"And cast them down at Jesus' feet"

JEKAB GREENBLAT

In Matthew's Gospel we read of how the multitudes, having discovered that the power to heal was manifested through Jesus of Nazareth, brought those who were afflicted "and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them." This passage formerly filled the thoughts of a student of the Bible, who was not yet acquainted with Christian Science, with a sense of regret that he had not lived when Jesus walked in Judea, and had the opportunity of being healed of his difficulties. How he longed to have been one of those thus cast down at Jesus' feet!

His longing for the truth was satisfied when he was healed through Christian Science, and when this Science taught him how to glean and prove the true or spiritual meaning of the Bible. Through spiritual enlightenment we can begin to appreciate the Master's promise that all those who believe on him shall do the works he did and taught his followers to do. Being receptive to the truth, obedient, and faithful to the Master's teaching, we shall do the "greater works." This glorious privilege awaits each and every one of us as he joyously puts into daily use the fuller understanding of the spiritual meaning of the Scriptures, unfolding to him through the daily study of the Bible Lessons in the Christian Science Quarterly.

Mankind can never be grateful enough to God for the revelation given to the world through Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This textbook gives to all mankind a sure "key" wherewith to unlock the spiritual meaning of the Bible and gain freedom from the ills "that flesh is heir to." No longer need we sorrow that we did not see the human Jesus, for in Christian Science we learn that the Christ, Truth, which Jesus so fully manifested, is as potent and available here, now, and everywhere as in Jesus' period.

What was cast at Jesus' feet over nineteen hundred years ago? Was it not the belief, entertained by mortals, of life, substance, intelligence, pain, pleasure in matter? His knowing the utter nothingness of such a belief, and the presence, wholeness, and allness of God, as well as the wholeness of God's reflection, the spiritual man, brought about those instantaneous healings commonly called miracles. Is it not this same belief that is now being cast at the feet of the healing Christ in Christian Science?

Here the question may be asked, How can we successfully accomplish this healing? The answer is, By putting into practice what we have learned in Christian Science. In other words by casting out, as unreal, and so healing, all our troubles, our sense of selfhood apart from God, and all the difficulties that may come to our attention in the home, the church, the human family.

On page 589 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy thus defines "Jesus": "The highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man's immortality." This defines the very nature or character of the humble Nazarene, who said, "I can of mine own self do nothing." As we follow the Way-shower in our daily life, we too find that this putting into practice of the nature and character of the real man is indeed "rebuking and destroying error" in our individual consciousness, and to that extent is "bringing to light man's immortality," through the Christ, defined in Science and Health (p. 583) as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."

Thus it is possible and highly desirable that we constantly cast down fear, ignorance, sin, and all discordant conditions resultant from entertaining one or all of this triad of evil, and, by following our Way-shower's example, demonstrate our spiritual understanding of God and of man's relationship to Him. This privilege of casting down, step by step, everything unlike God, good, through spiritual understanding is ours today. Thus we too can prove the everpresence of the healing Christ, available to all at all times and under every circumstance, always ready to save and bless all who reach out understandingly for this blessing.

Christian Science brings to suffering humanity the welcome and encouraging message of Truth, and we do not need to wait until we have become letter-perfect in Christian Science before we can prove its healing power. The slightest knowledge of Christian Science, honestly, consistently, put into practice, brings with it proof of the healing Christ. But we must be obedient to our Leader's admonition (ibid., p. 495), "Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony."

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