Saturday, February 25, 2012
Biographia
Hola, Rick Stewart aquí. Me alegro de que se detuvo por el. Como un científico cristiano de toda la vida me complace informar de que el mensaje de salvación del Evangelio no ha perdido nada de su poder. Que maravilloso mensaje de la humanidad el amor de Dios que abarca está vivo y bien. El ejemplo de Jesús y sus enseñanzas siguen siendo una fuente inagotable de inspiración, consuelo y sanación a todos los buscadores sinceros de la verdad. En 1977 abrí mi consultorio por primera vez como un practicante de la Ciencia Cristiana en mi ciudad natal, Ocala, Florida. En la década de 1980 di una conferencia en América del Norte y América del Sur en Inglés, español y portugués, en nombre de La Primera Iglesia de Cristo, Científico, en Boston, Massachusetts. En la década de 1990 he vivido y practicado en Palatka, Florida. Y en 1999, mi esposa Susanne y yo nos mudamos a su ciudad natal de Dresde, Alemania, para criar a nuestra familia. Sigo activo en la iglesia de la Ciencia cristiana local aquí en Dresde, donde Christian Science fue introducido por primera vez en Alemania en 1903. Mi tiempo completo Práctica de la Ciencia Cristiana se complementa con una vida maravillosamente todos los días con nuestros tres hijos y un perro maravilloso.
Rejoice in the "Empowe(her)ment" of Christ, WOW!
Rick Stewart, C.S., Dresden, Germany
Printable Version | PDF
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Rejoice in the "Empowe(her)ment" of Christ, WOW!
Metaphysical Application Ideas from the Cedars Camps:
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on "Christ Jesus" for February 20 -- 26, 2012
by Rick Stewart C.S., of Dresden, Germany, (Telephone 49-351-312-4736, RickStewartCS@aol.com)
[These application ideas from a past CedarS Camps' Resident Christian Science Practitioner are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons daily throughout the year, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free -- by Monday each week in English; or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION: in French, thanks to Pascal & Marie-Helene; in German, thanks to Helga and Manfred; or in Spanish, thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of fun approaches & possible ways to teach lesson ideas to older and to younger Sunday School classes at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters Enjoy! Warren Huff, CedarS Director & editor of these notes.]
WOW !!!! Women on Watch, maintaining our Master's church.
If any of you know our beloved and much appreciated newsletter editor, Warren Huff, Executive Director, of CedarS, you know how much he loves acronyms. (A word formed from the initial letters of other words.) Warren always has a wonderful list of acronyms that just make an idea stick in your thought. So in thinking about this Lesson, I thought of what I hope is a very accurate acronym, "WOW, Women on Watch." What fun to explore this week the life of our Master, Christ Jesus, from the perspective of a key element of Church, the contribution of the women that were looking for a Redeemer, a Saviour, and found one in the life of Christ Jesus.
Daughters of the Church, where would we be without them? For thousands of years they have been a source of practical, practiced religious education and inspiration. How many of us could testify to mothers and grandmothers that have taught us, encouraged us, and demonstrated to us the importance of learning about and loving God? I think of how my mom, my mother-in-law, my grand-mother-in-law, my aunts, my Sunday School teachers, my Christian Science teacher, and many other women have inspired me to know my Saviour better.
One of my favorite, "Gramma and church" stories came from a phone conversation with a fellow named, Tony Roberts. Back in 1986 I heard Tony share his testimony on television. I was so impressed that I called the television studio and asked for his number. I gave him a call. Tony told me of a dark time in his life. He had been a member of the Black Panther party, a radical Black activist group in the 1960's. He had been involved in drugs and violent crime. And he had hijacked a plane to Cuba. He was arrested and held in terrible conditions. He would work long hours in the sugar cane fields and then return to a horrible prison cell. He had no hope of ever being released. Then one night he found himself remembering his grandmother.
Tony remembered when he was 7 years old and his Gramma took him to church. Tony said he liked the way this memory made him feel. So, each day as he returned to his prison cell. Tony would try to remember everything he could about that time with his grandmother. Suddenly one night he heard a message, " I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."
Some of you might recognize that phrase as coming from the Bible, Joshua 1:5. It is in God's promise to Joshua that God will be with Joshua as He was with Moses. And God affirms, " I will not fail thee nor forsake thee." Now Tony, had never, ever studied the Bible. He had only gone to church with his Gramma. But when Tony heard that voice he liked the way it made him feel. And almost like someone inviting a guest for dinner, every night Tony would think about his Gramma, church, and the promise from that voice.
