Christ Jesus brought immediate healing to those in need. One day when he was in Capernaum, an officer of the Roman army came to him. He told Jesus that his servant was sick with the palsy. Without any hesitation Jesus said that he would heal him—and he did.See Matt. 8:5-13. Jesus expected to heal. Why? He understood the Scriptures. He was convinced of his spiritual origin, and of his divine purpose as God's chosen Messiah to bring healing and redemption to mankind.
The Master was certain of the true man's coexistence with God as Spirit's exact emanation, and understood that man's spiritual existence and relationship to God are demonstrable truths. His consciousness of the ceaseless harmony of Soul's creative activity enabled him to prove that man's harmony can never be distorted by disease, impoverishment, deprivation. Such confident spiritual understanding brought God's law of healing to light for the multitudes around him.
Jesus taught his followers to heal. One day they returned to their Master overjoyed because of the beautiful healings they were able to accomplish as a result of Jesus' inspired teaching and example. Luke describes the situation: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them . . . rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."Luke 10:17, 18,20. Jesus' response was to turn them away from any personal sense of accomplishment to a recognition of God's power as the only healer.
Jesus, our Way-shower, prophesied that Christians throughout future ages would develop a spiritual animus for healing. He foretold a Comforter which would bring the final revelation of his teaching. He said, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."John 14:26. The promised Comforter is here now through the teachings of Christian Science.
Following her discovery of Christian Science in 1866, Mrs. Eddy proved the power of this divine law to heal those in need. Furthermore, she expected students of this Science to develop the ability to heal themselves and others. She writes: "The work of healing, in the Science of Mind, is the most sacred and salutary power which can be wielded. My Christian students, impressed with the true sense of the great work before them, enter this strait and narrow path, and work conscientiously."Retrospection and Introspection, pp. 54-55.
Regular study of the Bible, and Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, enables "Christian students" everywhere to understand and practice Christ Jesus' teachings. Through such study the student finds his life redeemed from first one problem and then another. He discovers the Christ, the power of God, as a potent and continuing influence for good in human thought, bringing deliverance from the various limitations of materiality. As he builds a foundation of healing in his own life, his gratitude to God turns him naturally to the possibility of healing others. After completing Primary class instruction in Christian Science many students consider entering the public practice. Often the question arises as to the various steps of prayer helpful in bringing this holy work to light.
When I resolved some years ago to enter this healing work, there were several metaphysical steps that proved helpful. At the outset I realized that spiritual sense deserved to be further developed. Each week hours were devoted to prayer, and to study of references from the Bible and from Mrs. Eddy's writings, especially those dealing with such terms as the Christ, spirituality, and spiritual understanding. This study showed that the healing work of Christ Jesus was based on his conviction of man's divine nature. Always, he held in thought the perfect model of limitless, immortal man, belonging to God. He discerned God as immortal Spirit, almighty Life, creating man spiritual and perfect in Soul's own image. Because he understood man's spirituality, inseparable from God, Jesus always maintained a spiritual viewpoint.
To prove God's healing power for ourselves and others it is necessary to develop our spiritual sense of God and man. To do this let us spiritualize our concept of ourselves and others by finding and holding in thought at all times the perfect model, or divine nature of man emanating from God. In this way we can learn to develop and maintain a spiritual standpoint as Jesus did. Science and Health puts it this way: "In Science, all being is eternal, spiritual, perfect, harmonious in every action. Let the perfect model be present in your thoughts instead of its demoralized opposite. This spiritualization of thought lets in the light, and brings the divine Mind, Life not death, into your consciousness."Science and Health, p. 407.
As I continued my prayer and study I discerned that Jesus did not identify himself or others with the limitations of mortality. His identification was spiritual; he recognized himself as God's Son in the likeness of Spirit. In addition, he brought this same spiritual viewpoint to those whom he healed. He identified them with spiritual sonship in the likeness of Life, Truth, and Love. The Master illustrated his spiritual nature through his teaching and healing, delivering people from all kinds of ills. In this regard, study of pages 315 and 316 of Science and Health can be helpful in showing how Jesus, through proving divine sonship for himself and others, recognized man's innate spirituality. Every student of Christian Science learns to follow Jesus' example through similar steps of spiritual identification.
However, right in the midst of the needed study and prayer, the budding practitioner may find himself entertaining certain negative thoughts that would pull him in an opposite direction. One may find himself reasoning: "I am not good enough, and I don't know enough of God to be a healer. Besides, nobody knows I'm available to help." Or one may feel that entering the public practice is an overwhelming, personal endeavor, looming too big for one's capacities.
The alert Christian Scientist recognizes such suggestions as the suppositional activity of impersonal evil often called the devil. Paul tells us this "carnal mind" is to be discarded and replaced with the Christ-spirit.See Rom. 8:5-13. Any suggestion that evil could usurp God's goodness and power Christian Science defines as mortal mind, or animal magnetism. This term is meant to designate a lie—that which contains nothing of God, good, and therefore is empty of power. Without the power of God behind it, mortal mind, or animal magnetism, must be powerless, unreal, nothing.
Animal magnetism would keep everyone from responding to the redemptive activity of Christ, Truth. It would hide our true selfhood and God-derived purpose. But animal magnetism can have no power over us when we listen to God alone for direction and motivation.
In this regard it is helpful to examine our thoughts often. Instead of accepting the lying suggestions of personal sense, we should choose only those thoughts whose source is infinite Mind. The fact is that man's purpose is known to God and established by infinite Mind. Remember Jesus' statement to the seventy, "Your names are written in heaven." As we understand this, we see that the completeness of all God-inspired activity, including the healing work, is safe. Reasoning in this way, we are taking our stand with spiritual law, Love's law of unfolding good. Then, we can discern that our lifework is advancing under divine law. Instead of bowing down to personal sense and false responsibility, let us place ourselves under God's law of limitless good. Each day we can seek the Father's will and pray for the ability to do His work without any trace of personal sense, or of a limited, mortal selfhood. Jesus pointed out to his disciples, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."John 4:34.
As with the development of any high goal, the healing practice deserves to be cherished and nourished. When someone calls us for help through prayer, this is not really a call upon us as a person but upon the impersonal, all-powerful Christ shining through our lives. Let us nourish our Christliness through regular hours of prayer and deep study of the Bible and Mrs. Eddy's writings. Seek spiritual understanding. Strive to represent God in every thought and action. Be confident of His goodness and power unfolding in your life. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Whosoever understands the power of Spirit, has no doubt of God's power,— even the might of Truth,—to heal, through divine Science, beyond all human means and methods."Miscellaneous Writings, p. 52.
The "power of Spirit" shines brightly in the teachings of the Comforter, divine Science. These teachings show how healings illumine the lives of prophets and apostles, and especially the life of Christ Jesus. The Comforter brings Christ-healing to this age. The healing work of Christian Science, and of the practitioner, stand in the direct line of Bible prophecy. As Christ Jesus foretold, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do."John 14:12.
In summary, there are a variety of steps that may be taken in learning to prove God's healing power. These steps may include some of those under discussion, such as deepening our appreciation of the prophetic role of the Comforter in our lives; learning to understand the "power of Spirit" operating in human consciousness; learning to replace personal sense with the law of God's goodness governing our advancing course; learning to develop our spirituality and to identify ourselves and others with the Christ; and finally, learning to nourish our Christliness through study and prayer. A listening thought, inspired by God's direction, will show us the way.
