Chapter II - Atonement And Eucharist
Justice and substitution
23:1
destroyed, but partially indulged. Wisdom and Love
destroyed, but partially indulged. Wisdom and Love
may require many sacrifices of self to save us from sin.
One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to
pay the debt of sin. The atonement requires
constant self-immolation on the sinner's part. That
God's wrath should be vented upon His beloved Son, is
divinely unnatural. Such a theory is man-made. The
atonement is a hard problem in theology, but its scien-
tific explanation is, that suffering is an error of sinful sense
which Truth destroys, and that eventually both sin and suf-
fering will fall at the feet of everlasting Love.
Doctrines and faith
23:12
Rabbinical lore said: "He that taketh one doctrine,
Rabbinical lore said: "He that taketh one doctrine,
firm in faith, has the Holy Ghost dwelling in him."
This preaching receives a strong rebuke in
the Scripture, "Faith without works is dead."
Faith, if it be mere belief, is as a pendulum swinging be-
tween nothing and something, having no fixity. Faith,
advanced to spiritual understanding, is the evidence gained
from Spirit, which rebukes sin of every kind and estab-
lishes the claims of God.
Self-reliance and confidence
23:21
In Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, faith and the
In Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English, faith and the
words corresponding thereto have these two defini-
tions, trustfulness and trustworthiness. One
kind of faith trusts one's welfare to others.
Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how
to work out one's "own salvation, with fear and trem-
bling." "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!"
expresses the helplessness of a blind faith; whereas the
injunction, "Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!"
demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spir-
itual understanding and confides all to God.
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The Hebrew verb to believe means also to be firm or
The Hebrew verb to believe means also to be firm or
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to be constant. This certainly applies to Truth and Love
to be constant. This certainly applies to Truth and Love
understood and practised. Firmness in error will never
save from sin, disease, and death.
Life's healing currents
24:4
Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness
Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness
to give up human beliefs (established by hierarchies, and
instigated sometimes by the worst passions of
men), open the way for Christian Science to be
understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where
the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed
out.
Radical changes
24:11
He to whom "the arm of the Lord" is revealed will
He to whom "the arm of the Lord" is revealed will
believe our report, and rise into newness of life with re-
generation. This is having part in the atone-
ment; this is the understanding, in which
Jesus suffered and triumphed. The time is not distant
when the ordinary theological views of atonement will
undergo a great change, – a change as radical as that
which has come over popular opinions in regard to pre‑
destination and future punishment.
Purpose of crucifixion
24:20
Does erudite theology regard the crucifixion of Jesus
Does erudite theology regard the crucifixion of Jesus
chiefly as providing a ready pardon for all sinners who
ask for it and are willing to be forgiven?
Does spiritualism find Jesus' death necessary
only for the presentation, after death, of the material
Jesus, as a proof that spirits can return to earth? Then
we must differ from them both.
24:27
The efficacy of the crucifixion lay in the practical af-
The efficacy of the crucifixion lay in the practical af-
fection and goodness it demonstrated for mankind. The
truth had been lived among men; but until they saw that
it enabled their Master to triumph over the grave, his own
disciples could not admit such an event to be possible.
After the resurrection, even the unbelieving Thomas was
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forced to acknowledge how complete was the great proof of
forced to acknowledge how complete was the great proof of
Truth and Love.
True flesh and blood
25:3
The spiritual essence of blood is sacrifice. The effi-
The spiritual essence of blood is sacrifice. The effi-
cacy of Jesus' spiritual offering is infinitely greater than
can be expressed by our sense of human
blood. The material blood of Jesus was no
more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed
upon "the accursed tree," than when it was flowing in
his veins as he went daily about his Father's business.
His true flesh and blood were his Life; and they truly eat
his flesh and drink his blood, who partake of that divine
Life.
Effective triumph
25:13
Jesus taught the way of Life by demonstration, that
Jesus taught the way of Life by demonstration, that
we may understand how this divine Principle heals
the sick, casts out error, and triumphs over
death. Jesus presented the ideal of God better
than could any man whose origin was less spiritual. By
his obedience to God, he demonstrated more spiritu-
ally than all others the Principle of being. Hence the
force of his admonition, "If ye love me, keep my com-
mandments."
25:22
Though demonstrating his control over sin and disease,
Though demonstrating his control over sin and disease,
the great Teacher by no means relieved others from giving
the requisite proofs of their own piety. He worked for
their guidance, that they might demonstrate this power as
he did and understand its divine Principle. Implicit faith
in the Teacher and all the emotional love we can bestow
on him, will never alone make us imitators of him. We
must go and do likewise, else we are not improving the
great blessings which our Master worked and suffered to
bestow upon us. The divinity of the Christ was made
manifest in the humanity of Jesus.
