Ed Rabel - Words of the Galilean Ministry

The second presentation of Words of Jesus concerns the important words of the Galilean Ministry. Here again is Ed Rabel to share this aspect of Jesus’ ministry through His words.

Segments for this talk

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Transcript:

1. Healing at Bathesda

John 5:6 (00:00). Jesus, who symbolizes spiritual healing, enters into a place of physical healing and brings his consciousness into the whole process.

The second group of words that we will deal with are what are called part of the early Galilean ministry of Jesus. This is where He starts to really become active in His ministry of works. The first one, the first statement is found in the incident wherein He visits a healing spa named Bethesda, which depended upon the condition of a certain pool in order for healing to be gained by the patients. He meets a man who had been trying to get a healing for over 38 years, and could not get to this pool in time while the waters were troubled by the angel. Jesus who symbolizes spiritual healing enters this place of material healing, and brings His consciousness into the whole process. When He encounters this man, He realizes how long this man had been waiting for healing and speaks only one sentence to this man, “Wilt thou be made whole? Are you willing to be healed? Are you willing to accept the responsibility of a healed body?”

Now, notice something interesting. The man’s lips begin to act mechanically, and he starts to talk about all the excuses he has up his sleeve for the healing being delayed, but Jesus as typically sow of him, pays no attention to agitated lips, but reads the mind and heart. Jesus has asked the question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man is chattering, but the man’s heart is obviously saying, “Yes. Yes, I am willing.” Jesus made the connection for him in his own consciousness and so, Jesus is able to say without any risk involved, “Take up thy bed and walk.” Of course, the man could do it.

2. Works of the Father

John 5:19 (02:38). We can do the works of the son because we have seen the works of the father.

Jesus next talks about the comparison between the works of the Father and the works of the Son on earth. The son meaning, of course, any human being who is willing to do the will of the Father. Any, any, any human being who is willing to do the works of the Father is the Son. The son.

Jesus makes this analogy. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing, that the Son do it also.” Then a little further, He gets more personal in the same idea. “I can of myself do nothing. I seek not mine my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” In other words, all of the work that is done on this planet, mechanical, productivity and creativity, works of art, innovations of technology, prayer work, you name it.

This kind of work can only be done by the Son because the Son has already seen the Father do it first. In other words, anything that you and I can do, we can do because we know the Father have done it already. We are under authority, we are commissioned by the Father to carry on His works and manifest them on this planet. Of course, immunity and probably in most of our own individualities, we would give healing a very high priority as Jesus did healing. Healing.

3. The authority to heal

Matt. 8:10 (04:32). We have the authority to heal.

Jesus is approached by a Roman centurion that’s very unusual friends. The Romans were the conquering army occupying the land. The Jews were slaves practically subject to the Romans, and here, a centurion, an important officer in the occupying Roman army seeks Jesus out and calls Him, “Lord.” Very unusual, and requests healing for one of his servants. Again, very unusual. Come on, folks. A Roman officer worried about a servant’s healing. That’s very unusual if I know my Romans and any rate.

Jesus is act surprised at getting this request and says, “Yes, I’ll come down and heal him.” The officer says, “I’m not worthy that you should enter my house. Just speak the word, and my servant shall be healed.” Then, he goes on, “Because I also am a man under authority, and I have those under me, which will carry out my word who are under my authority. Speak the word, my servant shall be healed.” Jesus replies with one of the very few times, He pays a personal compliment to any human being. He does it only twice. This is the first time.

When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said unto them that followed, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great of faith, no, not in all Israel.” Of course, the servant was healed. Now, what was Jesus complimenting? Simply these words, “For I also am a man under authority.” If he said, “I also am a man under authority,” this meant that he realized Jesus was under authority, but the difference being the centurion was authorized by the Roman army system, and had soldiers and servants under his word of authority while Jesus was under divine authority and had all of the powers of heaven and earth under His authority. The chain of command could be fulfilled first in the army sense by his realizing he was under authority and had powers under his authority, Jesus under divine authority with forces and powers under His authority.

