Article September 8, 1906 Issue

THE WORD THAT HEALS

BLISS KNAPP.

The "Word," as used by St. John, is the Logos or divine thought conveyed to man. This meaning has been adopted by theologians to express the manner in which God may manifest himself to humanity. We find frequent reference in the Bible to "the Word," particularly in St. John's Gospel,—"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." "The Word" as here used, is commonly understood to mean the Holy Scriptures, or some particular revelation of God to man. This phrase, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," deals especially with the expression of Mind as given in the Scripture,—"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

The Word of God as uttered by the ancient prophets, and later by the apostles, frequently healed the sick. The power of the Word, if it be uttered with the conviction of understanding and demonstration, begets health and the "beauty of holiness." It is made practical through its manifestation in physical healing. "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."

It was said of Jesus, "Never man spake like this man." For him to say, "Stretch forth thine hand," was to declare the Word of Truth which restored the withered member perfect as the other. Of the disciples it is said, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Again, while two of them were reasoning together, he drew near to go with them, "and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Imbued with the spirit of so marvelous an exposition, these two men exclaimed, "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" This shows that to gain such an exalted sense of the Scripture truths, inspiration is required in order to translate them. Only through spiritual interpretation does the great factor of Christian healing become evident, for "it is the spirit that quickeneth." Indeed the spiritual meaning of the Word must be the factor most in evidence.

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