Comparing the methods of preaching the gospel and healing the sick generally in vogue during the last seventeen centuries with those put into practice by the Galilean Prophet in the early days of the Christian era, in many respects we find little similarity, and in most respects a very wide divergence. For upwards of three hundred years after Jesus' advent spiritual healing was accomplished by his followers; and until the church became allied with the state, coming directly under the control of political interests, healing the sick, as well as preaching the gospel, was recognized as a religious obligation.
The commands of the Master to preach the gospel and heal the sick were given with such directness and exactness that any misunderstanding on the part of his followers regarding their fulfillment would almost have seemed to be impossible. Yet, from about the end of the third century, until the discovery of Christian Science by Mary Baker Eddy, Jesus' command to heal the sick through spiritual means was almost entirely neglected, while the injunction to preach the gospel seems alone to have been heeded, often, however, with "a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge," and lacking the beneficent results so clearly shown in the work of the disciples when "they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
The advent of Jesus the Christ was not wholly unlooked for. The coming of the Messiah had long been foretold by the prophets of Israel; and the fulfillment of this prophecy must have been in constant anticipation by many who from the first accepted Jesus as the Messiah. As he went about his healing work, those in need of his ministrations eagerly followed him. His message proclaimed a full and complete salvation from both sin and disease; and his examples of healing were the proof of its availability to all who accepted it. It was not at all strange that the people were astonished; for no such exhibition of healing had ever before been known.