Jesus told us we all are under the same authority He is under. You have authority to heal. I have authority to heal. We do not create the healing, but we are authorized to what? To further it. You see? We accept it from the Father. We pass it on through our words of truth, our prayers and the forces of healing go to work and carry out our work, and Jesus was so impressed with the centurions in site that He paid him a very rare compliment. See? Jesus didn’t compliment people because He was too busy loving them. Hint? All right.

4. Spiritual Understanding

Matt. 11:11 (08:09). Comparison of intellectual comprehension and spiritual understanding.

Jesus next words are a beautiful comparison between the usefulness of intellectual comprehension and spiritual understanding. They are not synonymous, but they are closely related. John, the Baptist being the symbol of intellectual comprehension, intellectual know how, but Jesus compares this to spiritual understanding and it’s a whole new dimension.

Listen to His remarkable words, “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet he that is but little in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John.” Meaning that intellectual comprehension is a very high attainment of the strictly human consciousness, strictly human, but even the highest on a strictly human level of consciousness, intellectual comprehension is not as great as even a little bit of true spiritual illumination, which he of course symbolizes.

You’ll notice this in no way down puts intellectual seeking, does it? Does it? He says it’s one of the highest accomplishments of him that is born of men. We should seek intellectual comprehension, but not settle for it. See? You do not settle for intellectual knowledge because you could still be what Jesus calls, “Outside the kingdom,” but once you have this spiritual awareness, spiritual understanding, then you are in the kingdom as Jesus states in and this supersedes all intellectual comprehensions.

5. Teaching hidden from the wise

Matt. 11:25 (10:09). Teachings hidden from the wise and understanding, the wise guys and know-it-alls.

Jesus carries on this thought a little further in the next statement we’ve chosen. This is a part of a little prayer He utters in front of a lot of witnesses. He says, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto the babes.” Here again, Jesus is bringing out the necessity of being born anew of becoming as a child and here He uses the analogy of babes. Babes who are able to receive this.

By this, I mean the kind of religious teachings He was bringing to our life way, a whole new level, a whole new dimension and very few people in our life way were ready for these teachings when He gave them, and He knew this and He knew the kind of persons who could not get these teachings at that time and the kind of persons who could get them. He talks about the wise and understanding from whom these teachings are hidden.

Now, the words “wise” and “understanding” are translations from an ancient language, and the ancient language doesn’t quite mean the same as the English translation, “wise” and “understanding.” That’s a very polite translation. A more accurate translation of those ancient words would have been the wise guys and know-it-alls, but the translators were very polite and so they didn’t talk about wise guys and know-it-alls, but wise and understanding. You see the euphemism?

Do you see He is saying, “Look, the kind of religious teachings I’m bringing to you are still hidden from wise guys and know-it-alls.” That makes sense? The same is true of the unity teachings today. People who know too much can’t stand Daily Word. It’s hidden from them, you see? But these teachings as Jesus says are revealed to the babes. Flexible, open-minded, teachable, humble, willing to learn, not wise guys, not know-it-alls, but seekers after the light, seekers of truth. These get the teachings on first impact.

Notice, it’s interesting that Jesus rejoices about this. “Father, I thank thee.” He feels real good about it, so we ought to feel real good about it too, shouldn’t we?

6. Love and the karmic cycle

Luke 7:47 (13:06). Love can short circuit the karmic cycle.

The next words we’ve chosen again have to deal with forgiveness of sins. This is in regard to a woman who was a notorious sinner in the community, and she breaks into a house where Jesus is visiting and begins to wash His feet with her tears and dry His feet with her hair and radiating love, love, love all over the place. Jesus sees this, of course, reads her whole mind and soul and heart, and He says this in regard to her. “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much.” Here again, Jesus is using words to aim at a New Age teaching, which people weren’t ready for back then, but are becoming ready for now.

Back then, karma was king. Now in our Bible, the word karma is not used, but it is referred to over and over and over again as punishment of sins, means the same thing. Our Bible doesn’t use karma, but it uses the meaning of it, punishment for sins. It was believed that that was the only, only possible result of sin, punishment, karma. Is this clear?