Suddenly things began to change around Tony. He had been told he would never leave that prison alive. But he was soon transferred to another prison that had much better conditions. Tony had been told he would never be returned to the United States. But he soon found himself on his way to prison in America. It might seem a funny thing to be happy about going to prison, but Tony was. Because the conditions he had in his cell in America were like heaven compared to Cuba. And he also had access to the Library and the Bible. He began to read the Bible. And his life continued to change. When I was talking to Tony in 1986 he was a free man, married, with a family, and active in church.
Hasn't the role of women always been a key to a Church that lives and saves. An honest and unprejudiced examination of Scripture, and specifically the Gospel narratives, makes it clear, without women, the Christian church would not and could not exist. And it most certainly would not exist in its vital, living, practical and practiced form of a Church that lives for a message, the saving, redeeming power of God's Love. When you think about the story of Tony, it might be interesting for you to know that the Hebrew name for Jesus is "Yeshua" or "Yehoshua", and it is identical with Joshua! And the name means to deliver, to rescue, to save.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshua_(name)
This week's Bible Lesson is an inspired document establishing the facts of "woman's" place in the mission of the Master. These inspiring women keeping watch and recognizing the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ. Let's see what the ladies have to say about the Master. WOW, Enjoy!
Golden Text:
Isaiah 62:11 ...."Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes!' " (NIV)
According to the theologian, John Wesley,(Founder of Methodism), his Bible Commentary compiled 1754 -1765, identifies the phrase, "Daughter Zion," as referring to what we would call "the Church" and for the Jews, this church was the Temple at Jerusalem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley
And also: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wesleys-explanatory-notes/isaiah/isaiah-62.htmlStrength.
Those who wrote Chapter 62 in Isaiah were referring to the rebuilding of the "Temple " in Jerusalem, their church. This chapter and this portion of Isaiah were written by Jews who were released from exile in Babylon around 539 BCE. Cyrus the Great from Persia conquered Babylon. He freed the Jews that were living in Babylon in exile and sent them home with a mandate to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. With Cyrus' support, over the next 23 years, the work proceeded. "Daughter Zion" had been redeemed and saved. You can read about the rebuilding in Ezra, Chapters 1 - 6. Really interesting! Also there is lots of background information at the following links:
A Biblical History of Jerusalem
www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/108.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah
In thinking of our Golden Text as the key to our Bible Lessons, it might be interesting here to consider what Mary Baker Eddy has to say about, "Zion." She writes in the glossary of Science and Health, page 598, "ZION. Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength."
In our Bible Lesson this week we will meet a number of women who according to the Bible found a place in Jesus' life. Each of them in individual ways glimpsed his fulfilling of the role as Saviour, Christ, Messiah. This glimpse gave their faith a foundation, a superstructure that resulted in physical healing, in redemption. And each of them joined in a faithful watch bearing witness to the fact that the Christ had come.
Responsive Reading:
In our Responsive Reading we meet our first female witness to the Christ at a well in the Samaritan town of Sychar. Jesus did not have to walk through Samaria, most honorable Jews would have gone to great lengths to avoid Samaria. The "Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." It was noon, super hot. Most women would have been drawing water in the cooler time of day. Jesus was there because he knew she was coming. Her life was so messed up that she probably wanted to avoid contact with the respectable people. The accepted law also said the Master should not talk to a woman in public. But not only did Jesus talk to this sinning woman, (she had had five husbands and was living with another man unmarried,) Jesus offered the water that always refreshes, the water of life, a knowledge of God. And something else really interesting, Jesus tells the woman that he is actually the promised Messias or Christ ! (John 6:24) Have you realized that Jesus never directly stated this fact again until he stood before Pilate! What was it that made this woman so special to Jesus and you might say to us? "Is not this the Christ?" (John 4:29) She was so spiritually discerning that she readily admitted that this was "the Christ." That is a pretty darn good introduction to our "WOW" Lesson.
Section 1: - Mary, wow what a teenage mom! The conception and birth of Jesus.
I am sure it has occurred to you before that Mary must have been a teenage mom. The normal age of marriage in Judaism of that time was 12 or 13 years old. And also another note, we are told that "Mary was espoused to Joseph." The promise or betrothal at that time was actually more important than the wedding ceremony. It was serious. More than today's concept of "engagement." (See: http://www.myjewishlearning.com)
Obviously the conception and the birth of Jesus completely overturned the so-called laws of biological birth. As Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (S-1) "The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men. " The facts surrounding Jesus' birth will always amaze mortal thought that is perhaps not ready to accept "that with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26, Mk. 10:27) After all even the author or authors of Isaiah found it incredible to contemplate, "Have you ever heard of a woman who gave birth to a child before having labor pains? Who ever heard of such a thing or imagined it could happen?" (B-2 Isaiah 66:7) CEV But it did! Another big, WOW.
