Paper 133 Overview: The Return from Rome

Paper 133 chronicles Jesus' journey with Gonod and Ganid from Rome back toward the East, highlighting significant interactions and teachings along the way. As they traveled through Italy, Greece, and Asia, Jesus continued his personal ministry to the people they encountered, addressing individual needs through tailored conversations and compassionate interventions. The journey provided numerous opportunities for Jesus to teach important lessons about mercy, justice, spiritual values, and human dignity.

Throughout their travels, Jesus engaged in profound philosophical discussions on subjects like the nature of soul, mind, and reality with learned individuals in places like Corinth, Athens, and Ephesus. The journey concluded at Charax on the Persian Gulf where Jesus bid farewell to Gonod and Ganid, who returned to India carrying his teachings. Though Ganid later heard of Jesus of Nazareth, he never realized this was the same person who had been his beloved teacher during their travels.

When departing Rome, Jesus said goodbye to none of his friends, disappearing as quietly as he had arrived. For two years after his departure, small groups of those who had known him continued to meet informally, drawn together by their common interest in his teachings and shared memories of their experiences with him. Meanwhile, Gonod and Ganid had purchased so many items in Alexandria and Rome that they sent their belongings ahead by pack train to Tarentum.

The three travelers chose to walk leisurely across Italy on the Appian Way, encountering various people along their journey. During one rest stop, Ganid asked Jesus about India's caste system, to which Jesus responded with a teaching about spiritual equality. He explained that before God, all mortals stand on equal footing, divided only into those who desire to do God's will and those who do not. Jesus taught that while humans can be appropriately classified in many ways according to physical, mental, and social qualifications, in the spiritual brotherhood, no such distinctions should exist.

One afternoon near Tarentum, Jesus and Ganid witnessed a larger boy bullying a smaller one. Jesus quickly intervened, restraining the bully until the smaller child escaped. When Ganid attempted to punish the bully himself, Jesus stopped him and used the incident as an opportunity to teach about the difference between mercy and justice. Jesus explained that helping the victim was an act of mercy that any individual could perform, while administering punishment belonged to social or governmental groups.

Jesus clarified that as individuals, we should show mercy and rescue those in need, but we should not sit in judgment or attempt to execute what we personally consider appropriate punishment. He pointed out that people would rarely agree on a proper punishment, with opinions varying widely on what would constitute justice. This, Jesus taught, is why justice must be determined by groups or their representatives, while mercy can be freely dispensed by individuals. Ganid struggled to fully understand, particularly regarding self-defense, but Jesus patiently explained his philosophy of non-resistance based on his trust in the Father's overcare.

While waiting at the ship landing in Tarentum, Jesus observed a man mistreating his wife. True to his pattern of intervention, Jesus approached the man gently, asking for a private word. Speaking with kindness and wisdom rather than condemnation, Jesus helped the man recognize his inappropriate behavior. The husband was moved by Jesus' approach and promised to honor his previous pledge to another of Jesus' brothers who had taught him a better way years before.

As Jesus bid the man farewell, he offered profound teachings about the relationship between men and women. He explained that men have no rightful authority over women unless freely given, and that women deserve special protection as partners in bearing and raising children. Jesus elevated the status of women by describing them as equal partners with men in co-creating with God, comparing the Father's relationship with the Universal Mother Spirit to how men should relate to women. Gonod, deeply affected by these teachings about gender equality, resolved to reorganize his own household when he returned to India.

During their stay in Corinth, Ganid developed an interest in the Jewish religion and began attending the local synagogue services. He formed a friendship with Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and his family, appreciating their approach to family life. While Ganid was learning about Jewish customs and family practices, Jesus was teaching Crispus about more advanced spiritual living, quietly preparing the way for his future conversion to Christianity under Paul's ministry.

One evening near the citadel, two women of questionable reputation approached Jesus and Ganid. When Ganid rudely dismissed them, Jesus gently corrected him, explaining that all humans have a divine spirit within them and these women had suffered much hardship. Rather than judging them, Jesus invited them to a meal at Justus' home, where they received counsel and kindness. Jesus then excused himself and Ganid, leaving the women with Martha, who ministered to them compassionately. One woman later died, but the other became a lifelong member of the first Christian church in Corinth, demonstrating the transformative power of Jesus' approach of dignity and respect rather than condemnation.

Jesus and Ganid experienced many meaningful interactions in Corinth, where Jesus engaged with people from diverse backgrounds, adapting his message to connect with each individual's situation and understanding. His personal ministry touched numerous lives during their two-month stay in this cosmopolitan Greek city. In each encounter, Jesus demonstrated his remarkable ability to provide spiritual guidance relevant to the person's daily life and occupation.

Jesus gave tailored wisdom to many different individuals: to a miller, he spoke of grinding truth to make it digestible for others; to a Roman centurion, he encouraged inner courage and choosing goodness; to a Greek contractor, he compared building physical structures to developing spiritual character; to a Roman judge, he emphasized mercy in judgment; to the mistress of a Greek inn, he elevated her daily work to a ministry to God's children; to a Chinese merchant, he spoke of finding God within; to a traveler, he encouraged inner communication with one's soul; to a runaway lad, he taught the impossibility of escaping oneself and God; and to a condemned criminal, he offered hope of divine mercy despite earthly judgment. Each message was uniquely suited to help the recipient connect their current circumstances to spiritual growth.

