nl-Chapter 13 - The Mission and Significance of Jesus and his Apostles

Correcting the Old Image of God and His Traditions

1. Jesus, the Christ, was the clearest example I gave you in the world to show you how great the Father's love and wisdom are. Jesus was the living message that the Creator sent to Earth so that you might recognize the exalted qualities of the One who created you. People saw in Jehovah an angry and unforgiving God, a terrible and vengeful Judge; yet through Jesus, He freed you from your error.

2. See in the Master the divine love made flesh. He judged all your deeds through His life of humility, sacrifice, and mercy. Yet instead of punishing you with death, He offered you His blood to show you true life—the life of love. That divine message illuminated the life of humanity, and the Word that the Divine Master delivered to humankind became the origin of churches and sects, through which they have sought Me and still seek Me. Yet truly, I tell you, they have not yet understood the content of that message.

3. Humanity does believe that God's love for His children is boundless, since He died in Jesus out of love for humanity. They are even inwardly moved by the sufferings of Jesus before His judges and executioners, and little by little they also recognize the Father in the Son; yet the meaning, the significance of all that the Lord wished to say to humanity through that revelation, which began in a Virgin and ended in the "cloud" of Bethany, has not been properly interpreted to this day.

4. I had to return on the same "cloud" on which the "Word" ascended to the Father, to give you the explanation for this and to reveal the meaning of all that was revealed to you through the birth, life, works, and death of Jesus.

5. The Spirit of Truth, promised by Christ at that time, is this divine manifestation that came to illuminate the darkness and explain the mysteries that the human mind or heart could not fathom. (81, 46–49)

6. I preached My truth in the "Second Era" as a human being through My example. I abolished the useless sacrifice of innocent and unconscious beings by sacrificing Myself for the sake of a perfect doctrine of love. You called Me the "Lamb of God" because that people had sacrificed Me on their traditional feast days.

7. Indeed, my blood was shed to show humanity the path to salvation. My divine love was poured out from the cross upon the humanity of that time and of all times, so that humanity might be inspired by that example, by those words, by that perfect life, and find salvation, the cleansing of sins, and the elevation of the soul. (276, 15)

The Example of Jesus

8. It was necessary for Jesus to show you the principles by which you should live and from which you had strayed.

9. I demonstrated to you all my gentleness, my love, my wisdom, and my mercy, and I drank the cup of suffering with you so that your hearts might be moved and your minds awakened. Hearts had to be reborn to goodness, and the pain of seeing Me crucified out of love for them was like a thorn meant to remind them that you must all suffer for the sake of love in order to reach the Father. My promise to everyone who wishes to take up their cross and follow Me was eternal peace, the highest bliss that has no end in the Spirit. (240, 23–24)

10. Christ is and should be your model; that is why I became human back then. What was the revelation that Jesus brought to humanity? His infinite love, His divine wisdom, His boundless mercy, and His power.

11. I told you: Take Me as your model, and you will do the same works that I do. Since I came as a Master, you should understand that this was not done to give you teachings that are impossible to fulfill or that lie beyond the scope of human understanding.

12. Understand, then, that when you perform works similar to those Jesus taught you, you will have attained the fullness of life of which I spoke to you earlier. (156, 25-27)

The Significance of Jesus' Teaching

13. The teaching of Jesus—given as a guide, as an open book for humanity to study—is unlike anything else found in any other people on earth, in any generation, or in any race. For those who have set out to convey commandments of justice or teachings of charity have been sent by Me to Earth as pioneers, as messengers, but not as deities. Christ alone came to you as a deity. He brought you the clearest and greatest instruction that the human heart has ever received. (219, 33)

The Calling, Training, and Trials of Jesus' Disciples

14. You have been reflecting on this period of My ministry—those three years during which I prepared My disciples, during which I lived among them. They witnessed all My works, and as they were being prepared, they were able to penetrate My heart and behold the purity, the full majesty, and the wisdom that resided in the Master.

15. My deeds at that time were not done for the sake of spectacle; My life on earth was humble; yet whoever was prepared sensed the greatness of My presence and of the time in which he lived.

16. Thus I chose My disciples, some of whom I met on the banks of the river and whom I called, saying, "Follow Me." When they fixed their gaze upon Me, they understood who it was who spoke to them, and so I chose them one by one. (342, 21)

17. As long as I preached in the world, I never said that my disciples were already masters or that people should listen to them. They were still students who—captivated by the light of my Word—willingly followed Me, but who still made mistakes; for it took time until they were transformed and subsequently served as examples for humanity. They were rough stones still being smoothed by the chisel of divine love, so that they too might later transform stones into diamonds. (356, 39)

18. At all times I have tested My disciples. How many times have I subjected Peter to the test, and only once did he falter. Yet do not judge him harshly for this act, for when his faith was kindled, he was like a torch among men when he preached and bore witness to the truth.

19. Do not condemn Thomas; consider how often you could have touched My works with your own hands and yet still doubted. Do not look with contempt upon Judas Iscariot, that beloved disciple who sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver; for never has there been greater repentance than his.

