Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Mark Chapter 3
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 3:1-6
3:1And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered. 3:2And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3:3And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth. 3:4And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 3:5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored. 3:6And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.
April 14, 1912: Mark 3:1-6
When men set up a law and make its observance burdensome, they are slaves of their own creations. The Jews had become burdened with the observance of the letter of the Sabbath commandment, and had a multitude of ridiculous prohibitions and external formalities, from which Jesus sought to rescue them by his example of bold freedom and disregard for man-made laws.
The Sabbath was instituted for man, not man for the Sabbath. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, whether It be preaching in a pulpit, healing the sick, or in any way saving men from ignorance and its results. Luther said, "Keep it holy for its use's sake both to body and soul, but if anywhere the day is made holy for the mere day's sake, if anywhere any one sets up its observance upon a Jewish foundation, then I order you to work on it, to ride on it, to dance on it, to feast on it, to do anything that shall reprove this encroachment on the Christian Spirit and liberty.
UNITY magazine.
January 29, 1933: Mark 3:1-6
What is the true Sabbath, from the metaphysician's viewpoint? The Sabbath is the period of rest and refreshment that the metaphysician finds when he enters within his own holy of holies and communes with God in his own soul. Such a period of rest can be had several times each day, if only for a few moments. A good affirmation for such periods is the following: "I rest in God, and am refreshed and strengthened."
February 13, 1938: Mark 3:1-6
Is spiritual healing counted work? Healing the sick is work of a high order, requiring active faith and understanding.
In healing the man with a withered hand Jesus gave two commands: "Stand forth" and "Stretch forth thy hand." In which of these lay the power to heal? The understanding that Jesus had of the life principle and His faith in it were the healing agents in this case. Through obedience to the commands of Jesus the man made of himself a good recipient of healing.
The questions that Jesus asked before healing the man were self-evident. Why did not the Pharisees answer them? They cared less for the work of spiritual healing and what it proved than for the observance of tradition. Intent on proving their own case, they were not open to conviction and would not commit themselves.
What is the true Sabbath? It is a state of mind and heart from which worry, fear, haste, and an undue sense of personal responsibility are absent, and in which trustfulness and a lively consciousness of reality and loving-kindness of God are unfailingly present.
October 17, 1943: Mark 3:1-6
Healing and teaching were the everyday work of Jesus. What do we learn from the fact that He healed and taught on the Sabbath as well as on other days of the week? Teaching was allowed in the synagogue on the Sabbath, therefore it evidently was not regarded as work. That He sometimes healed on the Sabbath shows that He considered the welfare of people above the man-made requirements of the law that fixed a certain day for inaction. Both healing and teaching minister to man's wellbeing, therefore all seasons are appropriate for them.
What is the final test of what we are to interrupt our season of rest? Whether good or harm results from the interruption. It is lawful to do good always.
February 13, 1949: Mark 3:1-6
To the man with the withered hand Jesus said only, "Stretch forth thy hand." Did He do any actual work in so speaking? Yes. The work was not done outwardly but within His consciousness. There He realized divine compassion and understanding with the absolute authority of divine love. To hold oneself in this high consciousness of Truth is spiritual work of a high order.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 3:7-12
3:7And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea, 3:8and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him. 3:9And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him: 3:10for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him. 3:11And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. 3:12And he charged them much that they should not make him known.
January 29, 1923: Mark 3:7-12
The activities in today's lesson center around the Sea of Galilee. What does Galilee represent metaphysically? Galilee means "circle, circuit, to whirl." Metaphysically Galilee represents spiritual life acting in and through substance. In man it represents the nervous energy that in conjunction with the blood is continually making a circuit of the body.
What does the "great multitude" that came to Jesus signify? The great multitude that came to Jesus to be healed represents the host of inharmonious thoughts that are seeking spiritual harmony. The different places from which the multitude came for healing bespeak the various characteristics of thought that throng to the place of vitality and energy represented by Jesus, I AM identified with Spirit.
Many came "from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from . . . beyond the Jordan." What does this represent? Judea means "praise," and again "confession," representing the two attitudes of mind that open the consciousness to the influx of spiritual harmony. Jerusalem represents peace and love, which are the natural estate of the city of peace. However, the heart in man has become infested with evil thoughts and the thought people of the heart are seeking the peace and the harmony which are theirs by divine right.