Individual experience
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While we adore Jesus, and the heart overflows with
While we adore Jesus, and the heart overflows with
gratitude for what he did for mortals, – treading alone
his loving pathway up to the throne of
glory, in speechless agony exploring the way
for us, – yet Jesus spares us not one individual expe-
rience, if we follow his commands faithfully; and all
have the cup of sorrowful effort to drink in proportion
to their demonstration of his love, till all are redeemed
through divine Love.
Christ's demonstration
26:10
The Christ was the Spirit which Jesus implied in his
The Christ was the Spirit which Jesus implied in his
own statements: "I am the way, the truth, and the life;"
"I and my Father are one." This Christ,
or divinity of the man Jesus, was his divine
nature, the godliness which animated him. Divine Truth,
Life, and Love gave Jesus authority over sin, sickness,
and death. His mission was to reveal the Science of
celestial being, to prove what God is and what He does
for man.
Proof in practice
26:19
A musician demonstrates the beauty of the music he
A musician demonstrates the beauty of the music he
teaches in order to show the learner the way by prac-
tice as well as precept. Jesus' teaching and
practice of Truth involved such a sacrifice
as makes us admit its Principle to be Love. This was
the precious import of our Master's sinless career and
of his demonstration of power over death. He proved
by his deeds that Christian Science destroys sickness, sin,
and death.
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Our Master taught no mere theory, doctrine, or belief.
Our Master taught no mere theory, doctrine, or belief.
It was the divine Principle of all real being which he
taught and practised. His proof of Christianity was no
form or system of religion and worship, but Christian
Science, working out the harmony of Life and Love.
27:1
Jesus sent a message to John the Baptist, which was in-
Jesus sent a message to John the Baptist, which was in-
tended to prove beyond a question that the Christ had
come: "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have
seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk,
the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
to the poor the gospel is preached." In other words:
Tell John what the demonstration of divine power is,
and he will at once perceive that God is the power in
the Messianic work.
Living temple
27:10
That Life is God, Jesus proved by his reappearance
That Life is God, Jesus proved by his reappearance
after the crucifixion in strict accordance with his scien-
tific statement: "Destroy this temple [body],
and in three days I [Spirit] will raise it up."
It is as if he had said: The I – the Life, substance,
and intelligence of the universe – is not in matter to
be destroyed.
27:17
Jesus' parables explain Life as never mingling with
Jesus' parables explain Life as never mingling with
sin and death. He laid the axe of Science at the root
of material knowledge, that it might be ready to cut
down the false doctrine of pantheism, – that God, or
Life, is in or of matter.
Recreant disciples
27:22
Jesus sent forth seventy students at one time, but only
Jesus sent forth seventy students at one time, but only
eleven left a desirable historic record. Tradition credits
him with two or three hundred other disciples
who have left no name. "Many are called,
but few are chosen." They fell away from grace because
they never truly understood their Master's instruction.
27:28
Why do those who profess to follow Christ reject the
Why do those who profess to follow Christ reject the
essential religion he came to establish? Jesus' persecu-
tors made their strongest attack upon this very point.
They endeavored to hold him at the mercy of matter and
to kill him according to certain assumed material laws.
Help and hindrance
28:1
The Pharisees claimed to know and to teach the di-
The Pharisees claimed to know and to teach the di-
vine will, but they only hindered the success of Jesus'
mission. Even many of his students stood
in his way. If the Master had not taken a
student and taught the unseen verities of God, he would
not have been crucified. The determination to hold Spirit
in the grasp of matter is the persecutor of Truth and
Love.
28:9
While respecting all that is good in the Church or out
While respecting all that is good in the Church or out
of it, one's consecration to Christ is more on the ground
of demonstration than of profession. In conscience, we
cannot hold to beliefs outgrown; and by understanding
more of the divine Principle of the deathless Christ, we
are enabled to heal the sick and to triumph over sin.
Misleading conceptions
28:15
Neither the origin, the character, nor the work of
Neither the origin, the character, nor the work of
Jesus was generally understood. Not a single compo-
nent part of his nature did the material
world measure aright. Even his righteous-
ness and purity did not hinder men from saying: He
is a glutton and a friend of the impure, and Beelzebub is
his patron.