But just to add a little balance, don't want you gals to get all the good press here. Wasn't Joseph a real "stand-up" guy? Even when the testimony looked pretty bad regarding his betrothed bride, he was a "just man, and not willing to make her a public example." (B-3) When God's angel appeared to him and assured him he did not have to be afraid, or we might say "embarrassed" to take Mary as his wife , because "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."
If I went on Mary and Joseph's Facebook page today, I would definitely give them both a "like" or thumbs up. They were both perceptive and tuned into spiritual sense. Just goes to show that both moms and dads can be on watch and receptive to the Christ.
Section 2: Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, WOW
This past week I had a talk with someone about retirement, time to stop work, time to take it easy. Do you really need to do that? I thought of that conversation as I read this section of the lesson. Here in (B-5, Luke 2) we are introduced to Anna. Anna worked or perhaps better "watched" in the Temple. She was 84 years old, did not leave the Temple, fasted and prayed and was continually watching for the "redemption," the saving of Jerusalem. What if she had retired when she was 83? What if Anna had said, "Oh it's time to let some of the younger girls take care of the church work." What would she have missed?
Mary and Joseph according to the Mosaic law from Leviticus 12, brought in six week old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, "to present him to the Lord." (B-5)
Anna's response to Jesus
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years.37 She was now an eighty-four-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (CEB)
Beside the "WOW," I have to add a "WTGA," Way to go, Anna !!! She watched and she saw her Saviour, her Redeemer, her Messiah, in the six week old baby, Jesus. Now that is real spiritual, feminine intuition. Good thing she stuck around to see that baby.
Section 3: Dinner with Jesus: Cherishing the Christ when others don't.
Here is the well known story of "Simon the Pharisee" inviting Jesus for dinner.
(B-8, Luke 7:36 -50) But what was Simon thinking, what were his motives, was it a sincere invitation? Normal courtesy of the time was not shown. No, Simon did not show Jesus the common courtesies of the day which included a kiss of greeting, washing the sandaled feet of road dust, and anointing the head with perfume because of the dry climate. Simon did not even provide water for Jesus to wash His own feet. Jesus pointed this out in Luke 7:44-46. So it is obvious Simon was not interested in honoring his guest. Instead he neglected his guest.
But Jesus was not neglected. Luke 7: 37" A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." (NIV)
This woman came with the intent to honor the Master. She knew that everyone around would know what kind of woman she was, but she did not let anyone deter her from showing her affection for Jesus. She was not shamed into inaction. And Jesus commended her, Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:"
The Science and Health citations, (S-9) - (S -12), are taken from the first pages of the Chapter, Christian Science Practice, (S&H, pages 362 - 365.) Mrs. Eddy explains how the affection shown by this woman for Jesus serves as the model for how we must love, to heal. WOW.
Section 4: Another, WOW, willing to risk all to be healed.
In this section we read of a woman willing to risk all to be healed by the Master. Her "issue of blood," had not been stopped in 12 years of normal medical treatment. She was desperate. Even though she was not allowed out in public by Hebrew law, she watched for Jesus, and when he was close she took her chance. In faith, she simply touched the hem of his robe and she was healed. Jesus sensed what had happened and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" The woman could have remained silent, but instead she came to Jesus and humbly told him all the truth. Jesus simply said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
In the Science and Health citations of this section there is a clear explanation as to the "how" of this healing and all physical healing. And when I read this healing I always think of a favorite hymn based on a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier entitled, "The Healer" It is Hymn 96 in our hymnal and you can actually listen to it through the online edition of "Concord" produced by the Mother Church. Currently there is a free online trial of the Concord program at: https://www.concordworks.com/
Mary Baker Eddy , herself, was never hesitant in sharing the healing effect of Christian Science even in the early days of its development in her thought. This is evident in a visit she made to Whittier in 1868. The result of the visit was healing, the account is below.
"In 1868, Eddy was living in Amesbury with her student Sarah Bagley, a family friend of Whittier's. In July of that year they paid a call on the poet, who was suffering from a variety of ailments, as he had throughout most of his life. In previous months, he had written frequently to friends complaining of his precarious health, canceling engagements, and apologizing for not returning their letters sooner. In fact, when Sarah Bagley proposed the visit to Whittier, she did so with the warning that he might not live much longer. The two women arrived to find Whittier in a frail state, coughing constantly and shivering despite a roaring fire in midsummer. Mary Baker Eddy commented that it was likely a much more comfortable atmosphere outside than in, to which Whittier replied, "If Jesus Christ was in Amesbury, he would have to have brass-lined lungs to live here." (Manuscript A11063) Mary Baker Eddy spoke with him for some time, "in the line of Science," and by the end of their conversation he seemed much improved. As she left, Whittier called to her and said, "I thank you, Mary, for your call; it has done me much good." (A11063) She received word the next day that he had left his sickbed to walk down to the village." http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/files/Newsletter%20Fall%2008.pdf
In 1875 Mrs. Eddy sent Whittier an inscribed copy of Science and Health. Whittier remarked that he found it to be a work that would require a lifetime's worth of study. That same copy of Science and Health was found among his belongings after his death. (Ibid.) Obviously he did not succumb back in 1868, but lived until 1892 and the ripe old age of 85 !!
