P.1542 - §2 Thomas the fisherman and Judas the wanderer
met Jesus and the apostles at the fisher-boat landing at Tarichea, and Thomas led the
party to his near-by home. Philip now presented Thomas as his nominee for apostleship and
Nathaniel presented Judas Iscariot, the Judean, for similar honors. Jesus looked upon
Thomas and said: "Thomas, you lack faith; nevertheless, I receive you. Follow
me." To Judas Iscariot the Master said: "Judas, we are all of one flesh, and as
I receive you into our midst, I pray that you will always be loyal to your Galilean
brethren. Follow me."
P.1558 - §5 The apostles all loved and respected
Nathaniel, and he got along with them splendidly, excepting Judas Iscariot. Judas did not
think Nathaniel took his apostleship sufficiently seriously and once had the temerity to
go secretly to Jesus and lodge complaint against him. Said Jesus: "Judas, watch
carefully your steps; do not overmagnify your office. Who of us is competent to judge his
brother? It is not the Father's will that his children should partake only of the serious
things of life. Let me repeat: I have come that my brethren in the flesh may have joy,
gladness, and life more abundantly. Go then, Judas, and do well that which has been
intrusted to you but leave Nathaniel, your brother, to give account of himself to
God." And the memory of this, with that of many similar experiences, long lived in
the self-deceiving heart of Judas Iscariot.
P.1577 - §3 Then asked Nathaniel: "Master, shall
we give no place to justice? The law of Moses says, `An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth.' What shall we say?" And Jesus answered: "You shall return good for evil.
My messengers must not strive with men, but be gentle toward all. Measure for measure
shall not be your rule. The rulers of men may have such laws, but not so in the kingdom;
mercy always shall determine your judgments and love your conduct. And if these are hard
sayings, you can even now turn back. If you find the requirements of apostleship too hard,
you may return to the less rigorous pathway of discipleship."
P.1579 - §5 Jesus made clear to the three the difference between the requirements of apostleship and discipleship. And even then he did not forbid the exercise of prudence and foresight by the twelve. What he preached against was not forethought but anxiety, worry. He taught the active and alert submission to God's will. In answer to many of their questions regarding frugality and thriftiness, he simply called attention to his life as carpenter, boatmaker, and fisherman, and to his careful organization of the twelve. He sought to make it clear that the world is not to be regarded as an enemy; that the circumstances of life constitute a divine dispensation working along with the children of God.
Quotes from the Urantia Book.