Persecution prolonged
28:22
Remember, thou Christian martyr, it is enough if
Remember, thou Christian martyr, it is enough if
thou art found worthy to unloose the sandals of thy
Master's feet! To suppose that persecution
for righteousness' sake belongs to the past,
and that Christianity to-day is at peace with the world
because it is honored by sects and societies, is to mis-
take the very nature of religion. Error repeats itself.
The trials encountered by prophet, disciple, and apostle,
"of whom the world was not worthy," await, in some
form, every pioneer of truth.
Christian warfare
28:32
There is too much animal courage in society and not
There is too much animal courage in society and not
29:1
sufficient moral courage. Christians must take up arms
sufficient moral courage. Christians must take up arms
against error at home and abroad. They must grapple
with sin in themselves and in others, and
continue this warfare until they have finished
their course. If they keep the faith, they will have the
crown of rejoicing.
29:7
Christian experience teaches faith in the right and dis-
Christian experience teaches faith in the right and dis-
belief in the wrong. It bids us work the more earnestly
in times of persecution, because then our labor is more
needed. Great is the reward of self-sacrifice, though we
may never receive it in this world.
The Fatherhood of God
29:12
There is a tradition that Publius Lentulus wrote to
There is a tradition that Publius Lentulus wrote to
the authorities at Rome: "The disciples of Jesus be-
lieve him the Son of God." Those instructed
in Christian Science have reached the glori-
ous perception that God is the only author of man.
The Virgin-mother conceived this idea of God, and
gave to her ideal the name of Jesus – that is, Joshua,
or Saviour.
Spiritual conception
29:20
The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to
The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to
silence material law and its order of generation, and
brought forth her child by the revelation of
Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of
men. The Holy Ghost, or divine Spirit, overshadowed
the pure sense of the Virgin-mother with the full recog-
nition that being is Spirit. The Christ dwelt forever
an idea in the bosom of God, the divine Principle of the
man Jesus, and woman perceived this spiritual idea,
though at first faintly developed.
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Man as the offspring of God, as the idea of Spirit,
Man as the offspring of God, as the idea of Spirit,
is the immortal evidence that Spirit is harmonious and
man eternal. Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self‑
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conscious communion with God. Hence he could give
conscious communion with God. Hence he could give
a more spiritual idea of life than other men, and could
demonstrate the Science of Love – his Father or divine
Principle.
Jesus the way-shower
30:5
Born of a woman, Jesus' advent in the flesh partook
Born of a woman, Jesus' advent in the flesh partook
partly of Mary's earthly condition, although he was en-
dowed with the Christ, the divine Spirit, with-
out measure. This accounts for his struggles
in Gethsemane and on Calvary, and this enabled him to
be the mediator, or way-shower, between God and men.
Had his origin and birth been wholly apart from mortal
usage, Jesus would not have been appreciable to mortal
mind as "the way."
30:14
Rabbi and priest taught the Mosaic law, which said:
Rabbi and priest taught the Mosaic law, which said:
"An eye for an eye," and "Whoso sheddeth man's blood,
by man shall his blood be shed." Not so did Jesus, the
new executor for God, present the divine law of Love,
which blesses even those that curse it.
Rebukes helpful
30:19
As the individual ideal of Truth, Christ Jesus came to
As the individual ideal of Truth, Christ Jesus came to
rebuke rabbinical error and all sin, sickness, and death, –
to point out the way of Truth and Life. This
ideal was demonstrated throughout the whole
earthly career of Jesus, showing the difference between
the offspring of Soul and of material sense, of Truth and
of error.
30:26
If we have triumphed sufficiently over the errors of
If we have triumphed sufficiently over the errors of
material sense to allow Soul to hold the control, we
shall loathe sin and rebuke it under every mask. Only
in this way can we bless our enemies, though they
may not so construe our words. We cannot choose for
ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way
Jesus taught. In meekness and might, he was found
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preaching the gospel to the poor. Pride and fear are unfit
preaching the gospel to the poor. Pride and fear are unfit
to bear the standard of Truth, and God will never place
it in such hands.
Fleshly ties temporal
31:4
Jesus acknowledged no ties of the flesh. He said: "Call
Jesus acknowledged no ties of the flesh. He said: "Call
no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father,
which is in heaven." Again he asked: "Who
is my mother, and who are my brethren," im-
plying that it is they who do the will of his Father. We
have no record of his calling any man by the name of
father. He recognized Spirit, God, as the only creator, and
therefore as the Father of all.
