Christmas Bible Lessons

¹ But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.1

The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.

³ You have multiplied the nation.

You have increased their joy.

They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder. ⁴ For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. ⁵ For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. ⁶ For a child is born to us. A son is given to us;2 and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.3 ⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

1. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. See Matthew 4:16. It is quite evident that it is this saving principle in man referred to in Isaiah 9. The “people” are our thoughts, and they are in the “darkness” of materiality, but they perceive that there is a higher way, they have seen a “great light” - that is, the true understanding has dawned upon them that Spiritual Consciousness may be developed and save man from the shadow of death. This is the real Messiah, which Jesus brought to light in the mentality of the race. In doing this he proved our greatest leader, and among all the countless millions of earth none have surmounted the almost universal race negation called death as did Jesus. (Unity, Dec 24, 1905)
2. For a child is born to us. A son is given to us. Just why these passages from Isaiah should be taken as a prophecy of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is not clear to the unbiased reader. This chapter was written over seven hundred years before the time of Jesus, and does not mention the future birth of this one who “shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,” etc., but states plainly, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,” putting it positively in the present tense. If Isaiah was prophesying about one to appear in the future, it would have been an easy matter for him to have written in the future tense. But he writes about this “Prince of Peace” as present at the date of the writing, which would eliminate the claim of prophesy. So this lesson should be called, “The Birth of the Christ to Consciousness Proclaimed.” (Unity Magazine December 1908 - Christmas Lesson)
3. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.. Now, these words from Isaiah were written many, many centuries before Jesus was born. They are now referred to as the Messianic prophecies. They are probably as well known as any section in the entire Bible, but they are not the exclusive property of our Bible. The equivalent of these same words can be found in many other world religions, some far older than the Hebrew. The reason for this is because the Messianic prophecies are not just limited to the advent of our historical Jesus, but contain a cosmic idea, true for all men in all times. The coming into each individual awareness, and that awareness growing and developing into a gloriously illumined consciousness. In Unity we call it the Christ, but other religions have given it different names, but it's all the same thing. (Ed Rabel, Old Testament Lectures, pp.311-318, The Old Testament Christmas Story)

¹ A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse,1

and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.2

² Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him:3

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,4

the spirit of counsel and might,5

the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.

³ His delight will be in the fear of Yahweh.6

He will not judge by the sight of his eyes,

neither decide by the hearing of his ears;7

⁴ but he will judge the poor with righteousness,

and decide with equity for the humble of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.8

⁵ Righteousness will be the belt around his waist,

and faithfulness the belt around his waist.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,

and the leopard will lie down with the young goat,

the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together;

and a little child will lead them.

⁹ The cow and the bear will graze.

Their young ones will lie down together.

The lion will eat straw like the ox.

⁸ The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole,

and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.

⁹ They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh,9

as the waters cover the sea.