.
(Hymn 96 )
John Greenleaf Whittier*
He stood of old, the holy Christ,
Amid the suffering throng,
With whom his lightest touch sufficed
To make the weakest strong.
That healing gift God gives to them
Who use it in His name;
The power that filled the garment's hem
Is evermore the same.
So shalt thou be with power endued
Like him who went about
The Syrian hillsides doing good
And casting demons out.
The Great Physician liveth yet
Thy friend and guide to be;
The Healer by Gennesaret
Shall walk the rounds with thee.
Section 5: Wow, solid in faith and love.
Pilate's wife cautioned him, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man." One might say, husbands listen to your wives. Pilate questioned Jesus, Are you King of the Jews? "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate saith, "What is truth?"
In Science and Health citation, (S-19) Mrs. Eddy writes, "The women at the cross could have answered Pilate's question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: "Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
These women stood by faithfully watching, they did not flee. Mary, Jesus' mother. His mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas. Mary Magdalene. And with them, the disciple, "whom he loved" and to whom he gave the charge to care for his mother. These stood by because they had seen the love. They had seen the babe arrive in humble meekness. They had seen the young man question and speak with the doctors and lawyers. They had been healed, redeemed, saved, loved. So they stood by.
They did not yet see the final triumph of the Christ, but they would. They remained faithful disciples, the women on watch. Mrs. Eddy writes, (S-2, 52:19 -23) The "man of sorrows" best understood the nothingness of material life and intelligence and the mighty actuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love." Their faithful watching would prepare them for this next demonstration. Story continued.
Section 6: WOW, spiritual love sees the risen Jesus.
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to care for Jesus body, she left rejoicing in Jesus triumph over the body. He had risen from the grave. And when she told the disciples? They did not believe her. Do you think the disciples were embarrassed when Jesus stood before them? He scolded them, he reproached them, he gave them a hard time because they had not believed her. Did they try to talk their way out of it, did they just drop their heads in shame, or did they take the rebuke to heart? I think they took it to heart. After Jesus ascended (B-14. Mark 16:20) says, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
Another woman who stood faithfully watching, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (S-22) "He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate. He met and mastered on the basis of Christian Science, the power of Mind over matter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene." (S-23, 314:10-22), "The Jews who sought to kill this man of God, showed plainly that their material views were the parents of their wicked deeds. When Jesus spoke of reproducing his body, -- knowing, as he did, that Mind was the builder, -- and said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," they thought that he meant their material temple instead of his body.... This materialism lost sight of the true Jesus; but the faithful Mary saw him, and he presented to her, more than ever before, the true idea of Life and substance."
Section 7: Wow, seeing the risen Saviour and the eternal Christ.
(S-25, S&H page 561) "The Revelator beheld the spiritual idea from the mount of vision. John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration, - reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God. In divine revelation, material and corporeal selfhood disappear, and the spiritual idea is understood."
How amazing that we continue to learn from the life of Jesus. So many years ago, and so few years among us and yet the story of Jesus lives. Over the last few days as I have worked on this MET I have heard from living witnesses that the Christ is active and still redeeming, saving, restoring. They are in Argentina, and America, in Europe and Africa, in Norway and England. Little babies and radiant Grannies. Like the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus lifted our hearts to see the rebuilding of a life seemingly destroyed by hate. The faithful women who stood by to the end of his mortal life, were witnesses to his resurrected life. And in his ongoing demonstration and dominion we are led to an eternal Christ. We witnessed the divinity of the Christ made manifest in the humanity of Jesus.
As we have seen in this week's lesson, our Master, Christ Jesus, was served well by those women who followed him in their lives. Often they were the most faithful and most discerning. From Mary, to Anna, to Mary Magdalene, to the Samaritan woman, to the woman healed by simply a touch, each discerned the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ.
And Wow, the Women on Watch, had a special addition as Mary Baker Eddy put on record the Science of the Christ, that Jesus demonstrated every day.
As Mrs. Eddy writes in citation (S-27, S&H 565), "The impersonation off the spiritual idea had a brief history in the earthly life of our Master; but "of his kingdom there shall be no end," for Christ, God's idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples -- imperatively, absolutely, finally - with divine Science. This immaculate idea, represented first by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman, will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love, melting and purifying even the gold of human character."
And "Daughter Zion," the Temple built not of wood and stone, but of "spiritual foundation and superstructure," will be restored.
