"I have food to eat that you know nothing about." (John 4:32)

They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." (John 4:30-32) 

What is the 'food' they 'know nothing about'?

After Jesus was urged by his disciples to eat something, he tells them he has food they don't know about. What is that food? It is spiritual food.

Jesus' statement also confirms the meaning of “give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3) in the Lord’s prayer. The food that Jesus is discussing is the food that feeds the spiritual self.

Our real food is a loving relationship with the Supreme Person, God. Once the spirit-person within - the spiritual being - renews their relationship with the Supreme Being, they want to do the will of the One they love:

Such a person will want to do God's will out of love. This service relationship satisfies the spiritual person, just as physical food satisfies the physical body’s hunger.

And why does Jesus say that his audience knows nothing about this spiritual food? It is because the physical world is where those who don't want to have a relationship with God come to. This is where those who have rejected their relationship with God go.

This issue of internal satisfaction is specifically why most people in the physical world are struggling to become fulfilled with the forms and things of the physical world, yet remain empty and unhappy.

Can we be full yet empty within?

Through media, we have been able to see the most wealthy and famous people become physically full yet remain unfulfilled. Why?

We have been able to watch some of the richest and most glorified people in the world descend into depression, drug abuse and suicidal behaviors. Even though they had everything material a person could ever desire: The adoration of millions of people and all the money they could ever spend; their activities indicate a continued emptiness. They have remained unfulfilled despite having practically everything the physical world can offer.

Assuming that happiness results from obtaining these and other physical things, there is a problem. Because the world's most famous and wealthy people have all these things and more. They can have whatever the physical world can offer.

Even the assumption that family brings happiness - the moral of so many movies and shows - is also devoid. If family brings happiness, why are there so many unhappy, depressed people? Practically everyone has family of some sort. Why is there so much unhappiness despite so many large families?

Because not only do physical things like money and fame not bring happiness: Families of this world also do not bring happiness.

Why don't these things bring us happiness?

This points to the reality that we are not these physical bodies. If we were these physical bodies, then why would the things of the physical world not satisfy us?

Since the forms and things of the physical world do not satisfy us, we must not be physical. We must have a deeper existence, one beyond the confines of this temporary physical body.

And certainly, we see this at the time of death. A dead body lies there, but without life. The entire body - every molecule and cell - is still there in the dead body. But the body is lifeless. What has changed?

The spirit-person within - who was driving that physical body - has left.

The fact that we cannot see this spirit-person within who leaves the physical body points to the fact that the spirit-person lies within another dimension. It is not perceivable by the gross physical senses.

This is why there are so many clinical death cases where a person whose body was revived reports having left the body and observed things from outside the body. They observed the body from above, and many cases prove the spirit-person could observe things that were not otherwise observed as their physical body lay with closed eyes and a sheet over the head.

Since we are spiritual in essence and not these physical bodies, then we cannot be satisfied by the things of the physical world. It might be compared to a driver of a car being hungry and thinking that if he fills his car's gas tank up with gas he will no longer be hungry. He will soon find that filling the gas tank won't relinquish the car driver's hunger because the car driver is not the car.

For this reason, Jesus, identifying himself as the spiritual child of God and not the physical body, relayed to his students that his food was loving the Supreme Being and serving Him. This is confirmed by Jesus' next statement:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

Here is the situation surrounding this statement by Jesus:

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:3-7)

Is Jesus contradicting Moses?

The institutional temple teachers are testing Jesus' interpretation and application of instructions given by Moses at least 1,000 years earlier. This was a time when Moses led a people who were formerly enslaved through the desert after the Exodus. 

Tough rules helped keep the peace and keep people civil. There were rules that were necessary to keep those people calm. There were also rules (such as circumcision) that helped keep the Exodus people from becoming diseased or otherwise unsafe.

Yes, they were traveling through an inhospitable desert full of dangers and enemies. There weren't many ways to punish people who went overboard and harmed others. Tough penalties had to be instituted that suited the situation. They didn't have jails to keep people away from the others. So stoning was one of the few punishments scary enough to deter people from harming others.

Was Jesus contradicting this teaching?

According to Exodus and Deuteronomy, Moses gave instructions that helped the Israelites survive. Those instructions established the rule of law that allowed them to act in a civil manner. 

Traveling through the desert without the rule of law and facing threats all around them could tear the fabric of almost any group of people. So Moses presented rules according to the time and circumstance, to help provide the rule of law.

The ultimate intent of Moses in keeping the Israelites safe was to please the Supreme Being. While stoning is considered unacceptable in any civilized society, and certainly not pleasing to God, the practice may have been instituted originally to manage an untenable situation where the rule of law was necessary to keep people safe.

The primary purpose of the rule of law for the Israelites in the desert was to please God:

The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 12:28)

This purpose was no different than Jesus' purpose with respect to his instructions. Consider this statement by Jesus:

"I am not here on my own, but He who sent me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me." (John 7:28-29)

This is clear that Jesus’ teachings were not coming from himself. “He sent me” makes the relationship very clear. The Supreme Being sent Jesus, and Jesus was representing the Supreme Being. Jesus’ teachings were coming from the Supreme Being. God was the source of Jesus’ teachings, and Jesus was His messenger.

Why are some of Jesus' instructions different than Moses'?

Some of God's instructions change due to time and circumstances.

In Jesus' time, the rule of law was much more established than in Moses' time. In the society of Jesus' time, there was a strong government that tried criminals and governed by a rule of law. During Moses' time, the Israelites were organizing themselves from living and traveling in the desert. They had previously been slaves in Egypt.

Basic rules grounded in fairness yet applicable to the survivalist situation were applicable. These rules were to prevent them from becoming wild animals that hurt each other and have sex with each other's husbands and wives. 

In that circumstance, God led Moses to establish rules and enforcement to create order. During Jesus' time, the Roman government combined with the Jewish system provided the rule of law that provided the enforcement. While stonings were still conducted - when decided upon by a council - Jesus recognized this government and rule of law. Consider Jesus' statement:

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matt. 22:21)

So the time and circumstances had drastically changed, and the culture and society Jesus taught to had different needs than the culture Moses instructed. A government was already in place and enforcement was provided.

We can also relate the difference between Jesus' time and today's culture. For example, beatings, crucifixions, and stonings were common in Jesus' time for punishing criminals. In today’s society, we wouldn’t hear of such ghastly practices.

In the same way that society has changed since Jesus’ day, society had changed from Moses’ day to Jesus’ day. From Moses' to Jesus' times, the culture had also become more secular. Today, even more so.

The Supreme Being will adjust His specific instructions to the time and circumstance. The rules He establishes are not His key objectives. God is not setting up rules just to set up rules. He sets up rules and gives instructions through His loving servants to establish an environment that will encourage us to decide to return to Him.

Why does God want us back?

Because He loves us. He knows that we will only be happy when we are back with Him, sharing the relationship of love that we originally shared before we ate the forbidden fruit of envy. As symbolized in Genesis, once we ate the forbidden fruit of envy and wanted to enjoy as God enjoys, the Supreme Being sent us away to the physical world:

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

What are garments of skin? Are we talking animal skins? No, this is human skin. We are talking about the physical body - covered with skin. Because Adam disobeyed God and ate the fruit of self-centeredness, God banished him from the Garden of Eden - the spiritual world - and we took on temporary physical bodies (garments of skin).

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he [his physical body] had been taken. (Genesis 3:23)

Why were we banished? We were banished because we became envious of the Supreme Being. We wanted to enjoy like the Supreme Being. Consider this statement, made by God about Adam after he ate the fruit:

"The man has now become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." (Genesis 3:22)

What is "like one of Us," and what does "knowing good and evil" mean? Why would we want to become like God?