1. Jesse. Son of Obed, grandson of Boaz and Ruth, and father of David (Ruth 4:22; I Sam. 16). Jesse was an Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah (I Sam. 17:12). In Hebrew the root meaning of the word Jesse is Jah, Jehovah, or I AM, representing eternal existence (Jah exists). When we realize the eternal existence of I AM, and are firm and strong in this realization, we are in the Jesse state of mind, and out of this state of mind will come God's idea of human beings, Christ (MBD/Jesse). According to Charles Fillmore, “This shoot that was to come out of Jesse means that there is an everliving principle in man that has been submerged. It has been cut down and merely a stump exists today in human consciousness; but there is enough virile energy in that stump, if it were quickened, to bring forth the real man, the fruit, which is Christ.” Can Christ Prevent War?, Unity Magazine Dec. 1937.
2. a branch out of his roots will bear fruit. Out of the Jesse state of mind comes a branch (ASV, "shoot"), God’s idea of human beings, or Christ. The “fruit” of the root idea is that we are the ever living I AM of God. David, son of Jesse, is representative of the Christ, or of the spiritual seed whence came Jesus Christ, spiritual human expressed and demonstrated.
3. Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him. This prophesy should not be narrowed to one individual-neither David or even Jesus of Nazareth. It points to the Christ Mind which is to be brought forth in all who are typified by Jesse, one whose name means, “one who is strong in the Lord.”
4. the spirit of wisdom and understanding. When our judgement is spiritually quickened, we, like Solomon, base our decisions upon the revelations within, instead of upon the evidences without. [Wisdom (judgment) and understanding are two of our twelve powers.]
5. counsel and might. [Two of the twelve powers, order (counsel) and strength are located in the mid region of the body and, together, they provide an axis of centering.]
6. the fear of Yahweh. The word which has been translated “fear,” could as well have been translated “reverence.” Interpreted this way, the text would read, “His delight shall be in the reverence of Yahweh.” With this interpretation we would read in Proverbs: “the reverence of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.”
7. judge, decide. When we open our mind to spiritual understanding and receive the uplift of reverence and devotion, what follows? There is a quickening of spiritual insight, and we no longer “judge after the sight of our eyes, neither decide after the hearing of our ears.”
8. strike the earth, kill the wicked. According to Fenton, this passage of scripture should be translated: “By the rod of His mouth He will conquer the world. And its wickedness slay by the breath of His lips.” The prophet evidently saw that the word of Truth would conquer the world, and destroy its wickedness.
9. the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh. Verses 6 to 9 deal with the reconciliation that takes place between human beings and animals. What is the metaphysical meaning of this? Spiritually minded metaphysicians find that to the extent to which they enter into the unity of all things to that measure they stop thinking enmity towards all the different animals, even towards the animal tendencies within themselves. In God’s holy mountain, meaning a place of high spiritual understanding, we behold divine unity, and we therefore cease thinking and acting destructively.

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,* the son of David, the son of Abraham.2

² Abraham became the father of3 Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. ⁴ Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. ⁵ Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. ⁶ Jesse became the father of King David. David the king† became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. ⁷ Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. ⁸ Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. ⁹ Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. ¹⁰ Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. ¹¹ Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹² After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. ¹³ Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. ¹⁴ Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. ¹⁵ Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. ¹⁶ Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus,‡ who is called Christ.

¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

1. See Luke 3:23-38
2. the son of David, the son of Abraham. David represents love and Abraham faith. These two faculties, when quickened in man, bring him into the Christ consciousness. The Christ in man is thus the offspring of love and faith.
3. became the father of. Metaphysically, this is from faith to Christ.

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ2 was like this:3 After his mother, Mary,4 was engaged to Joseph,5 before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.6 ¹⁹ Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. ²⁰ But when he thought about these things, behold,§ an angel of the Lord7 appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David,8 don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus,* for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

²² Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

²³“Behold, the virgin shall be with child,

and shall give birth to a son.

They shall call his name Immanuel,”9

which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”✡

²⁴ Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; ²⁵ and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

