Chapter 1: The Prince Who Wanted to Understand
In the most beautiful part of the cosmos, called Nebadon, lived a young Prince named Michael. He was an extraordinary prince – it was he who, with his imagination and will, had created this entire kingdom: planets that danced around suns, stellar spirals, comets with tails of nebula, and wise beings with luminous hearts.
Michael was a good ruler, but he was troubled by something very important. One day he said to his advisor, an old sage named Melchizedek:
“I want to be not just a prince who rules. I want to be a prince who understands. How can I wisely guide all these different beings if I don’t know what it’s like to be each of them?”
Melchizedek nodded, and his long, silver beard shimmered like cosmic dust.
“That, Prince, is the most important lesson a ruler can learn. Six times you have already journeyed, becoming for a time different beings from your kingdom. But there is one more, a seventh journey – the most important and the most difficult.”
Chapter 2: The Most Difficult Decision
Michael knew immediately which journey the sage was talking about. It was about Earth – the blue planet where humans lived. They were the smallest and weakest of all his creatures, but also the most complicated.
“I want to go there,” Michael said firmly. “But not as a mighty prince. I want to appear as… a helpless infant. I want to experience an entire human life: learn to walk, talk, feel joy and sorrow, just like they do.”
Silence fell in the throne room. Even the stars outside the palace windows seemed to blink more slowly.
“That is very dangerous,” spoke up Gabriel, the herald of the kingdom. “On Earth, chaos sometimes reigns. And here in Nebadon, trouble could arise in your absence.”
“I know,” replied Michael. “That is why I ask for your help.”
Chapter 3: Promises and Preparations
Michael summoned his elder brother, Emanuel – the greatest sage in all the cosmos.
“Emanuel,” said Michael. “When I am on Earth, learning what it is to be human, will you take care of my kingdom here? Will you rule in my name?”
Emanuel looked at his brother with warm eyes that reflected galaxies.
“I do not merely promise, Michael. I swear. I will care for Nebadon as if it were my own kingdom. And what’s more – I have received a promise from the Guardians of Time themselves from the center of the universe. When you are gone, no evil will dare disturb the peace here. Every rebel will seal his own fate.”
Michael breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he could trust his brother. But Emanuel had not finished speaking.
“Listen to my advice, brother, before you depart. Your journey is to be not just a lesson – it is to be a gift for humankind.”
Chapter 4: The Seven Gifts for Humanity
Emanuel stretched out his hand, and seven luminous spheres appeared in his palm.
“Each of these spheres is a task you must fulfill on Earth,” he began to list. “First: You will live as an ordinary human. You will learn, work, eat, and sleep as they do.
Second: You will encounter those who have rebelled against goodness. But you will not defeat them with the power of a prince. You will defeat them as a weak human – through faith that is stronger than any power.”
The spheres in Emanuel’s hand glowed brighter.
“Third: When you return, you will receive the title ‘Prince of Earth’ in remembrance of this journey.
Fourth: Your life on Earth will end in a way that gives humanity hope forever.
Fifth, and most important: You will be a teacher. Not one who stands at a blackboard, but one who with his life shows how to love, how to forgive, how not to be afraid. You will heal not just bodies, but the fear in hearts.”
Michael listened with growing amazement.
“Sixth: Through your life, people will understand that they are never alone. That within each of them is a spark of someone great. A spark of our common Father.
And seventh” – Emanuel looked his brother straight in the eye – “Your life will not be just a lesson for Earth. It will be an inspiration for the entire cosmos, forever. Every being in Nebadon, now and for millions of years, will hear this story and know: true strength is understanding, and true power is service.”
Chapter 5: The Final Warning
“But remember,” Emanuel added gravely. “You will be a true human. You will forget you are a prince. You will feel hunger, fatigue, sadness. And though deep in your soul you will always be who you are – prince and human in one – your human part will discover this slowly.”
“What if… what if I forget completely?” asked Michael uncertainly.
“Then,” Emanuel smiled mysteriously, “then you will trust. Just as your beings trust you now. And that will be the most important lesson of all.”
Chapter 6: The Start of the Journey
The day of departure arrived. Before the palace, all the beings of Nebadon had gathered. The stars twinkled brighter than usual, and the planets lined up to bid farewell to their prince.
Gabriel stood before Michael.
“Do not fear, Prince. I will watch over you from afar. And Emanuel will rule here wisely and justly.”
Michael looked around his kingdom one last time. Then he nodded to Emanuel, who had taken his place on the throne.
“Remember,” said Emanuel. “Live as if your life were meant to inspire the entire universe. For that is what it will do.”
And then Michael turned away. He did not enter his gleaming rocket. He did not use any magic power. He simply… disappeared. As if he had dissolved into the light.
Chapter 7: On Earth
That same evening, in a small house in a place called Bethlehem, a child was born. It cried like all children. It was small, defenseless, and completely dependent on its parents.
His parents, Joseph and Mary, gave him the name Jesus.
He did not know he was Prince Michael. He did not remember the palace of silver clouds or friends among the comets. He only knew that he was loved.
And far away, in the kingdom of Nebadon, Emanuel ruled wisely and justly. Sometimes he would glance towards the blue planet and smile.
“Learn, brother,” he whispered. “Learn what it is to be human. And when you return, you will be the greatest ruler the universe has ever seen. Not because you are the most powerful, but because you are the most understanding.”
And so began the most important journey in the history of the cosmos – the journey of a prince who became a child to learn the greatest wisdom of all: understanding.
The End, or rather: The Beginning of the True Story.
Link to the video:
Based on Paper 120 of The Urantia Book:
https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-120-bestowal-michael-urantia