:1.6. In my mind this was clear evidence of truth regarding the divine and human natures of Jesus.
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Today’s reading is from 181:0-1. These passages consist of the farewell discourse of Yeshua to his disciples, particularly the eleven apostles, as he prepared to leave them. Yeshua first engages in an informal visit with his disciples, recounting various experiences that concern them individually and as a group. The realization that Yeshua is about to leave them is beginning to dawn upon the disciples, and they are holding onto the promise that he will return after a little while. There is a hint that some of them might have misunderstood the nature of this return, thinking it to be a brief visit with the Father before establishing the long-awaited kingdom.

In the subsequent part of the discourse, Yeshua imparts his final admonitions and warnings. He speaks about the transformation that will occur after his departure. While physically present, he could only be in one place at a time, but after being delivered from his mortal nature, he promises to return as a spiritual indweller in each believer. This spiritual incarnation is to guide them through life and the realms of the future, emphasizing that the journey in the Father’s eternal creation is a ceaseless progression in grace, truth, and glory.

Yeshua advises his disciples to focus on living in accordance with the spirit of his teachings and the ideal of his life, rather than attempting to imitate his natural life in the flesh. He assures them that, despite the challenges and tribulations they will face, they should find comfort in the fact that he has overcome the world. His impending departure is not a cause for fear, as he promises to return for a little while and send a new teacher, the Spirit of Truth, to be with them.

The peace that Yeshua imparts is distinguished from the joys and satisfactions of the material world. It’s not the stoic resolution to face the inevitable or the optimistic longing for an elusive peace. Instead, it’s the deeply ingrained peace of a God-knowing individual who has come wholeheartedly in compliance with the will of the Universal Father. This peace stems from an absolute faith in the wise and sympathetic overcare of the Father. Yeshua, despite knowing the challenges that awaited him, was unafraid, determined, and devoted to his mission. He encourages his disciples to embrace this same peace, assuring them that their hearts need not be troubled or afraid.

Yeshua’s comforting and instructive words to his disciples helped to prepare them for his imminent departure while assuring them of his continued presence through the spiritual indwelling and the coming of the Spirit of Truth. The peace he offers is rooted in an unwavering faith in the Universal Father and the assurance that one’s life, both in time and eternity, is in the care of an all-wise, all-loving, and all-powerful spirit.

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“…minister to all who may be sick in either mind or body. Freely you have received of the good things of the kingdom; freely give.” (Urantia Book 163:1.4)

“Heal the sick… freely you received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

” Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27)

“Minister to all…” We should care for and help anyone who is facing physical or mental illness. It’s about showing love and support to those who are suffering, just as Yeshua did during his time on Earth.
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You shall not doubt that faith is the only requirement for eternal salvation. (UB 93:4.8)

Faith stands as the condition for attaining eternal salvation. The notion that one must have unswerving faith in order to secure their eternal salvation is a concept that has been pondered upon and discussed in various theological and philosophical traditions. Those who believe in the truths of the Revelation (Urantia Book) understand that faith is the fundamental element that paves the way to everlasting salvation.

Belief and trust in the Most High is of paramount importance in securing one’s place in the afterlife. The concept of faith, while being a simple word, carries untold significance in the realm of spirituality and theology. It is through unwavering belief that we can attain eternal salvation.

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