Jesus comes along and gives at quantum leap teaching, which probably nobody understood while according to the Bible, they didn’t understand it. They said, “How dare he? Who is this?” He indicates that love can short circuit the karmic current. Love, enough love can transcend the karmic cycle. Here again, we have another presentation of continuous forgiveness of sins, which is spiritual and not mechanical.

Karma is mechanical. Karma is cause and effect, mechanical. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Let the punishment fit the sin. Jesus knew that someday we would evolve to a level where that was not the only necessary experience. That we could bring love and faith into the picture, which He called, “repentance,” and our sins, which are many can be forgiven when we love much, when we love truth and God more than we love punishment.

7. Activity of God's good in our life

Matt. 12:31 (15:54). Don‘t reject the activity of God‘s good in your life

Jesus though throws a curve a little later when He says, “Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.”

Now, sin means any human attempt to negate any divine idea. Blasphemy means to reject or talk against. To reject or talk against is blasphemy. The Holy Spirit is the term used for God’s good in action in our life. God’s good moving and flowing through your life, blessing you, guiding you, comforting you. This is the Holy Spirit, and Jesus says that if a person is sinning against the Holy Spirit or blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, He simply means a person who is refusing or rejecting or talking against the activity of God’s good in his or her life, and Jesus teaches that when a person is doing this, the Holy Spirit cannot give itself to that person because it’s being rejected, refused, sinned against, blasphemed against and so, while that is happening, the Holy Spirit can’t give itself to that individual. It’s not forgiven, but what can happen when that person stops refusing, stops rejecting, stops talking against his own highest good, the sin is over then, isn’t it? Then, Holy Spirit can give itself. That person can be given or be forgiven.

Well, we sure cleared up that unforgivable sin in a hurry, didn’t we? That’s the way all sin should be cleared up, folks, in a hurry, on the spot, in the instant. Not until captain karma comes galloping around again. We can do it through the Holy Spirit anytime we wish.

8. Law of Mind Action

Mark 4:25 (18:08). The Law of Mind Action in the words of Jesus

Jesus says, “For he that hath, to him it shall be given and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.” This is a puzzling statement to literal-minded people, to material-minded people, but to a metaphysical thinker, it makes perfect sense. Jesus is talking about the way the law of mind action works in a person’s life. Like attracts like, like begets like. Thoughts held in mind produced after their kind.

If a person has a strong faith in God, he or she will develop an abundance consciousness, a prosperity consciousness. Jesus calls this, “Him that hath,” and under the law of mind action, a hath consciousness manifests increase good. A hath not consciousness is a belief in lack consciousness, a poverty consciousness, a distrust of God. The same law of mind action will work for that kind of consciousness, and so instead of increase for that person, decrease becomes the experience. It’s either a hath to him shall be given law of mind action or a hath not decrease law of mind action.

Whom determines which law one is under? We do. We decide, and so we accept God’s ever increasing abundance.

9. Peace, Be Still

Mark 4:39 (19:49). Jesus to our stormy self: Peace Be Still

Jesus also says to the wind, “Peace, be still,” and He awoke and rebuke the wind and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still.” One meaning of this, of course, has to do with the natural elements themselves, the climate conditions, conditions of nature and that the word, the power in Jesus’ word could actually make turbulent weather conditions more tranquil.” You know near the end of His ministry when the mob came to arrest him and crucify Him, and that He said, “Who do you seek?” They say, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He said, “I am He.” The whole mob fell flat on their backs on the ground. His words had some power, didn’t they? If human beings could fall flat down, then why couldn’t waves on the ocean and wind fall flat? There’s another meaning, of course.

Metaphysically, the stormy part of human nature is always in the emotional nature, and when the emotional nature becomes turbulent and upset, the state of that person’s being is in great danger. Isn’t he? Isn’t it? The need then is ... What needs to be done is symbolized by Jesus’ words and His actions. We need to turn to the Christ center of dominion and authority in ourselves and no matter how stormy our emotions may be and for whatever reason, words of truth spoken from the center of Christ awareness will calm any emotions that need to be calmed.