1. See Luke 1:26-38
2. Jesus Christ. The Christ is the perfect-idea man, whom God created, the real self of all men. Jesus Christ is the Christ self brought into perfect expression and manifestation. Christ is the Savior of mankind, the free, divine gift of God to us.
3. was like this. Everything first takes place in the mind. In truth it is in mind where real demonstrations find their impetus. Joseph and Mary’s betrothal was to them such a sacred and holy thing that it stirred into activity the most spiritual forces of their souls, which forces perhaps had never been set into expression before, and their spiritual union was consummated. There followed such an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (which is God’s Word in action) that Mary, through Joseph, was over-shadowed by this heavenly power, and though she did not “know man” in a physical way, the initial germ seed was thereby projected, and she conceived and brought forth the child, Jesus.
4. Mary. Metaphysically interpreted within the soul, Mary, the Virgin mother, represents a pure state of mind that ponders spiritual things in her heart and believes in revelations from angels and messengers from God. Her imagination is so intense that she vitalizes the ultra-microscopic germs of life and they multiply in her body without external contact.
5. Joseph. Mary represents the soul; Joseph, intuitive wisdom. Joseph, “being a righteous man,” wished to do what was right without regard to his own interests, and he meditated on the course he should take. In meditation the mind is stilled and becomes receptive to the true ideas of universal Mind, in which all wisdom and knowledge abides. Joseph received guidance from the Lord in a dream following meditation.
6. was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. The virgin birth is the awakening of the mind of man to the conception of the Christ Spirit as the only reality. The miraculous conception by which the Virgin Mary is held to have conceived without original sin. Joseph, not fully understanding the prophecy, “was minded to put her away privily,” meaning that we do not in the first stages of the birth of Christ in us understand the process, and sometimes are moved to put it away from us. Joseph’s soul (the name Joseph meaning “from perfection to perfection”) is so heavily charged with divine life that it cannot express itself intelligently, because no union has yet taken place between it and the understanding, which union—when it is consumated—always equalizes and adjusts.
7. an angel of the Lord. An angel is a messenger of the Lord. Metaphysically, our angels are our spiritual perceptive faculties, which ever dwell in the presence of the Father.
8. Joseph, son of David. Wisdom is the outcome of love deeply and quietly held. We understand those whom we love. “Joseph [wisdom], thou son of David [love].” Together, wisdom and love form the mind of the Christ.
9. they shall call his name Immanuel. Immanuel means “God with us,” but the metaphysician sees it as the consciousness that God is with us and that we are one with Him. The name thus means to him, “God within us.”

¹ Now when Jesus1 was born in Bethlehem2 of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men*3 from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ²“Where is he who is born King of the Jews?4 For we saw his star in the east,5 and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard it, he was troubled,6 and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

⁶‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are in no way least among the princes of Judah;

for out of you shall come a governor

who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”✡

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

1. Jesus. The new man is called “Jesus” whose name means the same as the name “Jehovah,” the I AM, the supreme will.
2. was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem (house of bread) is the substance center where the spiritual or ideal man has his source. It represents the center of substance in our consciousness.
3. Wise men from the east. Symbolize the inner resources of the soul when it is stirred to the depths by a revelation of Truth. The East symbolizes the within, and the coming of the Wise Men signifies intuitive wisdom reverently seeking out the new ideal of life that is beginning in consciousness. The law governing spiritual consciousness and its development in the individual is as sure as the law that governs the stars or the planets in their courses. We have access to divine substance within the depths of our consciousness, and out or it we fashion a new ideal of life and a fuller, more abundant life.
4. he that is born King of the Jews. This is the ruling power of the spiritual consciousness when it first dawns on the mind and heart of the individual.
5. we saw his star in the east. When the Jesus ego first appears in the subconsciousness it is a mere spack of light, a “Star in the east.” The star symbolizes intuition; the wise men were guided by intuition. Stars represent subjective and not fully understood guiding lights. They represent the inner realms of consciousness that, like books of life, have kept the records of past lives and held them in reserve for the great day when the soul would receive the supreme ego, Jesus. The star that pointed the way for the wise men was also in the East, and it typifies man’s inner conviction of his divine sonship.
6. when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled. Herod represents the ruling power of the outer or personal consciousness. Metaphysically, "Son of a hero, heroic." When sense consciousness (Herod) rules, it dominates all intellectual, as well as ecclesiastical thoughts. These thoughts symbolise the chief priests and scribes of the people, all of which on this plane go to make up the intellectual man. The outer, personal, or sense consciousness (Herod) is disturbed by the first glimmering of a different consciousness in the mind and heart. The personal consciousness is jealous of its power and authority, and seeks to retain its dominion, whatever the cost.

