Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of how  accepting Christ Jesus will bless EACH and ALL of us!

Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of how  accepting Christ Jesus will bless EACH and ALL of us!
from the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on “Christ Jesus” for February 27, 2022

(FYI, CedarS Met with audio by Lindsey & John was emailed to you earlier this evening.)

• Check out Ken’s YouTube poem “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”.
• Here’s Ken’s YouTube monologue, “Help thou mine unbelief”.
  

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[Ken writes:] “What is the symbol of the Christian Science movement? THE “CROSS AND CROWN” motif encircled by the words of Jesus Christ: “HEAL THE SICK RAISE THE DEAD CLEANSE THE LEPERS CAST OUT DEMONS”. How well this fits with the Golden Text this week, this statement of fact “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; [my underlining] (Mark 16:17 to;).  Note too

the last citation of this week’s lesson (SH31) It is possible, — yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman, — to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness. (p.37:22–25).

THE CROSS (OVERCOMING TEMPTATION) PRECEDES THE CROWN, THE VICTORY, THE JOY OF PROOF. JESUS SHOWED THE WAY.

We learned last week how to cast out devils (GET THEE HENCE, SATAN), and the devil is any suggestion of anything unlike God, good. While nothing apart from God exists, we need to prove that for ourselves and others. Jesus experienced the cross and the crown, and he expected us all to follow his example, beginning with his disciples. His first call was to Peter and Andrew, and he gave them this astounding request, – “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. As my poem makes clear, this requires action on our part, – how can we draw in anyone unless we first cast forth our net? And what are we casting forth? As Mrs Eddy once said “Love, Love, Love”. (We Knew Mary Baker Eddy Vol 1 p296). This is so clearly what Jesus epitomised, what Mary Baker Eddy followed. When we behold man in the image and likeness of God, Love, we have Jesus Christ as our example. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”  (John 14:23).

THE LIFE OF CHRIST JESUS WAS THE LIFE AND PROOF OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

The poem starts:
“Straightway I leave my mortal net, and follow Christ.
I’ve changed my job, and now, with employment new,
Seek out the immortal.
With bait of Truth, that man is the image of God,
I cast an unconditional net of Love, which gathers all.”

 Our job is to follow Christ. As Mrs Eddy said: “Follow me only as I follow Christ.”, and she further wrote “Mortals must take up the cross if they would follow Christ, and worship the Father “in spirit and in truth.””  (Ret. 65:12). Leaving our mortal net can be seen as taking up the cross, – forsaking all we once had faith in, the false belief of duality, to recognise our true faith is totally in Spirit, Love, that we do nothing apart from express God, – wearing the crown of Life, Truth and Love:

“I am God’s purpose: performing His will.
My life is of God, my net always full.”

The purpose of a full net is to share its contents, – this is the nature of man, and what Jesus expected us to do. Like as with the widow’s oil, through obedience, our nets will always be full.

The story of Jesus healing a lunatic son (Bible section 5) is one covered in two other gospels, – and that in Mark is described in my monologue “Help thou mine unbelief”.   Although this was written as seen by the father of the boy, it becomes an interesting insight as to how Jesus was seen. If the Father had not been receptive, open to love, he would not have experienced the love of Jesus. When Jesus appears, his impact is immediate “He has a sense of authority that shines from him, the presence of love that silences all those around us, and leaves the feeling that this man is of God.” Like attracts like. In my workshops I often asked, “What happens when you walk into a room, – does the atmosphere go up or down?” What is in your thought? Jesus took Love with him.

 Jesus’ first words were to the Pharisees. Their hypocritical love and antagonism was in contrast to the compassion shown by Jesus to the father. They could not understand him. His dismissal of them and their attitude was as shown in sections 3 and 4, was in effect the strong light of sun that destroyed their darkness, for light and dark cannot be together. They fought a losing battle to silence Truth and Love. We have a duty to shine the light of Christ on any darkness we see, with the expectancy of all good resulting, yes, that these may also be our constantly crowning achievements! The denunciation of error is the counterpart of affirming Truth, it clears the way for Love’s expression.

“Jesus places his hand on my shoulder. How to describe the impact of that tender touch! It is with such authority, as though the kingdom of Love is revealed as present right there and then, that the infinity of Love is, and always has been, in control, that nothing could shake it.”

 This was the understanding of Love that shone through and from Jesus, that meant that darkness could not touch him (last week’s lesson dismissing Satan). When his son had a further convulsion there was no fear, because the love of Jesus had shown to him the absolute authority of Love over anything unlike itself. When we follow Jesus our love is reflected in the love of Christ and all are blessed. We cannot be the instrument of healing if Love is not at the helm. As Jesus said, “I can of mine own self do nothing”. ( see John 5:30)

 We see in this story the progress “from cross to crown, from sense to Soul, from gleam to glory, from matter to Spirit.” (Miscellany, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 163:5). This is the duty we have and the glory that follows when we follow.

Copies of the poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS at the top right of the online version of this Poetic Prelude to this week’s Bible Lesson.   The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry.  All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry. Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.