What is represented by "the unclean spirits" that acknowledged Jesus to be the Son of God? The unclean spirits represent error states of mind that vainly have been seeking satisfaction through the flesh. When these behold the true, spiritual man, they acknowledge him as the Son of God and they are healed.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 3:13-19a
3:13And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him. 3:14And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 3:15and to have authority to cast out demons: 3:16and Simon he surnamed Peter; 3:17and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder: 3:18and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 3:19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
August 27, 1916: Mark 5:7-19
What does Jesus represent in consciousness? The I Am, the Master.
What do the disciples of Jesus represent? The twelve faculties of mind.
What in the subconsciousness do these faculties stand for? Twelve centers of thought.
What work in the body is accomplished through recognizing and calling the disciples? The body is disciplined, regenerated and redeemed through the conscious activity of the twelve centers of thought.
What does Peter typify, and why is he called first? Peter typifies the believing or faith capacity of the mind. He is the rock or foundation upon which all mind action rests.
How do we fulfill the Law of our Being? Through spiritualizing all our faculties, and regenerating and redeeming their centers of thought in the body.
March 4, 1928: Mark 3:13-15
What is the meaning of Jesus going up into a mountain and calling His own to Him? The going of Jesus (I AM) "up into a mountain" represents ascending to spiritual consciousness where one automatically attracts spiritual entities. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself."
Twelve apostles were appointed by Jesus. What spiritual ideas do these twelve represent? The twelve apostles of Jesus represent the twelve powers of mind, to which power is given to cast out all discordant thoughts. They are: Simon Peter (faith), Andrew (strength), James (judgment), John (love), Philip (power), Bartholomew (imagination), Thomas (understanding), Matthew (will), James son of Alphaeus (order), Thaddaeus (elimination), Simon the Cananeean (zeal), and Judas Iscariot (life appropriation).
Why does the I AM need apostles or agents to carry out Its ideas? The I AM must have agents to instruct the great flood of thoughts that surge about the consciousness; that is, the faculties of the mind must be spiritually disciplined and their right relation must be established. That having been done, they will do the Master's will obediently, whether or not one is conscious of His presence.
February 5, 1933: Mark 3:7-19a
In individual consciousness what do Jesus and His disciples represent? Jesus represents the spiritual I AM, and the disciples represent the faculties.
After one receives an illumination of Truth, what results? There arises the desire to express it to go forth in its ministry. This does not necessarily imply that all secular employment should be abandoned, but that the mind should make the dissemination of Truth the most important object in life.
What change in consciousness takes place? The entire life receives a new motivation, the mind a new bent. Instead of deciding everything from the pivotal center of self-interest, the mind is lifted to the spiritual plane, whence true guidance comes.
Most of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. Please explain. This fact implies the striving by man to catch living ideas (fish) in the waters (thoughts) of this mortal world.
How are man's scattered faculties drawn together and brought to recognize the indwelling Christ as the one Master? The I AM (or Jesus) after successfully withstanding every temptation to gain worldly ends through the use of spiritual power, sets its energies to work upon things eternal. The scattered faculties are thus drawn together and brought to recognize the indwelling Christ as the only master.
What does Truth reveal to us in regard to the use of the faculties? In the light of Truth we see that every faculty must be used to promote spiritual ends in order to fulfill the law of Being. No faculty is to be despised or condemned, but must be used aright. For example, acquisitiveness (Judas Iscariot) is a good faculty, but when left in bondage to selfish instincts, it becomes a hindrance to soul development. When exercised in the free essences of Being, it draws to man the supplies of the universe.
Explain the use of the strength and faith faculties? Andrew is the strength of the inner man, and Simon Peter is the believing or faith capacity of the mind. When strength and faith are united (brothers) consciously in the mind, a bond of unity is established between them, and the strength ot this bond carries one through the most adverse experiences.
February 20, 1938: Mark 3:7-19
The multitudes that followed Jesus were from many different places. What does this fact signify? The multitudes represent the many thoughts that swarm through the mind when we turn to the realm of universal desires Mind with the purpose of realizing the more abundant life. The various places from which the multitudes came represent the various consciousnesses, as soul energy (Galilee), praise (Judea), peace (Jerusalem), the physical forces (Idumea), and so on.
What is the meaning of "the little boat" that Jesus had ready as a means of escape from the throng if necessity arose? The boat represents the body consciousness. He who enters into the physical consciousness is no longer troubled by the insistence of ideas or other signs of mental life. Jesus did not use the boat, for He went up into a mountain shortly afterwards.
Before choosing His disciples, Jesus went up into a mountain. What meaning has this statement for us? Going up into a mountain is a symbol of rising to a higher state of consciousness, in which one is better able to judge and choose the powers of mind that one wishes to develop.
