Paper 132 Overview: The Sojourn at Rome

Jesus spent time in Rome with Gonod and Ganid, teaching and influencing the religious leaders there. He did this by sharing truths with them privately and individually rather than attacking their religious beliefs. This preparation work in Rome helped Christianity spread rapidly years later when Peter and Paul came to teach in the city.

While in Rome, Jesus had many personal contacts with all types of people. He talked with rich and poor alike, helping each person with their problems and questions. Jesus spent these six months making friends, offering wisdom, and learning about the wide variety of people who lived in Rome.

When Jesus arrived in Rome, he met the Roman emperor Tiberius, who was impressed by his kingly bearing. While Gonod conducted business, Jesus and Ganid spent their free time exploring the city. Jesus also began meeting with the religious leaders of Rome, including followers of various philosophies and mystery cults.

Jesus had a special method of teaching these religious leaders. He never attacked their beliefs or pointed out their errors. Instead, he found truth in what they already believed and helped them see it more clearly. This approach prepared these leaders to later accept Christianity when it came to Rome after Jesus' death.

Jesus had a long nighttime talk with Angamon, the leader of the Stoics in Rome. He taught Angamon about where to find true values in life. Jesus explained that true values must be found in the spiritual world and not just in the material world.

Jesus warned that when science advances without spiritual and moral growth, it can become dangerous. He taught that scientists and religious leaders should avoid fighting with each other. Instead, they should work together to serve human progress and make life better for everyone.

Jesus had many conversations with Mardus, the leader of the Cynics in Rome. When Mardus asked about good and evil, Jesus explained that these words represent different levels of understanding the universe. Good is not determined by what is popular or traditional but by the standards of the spirit within us.

Jesus taught that goodness grows as we gain spiritual freedom and become more like our true selves. Good experiences help us appreciate beauty, make better moral choices, understand truth more clearly, and love others more fully. As we grow spiritually, we see increasing goodness and less evil in our lives.

Jesus had many talks with Nabon, a Greek Jew who led the main mystery cult in Rome. During one evening discussion about truth and faith, Jesus made a deep impression on Nabon. Jesus explained that truth cannot be defined with words but only by living it.

Jesus taught that faith helps us connect with the divine spark that lives within us. This spark leads us to find God and gives us eternal life. Prayer helps unify our creative imagination with our faith and helps us identify with the spirit ideals within us.

Jesus did not spend all his free time teaching the future disciples. He also met with people from all walks of life to learn about them and make their lives better. His message was always about the heavenly Father's love and the mercy of God.

Jesus was good at drawing people out by asking questions. He listened to troubled people share their problems, then offered helpful suggestions. In just six months, Jesus personally connected with over 500 people. This time in Rome was one of the richest and most informative periods of his earth life.

A wealthy Roman citizen who followed Stoic philosophy became interested in Jesus' teachings. He asked Jesus what he should do with his wealth. Jesus told him to use wealth to improve material life, just as knowledge should improve intellectual life and spiritual service should improve spiritual life.

Jesus gave the man a detailed analysis of ten different sources of wealth. For each type—inherited, discovered, earned through trade or genius, etc.—he provided guidance on how to be a good steward. The rich man promised to follow this advice and began managing his wealth according to Jesus' counsel the very next day.

Jesus spent several hours finding a lost child and returning him to his worried mother. On the way back from this errand, Jesus explained to Ganid that this experience was like the way God seeks people who are lost spiritually. Finding the child gave them great joy, just like God experiences joy when people find spiritual truth.

Jesus and Ganid also helped a widow with five children after her husband died accidentally. Jesus shared his own experience of losing his father, and they visited the family several times. They found a job for the oldest boy to help support the family. Gonod joked that Jesus was turning his son into a philosopher instead of a businessman.

Jesus, Gonod, and Ganid took five trips away from Rome to see the surrounding area. On their journey to the northern Italian lakes, Ganid asked Jesus why he hadn't spoken to a certain pagan they met. Jesus explained that the man wasn't ready or hungry for spiritual truth.

During their visit to Switzerland, Gonod asked Jesus directly about Buddha. Jesus said Buddha was a great man who guided his followers to the entrance of salvation but stopped just short of entering. Jesus explained that Buddha knew God in spirit but failed to discover him in mind, while the Jews discovered God in mind but failed to know him in spirit.