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[Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 11-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson "Mets" (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (Ask and look for "Possible Sunday School Topics "and "Possible Younger Class Lessons" in subsequent emails.) These weekly offerings are intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study, application and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson "mets "and Sunday School ideas are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the "Met" (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-30). The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.]
[Enjoy! And, please contact us for more info about "all things CedarS"!]
Rick Stewart, C.S., Dresden, Germany
Printable Version | PDF
| |
Rejoice in the "Empowe(her)ment" of Christ, WOW!
Metaphysical Application Ideas from the Cedars Camps:
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on "Christ Jesus" for February 20 -- 26, 2012
by Rick Stewart C.S., of Dresden, Germany, (Telephone 49-351-312-4736, RickStewartCS@aol.com)
[These application ideas from a past CedarS Camps' Resident Christian Science Practitioner are provided primarily to help CedarS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons daily throughout the year, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free -- by Monday each week in English; or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION: in French, thanks to Pascal & Marie-Helene; in German, thanks to Helga and Manfred; or in Spanish, thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP for weekly emails from past CedarS staff of fun approaches & possible ways to teach lesson ideas to older and to younger Sunday School classes at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters Enjoy! Warren Huff, CedarS Director & editor of these notes.]
WOW !!!! Women on Watch, maintaining our Master's church.
If any of you know our beloved and much appreciated newsletter editor, Warren Huff, Executive Director, of CedarS, you know how much he loves acronyms. (A word formed from the initial letters of other words.) Warren always has a wonderful list of acronyms that just make an idea stick in your thought. So in thinking about this Lesson, I thought of what I hope is a very accurate acronym, "WOW, Women on Watch." What fun to explore this week the life of our Master, Christ Jesus, from the perspective of a key element of Church, the contribution of the women that were looking for a Redeemer, a Saviour, and found one in the life of Christ Jesus.
Daughters of the Church, where would we be without them? For thousands of years they have been a source of practical, practiced religious education and inspiration. How many of us could testify to mothers and grandmothers that have taught us, encouraged us, and demonstrated to us the importance of learning about and loving God? I think of how my mom, my mother-in-law, my grand-mother-in-law, my aunts, my Sunday School teachers, my Christian Science teacher, and many other women have inspired me to know my Saviour better.
One of my favorite, "Gramma and church" stories came from a phone conversation with a fellow named, Tony Roberts. Back in 1986 I heard Tony share his testimony on television. I was so impressed that I called the television studio and asked for his number. I gave him a call. Tony told me of a dark time in his life. He had been a member of the Black Panther party, a radical Black activist group in the 1960's. He had been involved in drugs and violent crime. And he had hijacked a plane to Cuba. He was arrested and held in terrible conditions. He would work long hours in the sugar cane fields and then return to a horrible prison cell. He had no hope of ever being released. Then one night he found himself remembering his grandmother.
Tony remembered when he was 7 years old and his Gramma took him to church. Tony said he liked the way this memory made him feel. So, each day as he returned to his prison cell. Tony would try to remember everything he could about that time with his grandmother. Suddenly one night he heard a message, " I will not fail thee nor forsake thee."
Some of you might recognize that phrase as coming from the Bible, Joshua 1:5. It is in God's promise to Joshua that God will be with Joshua as He was with Moses. And God affirms, " I will not fail thee nor forsake thee." Now Tony, had never, ever studied the Bible. He had only gone to church with his Gramma. But when Tony heard that voice he liked the way it made him feel. And almost like someone inviting a guest for dinner, every night Tony would think about his Gramma, church, and the promise from that voice.
Suddenly things began to change around Tony. He had been told he would never leave that prison alive. But he was soon transferred to another prison that had much better conditions. Tony had been told he would never be returned to the United States. But he soon found himself on his way to prison in America. It might seem a funny thing to be happy about going to prison, but Tony was. Because the conditions he had in his cell in America were like heaven compared to Cuba. And he also had access to the Library and the Bible. He began to read the Bible. And his life continued to change. When I was talking to Tony in 1986 he was a free man, married, with a family, and active in church.
Hasn't the role of women always been a key to a Church that lives and saves. An honest and unprejudiced examination of Scripture, and specifically the Gospel narratives, makes it clear, without women, the Christian church would not and could not exist. And it most certainly would not exist in its vital, living, practical and practiced form of a Church that lives for a message, the saving, redeeming power of God's Love. When you think about the story of Tony, it might be interesting for you to know that the Hebrew name for Jesus is "Yeshua" or "Yehoshua", and it is identical with Joshua! And the name means to deliver, to rescue, to save.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshua_(name)
This week's Bible Lesson is an inspired document establishing the facts of "woman's" place in the mission of the Master. These inspiring women keeping watch and recognizing the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ. Let's see what the ladies have to say about the Master. WOW, Enjoy!
