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Follow Jesus’ example—demonstrate God’s impartial and universal love!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on

Christ Jesus”
for February 26, 2017

by Kathy Fitzer, CS
kathyfitzercs@gmail.com (new email) 314-323-4083

Golden Text: You “are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Amplified Version) The Revised English Bible puts it like this: “It is through faith that you are all sons of God in union with Christ Jesus.” Paul also said, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Rom. 8: 14, NRSV) No one was more unreservedly led by the Spirit of God than was Jesus. He rightly identified himself as the Son of God. Using the Touch Bible App which is handily available on my phone, I looked up the Hebrew meaning of the word “children” as used in this verse. I found, “son.” And it said it describes one who depends on another or is his follower.” It also said that Jesus “both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind.” As we faithfully follow Jesus’ teachings and example, we are able to recognize ourselves (and others) as having an inviolable relationship with God as His beloved child — whom God loves, protects and benefits! Imagine the difference it would make if we always proceeded from that standpoint.

Responsive Reading: Grace and peace are God’s gifts to all of humanity. Paul is speaking of both Jews and Gentiles! As Father, God is responsible for all the members of His household. That includes us — and it includes all — the original man having been made “holy and without blame.” (v. 4) That’s a good thing to keep in mind as we are tempted to feel frustration, criticism, fear, or even hate when looking at a person or situation we feel strongly opposed to. Christ (the light of Truth) enables everyone to know their relationship with God. Jesus suffered in order to demonstrate God’s love — to show all mankind that God has freed us from bondage to the sins of the world — as we recognize our union with Him. Verse 5, as translated in the New Living Translation says, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” The word “predestinated” is used in the KJV a couple of times in these verses. According to the original Greek, we can substitute for this word: “God decreed from eternity.” No beginning and no end — man just IS (has always been and always will be) the child of God. We’re told that God’s plan is to “bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth.” Paul continues, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” (v. 10-11 NLT) The glossary of Science and Health defines Christ as “The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.” (SH 583: 10) As we understand that all mankind is truly held in unity with God through Christ, we can shift from the perspective of a divided country, a world in conflict, and bodies in rebellion to see the unity of God and man, subject to the grace and peace that is the outcome of God and His manifestation — His Christ!

Section 1: ALL are the sons of God!

There is so much talk these days about our differences! We tend to define people according to gender, political leanings, economic standing, race, religion, nationality, and who knows what else. As Christian Scientists, we have a responsibility to view things from God’s perspective and mentally correct the false evidence of mortal mind’s divisive, fear-mongering suggestions. We need to stop bearing false witness! We need to truly understand and work out from the standpoint of Paul’s words to the Galatians … “ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (B2) Part of Jesus’ mission was to break down (redeem people from) the barriers that had been established by Mosaic law. How many times we read of Jesus ministering to men and women, Jews and Samaritans, rich and poor, the sinners and the righteous alike. Christ Jesus furnished the pattern of the perfect man. He appeared in a human form, but fully expressed the divine nature. And, he lifted the lives of mankind above what “their poor thought-models would allow.” (S5&6) Through his teachings and example all have been given the opportunity to discover their real nature as God’s child …. His son — at one with Him … esteemed, loved, protected, corrected, and benefitted by Him. (B3, S1, S3) So, let’s be sure we are thinking as the offspring of God and recognize everyone and everything as part of one family — governed by one Father-Mother God, all harmonious! Holding consistently to this view — and rejecting all divisiveness — will go far in bringing the human picture in line with the divine, including the revelation of whatever right human footsteps need to be taken! In the words of Isaiah … “all flesh shall see it (the glory of the Lord) together.” (B1)

Section 2: Divine power demonstrated [with Cobbey C. insights in W’s PS#1, PS#2, PS#3]