Healing primary
31:12
First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his fol-
First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his fol-
lowers the healing power of Truth and Love. He attached
no importance to dead ceremonies. It is the
living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes
Jesus "the resurrection and the life" to all who follow him
in deed. Obeying his precious precepts, – following his
demonstration so far as we apprehend it, – we drink of
his cup, partake of his bread, are baptized with his pu-
rity; and at last we shall rest, sit down with him, in a full
understanding of the divine Principle which triumphs
over death. For what says Paul? "As often as ye eat
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's
death till he come."
Painful prospect
31:25
Referring to the materiality of the age, Jesus said:
Referring to the materiality of the age, Jesus said:
"The hour cometh, and now is, when the true wor-
shippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth." Again, foreseeing the perse-
cution which would attend the Science of Spirit, Jesus
said: "They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea,
the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think
that he doeth God service; and these things will they
32:1
do unto you, because they have not known the Father
do unto you, because they have not known the Father
nor me."
Sacred sacrament
32:3
In ancient Rome a soldier was required to swear
In ancient Rome a soldier was required to swear
allegiance to his general. The Latin word for this oath
was sacramentum, and our English word
sacrament is derived from it. Among the
Jews it was an ancient custom for the master of a
feast to pass each guest a cup of wine. But the
Eucharist does not commemorate a Roman soldier's
oath, nor was the wine, used on convivial occasions and
in Jewish rites, the cup of our Lord. The cup shows
forth his bitter experience, – the cup which he prayed
might pass from him, though he bowed in holy submis-
sion to the divine decree.
32:15
"As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed
"As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed
it and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said,
Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and
gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink ye all
of it."
Spiritual refreshment
32:20
The true sense is spiritually lost, if the sacrament is
The true sense is spiritually lost, if the sacrament is
confined to the use of bread and wine. The disciples
had eaten, yet Jesus prayed and gave them
bread. This would have been foolish in a
literal sense; but in its spiritual signification, it was nat-
ural and beautiful. Jesus prayed; he withdrew from the
material senses to refresh his heart with brighter, with
spiritual views.
Jesus' sad repast
32:28
The Passover, which Jesus ate with his disciples in
The Passover, which Jesus ate with his disciples in
the month Nisan on the night before his crucifixion,
was a mournful occasion, a sad supper taken
at the close of day, in the twilight of a
glorious career with shadows fast falling around; and
33:1
this supper closed forever Jesus' ritualism or concessions
this supper closed forever Jesus' ritualism or concessions
to matter.
Heavenly supplies
33:3
His followers, sorrowful and silent, anticipating the hour
His followers, sorrowful and silent, anticipating the hour
of their Master's betrayal, partook of the heavenly manna,
which of old had fed in the wilderness the
persecuted followers of Truth. Their bread
indeed came down from heaven. It was the great truth
of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error.
Their Master had explained it all before, and now this
bread was feeding and sustaining them. They had borne
this bread from house to house, breaking (explaining) it to
others, and now it comforted themselves.
33:13
For this truth of spiritual being, their Master was about
For this truth of spiritual being, their Master was about
to suffer violence and drain to the dregs his cup of sorrow.
He must leave them. With the great glory of an everlast-
ing victory overshadowing him, he gave thanks and said,
"Drink ye all of it."
The holy struggle
33:18
When the human element in him struggled with the
When the human element in him struggled with the
divine, our great Teacher said: "Not my will, but
Thine, be done!" – that is, Let not the flesh,
but the Spirit, be represented in me. This
is the new understanding of spiritual Love. It gives all
for Christ, or Truth. It blesses its enemies, heals the
sick, casts out error, raises the dead from trespasses
and sins, and preaches the gospel to the poor, the meek
in heart.
Incisive questions
33:27
Christians, are you drinking his cup? Have you
Christians, are you drinking his cup? Have you
shared the blood of the New Covenant, the persecutions
which attend a new and higher understand-
ing of God? If not, can you then say that
you have commemorated Jesus in his cup? Are all
who eat bread and drink wine in memory of Jesus willing
34:1
truly to drink his cup, take his cross, and leave all for
truly to drink his cup, take his cross, and leave all for
the Christ-principle? Then why ascribe this inspira-
tion to a dead rite, instead of showing, by casting out
error and making the body "holy, acceptable unto God,"
that Truth has come to the understanding? If Christ,
Truth, has come to us in demonstration, no other com-
memoration is requisite, for demonstration is Immanuel,
or God with us; and if a friend be with us, why need we
memorials of that friend?
