Article January 20, 1923 Issue

In that remarkable Bible story of the healing of the...

Douglas L. Edmonds, Committee on Publication for Southern California,—Glendale

Press

In that remarkable Bible story of the healing of the blind man, the Pharisees asked him who had received his sight through Jesus' understanding, "How opened he thine eyes?" And after reminding them: "I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?" and marveling at their incredulity in the face of such overwhelming proof, he summed up the entire matter with the simple statement that "if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." When Jesus found that this humble follower had been cast out of the synagogue on account of his recognition of God's ability to meet every human need, and ascertained his earnest longing to believe on the Son of God, Jesus told him that "it is he that talketh with thee."

Nowhere in this or any other gospel narrative of Jesus' words and works is there any statement of Jesus to the effect that he was God. On the contrary, he always pointed to God as his Father and the Father of man. The standard he set for himself was, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." Christian Scientists believe that Jesus did the works of his Father; that is, he understood more of God, as the Father of man, than any other that ever trod this earth; and they point to his works as well as his words as the standard we all must follow in demonstrating—bringing into our own experience—our understanding of God. They know that they may not enter the fold—this understanding—except through Jesus' teachings. Mrs. Eddy points this out most positively when she says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 270): "To seek or employ other means than those the Master used in demonstrating Life scientifully, is to lose the priceless knowledge of his Principle and practice. He said, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.' Gain a pure Christianity; for that is requiste for healing the sick. Then you will need no other aid, and will have full faith in his prophecy, 'And there shall be one fold, and one shepherd;' but, the Word must abide in us, if we would obtain that promise. We cannot depart from his holy example,—we cannot leave Christ for the schools which crucify him, and yet follow him in healing. Fidelity to his precepts and practice is the only passport to his power; and the pathway of goodness and greatness runs through the modes and method of God."

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

In that remarkable Bible story of the healing of the...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access