Understanding his oneness with his Father, Jesus demonstrated the healing and saving power of God. John the Baptist came to prepare people for the reception of Jesus’ ministry. He echoed the promise of Isaiah, “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (B5) And, yet, he still questioned whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. In response to John’s question, Jesus cited his works. Mary Baker Eddy puts Jesus’ message this way: “Tell John what the demonstration of divine power is.” (B7, PS#2 & S8) And Jesus added, “blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” The warning about not being offended refers to the temptation to fall away or stumble over the fact that the life of Jesus did not correspond to popular messianic expectations, including the scandal of a crucified Messiah. (B7) The Jews were disturbed because they thought Jesus was making himself equal to God. Jesus’ explanation draws the important distinction that although Father and Son are indivisible, the Son can’t do anything without the Father. It is the Father that does the healing! The Father is the only doer. It is the Father’s love for His Son, to which the Son bears witness, which results in the healing works. (B8) I loved Mrs. Eddy’s reference to Jesus’ spirituality being “the good soil wherein the seed of Truth springs up and bears much fruit.” (S6) We can emulate this spirituality. We can, like Jesus, understand the “divine Principle and … the Christ-spirit which governed the corporeal Jesus” and which truly governs ALL. We are assured that there is no dynasty or ecclesiastical monopoly on this Principle that heals. As we let this Christ-spirit govern all of us, we, too, will see signs follow. A priest is defined in Webster’s 1828 dictionary as “a person who is set apart or consecrated to the ministry of the gospel.” We can ALL — and we all should — identify with that role! We shouldn’t let anything interfere with the goal of continually spiritualizing thought! As God’s children (sons), we too can be transparencies for God’s healing work, as Jesus was! Nothing is stopping us from the adventure of viewing all we are involved in from a spiritual perspective —moment by moment — throughout our day!

Section 3: Leaving the old for the new [with Cobbey C. insights in W’s PS#4]

An invitation is extended towards the end of the book of Revelation for anyone thirsty for Truth to “take the water of life freely” — as a gift! (B9) The story of the meeting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is a classic illustration of this offer, and an example of the importance of letting go of preconceptions and social mores. Imagine the woman’s surprise when Jesus approached her asking for something to drink. Jewish men did not initiate conversation with unknown women, and a Jewish teacher would not engage in public conversation with a woman at all. Plus, Jews did not invite contact with Samaritans. But, here was Jesus ignoring all of the above. The Samaritan woman didn’t understand how a man without a bucket could offer to give her a source of water that would never run out. But, she liked the idea of not needing to make her daily trips to the well. So she accepted his offer. Even though for the wrong reasons, her willingness to accept opened the way for her to receive the blessings of the Christ. Even if we don’t fully understand the message of Christian Science, our willingness to accept the gift of spiritual understanding allows us to reap the benefits of it. In the case of the woman, she recognized Jesus as a prophet when she realized that he knew she didn’t have a husband before she told him. The Samaritans, like the Jews, expected the coming of the Messiah and expected him to be a teacher. Once she glimpsed that Jesus was a prophet — and after a conversation she had with him about the differences in how the Jews and Samaritans viewed the place of worship, she is open to the idea that he might be the Messiah — even though not quite what expected. Without hesitating she goes and calls the people of her village to come see for themselves. She tells them her story and invites them to come and see for themselves. (B10, PS#4) The woman was willing “to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new.” (S12) She was one of those “blessed” by not stumbling over (being offended by) her pre-conceptions. What if Jesus had gotten stuck on preconceptions and not approached the woman? A big opportunity would have been lost! I love this statement … “Explaining and demonstrating the way of divine Science, he (Jesus) became the way of salvation to all who accepted his word.” (S10) Jesus’ “mission was to reveal the Science of celestial being, to prove what God is and what He does for man.” The Christ in him is what enabled him to do that. (S11) It seems to me we have the opportunity to experience both the role of the woman — be ready to receive the Christ ( the divine message coming from God to the human consciousness) — and the role of Jesus … be ready to share the inspiration and understanding the Christ has already revealed to us. We mustn’t be afraid to share with those we know — and with those we don’t. It’s not up to us to judge the receptivity of another. It’s our job just to share — “and never fear the consequences.” (S14) The key is to be willing to receive the light, to walk in the light and turn away from the darkness of judgment and pre-conceptions, and let our light shine, embracing all of God’s creation! (S13) What a joy!