God created three types of individuals. One type is His direct expansions. These companions are imbued with all His power and authority ("Us"). The second is partial expansions - which have individuality yet are inseparable from Him as His constant companions. The third type is His separated expansions - each of us. We are also His companions but in the mood of loving servants.

Do we have the choice not to love God?

Yes. Without choice, love does not exist. This freedom of choice is symbolized by the trees of the Garden of Eden. There were different trees, but the tree of knowledge represented our choice to love God or love ourselves. The fruit that Adam and Eve ate symbolized their choice not to love God. Adam and Eve represent each of us.

'Knowing good and evil' means we wanted more. As clarified here, the correct translation of "good and evil" - טוב (towb) and רע (ra`) - is pleasure and pain - specifically self-centered pleasure and pain.

In other words, each of us fell from the spiritual realm because we were seeking to enjoy separately from the Supreme Being. The expression of this desire is self-centered pleasure, and the consequence of self-centered pleasure is pain.

Can we have one without the other?

The Supreme Being created the physical world - a world with duality - of pleasure and pain. This allows this world to teach us about the consequences of our choices. Yes, we are free to make whatever choices we want. But every choice and every action has a consequence. And every action has a reaction. This is one of the laws of nature intended to teach us.

We must remember that Adam was given the choice of whether to eat the symbolic fruit or not. Why would God have put the tree and the fruit there otherwise? The fact that he put it there "in the center of the garden" represents that choice lies at the center of love for the Supreme Being. He perpetually gives us the choice to love Him or not, because how can there be love without choice?

What is the purpose of this world?

The physical world is a place where we can learn and grow. It is a rehabilitation center for those of us who feel we are the most important person in the universe. We choose self-centeredness over loving God. Because this goes against our natural constitution, we are here to learn and find our way back home to our natural spiritual position: One of being in a loving relationship with God.

Subsequently, in this world, we can ignore God, and even deny God's existence if we want. This is how much freedom the Supreme Being gives us with respect to our relationship with Him.

But this physical world is also a place where the Supreme Being has set up numerous lessons for us to learn, according to our desires and level of consciousness. Most of these lessons relate to consequences: "as you sow, so shall you reap."

Yes, we each get back what we put out. This is a universal law because this law was programmed into the physical world in order to create fairness - and to teach us.

Or did we expect that the Supreme Being would toss us out of the spiritual realm with no chance of return? Certainly not. The Supreme Being wants us back.

So He sends His messengers to us to try to canvas us to decide to come back to Him. During that process, He may also impart certain instructions through His representatives, in order to help us grow spiritually and remember Him. 

Some of the rules are specific to the time and circumstance.

Some instructions might be applicable to later generations. But some are not. 

The lesson in Jesus' instruction above about stoning is forgiveness and humility. He is instructing those around him to look at our issues before we sit in judgment of others.

In fact, we have no real ability to sit in judgment of anyone else. Only the Supreme Being has this ability - because only He understands all of the circumstances.

And the Supreme Being is a fair Judge. But He isn't only a good judge: He is also lovable in so many other ways. He is caring, compassionate, fun, humorous, exciting, wonderful and intelligent. This is why Jesus asks us to love the Supreme Being. Because He is lovable:

"‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me ..." (John 8:12)

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

What does Jesus mean by 'light'?

The word "light" - translated from the Greek word φῶς (phōs) - refers to illumination, and when used in a metaphorical sense, "of truth and its knowledge" according to the lexicon.

Quite simply, a light is an illumination bright enough to see with. A light in the darkness gives the ability to see. A light offers someone who is stumbling in the darkness the opportunity to see where they are going.

"Light" is thus being used metaphorically by Jesus.

Jesus is using the word "light" to refer to himself as being able to illuminate the Truth. Through his teachings, Jesus can guide anyone who hears them back to God. Imagine if we were in the woods at dark with no light. If we found someone with a flashlight we would certainly follow them because their flashlight allows us to see where we are going.

What is the 'light of life'?

Jesus follows this statement by saying that, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

What does Jesus mean by "Whoever follows me"? The word "follow" in the text is translated from the Greek word, ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō), which means, according to the Greek lexicon, " to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him."

This is consistent with the English word "follow." According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “follow” means:
1. to go, proceed or come after
2. to engage in as a calling or way of life
3. a) to be or act in accordance with; b) to accept as authority

We can, therefore, apply Jesus’ statement. To follow Jesus is to accept his authority and act in accordance with his teachings. To follow Jesus is to engage in Jesus' teachings as a calling or way of life. To follow Jesus is to engage in the instructions of Jesus. And what were those instructions? Jesus confirms his most important instruction:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

A person in the darkness of ignorance does not realize that loving and serving God brings the ultimate happiness. A person in ignorance lives a life directed by a constant search for fulfillment through the senses. A person in ignorance moves from one thing to another, thinking that the next thing or the next person will fulfill them. This person is constantly empty because they do not know what will ultimately fulfill them. So they keep searching, in ignorance that loving God will fulfill them.

What is 'darkness' in this context?

A person in darkness will not know who they are. Thus they search for their identity, asking "who am I?"?

When someone follows Jesus, they first learn from him through his teachings. They learn about their identity as spiritual rather than the physical body:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matt. 10:28)

"The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41)

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life." (John 6:63)

A follower of Jesus will learn that the Supreme Being is also spirit:

"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (John 3:6)

"God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

Jesus also teaches his follower to connect with the Supreme Being who lies on another plane of existence and sees from within:

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matt. 6:6)

What is the goal of life according to Jesus?

Jesus also taught that the goal of life was to do the will of the Supreme Being - which means to serve Him and please Him out of love:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)

Yes, doing the will of the Supreme Being doesn't mean being forced to serve Him, as a slave might be forced to serve a master. Nor does it mean to serve God in order to receive something back, as one might engage in a business relationship.

Rather, Jesus was teaching voluntary service - service that is performed out of love:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-40)

Jesus not only taught these things. He also showed by his example how to execute this devotional relationship with the Supreme Being. Consider this prayer to God:

Going a little farther, he [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)

This indicates that Jesus did not want to do his own will, but he wanted to do God’s will because he loved God and wanted to serve God.

This service attitude, wanting to please God out of love, is the core principle of Jesus’ life and teachings. Jesus' teachings were about executing a loving service relationship with the Supreme Being: Seeking to please the Supreme Being with one's life. 

Jesus didn't just ask this of his followers - He also stated this about his own relationship with the Supreme Being:

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:30)

"He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him." (John 8:28-29)

"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him." (John 8:28-29) 

What does 'when you have lifted up the Son of Man' mean?

Is Jesus saying that we have to grab Jesus and lift him up over our heads or something? Or a bunch of people has to hold him up and toss him up in the air?

The phrase, "When you have lifted up" is extremely confusing. It has little meaning in the practical sense. Yet "lifted up" comes from the Greek word, ὑψόω (hypsoō) can have a literal and metaphorical meaning, according to Strong's lexicon. It can mean to "elevate," but also to "exalt" or to "honor."

But Jesus was not looking to be exalted. He was not seeking a legion of followers or fans. This is why he used "Son of Man" in the third person. He didn't say, "when you have exalted me ..."

Rather, he was speaking of the Son of Man (better translated to Servant of Humanity) as a role: Someone who has come to serve humanity by introducing us to God.

