Paper 136 Overview: Baptism and the Forty Days

Jesus began his public work during high interest in John's preaching. There was a strong contrast between them - John was earnest and hardworking, while Jesus was calm and joyful. When John preached, his message was to repent and flee from coming wrath. When Jesus preached, he would also mention repentance but would follow with good news of joy and freedom in the new kingdom.

The forty days after Jesus' baptism were very important. During this time, Jesus had to make many major decisions about his mission on earth. He decided not to use supernatural powers to benefit himself or to win followers. Instead, he chose to teach through normal human methods, to follow the Father's will, and to focus on showing people the loving nature of God.

Jesus began his public work when interest in John the Baptist was at its highest point. There was a big difference between John and Jesus. John worked hard with great effort, but Jesus was calm and happy in his work. John was not much of a comfort or example to others, but Jesus was both. While John preached that people should repent, Jesus took that message further by adding the good news about the joy and liberty of the new kingdom.

The Jews had many different ideas about the expected deliverer, and each group could point to parts of Hebrew scriptures to support their views. In a general way, Jews thought their history began with Abraham and would reach its high point with the Messiah. In earlier times, they called this person "the servant of the Lord," then "the Son of Man," and later some even called the Messiah the "Son of God."

In Jesus' time, many Jews believed the coming Messiah would free them from Roman rule through great miracles and wonders. The rabbis had gathered almost five hundred scripture passages about the coming Messiah. However, they focused too much on the idea of restoring Jewish national glory rather than on spiritual salvation for the world. Because of this materialistic view, many Jews would not be able to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Jesus was baptized when John's preaching was at its height. At this time, Palestine was filled with expectation of his message that "the kingdom of God is at hand." Many people presented themselves for baptism not because they felt personally guilty, but for the good of Israel. Jesus received John's baptism not as a ritual of repentance, but following the example of other devoted Israelites.

When Jesus came to be baptized, he was a mortal who had reached the highest level of human advancement in conquering his mind and connecting with his spirit. After John baptized him, his Thought Adjuster (the spirit of God within him) left Jesus and then returned as a personalized being. Jesus saw this spirit descending, and he heard a voice saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." John and Jesus' two brothers also heard these words.

Jesus had already faced a great temptation before his baptism when he was on Mount Hermon for six weeks. There he had defeated Caligastia, the prince of this world. Now Jesus went into forty days of retirement to adjust to the changed relationships with the world and the universe after his Adjuster was personalized. During this isolation, he determined his policy and methods for the new phase of his earth life.

Jesus did not go into retirement for fasting or to punish himself. His reasons were different from those of Moses, Elijah, or even John the Baptist. Jesus was fully aware of his relationship to the universe of his making and to the Father in heaven. He clearly understood the bestowal instructions given by his brother Immanuel. He wanted time to think through his plans for his public work on behalf of this world and all other worlds in his universe.

Day by day in the hills, Jesus developed plans for the rest of his life on earth. He first decided not to teach at the same time as John. He would remain relatively unknown until John's work achieved its purpose, or until John was stopped by imprisonment. Jesus knew that John's fearless preaching would soon cause problems with civil rulers.

The first thing Jesus did after thinking about coordinating his program with John's movement was to review Immanuel's instructions. He thought carefully about the advice he received about his economic, social, and political attitudes. He didn't fast during this forty-day isolation, though he did go without food for the first two days because he was so deep in thought.

On the third day of his conference with himself and his Personalized Adjuster, Jesus saw a vision of the assembled celestial hosts of Nebadon sent by their commanders to wait upon him. His first great decision during this isolation concerned whether or not to use these mighty personalities in his upcoming public work on earth.

Jesus decided that he would not use a single one of these personalities unless it was clearly his Father's will. Even though he made this decision, this vast host remained with him throughout his earth life, ready to obey his commands. Jesus assigned immediate command of these attendant beings to his Personalized Adjuster, and for more than four years, these universe personalities obediently followed the Adjuster's guidance.

Having settled his policy about all personalities of his created intelligences, Jesus now turned his thoughts toward himself. What would he, as the fully self-conscious creator of all things in this universe, do with his creator powers in his everyday life? The problem presented itself when he became hungry on the third day of his solitary meditation.

Jesus decided to follow the path of normal earthly existence. He chose not to use his special powers to satisfy his personal needs. In principle, he decided that his life's work would follow natural law and be in harmony with the existing social organization. The Master chose a program of living that was the same as deciding against miracles and wonders.

Having made decisions regarding food and physical needs, there remained the problem of what his attitude would be when faced with personal danger. He decided to take normal care over his human safety but to refrain from using superhuman intervention if his life in the flesh should be threatened. As he was thinking about this, Jesus was seated under a tree on a ledge with a cliff in front of him.

Jesus knew that his fellow countrymen expected a Messiah who would be above natural law. He had been taught from scripture: "There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." But Jesus saw this kind of display as presumption and a denial of his Father's laws of gravity.

The next big problem Jesus wrestled with, and decided according to the Father's will, was whether or not to use any of his superhuman powers to attract attention and win followers. He decided that he should not. He settled on a policy that eliminated all such practices as a method of bringing his mission to people's attention.

Jesus wisely saw that performing miracles would only win outward loyalty by impressing the material mind. Such displays would not reveal God or save people. He refused to become merely a wonder-worker. He resolved to focus on just one task - establishing the kingdom of heaven.

On the last day of this memorable isolation, before starting down the mountain to join John and his disciples, Jesus made his final decision. He communicated to the Personalized Adjuster: "In all other matters, as in these now of decision-record, I pledge you I will be subject to the will of my Father." And when he had spoken, he journeyed down the mountain.