In the first century of the Christian era, Christ Jesus cast out devils, healed the sick, and raised the dead in an unprecedented demonstration of God-given power and authority. Luke's Gospel records that the people said of him (4:36), "What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."
Jesus not only healed with irresistible authority, but he also taught others to exercise this divine power. His healings always illustrated and proved his teachings. Such an instance is recorded in the ninth chapter of Matthew. We read that when he assured a sufferer from palsy that his sins were forgiven, some of the scribes mentally accused Jesus of blasphemy. "Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house."
In this age Christian Science is teaching mankind how to exercise God-given authority over evil. It explains that God is divine Mind and that man is His idea or reflection. An arousing exhortation in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, reads (p. 393): "Mind is the master of the corporeal senses, and can conquer sickness, sin, and death. Exercise this God-given authority. Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man."