Section 4: Divine authority and the impartiality of Love [with C.C. ref. in W’s PS#5]

This section continues the theme of not judging according to the outward appearance, but simply responding to the impulse of God’s love. We’re told in Micah three things that are required of us: (1) do what is right; (2) love mercy and kindness; (3) walk humbly with God. (B12) [Warren: Mary Baker Eddy expands her love of Micah 6:8 in the 6th Tenet (S30) and also states “To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly” is the standard of Christian Science.” (My. 283:23)] The Centurion is a beautiful example of these three qualities. And the story also continues to illustrate the theme of God being the Father of ALL — Love being “impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals.” (S15) The Centurion [in citation B13 & PS#5] shows true love (mercy) for his servant and wants to do right by him. It must have taken great humility for this great Roman officer to approach an itinerant Jewish preacher and ask for help. But, it would appear that the Centurion recognized the God-given authority behind Jesus’ words and works. He wasn’t presuming to ask Jesus to enter his house (something that would have been uncomfortable, at best.) And he wasn’t comparing himself to Jesus when he spoke of himself being under the authority of some and having authority over others. It appears he was simply declaring his faith in the efficacy of exercised authority (the right to control.) This understanding of authority is what Jesus recognized as the Centurion’s faith — not necessarily faith in God, as we would think of it, but faith in the authority of the Truth embodied in Jesus. This was sufficient for the healing effect of Christ, Truth, to be felt by his servant. When we’re embroiled in a problem, how important it is to “walk humbly” with our God — to acknowledge the authority of God expressed “in the superiority of spiritual power over material resistance.” (S17) Mrs. Eddy explains that the key is “to have more faith in the truth of being than we have in error, more faith in Spirit than in matter, more faith in living than in dying, more faith in God than in man.” Then, no material SUPPOSITIONS can prevent us from healing the sick and destroying error.” (S18) A couple of weeks ago our Lesson talked about the “fruit of the Spirit.” Faith was included in that list of fruit, and it was added “against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5: 22) So, faith is something we each have — it is inherent in Spirit, of which we are all the offspring. Don’t let anything keep you from speaking with authority and having the conviction that nothing can resist the authority of Christ — the divine manifestation of God! Know that “No evidence before the material senses can close my eyes to the scientific proof that God, good, is supreme.” All have divine authority for accepting that — without reservation — regardless of the situation!

Section 5: The impartiality of the Holy Spirit endows all with the divine authority to heal [with Cobbey C. insights in W’s PS#6 & PS#7]

Jesus left clear directions for his followers … “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (B15, PS#6) To be a Christian — let alone a Christian Scientist — demands the willingness to participate in the ministry of Christ Jesus, and to follow the model of impartiality. At first the disciples limited their ministry to “the lost sheep of Israel.” But, ultimately they (and especially Peter and Paul) DID go on to minister to the Gentiles (or non-Jews.) Isn’t it important for us to believe that everyone can hear the Word of God and receive the blessing of healing? As our Leader tells us: “Every day makes its demands upon us for higher proofs rather than professions of Christian power. These proofs consist solely in the destruction of sin, sickness, and death by the power of Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them. (S24) Not by our own power, but by the authority of the Holy Spirit, we can confidently expect to bring healing to all that are reaching out for it. It was this Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost that moved on the consciousness of those gathered on the day of Pentecost so that they heard Peter’s words “in their own language.” (Acts 2) And it was this Holy Spirit that spoke to both Cornelius and Peter to bring them together. Cornelius was a commander in the Roman military, but he also prayed to God and was known and respected by the Jewish community. One day while Cornelius was praying he heard a message from God to send for Peter. Meanwhile, God was preparing Peter to meet this Gentile. Peter had seen Jesus reach out to the Samaritans, but he was not, at first, prepared to venture out into the Gentile world. God showed Peter (through a “trance”) that he was not to “call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 9: 9-15) That included not judging people according to their background. After Cornelius and Peter had been brought together, Peter was able to honestly say, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” (B17, NIV, PS#7) Part of understanding the universal nature of salvation is to understand that healing results “from the operation of divine Principle.” (S21) The divine Principle isn’t influenced by its “audience” any more than the principle of mathematics is limited in application to certain numbers. When we get ourselves out of the way, and refuse to judge according to the outward appearance, we will see sin, sickness and death destroyed “by the power of Spirit, as Jesus destroyed them.” Accept the challenge. We are all healers!