Golden Text:
Isaiah 62:11 ...."Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes!' " (NIV)
According to the theologian, John Wesley,(Founder of Methodism), his Bible Commentary compiled 1754 -1765, identifies the phrase, "Daughter Zion," as referring to what we would call "the Church" and for the Jews, this church was the Temple at Jerusalem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley
And also: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/wesleys-explanatory-notes/isaiah/isaiah-62.htmlStrength.
Those who wrote Chapter 62 in Isaiah were referring to the rebuilding of the "Temple " in Jerusalem, their church. This chapter and this portion of Isaiah were written by Jews who were released from exile in Babylon around 539 BCE. Cyrus the Great from Persia conquered Babylon. He freed the Jews that were living in Babylon in exile and sent them home with a mandate to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. With Cyrus' support, over the next 23 years, the work proceeded. "Daughter Zion" had been redeemed and saved. You can read about the rebuilding in Ezra, Chapters 1 - 6. Really interesting! Also there is lots of background information at the following links:
A Biblical History of Jerusalem
www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/108.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Isaiah
In thinking of our Golden Text as the key to our Bible Lessons, it might be interesting here to consider what Mary Baker Eddy has to say about, "Zion." She writes in the glossary of Science and Health, page 598, "ZION. Spiritual foundation and superstructure; inspiration; spiritual strength."
In our Bible Lesson this week we will meet a number of women who according to the Bible found a place in Jesus' life. Each of them in individual ways glimpsed his fulfilling of the role as Saviour, Christ, Messiah. This glimpse gave their faith a foundation, a superstructure that resulted in physical healing, in redemption. And each of them joined in a faithful watch bearing witness to the fact that the Christ had come.
Responsive Reading:
In our Responsive Reading we meet our first female witness to the Christ at a well in the Samaritan town of Sychar. Jesus did not have to walk through Samaria, most honorable Jews would have gone to great lengths to avoid Samaria. The "Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." It was noon, super hot. Most women would have been drawing water in the cooler time of day. Jesus was there because he knew she was coming. Her life was so messed up that she probably wanted to avoid contact with the respectable people. The accepted law also said the Master should not talk to a woman in public. But not only did Jesus talk to this sinning woman, (she had had five husbands and was living with another man unmarried,) Jesus offered the water that always refreshes, the water of life, a knowledge of God. And something else really interesting, Jesus tells the woman that he is actually the promised Messias or Christ ! (John 6:24) Have you realized that Jesus never directly stated this fact again until he stood before Pilate! What was it that made this woman so special to Jesus and you might say to us? "Is not this the Christ?" (John 4:29) She was so spiritually discerning that she readily admitted that this was "the Christ." That is a pretty darn good introduction to our "WOW" Lesson.
Section 1: - Mary, wow what a teenage mom! The conception and birth of Jesus.
I am sure it has occurred to you before that Mary must have been a teenage mom. The normal age of marriage in Judaism of that time was 12 or 13 years old. And also another note, we are told that "Mary was espoused to Joseph." The promise or betrothal at that time was actually more important than the wedding ceremony. It was serious. More than today's concept of "engagement." (See: http://www.myjewishlearning.com)
Obviously the conception and the birth of Jesus completely overturned the so-called laws of biological birth. As Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (S-1) "The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating God as the Father of men. " The facts surrounding Jesus' birth will always amaze mortal thought that is perhaps not ready to accept "that with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26, Mk. 10:27) After all even the author or authors of Isaiah found it incredible to contemplate, "Have you ever heard of a woman who gave birth to a child before having labor pains? Who ever heard of such a thing or imagined it could happen?" (B-2 Isaiah 66:7) CEV But it did! Another big, WOW.
But just to add a little balance, don't want you gals to get all the good press here. Wasn't Joseph a real "stand-up" guy? Even when the testimony looked pretty bad regarding his betrothed bride, he was a "just man, and not willing to make her a public example." (B-3) When God's angel appeared to him and assured him he did not have to be afraid, or we might say "embarrassed" to take Mary as his wife , because "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins."
If I went on Mary and Joseph's Facebook page today, I would definitely give them both a "like" or thumbs up. They were both perceptive and tuned into spiritual sense. Just goes to show that both moms and dads can be on watch and receptive to the Christ.
Section 2: Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, WOW
This past week I had a talk with someone about retirement, time to stop work, time to take it easy. Do you really need to do that? I thought of that conversation as I read this section of the lesson. Here in (B-5, Luke 2) we are introduced to Anna. Anna worked or perhaps better "watched" in the Temple. She was 84 years old, did not leave the Temple, fasted and prayed and was continually watching for the "redemption," the saving of Jerusalem. What if she had retired when she was 83? What if Anna had said, "Oh it's time to let some of the younger girls take care of the church work." What would she have missed?
