Jesus was well acquainted with the letter of the Jewish law and had studied it thoroughly from boyhood. The Bible record tells us that at the age of twelve years he was found "in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46). The account continues, "All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
So great was Jesus' respect for the law that in his Sermon on the Mount he even went so far as to declare with great authority (Matt. 5:18), "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." In this chapter, Jesus frequently quoted the letter of the law, but was careful to bring out the importance of the spirit which lies behind it and the necessity of observing both the spirit and the letter. For example, after referring to the law forbidding murder, Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." Later he gave the positive injunction to love our enemies. And the law which forbids adultery he expanded to include judgment for impurity of thought.
Paul, alluding to the weakness of the letter alone, wrote to the Corinthians (II Cor. 3:6), "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." And Mary Baker Eddy, Jesus' devoted follower, was also able to penetrate the letter of the law and see the spirit in which the law should be read and observed. Consequently when Mrs. Eddy wrote the Manual of The Mother Church, she was confident that her students not only would become well acquainted with the letter of these By-Laws, but would also understand them so that willing compliance with the letter and the spirit would be accepted as a requirement in successful church and healing work.
In branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, where local by-laws are formulated, members are expected to exercise the same careful consideration and observance of both the letter and the spirit of the rules.
All students of Christian Science must use the Principle and rules of Christian Science in solving their own problems and in helping others to do likewise. Both the letter and the spirit are found essential to this work. Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 113:) "The letter of Science plentifully reaches humanity to-day, but its spirit comes only in small degrees. The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love. Without this, the letter is but the dead body of Science,—pulseless, cold, inanimate."
After a strenuous year of teaching boys and girls, a student of Christian Science planned to leave the mainland of Australia to visit friends in Tasmania. Two days before departure by air, she turned her ankle very sharply, causing great pain. This condition was immediately denied on the basis of God's allness and was sufficiently overcome to enable her to give due attention to other duties during the greater part of the day.
Towards evening, however, the pain returned with much more intensity, and with it the vivid memory of the mishap in the morning. The ankle, foot, and leg became badly inflamed, and fears of having to cancel her air booking and to postpone her visit to Tasmania began to present themselves.
In spite of all efforts to apply her understanding of Christian Science to this situation, the swelling increased. She then telephoned to a Christian Science practitioner, who encouraged her to hold to the spiritual status of man and to declare the perfect flexibility and resilience of God's spiritual idea, which can never fall from its high estate. The promise of the following Psalm was recalled (121:8): "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."
The pain ceased to predominate when the possibility of chance or accident was denied and the unerring direction of God, the one Mind, accepted and affirmed. The student slept soundly till morning; then it was obvious that the swelling had completely gone down, and every trace of the mishap had entirely disappeared. The student rejoiced in her realization that obedience to the letter and the spirit of the rules of spiritual healing gives dominion over suggestions of self-pity and frustration. She proved that absolute reliance upon divine Love as the only source of all true comfort and healing is effective.
As the understanding of Christian Science continues to grow throughout the world, more and more students are enlisting to diminish and finally destroy evil, disease, and every type of discord, including death.
From individual experience each one finds how true is our Leader's statement in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 195:) "Whosoever learns the letter of Christian Science but possesses not its spirit, is unable to demonstrate this Science; or whosoever hath the spirit without the letter, is held back by reason of the lack of understanding. Both the spirit and the letter are requisite; and having these, every one can prove, in some degree, the validity of those words of the great Master, 'For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.'"
