Luke’s Gospel recounts the story of Jesus sending out seventy of his disciples in pairs to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of heaven on earth. “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name” (10:17). 

Now, fast forward about nineteen centuries. A man was healed of lifelong sickness solely through his study of the Bible and the book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. In an account describing the impact this had on his life, he wrote, “My first thought was to help others. . . . I often thought of the old adage, ‘Charity begins at home,’ and after three years’ preparation I felt able to take Christian Science to my home, where it found, in due time, ready acceptance and willing disciples. This gave me even greater joy than my own healing” (Science and Health, pp. 672–673).

What’s the connection?

As wonderful as it must have been to be a disciple of Jesus, and as life-changing as it was for this man to be healed, in both instances there was just as much joy to be had by supporting the spiritual growth and healings of others. As countless readers of this magazine can attest, this continues to be true for anyone who has committed themselves to the practice of Christian Science—that is, to being a genuine Christian healer.

But beyond the sheer joy it brings, what’s behind this desire to heal others?

Think about the last time you saw a beautiful sunrise or listened to an uplifting piece of music. What happened next? You probably couldn’t wait to tell someone, “You gotta see this” or “You gotta hear this.” It’s just not in our nature to keep the goodness of anything to ourselves, not least the healing power of God’s love.

Jesus’ encouragement in this regard is emphatic: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8). This makes it clear that any personal benefit we derive from our practice of Christian Science, however modest, is meant to be amplified in the lives of others. And what a joy it is for them and for us when this happens.

Sharing even a basic idea with someone can foster healing. On one occasion, a friend of mine came across something I had written about everyone’s God-given ability to see the inherent innocence of others and how it’s possible to do that. It was just part of a sentence, but it ultimately met a need regarding something that had troubled this individual for thirty years. In an email, she wrote, “Now I feel clear and relieved and joyous!” Reading this made me feel pretty joyous as well. 

As tempting as it may be to think, “Who, me? A healer?” it’s something we’re all capable of. Even a modicum of understanding of the fundamentals of Christian Science—of the goodness and allness of God, Spirit; of the purity and perfection of His wholly spiritual creation; and of the fallibility of anything that would challenge the authority and practicality of such divinely inspired precepts—can bring about significant mental, moral, and physical change. By sharing these truths with a conviction born of our own healings and transformation, we can help others experience the naturalness of healing through prayer as well.

There may be times when healing doesn’t happen as quickly as we would like. But times like these encourage us to hold ever more tightly to what we know in our heart of hearts to be true about God and about ourselves as His beloved children, making the healing that results all the sweeter.

It’s important to remember too that healing others is a divine calling, completely unrelated to personal ambition or even ability—an activity inspired, supported, and protected by God Himself, by divine Truth and Love. As Jesus assures us: “These signs shall follow them that believe; . . . They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17, 18). Although he was speaking to his disciples, Jesus’ words weren’t meant just for them but for everyone who believes in what Jesus’ life represented, including everyone reading this article. Including you!

So, what does this believing include? The certainty that God, Spirit, is All-in-all; that Jesus’ healings of the sick and sinning, the dying and dead, prove this to be true; and that we’ve all been given the ability to heal ourselves and others through Christ—“the spirit of God, of Truth, Life, and Love” (Science and Health, p. 137)—and in so doing, to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy.

Add to this the commitment to love as Jesus loved, and healing is sure to follow, including, as Mrs. Eddy puts it, “that joy which finds one’s own in another’s good” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 127). 

Eric Nelson, Guest Editorial Writer