In other words, Jesus is saying that when we honor or exalt the Servant of Humanity, then we will know that Jesus is who he claims to be.

That is, that Jesus is God's messenger - sent by God to teach us about Him. How do we know that?

Who is 'the One who sent me' according to Jesus?

Jesus is referring to the Supreme Being when he says, "The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him." 

This may be confusing due to the fact that the NIV (and other) translators do not capitalize "one," "he" and the "him" in Jesus' statement (added in quotes above).

Could Jesus be any clearer in this statement about who he is, his purpose, and his intentions? “I do nothing on my own....”

This means that Jesus is not acting on his own behalf and he is not acting alone. He is not teaching in order to become famous or achieve the respect of others. He is not teaching to gain authority. He is also not teaching others in order to get paid or be rewarded in any other fashion.

Jesus’ intention is to do what pleases the Supreme Being. He speaks what the Supreme Being has taught him, and he does what pleases the Supreme Being.

This means, clearly, that Jesus is God's loving servant. A person who voluntarily does what pleases another is a loving servant of the other. Someone who is focused on serving another person is a servant. Someone who does this out of a relationship of love is a loving servant.

How is Jesus describing himself?

This is how Jesus is describing himself: A loving servant of the Supreme Being. He makes no lofty statements about being the Supreme Being. He doesn’t even say he is God-like. Jesus merely gives all praise and all credit for everything he says and does to the Supreme Being. He is only doing what God wants him to do.

This also means that there are two individuals involved: Jesus and the Supreme Being. Because Jesus is doing what pleases the Supreme Being (someone else), there must be two individuals.

How could anyone, let alone so many popes, bishops, priests and ministers that have followed through the centuries of sectarianism, all miss this simple understanding about Jesus - as spoken by Jesus himself? How could they have created this complicated "God became man to die for our sins" speculative philosophy when Jesus says quite simply who he was?

Others, because they simply could not believe such a complicated theory of Jesus, have proclaimed that he was just an ordinary man: So they have speculated upon whether he married Mary and so many other things that also have nothing to do with how Jesus defined himself.

Jesus is and was, as he says himself, God's loving servant and representative. He loves the Supreme Being, so he worked to please the Supreme Being. Therein lies Jesus' glory. Therein lies Jesus' greatness.

What pleases God?

We can tell what pleases the Supreme Being by what Jesus did. Jesus gave up any semblance of a normal life to teach people. He traveled from town to town, stood in courtyards, on hilltops and where ever people would listen, and spoke of God. And what did he teach?

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38)

This was also the teaching of Moses:

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)

And what do we know about Moses? We also know that he communicated directly with the Supreme Being and did what pleased the Supreme Being. So Moses, too, was God's loving servant and representative.

This was also Joshua's teaching. Joshua was Moses' student. Consider what Joshua taught:

"But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." (Jos 22:5)

Joshua says clearly that Moses was God's servant. This means that Jesus, Moses, and Joshua are teaching the same thing - along with so many other Prophets and teachers in the Bible. 

Now since Moses is God's servant, and Joshua is God's servant, and Jesus - as he states above - is God's servant, and since these servants of God are teaching us to love God, what does this mean about the Supreme Being?

This means the Supreme Being wants us to love Him. Why? God doesn't need our love. He is fine without us. But God knows that we will be happy if we return to our loving relationship with Him. And God wants us to be happy. 

What does this say about us?

It means we were created by the Supreme Being to exchange a loving relationship with Him.

Isn't this what we all truly desire? Virtually everyone is scrambling around looking for someone to love. We go from relationship to relationship, looking for the perfect person to love and serve.

Occasionally we might find that person who seems to fit the bill. But once we get to know them, we realize they are not the perfect person we thought they were. They were not the perfect beloved. So we keep looking.

Why are we always looking for love?

Despite all the love songs, the love stories, the tear-jerkers, and all the romance of this world, worldly love simply does not satisfy us. 

This is why so many of us struggle to get more love from others. This is why so many of us seek name and fame: Seeking followers on social media or our 15 minutes of fame elsewhere - all in an attempt to get others to love us.

Yet we can easily see that even those with millions of followers or millions of fans are not satisfied. All that attention does not bring any fulfillment. How can we tell? Because they continue to seek more followers and fans. This means this type of adoration from others does not satisfy us.

The seeking of fans and followers is the seeking of love. An attempt to fill an emptiness within.

This doesn't mean we cannot have loving relationships in this world. Truly, we can have meaningful loving relationships with those around us. 

But real love comes from a deeper place. It comes from the Supreme Being. The real love that comes from the Supreme Being is completely satisfying. It is fulfilling. Yet we can still share this type of love with others.

Love is part of our character: It is built-in. It is hard-wired. This is because God created us this way.

But we remain unfulfilled if we put our love in the wrong places. Or expect love from the wrong places.

Love doesn't come from followers on the internet or fans on TV. Love comes from God. And love is given to others from God.

These temporary physical bodies do not give love - in the same way that an internet computer or a TV set can give love.

Love comes from the spirit within each of us - ultimately originating from the Great Spirit that created us.

It is only when we exchange love with the Supreme Being do we become fulfilled. This is because this is our natural position. 

This is why Jesus, Moses, Joshua, John the Baptist, Job, Abraham, Jeremiah, Zechariah, David, Solomon, Samuel, Eli and all the other servants of God worked so hard to give us this message: Because they were representing God's wishes, and God wants us back.

Jesus is trying to tell those around him that he is simply working on God's behalf. Jesus is also showing us that once we begin to love and serve God, we also begin to truly love others as they are.

So we do not need to speculate about Jesus. We don't need to debate whether he went to India or married Mary. We simply can know from his own words that he was God's loving servant and he did God's will by teaching us to love the Supreme Being. The next step for us is simply to put those teachings into practice.

*Here is the translation of these statements according to the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

“When you honor the Servant of Humanity you will know who I am and I do nothing for myself, but I speak only what the Creator taught me. And He who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:28-29)

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

What does Jesus mean by 'the truth'?

The word "truth" here is being translated from the Greek word, ἀλήθεια (alēthei). According to Thayer's lexicon, this means "what is true in any matter under consideration" but also, "in reality," or "in accordance with fact."

Jesus is referring to his teachings ("If you hold to my teaching"). This means that Jesus is saying that his teachings are factual. His teachings are displaying reality.

How can Jesus' teachings set us 'free'?

Currently, most of us in the physical world is bound by self-centeredness. We scheme or dream of things or events to come, thinking these things will bring us fulfillment. These are typically related to possessions, positions, fame, glory, respect, wealth, family, and so on. 

In other words, we are constantly seeking something in the future that might fulfill us. This means that we are not fulfilled. And we are trapped by our future schemes.

The problem is that none of these future schemes and dreams will bring us fulfillment. We can know this simply by looking around us at the people who have already accomplished those schemes and dreams.

We can see that none of the wealthiest, most famous, or most powerful people in this world are fulfilled. We see their emptiness in their continued search for fulfillment elsewhere. We see it in their alcoholism, drug addiction, suicides, anger, violence, and other symptoms.

Yet we scheme on, hoping to become wealthy, famous, and powerful, thinking that it will be different for us. Certainly, we will be happy even if they aren't, we think.

Our schemes and dreams are founded upon not only fulfillment but also love. Yes, we want worldly goodies. But if we become famous and powerful we will gain the adoration of others. 

Sorry, but this is an empty shell. We won't get the adoration of others by accomplishing our dreams of wealth, power and fame. They may become envious of our fame or power. But they won't adore us for them.

