Article December 14, 1946 Issue

The Seal of Apostleship

J. HAMILTON LEWIS

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons," is one of the most important commands the Master gave his disciples (Matt. 10:8, American Standard Version). This injunction summarizes both his teaching and his demonstration. In accordance with this instruction the mighty works of Christian Science, revealed to this age by Mary Baker Eddy, are enacted.

Christ Jesus required of his followers only that which he himself had proved. The man healed of the palsy, the ten lepers cleansed, Lazarus raised from the dead and restored to his sisters, the legion of devils removed from the Gadarene—all these and many more healings were consummated by the Master in definite proof of an underlying divine Principle whose law destroys sin, disease, and death. Throughout all his work he turned thought away from his personality to the Principle which was the basis of his healing power. Mrs. Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 136): "Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing. He taught his followers that his religion had a divine Principle, which would cast out error and heal both the sick and the sinning."

After the Master himself had overcome the mortal belief of death he gave a command to his disciples that epitomized the Christian's duty. In the early morning hours on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, when he met again with his faithful followers, in rejoinder to Peter's response to his question, "Lovest thou me?" he said to him, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15–17).

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