⁹ They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.1 ¹¹ They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.2

1. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. When the soul makes a spiritual demonstration there is great rejoicing. When one begins to have faith that he is destined to do the will of God, all the riches of wise experience—gifts of gold (riches of Spirit); frankincense, (the beauty of Spirit); and myrrh (the eternity of Spirit)—are bestowed upon the young child. When the wise thoughts from within bring their presents, there is great rejoicing and satisfaction in consciousness.
2. they went back to their own country another way. In this instance as in all others, the Lord is continually seeking to guide man into the higher ways of life, which always lead into the “country” of peace, wisdom and good will.

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,1 saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”2

¹⁴ He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, ¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”✡

1. an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The Lord often speaks to this state of consciousness through what is commonly known as dreams and visions. Both the Wise-men and Joseph were guided by dreams. The message is thrown on the screen of the mind in the form of thought pictures, which the quickened soul readily interprets.
2. flee into Egypt ... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. It is wise to protect the new born spiritual consciousness from coming into contact with the personal ego, Herod. Under the guidance of Spirit no harm comes to it; it is taken down into the protected places of the subconsciousness (Egypt) until the personal ego destroys itself. When in the silence and in dreams we see a little child, we may know that the Christ body (Jesus) has begun to form in our subconscious minds. Then we should be watchful to see that the subtle desires of sense (Herod) do not rob the young child of its vitality and thus kill it out of consciousness. The young child must be cared for and fed daily with spiritual thoughts; otherwise it will pine away and we shall find ourselves back in the old sense state, with (Herod), sense consciousness in suprene control.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry,1 and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

¹⁸“A voice was heard in Ramah,

lamentation, weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she wouldn’t be comforted,

because they are no more.”✡

1. Herod ... was exceedingly angry. When the human self does not have its way it loses its temper, flies into a rage, is destructive and kills out many potentially good forces.

¹⁹ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, ²⁰“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”1

²¹ He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus2 was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,3 ²³ and came and lived in a city called Nazareth;4 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets5 that he will be called a Nazarene.

1. when Herod was dead. Sense consciousness (Herod) is dead; therefore the new spiritual consciousness (the Christ child) is no longer in danger. It is free to express openly that which is real (Israel).
2. Archelaus. Represents a phase of the sense will (son of Herod the Great), or ruling power, in sense consciousness which was still dominant.
3. Galilee. Represents the life activity or soul energy of man acting in conjunction with substance.
4. Nazareth. A city of Galilee, means a sprout, a small thing held of slight significance, hence a term of reproach. It typifies the commonplace mind of man: but it is in the commonplace mind that the Christ ideal takes root and grows up in consciousness.
5. that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets. Throughout the gospel story of Jesus there runs continually a thread of fulfilled prophecy. To the casual reader who sees nothing beyond the literal narrative, it would seem sometimes that the parallelism is far-fetched. But it is seen that the fulfillment of prophecy takes place because prophecy is a foreknowledge of Truth to be demonstrated. The I AM has knowledge of all Truth, but to the natural man this knowledge comes dimly, — as a vague presentiment, a foreknowledge or prophecy of Truth to come. With the Christ man comes Truth—fulfillment.

^1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias,1 of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.2 ^1:6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. ^1:7 But they had no child,3 because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. ^1:8 Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division, ^1:9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord4 and burn incense.5 ^1:10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

^1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ^1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ^1:13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.6 ^1:14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. ^1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink.7 He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ^1:16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. ^1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

^1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

^1:19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. ^1:20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak,8 until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

^1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple. ^1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. ^1:23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. ^1:24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived,9 and she hid herself five months, saying, ^1:25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

