Part 2
John carried Elijah's living spirit, but not his physical memory. And since John did not possess Elijah's physical memory, he did not possess the memories of being the man Elijah. Thus, John the Baptist denied being Elijah when asked.
By the time of the transfiguration, John the Baptist has been beheaded. The soul that occupied the physical bodies of Elijah and John is here seen appearing as Elijah in spirit, accompanied by Moses. From the world of spirit, Elijah and Moses assist Jesus with the completion of his earthly mission. Our souls move back and forth from the world of spirit to the world of matter. Wherever we are, we reside in a community of spiritual and embodied souls. The case study of John the Baptist takes us through an entire scenario of the concept of reincarnation.
2. Story of a man born blind
The presence of an underlying belief in reincarnation can be seen in the story of a man born blind, found in John 9. Jesus and his disciples are walking when they notice a man, blind from birth. The disciples question Jesus: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answers, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God�s works might be revealed in him."
While still in spirit, our souls prepare for the next physical incarnation by determining the best way for us to learn the lessons set aside for the particular sojourn on Earth. For example, a soul may choose to be born blind, not because it has been blind to the needs of others in a previous life, but in order to ensure the development of the intuitive self. In this case, blindness is not the harvest of past negative behavior. It is the freewill choice of a soul intent on advancing to a higher level of spiritual wisdom
This man�s soul agreed to be born blind "so that God�s works might be revealed in him." Notice how the disciples, like us, immediately assume the negative: blindness is a result of sin. Jesus refutes this pessimistic judgment. In doing so, he reveals just how seriously we may err, when we choose to be judgmental.
3. The story of Nicodemus
As a Pharisee, Nicodemus would believe in reincarnation for the good souls.He has been observing Jesus and is impressed: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus intuitively knows that Nicodemus� statement is really a question. He answers the question he perceives. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he is not able to see the kingdom of God." The Greek word used here is gennethe in the passive voice, indicating the subject is acted upon by someone else. In the passive, gennethe means to be born of a woman. The Greek work translated here as again is anothen. It means both again and from above. I choose to translate anothen as born again based on the passive voice of gennethe. Read through the lens of reincarnation, Jesus explains to Nicodemus that he must re-incarnate; he must be born of woman again. Nicodemus responds on the level of another physical birth with his questions: "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother�s womb and be born?" Jesus proceeds with an explanation that relates the reason for reincarnation. "No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit."
Water symbolizes many things in the Bible, so we cannot be sure what Jesus or the gospel writer means. We can find clues by observing how water is used throughout John�s gospel. Jesus turns the water into wine at the wedding feast. Jesus walks on water. Jesus heals the lame man beside the waters of the Bethzatha Pool. In John 7:37-38, the Father within Jesus speaks, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink � out of the believer�s heart shall flow rivers of living water." Each of John�s usages of water relates to a level of spirituality that manifests the Father within. To know and manifest the Father within self is the goal of reincarnation. The majority of us take many lifetimes to evolve back to our original state as a being of spirit, manifesting according to God�s image. Thus, in order to be born of water and the spirit, we must reincarnate. As of 2006, Earth humans have the opportunity to speed up their ascension process with concentrated effort. As the Ascended Masters and our Galactic Family become visibly present with us, they will teach us the Pathway to Ascension in an accelerated form that will eliminate the need for our souls to reincarnate into the 3rd dimensional plane of duality, where we tend to learn through suffering. Earth humans are scheduled to ascend into the 5th dimensional consciousness where all is love and unity. Ascension is not, however, completed for us�we must evolve spiritually as the individual child god that we are. In John 10:34, Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6, "Is it not written in your law, �I said, you are gods?�"]
Jesus grows impatient with Nicodemus� lack of understanding: "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?" Pharisees believe in reincarnation. Why are you, Nicodemus, having so much difficulty with the concept?
4. Jesus & His Disciples in Caesarea.
Jesus and his disciples have just arrived. Curious as to who the crowds think he is, Jesus asks, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" With the ease of those who accept reincarnation, the disciples answer him: "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Elijah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets lived hundreds of years before Jesus. Neither the disciples nor Jesus find it odd that the people are speculating that Jesus is a reincarnation of one of the prophets. A belief in reincarnation is an integrated part of the culture in which they live.
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