But only if we do it. If we only sit around thinking about, “Will it work or not?” It won’t work. If we only speculate, “Will speaking words of truth to my emotions really calm them and make them peaceful again?” As long as you’re asking yourself that question, the answer is no. Nothing will happen if you’re speculating and answering questions or asking other people’s opinions, but everything that Jesus says will happen will happen if we do what? Do what He said.

“Follow me,” He says and truth will demonstrate itself. I challenge anyone who’s hearing my voice now to try this in their own lives. I can promise you that not too much time is going to pass before your emotions are going to carry on again. They do. Almost anything can stir them up and if you’re not enjoying it and you like to get it over with, try something very, very simple, but make it very, very genuine. Do not fake it or you will be sorry. Mean it and you will not be sorry.

Simply imagine yourself as standing by Jesus Christ in this boat on a stormy sea and you look in to yourself and these waves are your own turbulent emotions and don’t try any other words, but these, “In the name of Jesus Christ, peace, be still.” Don’t be surprised if you experienced a miracle. Make room for a miracle. It’s waiting for you. You got an appointment, keep it.

10. Shake the dust off your feet

Matt. 10:14 (23:39). Shake off the dust of your feet and shake the negativity off of your understanding.

The last words in this particular group concern again a problem that is very serious to man on earth especially to highly sensitized and intuitive people, which most true students are. That is the shock of being rejected when I shouldn’t be rejected. None of us think we ought to be rejected, do we? Yet every single one of us constantly have to go through this experience in one form or another of meeting the shock of rejection, and Jesus has some metaphysical advice about this predicament. He’s talking to His disciples and warning them about some of the problems they’re going to have and how to meet it, and among His words, “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust off your feet.” He is talking about handling rejection when rejection already is the fact. It has already occurred, and so it can’t be undone, but where do we go from here is what He’s concerned about.

Notice, His first words are, “As ye go forth out of that house and that city.” In other words, He’s asking us to do something tremendously difficult, but the only sane thing to do. If you have been rejected, leave. He’s saying it in no uncertain terms, folks. If they don’t want you, they don’t listen to you, that you’re not welcomed, find a way to leave.” He says, “As ye leave that house, that’s, ‘Oh, me? I ain’t gonna leave anywhere.’” That’s a escapism. “I’m not gonna leave.” You better learn how to leave, folks. You better learn how to leave if you want to follow Jesus Christ, but shake the dust off your feet before you go into a new place. Feet in the Bible symbolized understanding. Dust clinging to the feet means negative emotions clinging to my understanding. I’ve been rejected. My understanding is now ... Come on. Negative. There’s clinging negative emotions.

I will leave here, but I want another door to open for me and it will, but Jesus says, “Before you leave and before you find that open door, shake the negativity off of your understanding.” Go forth into your greater good with clean feet, no resentment, no self pity, no bitterness. Clean feet are always welcome in new opportunities and we shall keep our feet nice and clean. That finishes our words from the early Galilean Ministry.

Personal Use Study Questions

  1. What, in your words, does it mean to be willing to accept responsibility for healing in body and affairs?
  2. How would you explain the “authority” that enabled Jesus to heal the sick? How can this same “authority” bring healing into our lives?
  3. Explain in your own words the difference between intellectual comprehension and spiritual understanding.
  4. Describe how “wise guy” and “know-it-all” thoughts keep the Truth in Jesus' teachings hidden from us. Describe the “babe” state of mind to which they are revealed.
  5. List some of the ways that “loving much” can help us receive forgiveness for our “many sins.”
  6. Explain, in your own words, the metaphysical understanding of “sin,” “blasphemy,” and “the action of the Holy Spirit.” What are some of the ways you “talk against your good”? Turn each example into an affirmation, declaring the action of the Holy Spirit in that situation.
  7. Explain how the Law of Mind Action can bring either increase or decrease of good in our lives.
  8. List some of the ways you experience “storms” in your inner world. Summarize and practice the technique Ed Rabel suggests for bringing “peace” to the stormy inner conditions. Why must we be careful to do more than just speculate about this technique’s effectiveness?
  9. Describe, in your own words, how you can use the two steps from the words of Jesus (Matt. 10:14) to handle the experience of rejection in your life.