Section 6: Accept your position as the child of God, and pray for the Mind of Christ

One God. One Christ. The same forever … and forever embracing humanity. (B18 & B20) We hear I John 3: 1-3 read each Sunday at the close of the service. Do we really take it to heart? We are each the precious son (which includes male and female) of a Father-Mother that is revealing Himself/Herself to all mankind through His Christ. (B19) We (and that means all mankind), as God’s image, are “linked by Science” to our Maker. We find Christ and recognize the divine sonship (“when he shall appear”) as we “turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood” (S28). Jesus showed us what it means to be God’s Son. It is now our “duty and privilege” to follow his example as best we can and to “recognize the divine sonship.” (S28) One definition of recognize is “to perceive as existing or true.” So we start by accepting the relationship of Father and Son — God and His Christ — and identify ourselves as having the same Mind that was in Christ Jesus. From this starting point we can pray to express that Mind as we practice the “golden rule” and are consistently merciful, just, and pure. [(S30) & B12, a scriptural inspiration for part of the 6th Tenet] To be consistently merciful, just, and pure takes practice! It takes moment by moment thought-checking. And it takes a BIG love that includes all of God’s children — as we acknowledge the impartial and universal love of God, and know that we reflect that Love and desire more than anything to see it demonstrated in healing “every ill that flesh is heir to.” (See S&H 107: 7) Christ Jesus truly is our way-shower! He “marked the way for all men.” (S26) And we are all able to follow — with joy and dominion!


[Warren’s (W’s) PS #1—Cobbey Crisler’s commentary on Matthew 4: 23 (B6):
Verse 23. And “healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Here are human problems that had defied solution, and Jesus solved them all based on his concept of theology, namely the kingdom. Remember a kingdom is not chaos. It’s an ordered government of heaven and harmony at hand.”
Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master, B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#2—Cobbey Crisler on Matt. 11:2-5 (B7), “Art thou he…” Jesus answers with results
“(Verse 2). John, at this point being in prison, sends a message to Jesus.
(Verse 3). Saying, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" What does he mean? Are you the Messiah, or should we look for another? Showing that John the Baptist has great confidence in the prophecy. He's just not sure at this moment, even though he was before when he was baptizing. But now in prison, wondering where this all will end.
He wonders whether Jesus is really the Messiah.
(Verse 4). Jesus response to John is to recount the works or results of Jesus' religion.
Verse 5 is almost a repetition of some of the prophecies in Isaiah (i.e. 42:7) that said the Messiah would accomplish. It didn't say the Messiah specifically, but God's servant would accomplish the following things, "the blind receiving sight, lame walking," and so forth.”

Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master: A Tax-Collectors Report, B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#3—Cobbey Crisler on John 5:19-20 (B8)
Notice John 5:19 is Jesus’ famous statement, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” Taking this apart, it really gives you what man’s role is. What is it? It’s reflection. It’s image.
Man is not original in what he does. What he does stems from the original which is God. Then it reflects originality. Otherwise there would be competition for the job of Creator. Under monotheism there is no possibility for such competition (“For what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”)
He took the Son of Man through every problem that the world could hurl at him and proved that even the Son of Man can be victorious and not a creature of circumstances when the understanding of his true nature as the Son of God can be applied.
Our understanding of the Son of Man and the Son of God, and the difference, might be heightened by realizing that the Christ comes to the Son of Man. The Christ doesn’t come to the Son of God because the Christ really presents the Son of God.
We’re on the human side of things, who feel the foot of domination on our necks from outside circumstances. Is that where the Son of Man belongs? Notice the argument of Bildad in the book of Job… It uses the very same phrase that Jesus does, elevating him way above the outlines of fleshly domination. So, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.” Why?
John 5:20, “The Father loves the Son.”
John 5:30. The same point is repeated, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” Is this false humility or is Jesus actually giving us the facts straight out? What is the secret and source of everything he thought or did? What is the obstacle then between us and following Jesus? There’s something in there. Some kind of different concept of our selfhood than what he had. His was so transparent that there was nothing obstructing his at-one-ment with God, even on earth. His summons to us is to follow his example and shows his own expectation that we’re equipped to do it. So, we’re equipped to receive and to act on the instructions given us via communication. All we need to do is tune in.
We’re coming to understand Jesus’ view of himself, and where he thinks this authority originates, “The Son of Man can do nothing of himself.” (John 5:19)
John, the Beloved Discipleby B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#4—Cobbey Crisler on John 4: 7-30 (B10)
“John 4.6, Jacobs well is … concealed in a partially completed church. You cannot see the mountain to which the woman of Samaria was pointing in the story…. Dr. Bull… was the first scholar to announce that he feels he has discovered the Samaritan temple ruins on the top of Mount Gerazim which could be seen in Jesus time from the wellhead.
So, he Jesus, rests. It's about the noon hour.
John 4:7, “In comes a woman of Samaria.” While you don’t deal with Samaritans much, you also don’t deal with women that often. When you add a Samaritan to a woman, you’ve got the least likely social contact for a Jew. Jesus doesn’t concern himself at all about these artificial ghetto outlines that others have thrown around their neighbors. "He opens the conversation with the woman."
John 4:8, "the disciples have gone to the nearby city," which is probably Neapolis. It had been corrupted in Arabic as "Nablus," which you may see in the news because that's a hotbed of Palestinian unrest.
John 4:9, "So, the woman of Samaria says, How come you’re talking to me?" A woman would naturally say that because she would expect to be talking to him.
John 4: 15 The woman, not comprehending thoroughly, but nevertheless bold enough to continue asking, finally gets the practicality of Jesus' message and says, "That’s great idea. Give me this living water, and I won't take another step. Never will I have to come up with these heavy jugs and fill them with water.''
Remember, there are not too many conversations that are recorded between Jesus and anyone. The relative importance, just from the quantity of this text, stands out.
John 4:16, “Jesus says Go, call thy husband, and come hither.”
John 4:17 He knows what he's saying. He knows the whole story. So, what is he doing? He’s testing again. Here’s a Samaritan woman. What is he interested in? Is he interested in whether someone is a Jew, a Samaritan, a child, a man, a woman, a Roman centurion, a ruler of the synagogue? Does he really care? What does he really need?
What is he looking for? Receptivity. That is the universal access. It means we all have the same access if we’d only use it. Whose fault is it if we aren’t using it? It's ours. So it has nothing to do with status, culture, sex, or whatever. He's not really saying that womanhood is the best way to get to God. Or childhood, or any of those. Wherever we find receptivity it counts.
"So, '' the woman says, hedging a bit, "I don't have a husband."
John 4:18, "Whereupon Jesus said, 'How right you are. As a matter of fact, you've had five husbands, and the one you're living with right now can't exactly be called your husband.” Boy, that has a nice twentieth century ring to it.
John 4:19. All the woman can say in response to that is, "Sir, I perceive that you're a prophet.” The woman is really beautiful. Jesus wouldn't spend all this time with her if he didn't see behind all this label and this stereotyped thing. There was a receptivity here that he wasn't running into regularly. He was after that. He was after womanhood as a type to replace this femaleness as a stereotype. He continued to probe in order to do this.
John 4:20. The woman said, "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain.'' Boy, did that have a meaning. She's pointing to the Samaritan temple, and guess who had destroyed it? The Jews. The Maccabean rulers had destroyed the Samaritan temple which was built to resemble the Jerusalem temple. It's occupied territory. It's a little difficult to dig in an area that Jordan still claims but Israel occupies.
It was destroyed by the Jews, so you can see the irony behind what the woman said, "Our fathers worshiped …” It’s past. It's through. The Greek word that is used there is well in the past, "all wiped out." We worshiped in this mountain, but the implication, guess who stopped us, or ruined the temple? Your fathers. We have a divisive thing. We, the Samaritans, worshiped here. You, the Jews, destroyed it. That's the same thing that's going on today in the same location.
John 4:21, "Jesus said, Woman.” this is his general address to womanhood, "Believe me. the hour cometh, " still somewhat ahead, "when you won’t worry about geography in worshiping God.”
John 4:23, ''The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” Look at the definition of worship. “Worship is spiritual,” not structural, not geographical, not ritualistic. Why? Because worship of God can only properly be done by partaking of God's own nature.
John 4:24 tells us that "God is Spirit. Therefore worshiping Spirit can only be done spiritually." There's no other way to do it. How basic. By the way, when you see "a Spirit" in there. It shouldn’t be there.