1. Zacharias. Zacharias represents in individual consciousness the spiritual phase of consciousness. Zacharias means “remembered by Jehovah.” His work is in the temple. He is wedded to Elisabeth, who may be compared to the soul in the exalted state that it attains through living an entirely blameless, devoted life.
2. Elizabeth. The literal meaning of Elisabeth is “my God is my oath,” or “a worshiper of God.” The soul, in its adoration of God, is blameless, and its world is a world of innocence and peace.
3. They had no child. They had fallen into a belief in years; that they had failed to bring forth the fruit of mature spirituality, which is a consciousness of spiritual substance, life, and intelligence. The fruit of mature spirituality is symbolized by John, “the grace of the Lord.” And it is this which every spiritual-minded individual is expected to bring forth.
4. enter into the temple of the Lord. The priest’s entering into the temple represents spiritual meditation—metaphysically called “going into the silence.” All extraneous thoughts, interests, and aspirations collect by degrees around the transmuting process (“the whole multitude of the people were praying at the hour of incense”). In deep concentration on the desired Truth of one’s being, one becomes aware of the thought of the Lord (the angel, Gabriel). The thought that we as spiritual beings can control our destinies, and that we are even now making our lives what they are, at first instills fear. Zacharias was afraid of the angel. Humility of spirit hesitates to take to itself power that hitherto has been conceded to God only. However, the thought of God persistently held brings us the assurance that we are on the right road. The angel of the Lord stood “on the right side of the altar of incense.”
5. and burn incense. The burning of the incense signifies the transmutation of the finer essences of the body. These essences are transmuted to what may be termed the fourth or radiant dimension, and a foundation is laid for an organism of permanent character. Paul calls it the “celestial body.” This process takes place whenever the I AM makes union in the body with the Lord, or Higher Self.
6. call him John. John symbolizes the fruit of the union of the soul with spiritual consciousness. The union of soul and spiritual consciousness brings forth an ego that prepares the way for one greater than itself, the Christ of God, the highest expression of Divine Mind in man.
7. strong drink. The parentage of John the Baptist accounts for the statement that he would drink no wine or strong drink but would be “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” in this respect, that when the soul is united with the spiritual consciousness the result of the union is dedication or consecration to God. John was so consecrated from before his birth. Consecration implies a concentration of all the thoughts and energies on the subject. Wine and strong drink scatter man’s forces, making concentration impossible. It was therefore foreign to John’s experience.
8. not able to speak. The work of the Spirit goes so far beyond what the mortal consciousness can grasp, that man is rendered dumb when the nature of spiritual life and its ways are proclaimed to him for the first time. These soul processes being unusual, even the spiritually minded do not understand what is taking place, and what the result will be, although assured by the messengers of the Lord of a propitious outcome. Where no explanation can be offered, the natural attitude of the individual is one of silence.
9. Elizabeth his wife conceived. Elisabeth represents the soul, which, after many apparently fruitless experiences and a long-continued search for the way of life, conceives the idea of divine grace (John) as the law of man’s being. In order to receive the blessing of a son something positive was required of Zacharias; namely the establishment of his faith in the invisible good as being present and active.

^1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, ^1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ^1:28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

^1:29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. ^1:30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ^1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.' ^1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, ^1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."

^1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"

^1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.1 Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. ^1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ^1:37 For everything spoken by God is possible."

^1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord;2 be it to me according to your word."

1. the power of the Most High will overshadow you. As explained by the angel to Mary, we should not overlook the fact that this coming into activity of the Christ body is the result of an exalted idea sown in the mind and brought forth in the soul. Therefore, Mary, the soul, becomes devout and expectant and believes in the so-called miraculous as a possibility. Mary expected the birth of the Messiah as the Holy Spirit had promised. She was overshadowed by that high idea and it formed in her mind the seed that quickened into the cell and in due season there were aggregations of cells strong enough in their activity to attract the attention of the consciousness, and what is called the birth of Jesus took place.
2. Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. The word of God is all-powerful, all-potential, as is proved by the experience of Elisabeth in bringing forth John, and Mary in bringing forth Jesus.