Millennial glory
34:10
If all who ever partook of the sacrament had really
If all who ever partook of the sacrament had really
commemorated the sufferings of Jesus and drunk of
his cup, they would have revolutionized the
world. If all who seek his commemoration
through material symbols will take up the cross, heal
the sick, cast out evils, and preach Christ, or Truth,
to the poor, – the receptive thought, – they will bring
in the millennium.
Fellowship with Christ
34:18
Through all the disciples experienced, they became more
Through all the disciples experienced, they became more
spiritual and understood better what the Master had
taught. His resurrection was also their resur-
rection. It helped them to raise themselves and
others from spiritual dulness and blind belief in God into
the perception of infinite possibilities. They needed this
quickening, for soon their dear Master would rise again
in the spiritual realm of reality, and ascend far above
their apprehension. As the reward for his faithfulness,
he would disappear to material sense in that change which
has since been called the ascension.
The last breakfast
34:29
What a contrast between our Lord's last supper and
What a contrast between our Lord's last supper and
his last spiritual breakfast with his disciples
in the bright morning hours at the joyful
meeting on the shore of the Galilean Sea! His gloom
35:1
had passed into glory, and His disciples' grief into repent-
had passed into glory, and His disciples' grief into repent-
ance, – hearts chastened and pride rebuked. Convinced
of the fruitlessness of their toil in the dark and wakened
by their Master's voice, they changed their methods, turned
away from material things, and cast their net on the right
side. Discerning Christ, Truth, anew on the shore of
time, they were enabled to rise somewhat from mortal
sensuousness, or the burial of mind in matter, into new-
ness of life as Spirit.
35:10
This spiritual meeting with our Lord in the dawn of a
This spiritual meeting with our Lord in the dawn of a
new light is the morning meal which Christian Scientists
commemorate. They bow before Christ, Truth, to re-
ceive more of his reappearing and silently to commune
with the divine Principle, Love. They celebrate their
Lord's victory over death, his probation in the flesh
after death, its exemplification of human probation, and
his spiritual and final ascension above matter, or the flesh,
when he rose out of material sight.
Spiritual Eucharist
35:19
Our baptism is a purification from all error. Our
Our baptism is a purification from all error. Our
church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can
unite with this church only as we are new‑
born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which
is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth
the fruits of Love, – casting out error and healing the
sick. Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one
God. Our bread, "which cometh down from heaven,"
is Truth. Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspira-
tion of Love, the draught our Master drank and com-
mended to his followers.
Final purpose
35:30
The design of Love is to reform the sinner. If the
The design of Love is to reform the sinner. If the
sinner's punishment here has been insufficient to re-
form him, the good man's heaven would be a hell to
36:1
the sinner. They, who know not purity and affection by
the sinner. They, who know not purity and affection by
experience, can never find bliss in the blessed company of
Truth and Love simply through translation
into another sphere. Divine Science reveals
the necessity of sufficient suffering, either before or after
death, to quench the love of sin. To remit the penalty
due for sin, would be for Truth to pardon error. Escape
from punishment is not in accordance with God's govern-
ment, since justice is the handmaid of mercy.
36:10
Jesus endured the shame, that he might pour his
Jesus endured the shame, that he might pour his
dear-bought bounty into barren lives. What was his
earthly reward? He was forsaken by all save John,
the beloved disciple, and a few women who bowed in
silent woe beneath the shadow of his cross. The earthly
price of spirituality in a material age and the great moral
distance between Christianity and sensualism preclude
Christian Science from finding favor with the worldly-
minded.
Righteous retribution
36:19
A selfish and limited mind may be unjust, but the un-
A selfish and limited mind may be unjust, but the un-
limited and divine Mind is the immortal law of justice as
well as of mercy. It is quite as impossible for
sinners to receive their full punishment this
side of the grave as for this world to bestow on the right-
eous their full reward. It is useless to suppose that the
wicked can gloat over their offences to the last moment
and then be suddenly pardoned and pushed into heaven,
or that the hand of Love is satisfied with giving us only
toil, sacrifice, cross-bearing, multiplied trials, and mock-
ery of our motives in return for our efforts at well doing.
Vicarious suffering
36:30
Religious history repeats itself in the suf-
Religious history repeats itself in the suf-
fering of the just for the unjust. Can God
therefore overlook the law of righteousness which de-
37:1
stroys the belief called sin? Does not Science show that
stroys the belief called sin? Does not Science show that
sin brings suffering as much to-day as yesterday? They
who sin must suffer. "With what measure ye mete, it
shall be measured to you again."