Our search for adoration doesn't end there. We are constantly looking for love in a partner, be it a wife or husband, girlfriend or boyfriend. Or even children. 

For those who do not have one, we assume that having a partner or child will fulfill us. But those who have found a partner or have children understand that they do not fulfill us. Yes, we may feel love for them, and this love can bring us some fulfillment.

But the love we exchange doesn't bring complete fulfillment. So we keep looking. 

Our endless search through the physical world for happiness is our jail. It is our prison.

This world is like a prison because we are chained to our worldly desires and schemes. We are chained to the notion we will be happy here.

Our worldly dreams and schemes are unfulfilling because we are not of this world. We are temporarily occupying a physical body much as a person operates an automobile. The body in itself is not capable of bringing fulfillment to the real person within - the spirit-person. Jesus stated this clearly:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." (Matt. 10:28)

"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit..." (John 3:6)

Each of us is a "soul" who is composed of "spirit," and the Supreme Spirit is our Creator, God. While the "flesh" - the physical body - can bring fruits of the flesh, these do not satisfy the spirit.

Jesus' teachings set us free because they teach us about our identity as spirit. They teach us the connection we have with God. This connection with God is outside the scope of this world:

"My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36)

Jesus' teachings are freeing because they allow us to step off the conveyor belt of our worldly desires and schemes, and understand that we don't have to be defined by how much money we have, what kind of car we drive or how big our house and family is.

According to Jesus, if we follow Jesus' teachings, we will no longer look for our fulfillment in the forms and things of the physical world. We become freed from those self-centered, unfulfilling concoctions.

What does it mean to 'hold' to Jesus' teachings?

Jesus clearly defines that his actual disciples are those who "hold" to his teachings. But what does this mean? It is very practical:

To hold to Jesus' teachings means first to study them carefully, then apply them to our lives.

To hold to Jesus' teachings means to not let them go. To not abandon them.

To hold to Jesus' teachings means to take shelter in them.

To hold to Jesus' teachings means to make them the center of our life.

By holding to Jesus’ teachings, we become his followers. This means we read those teachings very carefully and understand their meaning within the context that Jesus gave them.

This also means we abandon those teachers and institutions that do not hold to his teachings. Or make interpretations of his life and teachings in ways inconsistent with his teachings.

Should we hold to Jesus' teachings, we will direct our lives towards coming to know and love the Supreme Being, which fulfills us. This will set us free and release us from the jail of our worldly schemes and dreams.

As we seek the Supreme Being, He reveals Himself to us more and more. This allows us to increasingly fall in love with the Supreme Being - Jesus' "first and greatest" teaching:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

"It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." (John 11:9-10)

"Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." (John 11:9-10) 

Why does Jesus ask if there are 'twelve hours of daylight'?

This is a rhetorical question. Jesus is responding to something his disciples said.

Here is the context of the conversation:

Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" (John 11:7-8)

Jesus' response to this uses a metaphor discussing twelve hours of daylight, and stumbling without light. Is he speaking literally of light?

What does Jesus mean by 'light'?

Light is a metaphor in Jesus' parable. Light is a universal metaphor because our eyes are designed to see during the daylight hours. Our human eyes cannot see very well at night. And in total darkness, our eyes cannot see at all.

This sets up the metaphor because seeing is being compared to having spiritual knowledge. When someone can see what is going on around them, they become aware.

Awareness yields knowledge because once a person becomes aware of the truth, they then can perceive that truth, leading to them gaining knowledge.

Thus, seeing and daylight can be compared to having access to the truth, and thus gaining spiritual knowledge. Since Jesus was teaching them the truth, by hearing his teachings, they were thus gaining spiritual knowledge.

Jesus is relating "daylight" and "this world's light"  to learning about God and learning to love the Supreme Being. That is the result of hearing and following Jesus' teachings.

Was Jesus afraid of being stoned?

This answer illustrated that Jesus wasn't afraid of being stoned. He was walking in the light. The spiritual light of the Supreme Being. He obviously was not afraid. Why wasn't he afraid?

For one, he was completely dependent upon the Supreme Being. He relied on God. He trusted God: This means to completely rely on God and God's protection.

The second reason that Jesus was serving the Supreme Being. He was trying to give people information that would help them re-develop their love for God. Jesus didn't come to die on the cross, as many try to portray. He came to teach us that if we love and serve God, we will be fulfilled.

This text illustrates just how important that mission was to Jesus - that he was prepared to return to a place where the Jews had just threatened to stone him in order to keep teaching his students, including Lazarus whose body was dying.

Furthermore, Jesus' answer to his disciples also illustrated his intent to please God, and teach his students.

What does Jesus mean by 'he stumbles'?

This is a simple correlation between walking and life itself. To "stumble" here means to fall away from one's relationship with the Supreme Being. And to "walk by day" means to accept God's guidance and progress through life in a way that is pleasing to the Supreme Being.

This means remembering God, glorifying God and trying to please God with our lives. This is just what Jesus was showing us how to do, by example. He told us to do this and showed us how to do this.

To have "no light" here means to move through life in a way that is not pleasing to the Supreme Being. This means being selfishly motivated. This means trying to use life for our own purposes - trying to enjoy life in a self-centered fashion.

Why do we continue to stumble?

First, we need to give ourselves a break. We are not perfect, and only God is. We can strive to please Him with our lives, but this world is designed to test us. It is designed to make us stumble so that we can learn from our mistakes and then rise above them.

So it is important to ask God to forgive us, but more importantly, be prepared to forgive others for what they may have done to us. It is critical that we also take our focus off of ourselves, and focus instead on how we are affecting others.

This is why Jesus said:

"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matthew 15:11)

This has a bigger meaning than just what we say to others. Jesus is referring to whatever we do that affects others. It is basically saying that our effect on others - whether it is what we say or do - is what defiles us the most.

This means getting our minds off of what is purifying for ourselves and instead, caring about others. If we are not caring about others, we are stumbling. If we are caring about others we are not stumbling.

This is not just caring for our body's family members. It is everyone. All of God's children are our true family members. Especially those who may not like us. Have we expressed our care and concern for them lately?

Self-centeredness is the driving force of the physical world. This is the primary purpose for most of us in the physical world. Why? Because this physical world is where the self-centered beings are sent - where we take on these temporary physical bodies in order to play out our self-centeredness.

As for those who teach that we need to "love ourselves before we can love others," they are deceiving us. They are telling us what we want to hear so we will follow them. They are taking us further away from our relationship with the Supreme Being, and further away from loving others.

Some of these teachers also say guilt is bad. They say that we need to build our self-esteem, so we should go out and enjoy life to its fullest, and learn to "love ourselves." This is the epitome of self-centeredness. This is an example of what Jesus was talking about: stumbling in the darkness.

Guilt is a message from deep within - a subtle reminder echoing from a distant communication from the Supreme Being trying to remind us of our real nature - our spiritual nature. Our loving nature.

Guilt is not a bad thing. Guilt is not something we should see as a roadblock to happiness. Guilt is a doorway. It is like being in complete darkness and then seeing a small light in the distance. If we follow that light, as we get closer, we can start to see by that light - that love.

Are we essentially self-centered?

Our true self is not selfish. Deep within, our true self is loving and caring by constitution. Each of us essentially seeks to return to our pure state of loving and caring, but our self-centered interests interfere with this.

The problem is that we cannot separate our loving and caring nature from our relationship with the Supreme Being. They are interconnected. So as long as we reject or ignore our relationship with God, we will remain essentially self-centered.