Mary and Joseph according to the Mosaic law from Leviticus 12, brought in six week old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, "to present him to the Lord." (B-5)
Anna's response to Jesus
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years.37 She was now an eighty-four-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (CEB)
Beside the "WOW," I have to add a "WTGA," Way to go, Anna !!! She watched and she saw her Saviour, her Redeemer, her Messiah, in the six week old baby, Jesus. Now that is real spiritual, feminine intuition. Good thing she stuck around to see that baby.
Section 3: Dinner with Jesus: Cherishing the Christ when others don't.
Here is the well known story of "Simon the Pharisee" inviting Jesus for dinner.
(B-8, Luke 7:36 -50) But what was Simon thinking, what were his motives, was it a sincere invitation? Normal courtesy of the time was not shown. No, Simon did not show Jesus the common courtesies of the day which included a kiss of greeting, washing the sandaled feet of road dust, and anointing the head with perfume because of the dry climate. Simon did not even provide water for Jesus to wash His own feet. Jesus pointed this out in Luke 7:44-46. So it is obvious Simon was not interested in honoring his guest. Instead he neglected his guest.
But Jesus was not neglected. Luke 7: 37" A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them." (NIV)
This woman came with the intent to honor the Master. She knew that everyone around would know what kind of woman she was, but she did not let anyone deter her from showing her affection for Jesus. She was not shamed into inaction. And Jesus commended her, Luke 7:47 "Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:"
The Science and Health citations, (S-9) - (S -12), are taken from the first pages of the Chapter, Christian Science Practice, (S&H, pages 362 - 365.) Mrs. Eddy explains how the affection shown by this woman for Jesus serves as the model for how we must love, to heal. WOW.
Section 4: Another, WOW, willing to risk all to be healed.
In this section we read of a woman willing to risk all to be healed by the Master. Her "issue of blood," had not been stopped in 12 years of normal medical treatment. She was desperate. Even though she was not allowed out in public by Hebrew law, she watched for Jesus, and when he was close she took her chance. In faith, she simply touched the hem of his robe and she was healed. Jesus sensed what had happened and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" The woman could have remained silent, but instead she came to Jesus and humbly told him all the truth. Jesus simply said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
In the Science and Health citations of this section there is a clear explanation as to the "how" of this healing and all physical healing. And when I read this healing I always think of a favorite hymn based on a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier entitled, "The Healer" It is Hymn 96 in our hymnal and you can actually listen to it through the online edition of "Concord" produced by the Mother Church. Currently there is a free online trial of the Concord program at: https://www.concordworks.com/
Mary Baker Eddy , herself, was never hesitant in sharing the healing effect of Christian Science even in the early days of its development in her thought. This is evident in a visit she made to Whittier in 1868. The result of the visit was healing, the account is below.
"In 1868, Eddy was living in Amesbury with her student Sarah Bagley, a family friend of Whittier's. In July of that year they paid a call on the poet, who was suffering from a variety of ailments, as he had throughout most of his life. In previous months, he had written frequently to friends complaining of his precarious health, canceling engagements, and apologizing for not returning their letters sooner. In fact, when Sarah Bagley proposed the visit to Whittier, she did so with the warning that he might not live much longer. The two women arrived to find Whittier in a frail state, coughing constantly and shivering despite a roaring fire in midsummer. Mary Baker Eddy commented that it was likely a much more comfortable atmosphere outside than in, to which Whittier replied, "If Jesus Christ was in Amesbury, he would have to have brass-lined lungs to live here." (Manuscript A11063) Mary Baker Eddy spoke with him for some time, "in the line of Science," and by the end of their conversation he seemed much improved. As she left, Whittier called to her and said, "I thank you, Mary, for your call; it has done me much good." (A11063) She received word the next day that he had left his sickbed to walk down to the village." http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/files/Newsletter%20Fall%2008.pdf
In 1875 Mrs. Eddy sent Whittier an inscribed copy of Science and Health. Whittier remarked that he found it to be a work that would require a lifetime's worth of study. That same copy of Science and Health was found among his belongings after his death. (Ibid.) Obviously he did not succumb back in 1868, but lived until 1892 and the ripe old age of 85 !!
.
(Hymn 96 )
John Greenleaf Whittier*
He stood of old, the holy Christ,
Amid the suffering throng,
With whom his lightest touch sufficed
To make the weakest strong.
That healing gift God gives to them
Who use it in His name;
The power that filled the garment's hem
Is evermore the same.
So shalt thou be with power endued
Like him who went about
The Syrian hillsides doing good
And casting demons out.