Martyrs inevitable
37:5
History is full of records of suffering. "The blood of
History is full of records of suffering. "The blood of
the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Mortals try in
vain to slay Truth with the steel or the stake,
but error falls only before the sword of Spirit.
Martyrs are the human links which connect one stage with
another in the history of religion. They are earth's lumi-
naries, which serve to cleanse and rarefy the atmosphere of
material sense and to permeate humanity with purer ideals.
Consciousness of right-doing brings its own reward; but
not amid the smoke of battle is merit seen and appreciated
by lookers-on.
Complete emulation
37:16
When will Jesus' professed followers learn to emulate
When will Jesus' professed followers learn to emulate
him in all his ways and to imitate his mighty works?
Those who procured the martyrdom of that
righteous man would gladly have turned his
sacred career into a mutilated doctrinal platform. May
the Christians of to-day take up the more practical im-
port of that career! It is possible, – yea, it is the duty
and privilege of every child, man, and woman, – to follow
in some degree the example of the Master by the demon-
stration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. Chris-
tians claim to be his followers, but do they follow him in
the way that he commanded? Hear these imperative com-
mands: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect!" "Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature!" "Heal the
sick!"
Jesus' teaching belittled
37:32
Why has this Christian demand so little inspiration
Why has this Christian demand so little inspiration
38:1
to stir mankind to Christian effort? Because men are
to stir mankind to Christian effort? Because men are
assured that this command was intended only for a par-
ticular period and for a select number of fol-
lowers. This teaching is even more pernicious
than the old doctrine of foreordination, – the election of a
few to be saved, while the rest are damned; and so it will
be considered, when the lethargy of mortals, produced
by man-made doctrines, is broken by the demands of
divine Science.
38:10
Jesus said: "These signs shall follow them that be-
Jesus said: "These signs shall follow them that be-
lieve; . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover." Who believes him? He was addressing
his disciples, yet he did not say, "These signs shall follow
you," but them – "them that believe" in all time to come.
Here the word hands is used metaphorically, as in the text,
"The right hand of the Lord is exalted." It expresses
spiritual power; otherwise the healing could not have
been done spiritually. At another time Jesus prayed, not
for the twelve only, but for as many as should believe
"through their word."
Material pleasures
38:21
Jesus experienced few of the pleasures of the physical
Jesus experienced few of the pleasures of the physical
senses, but his sufferings were the fruits of other peo-
ple's sins, not of his own. The eternal Christ,
his spiritual selfhood, never suffered. Jesus
mapped out the path for others. He unveiled the Christ,
the spiritual idea of divine Love. To those buried in the
belief of sin and self, living only for pleasure or the grati-
fication of the senses, he said in substance: Having eyes
ye see not, and having ears ye hear not; lest ye should un-
derstand and be converted, and I might heal you. He
taught that the material senses shut out Truth and its
healing power.
Mockery of truth
39:1
Meekly our Master met the mockery of his unrecog-
Meekly our Master met the mockery of his unrecog-
nized grandeur. Such indignities as he received, his fol-
lowers will endure until Christianity's last
triumph. He won eternal honors. He over-
came the world, the flesh, and all error, thus proving
their nothingness. He wrought a full salvation from sin,
sickness, and death. We need "Christ, and him cruci-
fied." We must have trials and self-denials, as well as
joys and victories, until all error is destroyed.
A belief suicidal
39:10
The educated belief that Soul is in the body causes
The educated belief that Soul is in the body causes
mortals to regard death as a friend, as a stepping-stone
out of mortality into immortality and bliss.
The Bible calls death an enemy, and Jesus
overcame death and the grave instead of yielding to them.
He was "the way." To him, therefore, death was not
the threshold over which he must pass into living
glory.
Present salvation
39:18
"Now," cried the apostle, "is the accepted time; be-
"Now," cried the apostle, "is the accepted time; be-
hold, now is the day of salvation," – meaning, not that
now men must prepare for a future-world salva-
tion, or safety, but that now is the time in which
to experience that salvation in spirit and in life. Now is
the time for so-called material pains and material pleas-
ures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible
in Science. To break this earthly spell, mortals must get
the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists
and governs the universe harmoniously. This thought is
apprehended slowly, and the interval before its attain-
ment is attended with doubts and defeats as well as
triumphs.
Sin and penalty
39:31
Who will stop the practice of sin so long as he believes
Who will stop the practice of sin so long as he believes
in the pleasures of sin? When mortals once admit that