God is the Soul Mate we are always looking for. He is that perfect person we always look for that we think will complete us. When we reconnect with our relationship with God, we also reconnect with our true nature, which is not self-centered. That true nature loves God and loves everyone despite the body they may be wearing at that moment.

God is not some vague force, burning bush or booming voice. God is a Person. He is our dear-most Friend. He is our closest family member. The problem is that at some point we decided we'd rather be the center of attention than have our Best Friend as the center of our attention.

So we left the spiritual dimension to pursue our ideas for self-centered enjoyment. The problem is, we can never find fulfillment in this chase. We are like fish out of water without our Best Friend. We are like butterflies with no wings without our intimate relationship with God.

We are incomplete without serving and caring for the One who understands us completely, gives us full protection and complete fulfillment. When we care for God and likewise, His children, we are completing our nature.

Jesus is comparing returning to our lost relationship with the Supreme Being to walking in the daylight. He is comparing stumbling in the darkness to have forgotten the relationship with God that will fulfill us. This is why Jesus' most important instruction was:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

"Father, glorify your Name!" (John 12:27-28)

"Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28) 

Why does Jesus say his 'soul is troubled'?

This statement by Jesus is coming shortly after his followers were worshiping and praising Jesus as he rode a donkey down from the mount to Jerusalem.

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!" (John 12:12-13)

Certainly, the word "king" is mistranslated. The word βασιλεύς (basileus) can also mean "leader" or "prince" according to the lexicon. Jesus was certainly not a king. At best he was the spiritual leader of many people - those who followed him of course.

 

So Jesus is a bit troubled because they were praising Jesus as a spiritual leader. He is obviously not comfortable with this. He was not triumphant, as many would be when they are being praised and worshiped.

 

Why is Jesus asking God to glorify His Name?

Jesus sees this “hour”* (better translated to "time") where he is being praised as an opportunity to glorify and praise God. He wants to make sure that God is glorified.

This is one of Jesus' greatest lessons. During his most triumphant time, he is most concerned about making sure God is praised. He doesn't see himself worthy of being praised.  Jesus confirmed this when he said:

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. (Luke 18:19)

Sadly, glorifying God is the critical component that so many miss about Jesus’ life. Jesus was focused upon his students and disciples glorifying God and glorifying God's Name. This is why he was glorified by his students as he came into Jerusalem with:

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:13)

And why Jesus also said:

"For I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt. 23:39) 

Glorifying God by glorifying His Name is a central precept of the teachings of the Jesus, as well as the teachings of the Prophets.

These texts illustrate one of Jesus’ most confidential and important teachings: To praise and glorify God and His Names.

In other words, we can see that Jesus was pleased not with being personally glorified, but pleased when his students were glorifying and praising God. This singing and glorifying God is an ancient teaching that has been passed down for thousands of years, and Jesus was echoing this.

The activities of Jesus’ students in glorifying God also indicate this.

Why is glorifying God important? It is a key part of the process of re-developing our own loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

God is not a vague force or light or simply a booming voice. God is a Person. He is the Perfect Person. God is the person we are searching for as we look for our soulmate.

And the reason we look all over for that perfect person in the form of our soulmate is that we have forgotten God, and we lost our natural relationship with Him.

Was this about Jesus being crucified?

Many sectarian teachers have claimed that Jesus is describing the "hour" his body will be crucified.

Yet there is no mention* here about Jesus’ murder in these or the preceding verses. Rather, they describe how Jesus was glorified as he came towards Jerusalem, and then praised and glorified by many who had seen the rising of Lazarus from the dead:

Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. (John 12:18)

This is confirmed by the Pharisees who were watching all the attention Jesus was getting:

So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" (John 12:19)

And Jesus mentioned that this was a moment in time when he was to be glorified:

"The hour has come for the son of man to be glorified." (John 12:23)

So the “hour” - actually better translated to "time" from the Greek word ὥρα (hōra) - being referred to has nothing to do with Jesus being brutally murdered. The “hour” refers to a time when Jesus was being praised and glorified by many:

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  "Blessed is the king of Israel!" (John 12:13)

The statement preceding (John 12:26) actually illustrates an intimate portrait of the real Jesus. Jesus was not a proud, boisterous person. Jesus was a humble person who saw himself as God’s servant. And this is reflected by various other statements that Jesus had made, such as:

"But He Who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world." (John 8:26)

and

"The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt. 23:11-12)

These verses indicate that Jesus saw himself as God’s messenger and loving servant and the servant of others. He was simply not comfortable with all this praise and glorification.

And the verse above (John 12:27-28) illustrates that Jesus’ heart was troubled because he was not comfortable being praised. His purpose was not to become glorified but to glorify God with his life.

Therefore, after stating that his heart was troubled by all this praise, Jesus states that, “what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?” This indicates that Jesus was struggling with the praise, and asking the Supreme Being to help him deal with it.

Is Jesus relying upon God?

Yes, Jesus was relying on the Supreme Being. He had surrendered himself to God. This was also illustrated when Jesus prayed before his arrest:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

This is quite opposite of the relationship that sectarian teachers are teaching we should have with God. They promote that our relationship should consist of asking God to give us stuff and then thanking Him for all the stuff. This focuses our relationship with God around the idea of God being our servant – getting us whatever we want – rather than us being God’s servant.

Jesus, however, did not perceive his relationship with God in this way. He saw himself as God’s servant, and thus, he saw that the situation before him – being praised by so many in Jerusalem – was actually an opportunity to bring attention to his LORD, the Supreme Being.

Therefore, Jesus says:

“No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour [time]*. Father, glorify your Name!" 

Why do we need the Supreme Being?

We were created by God to care for Him and exchange a loving relationship with Him. That is the purpose of our existence. But because God also gave us the freedom to love Him or not, some of us chose not to love Him and were sent here to the physical world to learn lessons of love and consequence.

In doing so, we’ve gotten wrapped up in the false temporary identities of our temporary physical bodies. This has allowed us to effectively forget our eternal natural relationship with the Supreme Being.

Those who wish to return to God are shown the way back. God sends His representative to bring us home. This is Jesus' role. Jesus wanted us to re-develop our natural position of loving God.

This concept of being a servant rather than a master is the key to our identity. As we search for happiness within this physical world we find that we continue to be empty as we try to consume things for ourselves. Even the wealthiest and most famous people feel empty because even though they have everything we dream of, it is not fulfilling.

Yet when we give to someone else – whether it be our time, care or gifts – we find that flicker of happiness. We find that we feel more fulfilled by giving than by receiving – and thus the oft-used quote “'tis better to give than to receive.”

People feel this, especially around the holidays. As a person becomes more mature and has experienced getting all kinds of gifts and other things from others, they soon realize that they feel better when they give to others. And even the wealthiest, most famous people, as they mature, feel more joy when they give to poor people or others in need.

Why do we feel better when we give?

It is because by nature we are servants. We are givers. We care by nature. This is our natural position, because God created us to be His caregivers and the caregivers of each other.

And this is why Jesus wanted us to do God’s will:

"Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35)

This statement by Jesus indicates that he too, sees himself as God’s caregiver (as doing God’s will means being God’s caregiver). This is why he sees peerage among those who are also caring for and serving God.

God, on the other hand, is by nature the Enjoyer. We are His servants and caregivers, and He is the Enjoyer. This means that caring for the Supreme Being gives us fulfillment. This is our natural position, and it is what Jesus is teaching.