The Great Physician liveth yet
Thy friend and guide to be;
The Healer by Gennesaret
Shall walk the rounds with thee.
Section 5: Wow, solid in faith and love.
Pilate's wife cautioned him, "Have thou nothing to do with that just man." One might say, husbands listen to your wives. Pilate questioned Jesus, Are you King of the Jews? "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate saith, "What is truth?"
In Science and Health citation, (S-19) Mrs. Eddy writes, "The women at the cross could have answered Pilate's question. They knew what had inspired their devotion, winged their faith, opened the eyes of their understanding, healed the sick, cast out evil, and caused the disciples to say to their Master: "Even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
These women stood by faithfully watching, they did not flee. Mary, Jesus' mother. His mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas. Mary Magdalene. And with them, the disciple, "whom he loved" and to whom he gave the charge to care for his mother. These stood by because they had seen the love. They had seen the babe arrive in humble meekness. They had seen the young man question and speak with the doctors and lawyers. They had been healed, redeemed, saved, loved. So they stood by.
They did not yet see the final triumph of the Christ, but they would. They remained faithful disciples, the women on watch. Mrs. Eddy writes, (S-2, 52:19 -23) The "man of sorrows" best understood the nothingness of material life and intelligence and the mighty actuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love." Their faithful watching would prepare them for this next demonstration. Story continued.
Section 6: WOW, spiritual love sees the risen Jesus.
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to care for Jesus body, she left rejoicing in Jesus triumph over the body. He had risen from the grave. And when she told the disciples? They did not believe her. Do you think the disciples were embarrassed when Jesus stood before them? He scolded them, he reproached them, he gave them a hard time because they had not believed her. Did they try to talk their way out of it, did they just drop their heads in shame, or did they take the rebuke to heart? I think they took it to heart. After Jesus ascended (B-14. Mark 16:20) says, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
Another woman who stood faithfully watching, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (S-22) "He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate. He met and mastered on the basis of Christian Science, the power of Mind over matter, all the claims of medicine, surgery, and hygiene." (S-23, 314:10-22), "The Jews who sought to kill this man of God, showed plainly that their material views were the parents of their wicked deeds. When Jesus spoke of reproducing his body, -- knowing, as he did, that Mind was the builder, -- and said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," they thought that he meant their material temple instead of his body.... This materialism lost sight of the true Jesus; but the faithful Mary saw him, and he presented to her, more than ever before, the true idea of Life and substance."
Section 7: Wow, seeing the risen Saviour and the eternal Christ.
(S-25, S&H page 561) "The Revelator beheld the spiritual idea from the mount of vision. John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration, - reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God. In divine revelation, material and corporeal selfhood disappear, and the spiritual idea is understood."
How amazing that we continue to learn from the life of Jesus. So many years ago, and so few years among us and yet the story of Jesus lives. Over the last few days as I have worked on this MET I have heard from living witnesses that the Christ is active and still redeeming, saving, restoring. They are in Argentina, and America, in Europe and Africa, in Norway and England. Little babies and radiant Grannies. Like the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus lifted our hearts to see the rebuilding of a life seemingly destroyed by hate. The faithful women who stood by to the end of his mortal life, were witnesses to his resurrected life. And in his ongoing demonstration and dominion we are led to an eternal Christ. We witnessed the divinity of the Christ made manifest in the humanity of Jesus.
As we have seen in this week's lesson, our Master, Christ Jesus, was served well by those women who followed him in their lives. Often they were the most faithful and most discerning. From Mary, to Anna, to Mary Magdalene, to the Samaritan woman, to the woman healed by simply a touch, each discerned the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Christ.
And Wow, the Women on Watch, had a special addition as Mary Baker Eddy put on record the Science of the Christ, that Jesus demonstrated every day.
As Mrs. Eddy writes in citation (S-27, S&H 565), "The impersonation off the spiritual idea had a brief history in the earthly life of our Master; but "of his kingdom there shall be no end," for Christ, God's idea, will eventually rule all nations and peoples -- imperatively, absolutely, finally - with divine Science. This immaculate idea, represented first by man and, according to the Revelator, last by woman, will baptize with fire; and the fiery baptism will burn up the chaff of error with the fervent heat of Truth and Love, melting and purifying even the gold of human character."
And "Daughter Zion," the Temple built not of wood and stone, but of "spiritual foundation and superstructure," will be restored.
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[Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 11-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson "Mets" (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (Ask and look for "Possible Sunday School Topics "and "Possible Younger Class Lessons" in subsequent emails.) These weekly offerings are intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study, application and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson "mets "and Sunday School ideas are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension and background as well as new angles (and angels) on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson.com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e.B-1 and S-28) from this week's Bible Lesson in the "Met" (Metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy (S-1 thru S-30). The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.]
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