20. I made use of each and every one of them to leave you teachings that would serve as an example and remain forever in the memory of humanity. After their moments of weakness, they repented, changed their ways, and devoted themselves unreservedly to fulfilling their mission. They were true apostles and left behind an example for all generations. (9, 22-23)

The Apostle John

21. Remember: When My body was taken down from the cross and subsequently buried, the disciples, who were distraught and could not comprehend what had happened, believed that with the Master's death, everything was over. It was necessary for their eyes to see Me once more and their ears to hear Me again, so that their faith might be kindled and their understanding of My Word might be strengthened.

22. Now I can tell you that among those disciples there was one who never doubted Me, who never wavered in the face of trials, and who never left Me for a single moment. It was John, the faithful, courageous, passionate, and most loving disciple.

23. For the sake of this love, I entrusted Mary to him as they stood at the foot of the cross, so that he might continue to find love in that heart without blemish, and that, at her side, he might be strengthened even more for the struggle that awaited him.

24. While his brothers, the other disciples, fell one by one under the executioner's blow, thus sealing with their blood and their lives the whole truth they had preached and the name of their Master, John conquered death and escaped martyrdom.

25. Since he had been banished to the wilderness, his persecutors did not consider that there, on that island to which they had driven him, the great revelation of the ages would descend from the heavens to that man, who would experience it step by step—the prophecy that speaks to humanity of all that has happened and will come to pass.

26. After John had shown his brothers great love and dedicated his life to the task of serving them in the name of his Master, he had to live apart from them, alone; but he prayed constantly for humanity, always thinking of those for whom Jesus had shed his blood.

27. Prayer, silence, introspection, the sincerity of his existence, and the goodness of his thoughts worked the miracle that this man, this soul, developed in a short time what other souls require millennia to achieve. (309, 41-45)

28. When I look upon the inhabitants of this world, I see that all peoples know My name, that millions of people repeat My words; yet truly, I tell you, I still see no love among people!

29. Everything I teach you in this time and everything that happens in the world is the explanation and fulfillment of the revelation I gave to humanity through My apostle John, when I carried him, at the time he was living on the island of Patmos, carried him in spirit to the heights of heaven, to the divine plane, to the infinite, to show him through symbols the origin and the goal, the Alpha and the Omega; and he saw the events that had taken place—those that were just unfolding, and those that were yet to come.

30. He understood nothing of this at the time, but My voice said to him, "Write down what you will see and hear," and so he wrote.

31. John had disciples who crossed the sea in ships to seek him out at his place of refuge. Eagerly, those men asked the one who had been a disciple of Jesus what the Master had been like and what His word and His miracles were; and John, who emulated his Master in love and wisdom, astonished them with his words. Even as old age approached, when his body was already bent by time, he still had enough strength to bear witness to his Master and to tell his disciples: "Love one another."

32. When those who sought him out saw that the day of John's passing was drawing near, they asked him, in their desire to possess all the wisdom that the apostle had accumulated, to reveal to them everything he had learned from his Master; yet instead of any answer, they heard only that one phrase: "Love one another."

33. Those who had asked with such eagerness and interest felt deceived and thought that old age had erased the words of Christ from his memory.

34. I tell you that John had not forgotten a single one of my words, but that from all my teachings he expressed as a single quintessence that teaching which sums up the entire law: love one another.

35. How could the teaching of the Master, whom he loved so dearly, have faded from the memory of that beloved disciple? (167, 32-37)

36. In the "Second Era," after my departure, your Heavenly Mother continued to strengthen my disciples and stand by them. After the pain and the trial, they found refuge in the loving heart of Mary; her words nourished them day by day. Encouraged by Mary, who continued to instruct them in the place of the Divine Master, they continued on their path. When she departed, their struggle began, and each followed the path that was shown to him. (183, 15)

The Apostles Peter and Paul

37. Do not forget the incident involving Peter, My disciple, when he was persecuted to the point of death by Saul. I showed the faithful Apostle that he was not alone in his trial and that, if he trusted in My power, I would protect him from his persecutors.

38. Saul was surprised by my divine light while he was searching for Peter to arrest him. My light reached the very depths of Saul's heart, and he—thrown to the ground by My presence, overcome by My love, unable to carry out the task he had planned against My disciple, feeling deep within the transformation of his entire being, and now, converted to faith in Christ—hurried to seek out Peter; but no longer to kill him, but to ask him to instruct him in the Word of the Lord and to let him share in his work.

39. From that time on, Saul was Paul, and that change of name signified the complete spiritual transformation of that man, his total conversion. (308, 46–47)

40. Paul was not among the twelve Apostles; he did not eat at My table, nor did he follow Me on the roads to hear My teachings. Rather, he did not believe in Me, nor did he look kindly upon those who followed Me. In his heart existed the idea of destroying the seed I had entrusted to My disciples, which was just beginning to spread. But Paul did not know that he was one of Mine. He knew that the Messiah had to come, and he believed in it. Yet he could not imagine that the humble Jesus was to be the promised Savior. His heart was full of the pride of the world, and therefore he had not sensed the presence of his Lord.