Listen to what God says about it. Notice the strong tenor of his words. To translate "God is a Spirit" is the most gross perversion of the meaning. "A Spirit" implies one of a class of "pneumata," the Greek word for it. There is no trace, in the fourth gospel, of the vulgar conception of a multitude of spirits. “God is Spirit.” Mathematically one can only derive from Spirit included in it. Namely, spirituality is the derivation. Worship must be that.
Notice what is done as this woman's thought. Women weren't supposed to discuss the Scriptures. There was a first century rabbi, Eleazar, who said, "To teach a woman Scripture was like teaching her lasciviousness." That's some extreme. That was the kind of thought that was at some rabbinical extremes in the first century, not necessarily the general Jewish view, but Eleazar is considered quite a great rabbi.
Jesus is discussing intellectual problems of Scripture with a woman. This is unheard of!
John 4:25 "That woman suddenly comes to him and says, I know that Messiah is coming.” How about that for recognition! “I know that the Messiah is coming which is called Christ.” She didn’t say that right. Why, is that in the text? Because it is for the Greeks. “I know that the Messiah when he comes will tell us all things.”
John 4:26 Jesus, in one of those rare occurrences, is discouraged from turning the fact that he was the Messiah that into an advertising campaign. Rather, he focuses on this woman and her receptivity, “He said, I that speak unto you am he.”
John 4:27, '"When the disciples come back, their only problem is that he's talking with the woman.”
John 4:28, "The woman leaves her waterpot.” That's what she'd come for, but she went away with living water. "She ran into the city"
John 4:29, "She said to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did. It’s got to be the Messiah."
John 4:30, "The men came out," reluctantly, because they didn't want to look like they were coming out because a woman suggested it.
Do you remember when the women disciples told the men disciples that Jesus was risen? The men thought they were idle tales!”
John, the Beloved Discipleby B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#5—Cobbey C. on Matt. 8:5-13 (B13): healing Centurion servant’s paralysis
“(Verse 5). The second healing (in Matthew 8) is the centurion's servant. This is a healing of palsy. Palsy is paralysis. This healing occurs over a distance. It's almost as if Jesus were saying to the physical scientists of the nineteenth and twentieth century, "Alright, gentlemen, you say in your list of things that represent action-at-a-distance, there can be light, magnetism, sound, and electricity.
Recognize that prayer is also action-at-a-distance and can out-distance all on your list. You do not have to be present physically to heal the sick. God is present with the one in need of healing as he is present with the one who is the channel for the healing or transparency.
You don't have to move physically to heal spiritually. This is a tremendous breakthrough in a concept for healing which can occur even today, when it is considered that one must be at the bed­side of a patient in order to accomplish anything. Jesus did not do that in every case. It required the receptivity of thought in those with whom he was dealing.
Here we have a centurion, who was not even a Jew. He is a Roman, a non-com officer in a sense over a hundred men. That's why he's called a centurion. He has enough concept of authority to say, "All you have to do, Jesus, if you're good at what you're doing, and a professional, just say, 'Give the order,' and those orders will be obeyed. That's what happens in my profession," he said.
(Verse 10). Jesus makes the comment that he has not "found so great faith, no, not in Israel." One wonders if he would find that kind of faith even today?
(Verse 13). He says "to the centurion, as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." We get a better view of it in the gospel of John, if it's the same incident which it undoubtedly is, where the nobleman's son is healed. The nobleman goes back down to check.
It's a day's travel. He's half way there and his servants have come to meet him. His servants say; "Everything's fine." The nobleman said, "What time?" And the servant said, "The seventh hour." So the nobleman asked about the time and it was the same hour that Jesus had said, "Go thy way. Thy son liveth."
The healing got to the centurion's home before the centurion got there. Which shows what is possible and how primitive we are in exercising the spiritual forces available to us. It may turn out that Jesus is the most important scientist in the history of the world in the sense of demonstrating his theory and proving it.”
Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master: A Tax-Collectors Report, B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#6—Cobbey Crisler on Matthew 10:8 (B15)
The assignments given to the disciples would not be assignments they were incapable of doing, or Jesus would have been unwise.
(Verse 8). He said, "Heal the sick." What do you expect them to do? He said, "Cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils." Notice the sequence. The things he did. Even putting casting-out-devils at a higher level of what was required of prayer than raising the dead. Then stating, "Freely ye have received, freely give."
Book of Matthew, Auditing the Master: A Tax-Collectors Report, B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#7—Cobbey Crisler on Acts 10:34-44 (B17)
Acts 10, verse 34, begins a lecture or sermon to the first group of Gentiles. And the opening statement that Peter makes is one that could be well considered by every denomination of Christianity todayHere Peter expressed his new view of God, that God is no respecter of persons, that God speaks to receptivity.
Acts 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
This new view of God, of course, leads to this next question: Should man as well be no respecter of persons? This is a tradition-shattering concept.
And Acts 10, verse 35, Peter summarizes it by saying “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” …
Then he begins to explain to Cornelius and the friends and acquaintances of Cornelius, the history of early Christianity. “The beginning of Christianity is traced from Galilee after John’s baptism, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth.” …
Of course that word “anointed” immediately identifies Jesus as the Messiah. This is a point that Peter is obviously going to get across to this Gentile audience that would need some instruction in this. (See below, paraphrased)
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And you find in Acts 10, verse 43, he does that by stating that “all the prophets had given witness to the Messiah, namely Jesus.”…
As soon as Peter gets into this “Walked to Emmaus” approach, in other words the comprehension of Jesus’
role in the earlier scripture, we find in Acts 10, verse 44 that “the Holy Ghost falls on all the listeners.”
It wasn’t Peter’s idea that this should happen; it’s at the Holy Ghost’s initiative. This is disturbing to some of those that came with Peter: Jewish Christians.
And we will find it becomes even more disturbing to other elements in the church later on, for this is a departure. The question underlying this event is “Should the church be parochial or universal?” Is it simply a sect of Judaism or an outcome of Judaism, or is it the fulfillment of God’s will as expressed in prophecy with its ultimate mission to embrace universal humanity?”
After the Master What? – The Book of Actsby B. Cobbey Crisler]

