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A Series of Lessons in Mystic Christianity996
conception that would ignore forms and ceremonies, and cleave close to the
spirit of the Sacred Teachings. And then He began a scathing denunciation
of the lack of spiritual advancement among the Jewish people—their
materialism and desire for physical enjoyments and their drifting away from
the highest ideals of the race. He preached the mystic doctrine, and insisted
that they be applied to the problems of every-day life and conduct. He
brought down the teachings of the Kaballah from the cloudy heights, and
set them before the people in plain, practical form. He bade them aspire
to great spiritual heights, forsaking the base ideals to which they had clung.
He ran counter to every custom and prejudice of the people before Him,
and showed a lack of reverence for all of their petty forms and traditions.
He bade them leave the illusions of material life and follow the Light of the
Spirit wherever it might lead them. These and many other things told He
them.
And then arose a disturbance among the congregation. They began to
interrupt and question Him, and many were the contradictions and denials
hurled at Him from the benches. Some began to sneer at His pretensions
as the Bearer of the Message, and demanded that He work a wonder or
“miracle” and give them a sign. This demand He flatly refused to grant, not
deeming the same proper, or in accordance with the occult custom which
always frowned upon wonder-working in response to such a demand.
Then they began to abuse Him and cries of “charlatan” and “fraud” began
to resound from the walls of the synagogue. They reminded Him of His
humble birth and condition of His parents, and refused to believe that any
such person as He had any right to claim extraordinary powers or privileges.
Then came from His lips the famous saying, “A prophet is not without honor,
save in his own country.”
Then He began a fresh assault upon their prejudices and narrow views—
their pet superstitions and bigotry. He stripped from them their garb of
hypocrisy and assumed piety, and showed them their naked souls in all their
ugliness and moral uncleanliness. He poured burning invective and vitriolic