The angel departed from her. ^1:39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, ^1:40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ^1:41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb,1 and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ^1:42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ^1:43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ^1:44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! ^1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

1. the babe leaped in her womb. This Scripture no doubt has an esoteric meaning; yet it is also historical. The power represented by Elisabeth on the intellectual plane corresponds to that represented by Mary on the spiritual plane. These thought forces are closely related. In truth Elisabeth represents the intellectual soul and Mary the spiritual soul. Being closely related, they are naturally drawn to each other. “The babe leaped in her womb” reveals a close soul sympathy between the two reincarnating souls, John and Jesus. The song of Mary is the expression of a soul that is convinced that it is working according to law, and that the blessings of the Most High are being poured out upon it.

^1:46 Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord.1

^1:47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

^1:48 for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid.

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

^1:49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name.

^1:50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

^1:51 He has shown strength with his arm.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

^1:52 He has put down princes from their thrones.

And has exalted the lowly.

^1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things.

He has sent the rich away empty.

^1:54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

^1:55 As he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and his seed forever."

^1:56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

1. My soul magnifies the Lord. The creative faculty of imagination. We habitually exercise this faculty either consciously or unconsciously. Imagination makes the soul the fertile side of our nature, out of which spring the issues of life. The soul has power to magnify whatever enters it. Since it is the seat of the emotions, which control man’s happiness, it is important that we learn to magnify only that which is good and wholesome. It magnifies whatever is held in the conscious mind. In sense consciousness the soul magnifies trouble, disaster, and other negative thoughts, taking the good as a matter of course and leaving it to pass unacknowledged. In higher levels of consciousness the soul magnifies the good.

^1:57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.1 ^1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. ^1:59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father. ^1:60 His mother answered,2 "Not so; but he will be called John."

^1:61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." ^1:62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

^1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John."3

They all marveled. ^1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God. ^1:65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea. ^1:66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?"4 The hand of the Lord was with him.

1. she brought forth a son. The fruit of spiritual consciousness in the innocent soul is a new idea, or outward expression, of grace and mercy. The new concept of grace and mercy frees the consciousness from undesirable thoughts habits, and the soul overflows with joy. This freeing thought has come from one’s own mind; it is one’s own son.
2. And his mother answered. The first thought is that the offspring of wisdom and love (Zacharias and Elisabeth) should be, like the father, an exponent of the divine law only, but mother love (Elisabeth) determines that John, meaning grace and mercy, shall be the dominant characteristic of their offspring.
3. His name is John. Deep in the soul is the conviction that a special function of Spirit performs the work of preparing us to free ourself from the clutch of sense. As long as we labor under a burden of condemnation, either that of our own conscience or the external censure of others, the way to achieve freedom is not open to us. Only when we perceive the truth that grace and mercy are included in the divine law as a very integral part of it do we find the voice of praise and blessing in our own heart. So the forerunner of freedom is the knowledge that grace and mercy are inalienable from the divine law, “His name is John.”
4. What then shall this child be? “And fear came on all that dwelt round about them” does not necessarily mean a state of dread or anxiety in the mind. It means rather a consciousness of an idea not fully understood, but so all-pervading and so tenacious as to be instinctive. The understanding that grace and mercy are inseparable from the redeeming action of the higher law opens up a realm of boundless expectation. “What then shall this child be?”

^1:67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied,1 saying,

^1:68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has visited and worked redemption2 for his people;

^1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

^1:70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

^1:71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

^1:72 to show mercy towards our fathers,

to remember his holy covenant,

^1:73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

^1:74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,

should serve him without fear,

^1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

^1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet3 of the Most High,

for you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

^1:77 to give knowledge of salvation4 to his people by the remission of their sins,

^1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

^1:79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;

to guide our feet into the way of peace."