41. Saul had risen up against his Savior. He persecuted My disciples as well as the people who turned to them to hear My message from the lips of those apostles. And so I surprised him as he was in the midst of persecuting My own. I touched him at the most sensitive point of his heart, and immediately he recognized Me, because his spirit was awaiting Me. That is why he heard My voice.

42. It was My will that this widely known man should be converted in this way, so that the world might witness in all his ways those surprising works that were to serve as an incentive to faith and understanding.

43. Why go into further detail about the life of this man, who from that moment on dedicated his life to love for his neighbors, inspired by love for his Master and His divine teachings?

44. Paul was one of the greatest apostles of My Word; his testimony was always imbued with love, sincerity, truthfulness, and light. His former materialism was transformed into a very high spirituality, his harshness into infinite tenderness; and thus the persecutor of My apostles became the most zealous sower of My Word, the tireless itinerant preacher who brought the divine message of his Lord—for whom he lived and to whom he dedicated his life—to various nations, provinces, and villages.

45. Here you have, beloved people, a beautiful example of conversion and proof that even those who have not yet heard Me can become great apostles of Mine. (157, 42–47)

The Exemplary Nature of the Apostles

46. Who, besides Me, encouraged the disciples in that "Second Era," when they went out into the world without their Master? Does not the work of each one of them seem admirable to you? But I tell you that they, too, had weaknesses like any other human being. Later, they were filled with love and faith; it did not discourage them to be in the world like sheep among wolves and to walk their path always amid persecution and the mockery of the people.

47. They had the power to perform miracles; they knew how to make use of that grace to convert hearts to the truth.

48. Blessed are all those who heard the Word of Jesus from the lips of my Apostles, for with them my teaching underwent no alteration but was given in all its purity and truth. Therefore, when people listened to them, they felt the presence of the Lord in their souls and sensed within their being an unknown feeling of power, of wisdom, and of majesty.

49. In those poor and humble fishermen from Galilee you have a worthy example: transformed by love into spiritual fishermen, they shook nations and kingdoms through the Word they had learned from Jesus, and through their perseverance and self-sacrifice prepared the way for the conversion of the peoples and the establishment of spiritual peace. From kings to beggars—all experienced My peace in those days of true Christianity.

50. That era of spirituality among humanity did not last; yet I, who know all things, had announced and promised you My return, for I knew that you would need Me once more. (279, 56–60)

The Spread of Christianity

51. My teaching, on the lips and in the deeds of My disciples, was a sword of love and light that fought against ignorance, idolatry, and materialism. A cry of indignation rose from those who saw the imminent downfall of their myths and traditions, while at the same time a hymn of joy rang out from other hearts at the sight of the luminous path opening up for the hope and faith of those thirsting for truth and burdened by sin.

52. Those who denied the spiritual life were enraged when they heard the revelations about the Kingdom of Heaven, while those who sensed that existence and hoped for righteousness and salvation from it thanked the Father for having sent His only-begotten Son to the world.

53. The people who had preserved in their hearts the blessed longing to serve their God with sincerity and to love Him saw their path become illuminated and their minds clarified as they immersed themselves in My Word, and they felt a revitalization in their spirit and in their hearts. Christ's teaching, as true spiritual bread, filled the immeasurable emptiness within them and, with its perfection and meaning, abundantly fulfilled all the longings of their spirit.

54. A new era dawned, and a path filled with light opened up, leading into eternity.

55. What beautiful feelings of spiritual elevation, of love, and of tenderness were awakened in those who were enlightened by faith to receive My Word! What courage and steadfastness accompanied those hearts that knew how to endure and overcome everything without a moment's despair!

56. Was it because the Master's blood was still fresh? No, people: the spiritual essence of that blood, which was the material embodiment of Divine Love, does not dry up, nor does it ever fade; it is present today as it was then, alive and warm with life.

57. The reason for this is that in those hearts there was also love for the truth, to which they dedicated their lives and for which they even gave their blood, thereby proving that they had learned their Master's lesson.

58. That blood, so generously given, overcame the obstacles and trials.

59. What a contrast there was between the spirituality of the disciples of My Word and the idolatry, materialism, selfishness, and ignorance of the fanatics clinging to ancient traditions or the pagans who lived only to indulge the pleasures of the body! (316, 34-42)

60. Sow the path of life with good, exemplary works; do not distort My teachings. Take as your model My Apostles of the "Second Era" , who never resorted to ostentatious rituals to teach and explain My doctrine. They cannot be blamed for the idolatry into which humanity subsequently fell. Their hands never erected altars, nor did they build palaces for the spiritual worship of God. But they brought Christ's teachings to humanity, brought health to the sick, hope and comfort to the poor and afflicted, and, like their Master, showed the way to salvation to those who had gone astray.

61. The Christian religion you know today is not even a pale reflection of the teaching that my Apostles practiced and taught!

62. I tell you once again that in those disciples you can find perfect examples of humility, love, mercy, and elevation. They sealed the truth that their mouths spoke with their blood.

63. Humanity will no longer demand blood from you to believe your testimony; but it will demand truthfulness from you. (256, 30-33)