LESSON FIFTY-ONE

When we obey the Divine Law, we will be able to manifest the works of the Father. As we manifest the Father, so will we draw others unto us that we may teach them the Law and help them to become free from sin, and as they become free from evil, they will know the Father.

St. John 21:1-25.

1. After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.

3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? they answered him, No.

6. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side

of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore,

and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

He who tries to accomplish anything without considering the Divine Law may succeed for a time; but his success is not lasting. But, if he works in harmony with the Divine Law, then will he find lasting success.

7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto

him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into

the sea.

8. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

When we love the good, we will do the will of the Divine Law; for it is the word of the Father who is our God. We cannot love God and disobey the Law, and in this is the judgment; for he who loves God will do the Will of God, while he who loves not the Law will do the will of the flesh.

18. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou

wouldest but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt

:

stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee,

and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto Peter, Follow me.

20. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his

breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21. Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

If we love the Father we will do his will. We will do his works; for we must follow him. To follow him means that we must follow him in his works, we must do the works that he does.

It does not concern us what another may do. Our duty is to follow the guidance that is for ourselves, and to see to it that we are justified in our works.

We are responsible only for ourselves. We must do our duty to ourselves and to others; and it is not given us to judge another since we can know the heart of no man.

23. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

LESSON FIFTY-TWO

Esoteric Interpretation of the Crucifixion as an Historic Event in the Life of Jesus.

Ever since the world began, when the time was ripe for a new leader or a new Messiah, a leader or a Messiah has come forth. In each case, he has comprehended conditions at a glance, has taken hold of them, and tried to change them for the better. Thus, we find that, when a leader of men is necessary, forward steps a man, one who may not seem to have been prepared previoulsy, and leads on to victory.

A cycle ago, at the beginning of the Christian era, conditions had come to such a pass that few things were regarded sacred, and few of the deeper truths were understood by recognized leaders in the religious world. The Pharisees and scribes, men then in power, although having the laws of Moses, refused to live according to them. Consequently, their lives and characters did not personify the true teachings. They were as blind leaders of the blind; and religion was a form, merely a conventionality. Either the world must have a new leader and a true advocate of the Divine Law or it would drop into hopeless materialism, a condition that has no respect for the laws of God, morality, honor, or anything else that makes man different from the beast.

The prophets had prophesied that a great teacher or Messiah would come, one who not only should understand the Law, but should live it, and therefore manifest it to the world. The people therefore looked forward to the coming of such a teacher. In due time, in accordance with the "law of demand and supply," a great Soul was born to the one prepared to give birth to him.

This child, being born under proper conditions, was placed with the proper people for instructions. Among a class of people then called Essenes, he was taught the Divine Law. The instructions and the training to which he

was subjected, required him to live according to the Law, not according to the letter of it only, but according to the spirit as well. He had to comply with the divine standards as they pertain to relations with mankind, usually thought of as ethical, or moral, codes. But, what is of even greater importance, he made application of the Law in another way, namely: he made conscious, deliberate, intelligent effort to develop the Divine Spark of a Soul within his nature (already highly developed and unfolded) that it might attain. to full and complete Individualized Soul Consciousness, or Christhood.

After Jesus had partly accomplished this, it was time for him to go among the people and there, through actual work and service, to finish the development of his Soul so that he should in truth become the Christ, and exemplify to humanity the Christ Potency as the Saviour of the world. We learn of his ministry through the records left us: how he went about doing good; how he taught men "the way, the truth, and the life;" and how he healed them and taught them that it was for his true and faithful followers to have like power, and even greater.

Through continual obedience to the Divine Law, he more and more purified the flesh, until his nature was no longer subject to the desires of the flesh or to earthly tendencies. Through habitual compliance with the law of positive, constructive thought; through right thinking and right living in every department of life; through constant obedience to the Law of Love and Forgiveness, even the elements of his body were being constantly transmuted into qualities of Soul. Even the very elements of the body were becoming pure th.

As this process of purification continued, he gained more and more power, and could do greater works. But, as he did greater works, so was the wrath of those in power turned against him more and more. Religious leaders considered that there was but one way to save their standing and influence, and that was by the death of him who was gradually taking the people away from them.