Paper 155 Overview: Fleeing Through Northern Galilee

Jesus and his group stopped at a quiet place near Bethsaida-Julias to rest and talk before traveling again. He used this time to teach his followers about the challenges ahead and how to stay strong. Jesus explained that his kingdom was about love and kindness, not fear or punishment, and he told them to keep learning and growing in both faith and understanding.

Later, while resting on the way to Sidon, Jesus talked about different kinds of religion. He said some people follow religion because of fear or old traditions, but true religion comes from a real, personal connection with God. Jesus told them the best way to show their faith is by living with love, helping others, and staying close to God in everyday life.

After landing near Kheresa on a Sunday, Jesus and twenty-four of his followers went north to camp in a beautiful park. They stayed at a familiar camping place south of Bethsaida-Julias where they had been before. Before going to sleep, Jesus called everyone together to talk about their planned trip through northern Galilee to the Phoenician coast.

Jesus talked about words from the Psalms that asked why people who don't know God are so angry. He explained that while some of the psalm was coming true before their eyes, other parts were wrong because the writer didn't understand Jesus' true mission. Jesus said his kingdom is based on love and mercy, not anger and punishment.

Jesus pointed out that people who don't understand spiritual truth can be more focused and energetic than his followers sometimes were. He told his disciples to be more dedicated and stop just wishing for things to be different.

When Peter saw that no more people were coming to learn about the kingdom, he gathered the other preachers and left for Caesarea-Philippi to join Jesus. They arrived around noon on Wednesday and spent the evening talking about their experiences with the unbelievers in Chorazin. Jesus used the parable of the sower to teach them about handling apparent failures.

Jesus did no public teaching during their two-week stay near Caesarea-Philippi. Instead, he had quiet evening meetings with his apostles and believers who came to the camp. The apostles began to understand that the kingdom of heaven was not about physical things but about spiritual joy from accepting divine sonship.

This time was a real test for the eleven apostles, who missed Peter's enthusiasm and found it difficult without his energy. Even though they made few new converts, they learned valuable lessons in their daily talks with Jesus.

On Thursday morning, June 9, the group of twenty-five teachers received news about the progress of the kingdom from messengers sent by David from Bethsaida. They left Caesarea-Philippi to journey to the Phoenician coast, traveling around marsh country and arriving at the road to Sidon by Friday afternoon.

While they stopped for lunch under a rock ledge near Luz, Jesus gave one of his most remarkable talks. After Peter and Thomas asked questions about why they were avoiding confrontation and about differences in religious beliefs, Jesus promised to address these questions after lunch.

Jesus gave an important talk about religion that was written down in modern language. He explained that there are three types of religion: primitive religion based on fear, the religion of civilization based on tradition and authority, and true religion based on personal spiritual experience and revelation.

Jesus taught that true religion is based on personal experience rather than just following rules. He explained how many people prefer the security of traditional religion over the adventure of spiritual discovery, even though this choice limits their spiritual freedom.

While resting in the shade, Jesus continued teaching about spiritual religion. He explained that his followers had chosen to leave behind the secure but limiting religion of authority for the adventure of progressive faith. Jesus encouraged them to discover God personally rather than just accepting what tradition says about God.

Jesus told them religion should change from just believing what authorities say to actually experiencing faith that can grasp the reality of God. He emphasized that no one should have to believe things that seem wrong or untrue to enter the kingdom of heaven.