A loving servant and caregiver is not the same as a slave. When a person loves another, they naturally care for them and do things that please them. This requires a relationship, and this is what Jesus is trying to teach us. This is reflected by his most important teaching:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement according to the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"Now my mind has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Creator, save me from this time?’ But it was for this purpose that I came to this time. LORD, glorify Your Name.” Then came a voice from the heavens: “I have already glorified it and will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28)

"You are going to have the light just a little while longer. ..." (John 12:35-36)

"You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." (John 12:35-36) 

What does Jesus mean by 'light'?

Jesus is not referring to physical light. Jesus is using symbolism here to communicate something that not necessarily everyone wants to understand. Why did Jesus use symbolism and parables so much? Jesus told his close students:

"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'" (Luke 8:10)

So we can see here that Jesus' intention as he used symbolism was to communicate to those who were serious about hearing his message. For those who were simply caught up with the excitement of his miracles or the large crowds, and not interested in hearing his message, they typically get snared within the language of the parable - completely missing the message being transmitted. This is the case with this verse.

Here Jesus is using the word light, translated from the Greek word φῶς (phōs) to symbolize his teachings.

This metaphoric use of the word light is confirmed in Thayer's Greek lexicon, which states that φῶς can be used metaphorically: "derived of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it."

And where are truth and knowledge coming from in the case of Jesus' life? Through his teachings. Jesus was saying this as he stood in the temple square in Jerusalem, with a large crowd surrounding him. What was he doing with this large crowd?

What was Jesus teaching them about?

Jesus was teaching them about the Supreme Being. He was speaking of the Supreme Being, glorifying Him and saying things like:

"The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:25)

In other words, Jesus was trying to teach those around him to focus their lives upon God, and not the trappings of the physical world. Jesus was trying to convince them to love God and serve God.

Jesus was using symbolism to illustrate the ability of his teachings to provide clarity, direction and happiness in our lives.

And because Jesus foresaw that his body was going to be murdered at the hands of the Romans and institutional temple high priests, he was telling his students that soon they would no longer be able to directly hear his teachings.

So he proposes following those teachings after he has left them. This point is set up as Jesus continues the symbolism of light and darkness:

"The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going."

What did he mean by 'walks in the dark'?

Here the person who "walks in the dark" indicates someone going through life without knowing or following Jesus' teachings. Since light allows someone to see as they walk at night, Jesus is communicating that his teachings can illuminate our path in life, and allow us to see where we are going, even through the darkness of the physical world.

The physical world is compared to darkness here, and also with the statement in John 12:25 above because here in this physical world, most of us do not know who we really are, or what our purpose for existence is. This is why "who am I?" and "what is my purpose for living?" are the two most asked questions when one begins a serious search for happiness.

This is because we are falsely identifying with these temporary physical bodies. Just as a driver steps into a car and drives it, we, spiritual children of God, are driving these temporary bodies. But just imagine if we got into a Chevy Camero, and then thought "I am a Camero". This is the equivalent of identifying with our temporary physical body. This is ignorance or darkness.

Jesus, on the other hand, is offering a way out of the illusion of false identification. Getting out, however, requires trusting his teachings.

This is confirmed as Jesus says: "Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." How can a person trust a light? What is there to trust in a physical light?

But when light is being used to symbolize Jesus' teachings, we can see how trusting in Jesus' teachings can provide clarity to one's life.

Did Jesus teach that he would die for our sins?

Jesus never taught this teaching that sectarian teachers proclaim today: That all we have to do is accept that he died for our sins and we are saved. If this were true, why did Jesus ask us to pray to God to forgive our sins:

"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." (Luke 11:4)

In other words, Jesus' teachings were not intended to give us a free pass to heaven. We have to change. Jesus' is teaching us to change our consciousness, from being self-centered to being God-centered. Jesus wanted us to come to know and love the Person he knew and loved: the Supreme Being. This is clearly communicated by Jesus in his most important teaching, which, if we follow, will illuminate our lives, making each of us "sons of the light":

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement according to the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

“For a little while longer, the light will be among you. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness will not overwhelm you. One who walks in the darkness knows not where he goes. Trust in the light while you have the light, so you may become followers of the light.” (John 12:35-36)

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who ..." (John 12:46)

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (John 12:46) 

Why is Jesus comparing himself to 'light'?

Jesus also compared himself to 'light' in John 12;35-36. The Greek word φῶς (phōs) does translate to "light," but he is not saying that he is physically illuminated. Jesus is not comparing himself to a light from a light bulb or the sun.

Rather, Jesus is utilizing a metaphor. According to Thayer's lexicon, the word, when used in the metaphorical context can mean, "of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it."

It can also refer specifically to God. "God is light because light has an extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality."

In this context, Jesus is utilizing both meanings for this metaphor. Jesus is illuminating his followers with Truth and knowledge: Truth and knowledge that relate directly to coming to know and love the Supreme Being.

What does Jesus mean by 'darkness'?

This metaphorical use also applies to the Greek word, σκοτία (skotia), which has been translated to "darkness."

According to the lexicon, the Greek word σκοτία (skotia) can also be used metaphorically. The lexicon suggests that is relates to: "ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell."

'Ignorance of divine things' relates directly to the opposite of the illumination of Truth about the Supreme Being. Having such ignorance is specifically linked to loneliness, heartache and suffering in general.

Jesus' use of darkness also describes wickedness. Wickedness is self-centeredness. In this physical world where ignorance of God is common, wickedness prevails.

This accommodates, as the lexicon suggests, the "resultant misery in hell."

Is hell somewhere else?

Hell is not necessarily a physical place. Hell is a matter of consciousness. Hell is that consciousness where ignorance of God and self-centeredness - wickedness - prevails. Hell is described in scripture as relating to pain, agony, death, and violence.

A cursory review of the international news clearly indicates this world contains all these elements. Every inhabitant of the physical world must deal with periodic pain, periodic agony, and periodic violence in one respect or another. And all of the physical world's inhabitants must deal with the death of the physical body.

Yes, every physical lifetime ends in tragedy. One may suffer at any point during our physical life. A soul may be born into a body with suffering, and experience such tragedy throughout that physical lifetime.

Or a soul may be born into a body that experiences only intermittent sufferings in the form of diseases, injuries and accidents.

Regardless, every body ends up dying. At its time of death, the body typically suffers great pain, which is relieved when the soul leaves that physical body.

Yes, every physical lifetime is a story of tragedy in one respect or another. Even the greatest, most famous and wealthy physical lifetimes will end in suffering, forcing the soul to leave the body and all those riches and fame behind.

Why are there so many hardships in this world?

The physical world is a place of consequence, and each of us must work through the consequences of our past activities of this lifetime and prior lifetimes. Why? To learn and understand what our actions produce.

A person who causes the suffering of others is destined to suffer in the same way. Jesus stated this clearly as he spoke to a man he had healed:

“See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14)

This is meant to teach us. Just as "consequence learning" has become the scientifically best way of raising children, it is also part of God's design for our rehabilitation. And why should we be rehabilitated? Aren't we all "okay"?

What causes ignorance?

Due to the illusory nature of this dimension, as we vie for the temporary tidings of this world we choose to ignore the suffering involved in it.

It is ignorance that prevents us from seeing the physical world as it is. What causes this?

We are so caught up in our self-centered search for happiness that we refuse to see all the suffering around us. And we tend to forget our own pain - thinking that we can somehow be happy in this world even though our bodies are quickly aging, and headed for death.

Yes, self-centeredness produces ignorance.

Why is ignorance connected to wickedness?

