Jesus by Richard Hook
Jesus: "Before Abraham was, I am." ~ John 8:58
"I am from above. You are from this world, I am not of this world." ~ John 8:23

Just as humans and angels are distinct groups, there also exists an order of perfectly created, extremely powerful universe Creator Sons called Michael Sons. These Sons are the creators, builders, and administrators of vast regions of inhabited space called local universes. God does not manage the heavens single handedly. He has delegated the powers of heaven and earth to his Michael Sons who represent the Paradise Father to the worlds of time and space. The Bible mentions our Michael Son but refers to him as the archangel Michael. To humans on worlds like ours, Michael Sons are exactly like the Heavenly Father. It is literally true that he who has seen the Son has seen the Father. The Father and the Son are forever as one.

The local universe of Nebadon contains many inhabited planets. Earth is one of them. Nebadon's leader is Michael, sometimes referred to as Christ Michael. Michael and members of his government live on Saivington, the headquarters of the local universe. It was from Salvington that Nebadon's spiritual and governmental leader made the decision to be bom as a helpless infant on one of the worlds of his creation. And so it was that Michael, from among his inhabited worlds of Nebadon, singled out the confused world of Urantia to become the only place he would ever live as a human being. Michael had never before and will never again be incarnated as a helpless baby. He came to earth two thousand years ago. He was bom the baby Jesus, the Christ child.

Christ Michael's submission to the difficultiesof earthly life gave this perfect Creator Son experiential knowledge about our struggles. He chose to live as a human being on our struggling planet like a good corporate executive would choose to work along with the laborers on a floundering production line. In all of our afflictions he is afflicted. He knows us and stands forever as our spiritual leader and father-friend.

If you admire Jesus as portrayed in The Bible, you will love and respect him more after understanding who he was before and after his earth life. Knowing that Jesus is Michael of Nebadon, we can more fully understand his words: and the life." — Jesus, The Bible.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I am the resurrection"I am the open door to eternal salvation. I am the reality of endless life ...I am the secret of eternal survival ... I am the living bridge from one world to another.

I am the living link between time and etemity." ~ Jesus, The Urantia Book, (182:1.9)

When we understand our location in the universe, we see it is impossible to proceed to Paradise without first passing through and living in the local universe of Nebadon where Christ Michael reigns supreme. Michael is the way to eternal life. He is our hope and salvation, the desire of all the ages, and our loyal leader.

For greater understanding of Jesus, Part IV of The Urantia Book tells the complete story of his life and teachings.

Nearly two thousand years ago, from the headquarters of the local universe of ten million inhabitable planets, the "only begotten" Michael Son of Nebadon left his supreme leadership post to live on earth as Jesus of Nazareth. He repeatedly told his apostles that he was not of this world and that he had come from the Father.