Paper 166 Overview: Last Visit to Northern Perea

Jesus and the twelve apostles toured northern Perea from February 11 to 20. During this time, Jesus pointed out to his apostles that the gospel was spreading successfully without miracles. The people were accepting the teachings about the kingdom just through the messages being taught.

After Jesus died and was resurrected, his followers began to change his teachings. They focused more on miracles and glorifying Jesus as a divine person, rather than following his actual instructions about the kingdom of heaven. This happened even though Jesus had warned against this.

Jesus and the twelve visited cities and villages in northern Perea where Abner and the women's corps were teaching. Jesus repeatedly showed his apostles that the gospel could spread without miracles. The mission in Perea was successful with little help from the twelve apostles.

After Jesus died, his followers did not follow his instructions. Instead of focusing on his teachings, they built the early church around miracle stories and glorified memories of Jesus. They changed the focus from his message to stories about him as a divine person.

Jesus visited the home of Nathaniel, a wealthy Pharisee in Ragaba, for a Sabbath breakfast on February 18. About twenty Pharisees were there. Jesus did not wash his hands in the ceremonial way before eating, which shocked Nathaniel.

After whispering and sneering from the Pharisees, Jesus confronted them. He said they invited him to discuss the kingdom of God but instead wanted to show off their religious ceremonies. Jesus criticized them for being concerned with outward appearances while being filled with wickedness inside. Some of the Pharisees later believed Jesus' teaching, but most became more determined to trap him.

The next day, Jesus and the twelve went to Amathus near the border of Samaria. There, ten lepers called out to Jesus for healing. Nine were Jews and one was a Samaritan. The apostles were surprised when Jesus helped them all, including the Samaritan.

Jesus told the lepers to show themselves to the priests as required by law. All ten were healed as they went, but only the Samaritan returned to thank Jesus. Jesus pointed this out to his apostles, especially Simon Zelotes who had objected to helping the Samaritan. Only four of the ten actually had leprosy, but all were healed.

At Gerasa, a Pharisee who believed in Jesus asked if many or few would be saved. Jesus explained that salvation is not limited to Jews, but is available to anyone who sincerely seeks it. He warned against postponing entrance into the kingdom.

Jesus taught that salvation is a personal choice, not just for a special group. He said the door to eternal life is open to all who genuinely desire it. Those who refuse salvation now may try to enter later when it's too late. Jesus' disciples were beginning to understand his teaching that spiritual rebirth is necessary to enter God's kingdom.

During a midday rest on the way to Philadelphia, Thomas asked Jesus if spiritual beings cause strange events or prevent accidents. Jesus explained that accidents are natural occurrences, not signs of divine favor or punishment. He said prosperity doesn't indicate God's approval.

Jesus described three types of events that can happen: normal life experiences, accidents of nature that aren't prearranged by spirit forces, and the results of following natural laws. He used the parable of the fig tree to explain this third type. Jesus taught that health and sickness result from material causes, not God's smile or frown.

Jesus and the twelve visited Abner in Philadelphia, where the largest group in Perea had accepted the kingdom teachings. The Philadelphia synagogue was not controlled by the Jerusalem Sanhedrin and remained open to Jesus. Abner taught there three times daily.

This synagogue later became a Christian church and a missionary center. After Jesus' death, James (Jesus' brother) and the Jerusalem church had problems with the Philadelphia believers led by Abner. Abner disagreed with both Peter and James over church leadership and with Paul over theology. Abner's church kept more closely to Jesus' original teachings than any other group.