Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.djvu/272

260 things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's.” He paid no homage to forms of doctrine or theories of man, but acted and spake as he was moved, not by spirits, but by Spirit.

To the ritualistic priest and hypocritical Pharisee he said, “Even the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of heaven before you.” He unwittingly gave a date to the Christian era, but established no form of worship. He knew that men can be baptized, partake of the eucharist, support the clergy, observe the Sabbath, make long prayers, and all the while be sensual and hypocritical.

Jesus established his church, and maintained his mission, on the basis of Christian healing. He taught his followers that his religion had a Principle that could cast out error, and heal both the sick and sinful. He claimed no intelligence, action, or life separate from God. Despite the persecution this brought upon him, he used his divine power to save men both bodily and spiritually. The question then, as now, was, How did Jesus heal the sick? His answer to this question the world rejected. He appealed to his students, “Whom do men say that I am?” — that is, Who or what is it that is thus identified with casting out demons and healing the sick? They replied, “Some say Elias, others John the Baptist, others Jeremiah.” These prophets were dead, and this reply may indicate that some of the people believed that Jesus was a medium, controlled by the spirit of John or Elisha.

This ghostly fancy was even repeated to Herod himself. That a wicked king and debauched husband should have