These two words - ignorance and wickedness - sum up our current consciousness in the physical world. Here we walk the planet in search of our own happiness. We want to make me happy. We want stuff for me. We want others to love me. We want money for me. We want success, acclaim, power and wealth, for me. It's all about ourselves. It's all about our self-centered search for our own happiness.

This is ignorance - the "darkness" Jesus speaks of. We are ignoring the reality of the relationship that exists between each of us and the Supreme Being. What is that relationship?

The relationship we are ignoring is that the Supreme Being created us to be His caregivers. Our natural position is to love Him and please Him. He created us to share a relationship with Him, but while He certainly enjoys loving us and taking care of us, the foundation of our side of this relationship is our loving service to Him.

Even when two people come together as a couple, the relationship is based on each person doing things that please the other person. From the very beginning, when the man presents a flower to the woman, the relationship is an exchange of loving service to each other. And the success of that relationship is also dependent upon the continuation of loving service to each other. But this is all related to choice. Each has the freedom to love or not.

Do we have a choice to love God?

Our relationship with the Supreme Being also has that freedom. We can essentially choose to love Him or choose to love ourselves. This is the choice that the physical world presents to us.

Now we dwell here in a physical body that allows us to ignore God. We cannot see God with the physical senses of these bodies because these bodies were designed not to see God. They were designed to allow us to forget God. The Supreme Being is giving us the 'space' to love Him or not. It's our choice.

If we make the choice not to love Him, we remain here, virtually away from Our Best Friend and Companion. This is virtual because we can never really get away from the Supreme Being. He is present everywhere through His expansive qualities. 

God is here as the Creator of this world, but also He is present through personal expansion. He thus dwells unseen next to each of us, simply watching, waiting and lovingly helping when we need it.

This has been spoken of in the Biblical scripture as the Holy Ghost, but God's expansive capability is not a ghost. His ability to expand Himself into the environments He creates is quite complex, yet simple for Him. 

Just think of how we can now broadcast television into millions of homes at the same time. The Supreme Being utilizes His own broadcasting method to extend Himself and be personally present for each of us.

This is the purpose of prayer. We can communicate to Him if we want. We can ask if we can come home and return to our constitutional loving relationship with God.

This is the "light" that Jesus was trying to illuminate our lives with, in order to remove our "darkness" of ignorance. This is why Jesus' most important instruction was:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back ..." (John 14:28-29)

"You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe." (John 14:28-29)

Where is Jesus going?

Earlier in this conversation, Jesus says that he is going to the Father:

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12)

Jesus is clear that he is returning to the spiritual realm. He is going home to be with the Supreme Being:

While the phrase "going away" is consistent with the Greek word ὑπάγω (hypagō) - the second use of the word "going" is not appropriate. This second "going" is being translated from the Greek word πορεύω (poreuō). This can mean, according to the lexicon, "to continue on one's journey," but also "to follow one, that is: become his adherent."

In the context of this statement, it would be unreasonable to translate the word πορεύω (poreuō) to "going" because "going" doesn't capture the essence of the meaning of "to follow one, that is: become his adherent." This means that Jesus is talking about his dedication to God - not that he is "going to the Father."

Yes, Jesus is speaking of his dedication to the Supreme Being. This is related to why Jesus is "going away." It is also related to the fact that Jesus loves the Supreme Being - that is why he is leaving them.

This answered Thomas' question:

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5)

Why does Jesus say 'if you loved me'?

What does it mean when a person loves another? It means that they care about the person's welfare. They are happy when that person is happy. They want the person to be happy.

Jesus is saying that if his disciples were wanting Jesus to be happy they would rejoice in the fact that Jesus is returning to be with God. Why?

First, because Jesus was recognizing that his disciples' were concerned about losing him. Peter had said "Lord, where are you going?" and "Lord, why can't I follow you now?" after Jesus told them he was leaving them and returning to God in the spiritual realm soon. They were more concerned about Jesus' leaving them than Jesus' own happiness.

This is a personal statement by Jesus - describing a level of intimacy and devotion many do not see.

Nonetheless, it is difficult to find an English word or expression that communicates the devotional motive behind his leaving them to be with the Supreme Being. So we'll just have to stick with the second "going" but understand that the purpose and motive are based on love and dedication.

Why would they be 'glad'?

The word "glad" is describing how Jesus thinks those who love him will feel as they understand that Jesus is returning to be with the Supreme Being. The word "glad" is being translated from the Greek word, χαίρω (chairō). While "glad" is not necessarily wrong, it does not portray the intensity of the feeling Jesus is speaking of.

The word χαίρω (chairō) means not only "glad" according to the lexicon, but it means "to rejoice exceedingly" and "in salutations, hail" as well. In other words, it is a word communicating a more extreme happiness than the word "glad" portrays.

Indeed, Jesus precedes this with the notion of love. "If you loved me" communicates two issues: "If" taken from the Greek word εἰ (ei) and "you loved," taken from ἀγαπάω (agapaō). The lexicon describes this word to mean "to love dearly."

So Jesus is not assuming his disciples love him, he is saying "if" they loved him.

Is this because Jesus loves God?

This is the missing element that gets lost in translation here. Jesus is speaking of his loving relationship with the Supreme Being and the fact that he wants to return to be with God.

This may seem odd for many who perceive God to be a vague force or even Jesus himself as many teach. Or, as portrayed among the mistranslations and misinterpretations of the Old Testament, as some kind of angry God whose biggest concern is whether we are following the rules - an enforcer who is out to punish us if we do anything wrong. Is this the God Jesus loves?

Jesus does not see God in this way because this is not God's true nature. The Supreme Being is loving, caring, compassionate and protective. Jesus wants to be with Him. He loves the Supreme Being. And his teachings have asked us that we also love and serve the Supreme Being with all our hearts.

According to this translation, Jesus says, "for the Father is greater than I." Is this a correct translation? Is Jesus really comparing himself to God and clarifying that God is greater than he is?

Not exactly. The Greek phrase is: ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ μείζων μού ἐστιν. "Greater" is being derived from the root word μέγας (megas), which can mean "greater" in the sense of being larger in "mass and weight" or "compass and extent" or "measure and height" according to the lexicon. But these mechanical elements do not cover the full breadth of the word.

According to the lexicon, μέγας (megas) also refers to being "great," "spacious," "mighty" "strong" and "abundant," as well as "eminent for ability, virtue, authority, power;" "esteemed highly for their importance: of great moment, of great weight, importance;" " highly esteemed for its excellence: excellent;" and "splendid, prepared on a grand scale, stately" among others. 

This is quite clearly an expression of praise. It is a statement of loving praise by someone who holds another with fondness.

Now is Jesus really comparing his own greatness with God's greatness here? In fact, there is no indication that he is making a comparison between himself and the Supreme Being. Jesus does indicate himself here, but to understand this use, we have to clearly understand μέγας (megas) within the context of his personal relationship with God.

Is Jesus praising himself?

Let's say that we really loved and cared for a friend, and we were speaking of that friend fondly to others. Would we compare ourselves with that friend as we praised them? Would we say, "my friend is greater than I am"?

This, of course, would be rude, because while we are supposedly praising our friend, we are actually saying that we are great. Is this what Jesus is saying here? That 'I am great but God is greater'?

No. Jesus is simply saying that he is praising God because God is so great. The involvement of "I" in the statement does not mean he is comparing himself. The "I" simply indicates that Jesus is emphatic about his praise of God.

We have to understand Jesus' statements in the context of how he felt about the Supreme Being. He humbly loved God and wanted to be with Him. Praising God was an important part of Jesus' spiritual practices and teachings, and this has been hidden from view by ecclesiastical (professional) translators who did not understand Jesus' teachings and personal loving relationship with God.