^1:80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

1. and prophesied. Zacharias, symbolizing a prophetic state of consciousness has here received the inspiration of Spirit according to his understanding of law and is here imparting that prophecy to all responding thoughts in consciousness.
2. Redemption. The “redemption” that the exaltation of reality brings is a quickening of the Christ concept in the heart. The expression of this concept leads to the establishing of peace among people of good will. It is the duty of everyone whose vision of the kingdom of heaven is a vision of the heart transformed. This transformation cannot take place in a heart that is disturbed or in a state of unrest.
3. you, child, will be called a prophet. Is it possible for us to become our own prophet? Yes. As we learn to recognize causes and relate them to their effects we can tell what will follow the setting in motion of a cause. We can, by our own efforts, develop clearer understanding. The desire and the will to do right brings enlightenment. The “sun of righteousness” makes the way clear to those who habitually walk by it’s light.
4. knowledge of salvation. The Son of God was born under the law “that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.” Evolution from sense to Spirit is under law, otherwise the command “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” would be meaningless. Perfection creates after its kind, sometimes immediately, at other times by a gradual process; but in every case the divine will is that the race with its individuals shall “receive the adoption of sons.”

^2:1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus1 that all the world should be enrolled.2 ^2:2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius3 was governor of Syria. ^2:3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. ^2:4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; ^2:5 to enroll himself with Mary,4 who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

^2:6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.5 ^2:7 She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth,6 and laid him in a feeding trough7, because there was no room for them in the inn.

1. decree from Caesar Augustus. It represents the arbitrary action of the will, ruling in selfishness and directed by human reason, to exercise domination over all the thoughts.
2. all the world should be enrolled. Despite the intention of Caesar, the enrollment was in the Christ consciousness—The expression of good will under the guidance of enlightened reason and understanding.
3. Quirinius. The name means “armed peace,” and Quirinius signifies the ruling power in the egotistic, purely intellectual thought. The imposing of the will of the intellect on all people leads to recognition of the rule of force. The world believes that peace can be maintained only by military force. The state of armed peace now existing in the world is proof of the failure of this conception to bring real peace.
4. Joseph, Mary. Joseph and Mary represent wisdom and love, which have been ideas in mind, but are now to bring forth a manifestation in substance.
5. and she gave birth. The birth of the Christ takes place in the individual soul when the soul awakens to a realization of the truth that life is spiritual, not material. The Christ is the divine-idea human.
6. and wrapped him in bands of cloth (swaddling clothes). Swaddling clothes were bands of cloth in which it was customary to wrap young children. These swaddling clothes represent the confinement to the limitations of the physical nature (“manger”) of this first emanation of Divine Life, “there being no room for them in the inn” (outer consciousness).
7. and laid him in a feeding trough (manger). A manger represents the animal life of the body in which the new life is first manifested. In humans this is the stomach. The inn represents the outer consciousness of spiritual things which cannot conceive, or give room to such an insignificant beginning of the great spiritual development of the soul. The instinct of the soul to express the life of God (the infant Jesus) enters into even the animal life and occupies it.

^2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.1 ^2:9 Behold, an angel of the Lord2 stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ^2:10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. ^2:11 For there is born to you, this day,3 in the city of David,4 a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.5 ^2:12 This is the sign to you:6 you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." ^2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

^2:14 "Glory to God in the highest,

on earth peace, good will toward men."7

^2:15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ^2:16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. ^2:17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. ^2:18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. ^2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.8 ^2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God9 for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

