Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1906).djvu/152

136 Jesus established his church and maintained his mission on a spiritual foundation of Christ-healing. He taught

his followers that his religion had a divine Principle, which would cast out error and heal both the sick and the sinning. He claimed no intelligence, action, nor 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, the Son of man, am?” That is: Who or what is it that is thus identified with casting out evils and healing the sick? They replied, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” These prophets were considered dead, and this reply may indicate that some of the people believed that Jesus was a medium, controlled by the spirit of John or of Elias.

This ghostly fancy was repeated by Herod himself. That a wicked king and debauched husband should have no high appreciation of divine Science and the great work of the Master, was not surprising; for how could such a sinner comprehend what the disciples did not fully understand? But even Herod doubted if Jesus was controlled by the sainted preacher. Hence Herod's assertion: “John have I beheaded: but who is this?” No wonder Herod desired to see the new Teacher.

The disciples apprehended their Master better than

did others; but they did not comprehend all that he said and did, or they would not have questioned him so often. Jesus patiently persisted in