Luke – references in Science & Health part 7

It has been so interesting to find those references from the book of Luke which are found in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.  A little research shows me that of the four Gospels, Matthew is the most often quoted in Science and Health.  With a little digging, you can probably still pick up the little grey and green booklet called “List of the Scriptural Quotations in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” in your local Reading Room.

Today we will look at the final passages from Luke.  It is such a rich book to read and I feel we have still only touched the surface of the riches that can be mined.

·        Luke 22 The scene – Jesus and his disciples celebrate the Passover and then Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him.  At this point, there is heated discussion about who among them is the most important!  Jesus then turns to Simon (aka Peter) and warns him that “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift¹ you as wheat” but that he (Jesus) has “prayed for [him], that [his] faith fail[s] not “and that “when [he] is converted” he should “strengthen [his] brethren”.   Simon Peter replies that he is “ready to go with [Jesus], both into   prison, and to death”, but Jesus knows the road ahead will be difficult for Simon Peter.

He now addresses the whole group and tells them what they will need to be prepared for their future work and then the scene moves to the mount of Olives.  It is now time for deep and earnest prayer and watching.  Unfortunately, the disciples fall asleep.  

Jesus prayer includes this famous phrase (Luke 22: 42): “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

S&H 33:19 “When the human element in him struggled with the divine, our great Teacher said: “Not my will, but Thine be done!” – that is, Let not the flesh, but the Spirit, be represented in me.  This is the new understanding of spiritual Love.  It gives all for Christ, or Truth.  It blesses its enemies, heals the sick, casts out error, raises the dead from trespasses and sins, and preaches the gospel to the poor, the meek in heart.”

·        Luke 24 The crucifixion and burial have taken place and certain women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others) who watched all these events now visit the sepulchre, only to find that the stone at its entrance has been rolled away.  When they told the eleven disciples, they were not believed.  But Peter runs to the sepulchre to see for himself.  Events move quickly and soon Jesus himself is waking them up to the fact that he is, in fact, not dead after all!  Verse 31 “and their eyes were opened” and at last they perceive the enormity of their Master’s demonstration.  When Jesus reappears, all the disciples are in Jerusalem.  He says: “Peace be unto you.”  They are really spooked by this, thinking that “they had seen a spirit.³”

Jesus asks them why they are concerned.  And he said (verse 39) “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

S&H 45:22 “They who earliest saw Jesus after the resurrection, and beheld the final proof of all that he had taught, misconstrued that event.  Even his disciples at first called him a spirit, ghost, or spectre, for they believed his body to be dead.  His reply was: “Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”  The reappearing of Jesus was not the return of a spirit.  He presented the same body that he had before his crucifixion, and so glorified the supremacy of Mind over matter.”

S&H 313: 23 “Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe.  He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause.  To accommodate himself to immature ideas of spiritual power, -- for spirituality was possessed only in a limited degree even by his disciples, -- Jesus called the body, which by spiritual power he raised from the grave, “flesh and bones.” 
 

Words you may like to know more about:

 

¹Sift (Greek pronunciation: sē-nē-ä'-zō)This word appears only once in the New Testament.

1) to sift, shake in a sieve

2) fig. by inward agitation to try one's faith to the verge of overthrow

 

²Converted (Greek: epistrepho)

1) transitively

a) to turn to

1) to the worship of the true God

b) to cause to return, to bring back

1) to the love and obedience of God

2) to the love for the children

3) to love wisdom and righteousness

2) intransitively

a) to turn to one's self

b) to turn one's self about, turn back

c) to return, turn back, come back

 

³spirit (Greek: pneuma)

Movement of air; ghost