Agon D. Onter wrote:
Whether His death was at the hands of brutal, ignorant, spiritually deficient mortals has no bearing on the significance of His death.
No bearing? I do not agree Agon.
What would have been the significance of his death had it happened naturally, without murdering him?
He would still have fulfilled his incarnation mission and would still ascend to the Father as Sovereign of Nebadon. From a cosmic perspective, it would change nothing. From a Urantia mortal perspective, it would mean we would lack the example of his noble suffering, even unto death, with dignity even at the hands of unjust men who reviled and tortured him. Such would be a loss to us in terms of not having the comfort of knowing that He suffered physical death in the most horrible of circumstances. But other than that, his death is his death, whether of natural causes or otherwise. Again, we are to look to his LIFE for meaning, not his death.What would have been the significance of his death had our predecessors believed him and implemented his teachings, instead of murdering him?
Many of Jesus' followers did believe in him and tried their best to implement his teachings. If you are asking if EVERYONE on the planet had truly believed in him and implemented his teachings, then our planet would have advanced to the stage of Light and Life. But that would equate to rapid REvolution rather than slow Evolution. It is not God's intention that everyone obey and follow in the blink of an eye (which, in cosmic time, mortal Jesus' 33 year lifespan certainly is.)What would have been the significance of his death if the people of this world did what he asked, to follow him, instead of destroying him.
The same as it is now. The consequences of our righteousness in following him would be different, but the significance of his death would be exactly the same. The significance is catastrophic.
What, has been destroyed forever, lost in time, by not following him?