The travelers arrived in Athens, the ancient center of Greek learning and culture, which particularly excited Ganid as he recognized its historical importance as the cultural center of Alexander's empire that had extended even to his homeland of India. With minimal business to conduct, Gonod spent most of his time with Jesus and Ganid, visiting important sites and engaging in intellectual discussions. They frequently visited the university's halls of learning, having previously discussed Plato's teachings in Alexandria.

One evening at their inn, Jesus engaged a Greek philosopher in a discussion about science that lasted nearly three hours. After the philosopher finished his presentation, Jesus offered insights on the relationship between science, religion, and philosophy. He explained that science measures physical energy and discovers facts, while religion concerns eternal values, and true philosophy attempts to correlate these different realms. Jesus pointed out the limitations of mathematics and logic when applied to human life, illustrating how arithmetical calculations fail to account for the complexity of human interactions. He emphasized that the universe is friendly to those who can perceive both quantitative facts and qualitative values as having a common origin in the Paradise Father.

Jesus and his companions traveled to Ephesus, where they visited the famous temple of Artemis located about two miles from the city. Despite Jesus' previous teachings about avoiding idol worship, Ganid purchased a small silver shrine honoring the fertility goddess, showing that some of his early cultural conditioning remained. That evening, they discussed at length the worship of human-made objects, with Jesus gently guiding Ganid toward a more spiritual understanding.

During their stay, Jesus had several productive discussions with a progressive thinker from the local school of philosophy. When asked specifically what he meant by "soul," Jesus provided a profound explanation that differentiated the soul from both the physical and intellectual aspects of human existence. He defined the soul as the self-reflective, truth-discerning, and spirit-perceiving part of a human that elevates them above animal existence. Jesus clarified that the soul represents the potential survival value of human experience and is born when the mind first experiences moral consciousness. He explained that while the soul cannot be discovered through either material investigation or spiritual testing, every morally conscious person knows of its existence through personal experience.

The travelers sailed to Cyprus, stopping at Rhodes along the way. They had planned this portion of their journey as a period of rest and recreation as their Mediterranean tour was drawing to a close. They enjoyed themselves in the mountains for two weeks until Ganid suddenly fell severely ill with a high fever. Jesus diligently cared for him for two weeks, demonstrating both gentleness and skill that impressed Gonod greatly. After Ganid recovered, they remained on the island for additional rest.

During Ganid's convalescence, Jesus taught him about nature and engaged him in meaningful philosophical discussions. One day, Ganid asked Jesus to explain the difference between human self-consciousness and animal consciousness. Jesus explained that animals only perceive the objective world, while humans achieve a higher level by becoming conscious of their own consciousness. He taught that ideas are more than records of sensations—they include reflective interpretations by the personal self, which is more than the sum of sensations. Jesus described how the human mind possesses supermaterial qualities and explained the struggles that result from conflicting allegiances within the mind. He emphasized that unresolved internal conflicts can damage unity and potentially lead to mind disruption.

Antioch, the capital of the Roman province of Syria and the empire's third-largest city, was notorious for its wickedness and immorality. While Gonod attended to business matters, Jesus and Ganid explored the city, though Jesus notably refused to visit the infamous grove of Daphne, a shrine known for its degrading practices. As they neared Palestine, Jesus became increasingly reflective and reserved, showing little interest in Antioch itself.

When Ganid questioned Jesus about his unusual lack of interest in the city, Jesus merely hinted that he might return there someday. During their stay, Ganid had an opportunity to apply Jesus' teachings in a practical situation. An Indian worker in his father's business had become disgruntled and difficult, facing possible dismissal. Ganid sought him out for a long conversation, sharing what he had learned from Jesus about finding purpose in one's work. He quoted a Hebrew proverb that Jesus had taught him: "Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do that with all your might." This guidance helped transform the worker's attitude, demonstrating how Ganid was beginning to implement the wisdom he had gained throughout their journey.

The final leg of their journey took them across the desert by camel caravan. When Jesus helped load their twenty camels and volunteered to drive their animal, Ganid asked if there was anything Jesus could not do. Jesus simply smiled at the compliment from his admiring student. They traveled to Ur, Abraham's birthplace, which particularly interested Jesus, as did the ruins and traditions of Susa. Gonod and Ganid extended their stay for three weeks to allow Jesus time for exploration and investigation.

When the time finally came to part ways at Charax, the farewell was emotional yet dignified. Ganid expressed his deep affection for Jesus, saying: "Farewell, Teacher, but not forever. When I come again to Damascus, I will look for you." Jesus remained on the shore, watching as the small boat carried his friends to their anchored ship, never to see them again in this world. Later in life, Ganid became an influential man in India and shared many of Jesus' noble teachings with others. Though he eventually heard about Jesus of Nazareth and noticed similarities with his Jewish tutor's teachings, he never realized they were the same person. Thus ended the chapter of Jesus' life as Joshua the teacher, having profoundly influenced these two men from India.