This is also the hidden meaning of "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:13 and elsewhere). This misinterpreted and mistranslated phrase indicates a person who is representing God and whose teachings are praising God and His Holy Names.

Jesus also says, "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.'" What is Jesus referring to here and what does this mean?

Here Jesus is referring to a statement made earlier in this intimate discussion with his close disciples:

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3)

As discussed with these, Jesus is speaking of returning to the spiritual realm after the death of his physical body. Here he will "prepare a place" for his disciples - meaning he will create the opportunity for them to return when they leave their physical bodies. Then he will "come back and take" his disciples "to be with me that you also may be where I am."

This is not the same scenario that some have taught over the centuries concerning this discussion. They take Jesus' statements here out of context. Jesus is having an intimate discussion with those disciples who have committed their lives to Jesus and have given up their families, jobs and standing in the community to follow his teachings - and then pass those teachings on after Jesus leaves his body.

What is the context of Jesus' statements?

Jesus is not speaking with the whole world as interpreted by some. He is not talking about some coming "end of the world" scenario where he will come galloping through the sky to pick up his followers while chopping the heads off others with his sword.

This is in fact how many have portrayed this supposed event. With Jesus galloping through the world over the clouds, maiming everyone but his followers.

Rather, Jesus is talking about escorting his dedicated disciples back to the spiritual realm after their bodies die. The word "come" used in "come back" is derived from the Greek word, ἔρχομαι (erchomai), which means "to appear, make one's appearance" according to the lexicon.

And the word "take" in "take you" is derived from the Greek word, παραλαμβάνω (paralambanō), which means not just "take" but also to "receive" one. This is the element of escort. It is not as if Jesus will be kidnapping them when they die. He will be receiving them and escorting them back to the spiritual realm.

This notion of expanding this statement to cover some "end of the world" scenario is an irresponsible attempt to threaten people about some big day of reckoning to scare them into becoming followers.

Jesus was speaking of the real day of reckoning: The time of death. Each of us will face "judgment day" at the time of death. When we die the summation of our lives - our deeds, desires and consciousness - are brought to bear, and this will determine where we go next.

Jesus is clarifying that if his followers are focused upon following his instructions, then he will appear before them - in other words, be with them - at the time of death of the physical body to escort them back to the spiritual realm to be with the Supreme Being.

And while this discussion is pointedly being made to his disciples, anyone who commits their life to following Jesus' instructions also has the same opportunity.

And what are those instructions? Jesus makes them clear with two statements:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)

and

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"You heard that I said to you, ‘I depart yet I will be with you.’ If you love me you will rejoice because I depart for the Creator, for the Creator is greater than me. I tell you now before it takes place so that when it happens, you will have faith.” (John 14:28-29)

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you ..." (John 15:11)

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)

When did he tell them this?

"I have told you this" refers to Jesus' previous statement in John 15:9-10, where he speaks of his loving service relationship with the Supreme Being, and how that has been mirrored in his loving relationship with his disciples:

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love." (John 15:9-10)

What does Jesus mean by 'joy'?

And how does Jesus' disciples' joy become complete by following Jesus' commands?

The word "joy" is being translated from the Greek word χαρά (chara), which refers to joy or gladness. It means happiness.

Each of us is looking for joy - happiness. We are constantly looking for fulfillment. From cradle to grave we seek joy from those around us, from accomplishing our goals, and from our senses. One might say we are each fervent joy-seekers.

And yet none of the things of this world seem to bring us any real joy. This is why we keep looking for joy despite all our accomplishments. This is why we set up one goal after another to achieve. We seek to accomplish a certain goal or position, and once we get it, we usually feel "is that all there is to this?"

Instead of questioning whether the things of this world really make us happy, we set up another goal to achieve, again thinking that once we accomplish that goal we will be happy - joyful.

In this way, we keep chasing the things of this world. Whether it be wealth, a mate, a big family, a big house, that important job, or that particular status, we go from one thing to another - like a bee taking pollen from one flower after another.

The problem is, none of these accomplishments fulfill us. We remain empty inside, and this is why we keep thinking the next thing will fulfill us.

Meanwhile, the aspiration repeated in so many popular songs, love stories, and other media sets up another goal: Family brings fulfillment.

But a snapshot of the household of any family will tell us that the family also does not bring fulfillment. Instead of being fulfilled, each member of the household is busy seeking their own set of goals outside of the family. The family provides a resource or a foundation for a perpetual seeking of satisfaction outside of the relationships of the family.

In addition to this, most households are places of constant bickering, confrontation, outbursts, crying and even sometimes anger and hostility.

So if the family brings so much joy, where is this joy? Why are there no symptoms of joy? If there is so much joy in family life, why do more than half of all marriages end in divorce among Americans? If the family brings so much joy why do so many kids rebel against their parents? Where is the joy?

The fact is, there is simply no joy within the physical dimension. There might be shadows - glimpses of joy - but these are typically sentiment - not real joy. Not real fulfillment.

Real joy, real fulfillment has a definite symptom: Everything begins to revolve around that which brings joy. There is no search elsewhere: When fulfillment is found, it is definite.

Real joy comes from another dimension: It comes from the spiritual dimension. This is the dimension we are each from. The spiritual realm is the world of the Supreme Being. This is the world of love, humility, joy and fulfillment.

What is this physical world?

This world is the place where we pretend to be who we are not. Here we pretend to be heroes in the form of firemen, policemen, soldiers, and so on. Here we pretend to be little kings in the form of bosses, officers, politicians, parents and so on. Here we pretend to be stars of either large or small audiences. Here we pretend we are enjoyers, as we feed our senses with the things of this world.

Yet we are none of these. These roles - and the physical bodies we use to maintain these roles - are only temporary. We may think we are in control as parents, but then our kids grow older and leave us. And then as we get older, our kids end up bossing us around. We might think we are the best fireman but then our body gets old and the fireman must retire to an armchair. Or we might think we are a big superstar, only to find that as we get older a younger star takes our place in the limelight.

All our physical roles and positions are temporary. And then the physical body dies. Then it decomposes, and worms begin to eat it. Or the body is cremated and the ashes are put into a jar or tossed out across the water.

This is the epitome of physical life: All that's left of a lifetime of accomplishments is a jar full of ashes.

We are not these physical bodies. These are vehicles we drive around for a while. When they wear out, we leave them. And when we leave them, they cease to operate.

What are we composed of?

Each of us is spirit in composition. This is what is often missed from Jesus' teachings. Jesus is not teaching his students to become wealthy, be famous, or enjoy goodies to accomplish joy. He is teaching them that they can find spiritual joy by following his teachings - which reflect the instructions of the Supreme Being.

This relates directly to our identity: We are not heroes, little kings, stars or bosses. We are servants by nature. We are caregivers. This is our identity. We are spiritual in essence, and our position within the spiritual realm is that we are one of the Supreme Being's caregivers.

Embracing this real identity is what gives us happiness. When we please our Best Friend and Companion we become happy. This is the family - the Supreme Being and His associates - we are each seeking. This is the relationship that fulfills us.

And this is the joy Jesus is experiencing. He feels joy by following the commands of the Supreme Being because he loves the Supreme Being. He wants to please God. Jesus' love for God and this loving service to God brings him joy.

And since Jesus is passing on those commands - instructions - given by the Supreme Being, Jesus' disciples can also latch onto that same joy by following Jesus' instructions.

Ultimately this joy comes from loving God and loving service to God. This is why Jesus' most important instruction was:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)