In the Christian Science Bible Lesson August 25, 2014 Issue

The viewpoint—and the view

For the Lesson titled "Christ Jesus" from August 25 - 31, 2014

Deanna Mummert

Christ Jesus showed mankind a view of God and man that had never been seen before. Jesus’ perspective continues to offer the world a view of God as Love, and of true life as eternal. The accounts in this week’s Bible Lesson, “Christ Jesus,” are windows that throw open wide just how Jesus saw—through reflecting the spiritual perception of God, the divine Mind.

Centuries before Jesus’ ministry, Micah, a prophet who lived in a small town southwest of Jerusalem, foresaw the coming of Christ Jesus. He envisioned a ruler dwelling in eternity and led directly by God (see Micah 5:2, 4, citation 1). We know Jesus did not act on his own, but expressed a higher understanding of individuality, when he declared, “I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28, Responsive Reading).

When Jesus and his disciples walked by a man who had been born blind, the disciples assumed that the blindness was a punishment of sin and asked who had committed the sin. They were seeking material explanations for the blindness. For Jesus, it was a teaching moment, since the disciples viewed the blind man as a flawed mortal. Jesus, seeing spiritually, didn’t see blindness; he saw perfection. He explained “… that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3, cit. 12). As Jesus was a witness to that truth, he was able to heal the blind man.