From a metaphysical viewpoint why the was the calling of the disciples necessary? The I AM recognizes the faculties represented by the twelve disciples, and must concentrate on developing them if the life is to be full and unfettered.
What functions do the twelve faculties fulfill? The faculties lend power to the man ("he appointed twelve, that they might be with him."). Through the I AM they enable a man to accomplish many times what he could do otherwise.
What faculties does the spiritual man choose for intensive development? He chooses faith, judgment, love, strength, power, understanding, imagination, will, order, zeal renunciation, and appropriation.
The faculty of appropriation is represented by Judas Iscariot, whose name, is always followed by the words "who also betrayed him" Is this reminder necessary for us? It is through some form of appropriation that men are commonly betrayed; for example, the personality leads them to covet and appropriate wealth, power and other material good that the self desires.
May 5, 1946: Mark 3:14-17
Have the faculties a definite place to fill in the ordering of our life? They have. The disciples, who represent the faculties, were chosen by Jesus to preach, heal the sick, and cast out devils. To develop and express the faculties aright results in spiritual enilightenment, physical fitness, mental balance, and disciplined self-control.
What three faculties are especially dealt with in this lesson? Faith, judgment, and love (Peter, James, and John).
Does faith grow stronger, in keeping with physical growth and development? Not always. It is strong in untried childhood, but as a rule it weakens as physical growth progresses because it becomes tinged with doubt and skepticism.
Were the faculties of judgment and love outstanding in the disciples James and John in the beginning? No, they were so lacking in both judgment and love that Jesus surnamed them the "Sons of thunder" in recognition of their violent temperament. Until they are disciplined by the Christ Spirit, judgment and love are often vacillating and under the dominion of self-will.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 3:19b-30
And he cometh into a house. 3:20And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 3:21And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. 3:22And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons. 3:23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 3:24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 3:25And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 3:26And if Satan hath rise up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 3:27But no one can enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
3:28Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 3:29but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin: 3:30because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
February 5, 1928: Mark 3:19b-27
In today's lesson the multitude and even the friends of Jesus were concerned about His seemingly erratic actions. What had He done? In the first part of this chapter we read that on the Sabbath day Jesus healed a man of a withered hand, and the Pharisees charged Him with lawbreaking and with blasphemy; then He healed some persons of unclean spirits, and the word went around that He cast out devils by the power of the prince of devils, Beelzebub. According to the narrative, even His friends thought that He was beside Himself, and they sought to restrain Him.
The scribes that came down from Jerusalem said: "He hath Beelzebub, and, by the prince of the demons casteth he out demons." What do the scribes represent and what is the basis of their charge? The scribes represent the religious people whose minds function in outer consciousness, that is, personality. When any one becomes spiritually enlightened to the degree that he finds it necessary to depart from some of the customary religious dogmas and views, those who are still formal and narrow in their understanding are apt to think that he is insane, or is possessed of some evil tendency.
Metaphysically Interpreting Mark 3:31-35
3:31And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. 3:32And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 3:33And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren? 3:34And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren! 3:35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
November 13, 1916: Mark 3:20-35
What is the central idea conveyed by Jesus, as related in this lesson? Jesus called attention to the inconsistency of attributing good acts to evil causes. He impressed his hearers with the supremacy of Good, and the superiority of the Spirit over the letter of the law.
What is the first realization necessary in the overcoming of disease? The first realization is that the cause of all disease is mental and only through removing erroneous thought can the effect (disease) be eliminated from consciousness.
What is the "eternal sin" referred to by Jesus in this lesson? The "eternal sin" is the belief that God is the creator of disease or inharmony of any nature.
Why is this belief called an "eternal sin"? That which is eternal is abiding. As long as man abides in the conviction that God causes him to suffer, he closes his mind against the inflow of God's gifts of health, [unreadable], and harmony. Man's sins are forgiven when he ceases to sin, and opens his mind to the Truth that he is heir only to the good.
What point in regard to relationship, did Jesus make in this lesson? Jesus taught mat all who do the will of God are members of the same family, the Christ Body.
February 20, 1936: Mark 3:31-35
What spiritually developed faculty is shown in action in the closing verses of this lesson? The faculty of understanding discloses to man that whoever does the will of God relates himself by that act to spiritual power.
August 27, 1950: Mark 3:31-35
Which kinship is nearer, that of blood or that of mind and soul? That of mind and soul. "Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Those who think alike and who delight in the same subjects are near kin in the mental and soul realms.Transcribed by Tom Schulte on 10-26-2013
