It is interesting and profitable for the student of Christian Science to study the accuracy with which Jesus read the thoughts of those with whom he came in contact, as many of these accounts are rich in lessons for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says: "Our Master easily read the thoughts of mankind, and this insight better enabled him to direct those thoughts aright." Also, "The effect of his Mind was always to heal and to save, and this is the only genuine Science of reading mortal mind" (pp. 94, 95).
In the eighth chapter of Matthew and in the fourth chapter of John are two records of men who came to Jesus in behalf of a sick one at home. In the account of the centurion we read that it was his servant who lay "sick of the palsy, grievously tormented," and in the story of the nobleman it was his own son who was lying "at the point of death." Both petitioners besought Jesus for immediate help, for the cases were extreme. Onlookers, had they been inclined to compare these two requests for help, doubtless would have expected Jesus to treat them in an identical fashion, as superficially at least they appeared to be similar. But Jesus, "the most scientific man that ever trod the globe," as Mrs. Eddy characterizes him on page 313 of Science and Health, was neither superficial in his judgment on the one hand, nor hypercritical on the other. He therefore went straight to the heart of every situation, and with spiritual sagacity discerned the real need, as well as the quality and nature of every request, and so he quickly cast out all manner of evils and healed the sick instantaneously.
To the centurion who stated the case of his servant, Jesus replied, "I will come and heal him." To the nobleman who entreated him to "come down, and heal his son," Jesus answered, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Why did Jesus reply so differently on these two occasions? Was it not because of the contrasting mentalities addressing him? Upon examination we find that the centurion's faith in the Christ-power to heal was manifestly so great that he merely related the condition of his afflicted servant, knowing that the one who stood before him represented all-supplying Love, and therefore would meet this great need in the quickest and best manner possible, needing no outline from him as to how this was to be accomplished.