1. shepherds, flocks, by night. The flocks represent the divine natural forces in the subconscious, which are under the divine law of protection (shepherds), but obscure (night) to outer consciousness. Vigilance in watching our flocks (thoughts) makes us receptive to the spiritual side of existence. As the shepherds in Oriental countries have a name for every sheep, which is trained to come and go at command, so we should be familiar with our thoughts, and discipline them so thoroughly that they will be obedient to us when we send forth our desire. This familiarity with our mental realm leads to an acquaintance with the character, and gives one an opportunity to strengthen the weak points and transform the undesirable tendencies. It thus clears up and harmonizes the soul so that it is receptive to divine ideas.
2. an angel of the Lord. Angels are the thoughts in Divine Mind expressed to do a specific work. Christ is the sum total of the ideas of Divine Mind incarnating in man, while the angels are special thoughts expressed by Divine Mind, working in purity and untainted by matter or material limitations.
3. there is born to you this day. The spiritual birth of the Christ.
4. city of David. The City of David is Bethlehem, which means “house of bread”, metaphysically, the substance center in our consciousness.
5. who is Christ the Lord. “Christ” signifies our divinity or our higher self born or realized in consciousness. God’s idea of a perfect human being has always existed. It was before Adam, before David, and before Jesus. As Jesus explained in Matthew 22:41-45.
6. And this is the sign to you: The physical birth of Jesus, a sign of the spiritual birth of Christ.“Jesus” signifies the Child who was brought into the manifest world.
7. on earth peace, good will toward men. The proclamation of peace on earth by the heavenly host symbolizes the calling together of a great multitude of angelic thoughts praising God and giving thanks for the great demonstration. The higher or heavenly realms of consciousness praise God for this evidence in the body (or earth) of a force that will restore peace and harmony.
8. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. Mary represents the mother principle of the soul; by subjective thought and mediation the mother principle (Mary) builds the manifestation of the new realization of life (body of the babe).
9. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God. The shepherds’ return represents the spirit of devotion and praise, which should continue to exalt to spiritual consciousness all things that have been externally perceived.

^2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision1 of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

1. circumcision. symbolical of the cutting off of mortal tendencies, and is indicative of purification and cleanliness. Under the law of Jesus Christ, circumcision is fulfilled in its spiritual meaning—the purification of the individual from the law of sin and death. We are circumcised in the true inner significance of the word only by being thoroughly purified in soul. Then the glory of the inner soul cleansing and purifying works out into the outer consciousness and the body and sets us free from all sensual, corruptible thoughts and activities. Thus we manifest wholeness and perfection throughout our being.

^2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ^2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),[1] ^2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."[2]

^2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.1 This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.2 ^2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.[3] ^2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, ^2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

^2:29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master,

according to your word, in peace;

^2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

^2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

^2:32 a light for revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel."

^2:33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, ^2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,3 and for a sign which is spoken against. ^2:35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

^2:36 There was one Anna,4 a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ^2:37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. ^2:38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

1. Simeon. Simeon means “one who listens and obeys”. The listening faculty of mind shows itself in the devout Christian as the mental state that looks for and expects spiritual guidance and instruction direct from God. Its meaning may be summed up in the word obedient.
2. and the Holy Spirit was on him. One who believes that God communes with us, and who opens the way to such communion by being obedient to every hint received in visions, or dreams, or from the “still small voice,” is guided by the Holy Spirit.
3. the falling and the rising of many in Israel. Those who experience birth into the Christ consciousness find it necessary to readjust their religious convictions in many respects, discarding those which are no longer convincing in the light of spiritual understanding, and embracing instead ideas that are new to them but compelling in their reasonableness.
4. Anna. Anna, the prophetess, who had long been a worshiper in the Temple, represents a certain conservation of spiritual life that has been built up by devotion and faithfulness. This spiritual life is transmitted through many incarnations as an inheritance of the soul and is of great importance in forming the Christ body. Nothing is lost in the evolution of the soul.

^2:39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee,1 to their own city, Nazareth. ^2:40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom,2 and the grace of God was upon him. ^2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

1. returned into Galilee. When the conscious and subconscious minds (Joseph and Mary) have united in carrying into effect in the body (temple) the freeing power of Spirit (all things that were according to the law of the Lord”), the mind comes down from its state of high exaltation and resumes the practical trend of everyday affairs (“they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth”). Galilee means “circuit,” and in this connection means that the normal round of life was again resumed.
2. waxed strong, filled with wisdom. As we consciously dwell upon the thought of the Christ Spirit within and submit ourself to it as our guiding principle, we grow in spiritual strength and gain true wisdom.