[W’s PS#8—Order info for Cobbey Crisler transcripts and CDs:
You can buy your own transcripts (and audio CDs) of most of Cobbey’s 28 talks at a new website: www.crislerlibrary.co.uk Email your order or inquiry to office@crislerlibrary.co.uk, or directly to Janet Crisler, at janetcrisler7@gmail.com ]


[Thanks to your outpouring of love and support, CedarS is doing needed Maintenance work before our 56th season, our "adopted" herd of horses are also being well cared, AND a growing stream of campership applications are being granted. However, we still need donations of about $175,000 more to grant the campership requests that traditionally come during this season. We also need almost $16,500 to meet our $50k match for Adopt the Herd! (CedarS Adopt the Herd matching fund opportunity goes through the end of our fiscal year, 9-30-17.) Thank each of you grateful for this service and our work, way beyond words and whinnies, for your much-needed MONTHLY gifts, past and ongoing, able to be given at: www.cedarscamps.org/giving ]

[You can also reach a member of the Founding family nearly anytime to discuss current credit card and equity gifts as well as planned giving at our winter home/office by PHONE at 636-394-6162

or MAIL your tax-deductible support to our 501C3 organization
(Our not-for-profit, Federal Identification Number is #440-66-3883):

The CedarS Camps Office
1314 Parkview Valley Drive
Ballwin, MO 63011

[THANKS TO YOU PRECIOUS DONORS FOR YOUR ONGOING, GENEROUS and NEEDED SUPPORT OF CedarS IMPORTANT WORK!]


[CedarS weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CedarS, as well as to CedarS alumni, families and friends who have requested it. However, current and planned gifts are a big help and are greatly appreciated in defraying the costs of running this service and of providing needed camperships, programs and operations support.

[The Met application ideas above are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and daily demonstrate the great value of studying and applying the Christian Science Bible lessons throughout the year, not just at camp! YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of possible ways to share.]

American Camp Association

MAIN OFFICE
(November - May)
410 Sovereign Court #8
Ballwin, MO 63011
(636) 394-6162

CAMP OFFICE
(Memorial Day Weekend - October)
19772 Sugar Dr.
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 532-6699

Support our mission!

CedarS Camps

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