In Asher’s home
“And Jesus went to Jericho, and at the inn of Asher he abode” (Aquarian Gospel 78:1).
There are various ways to deal with difficult and hostile people. The best way for most of us is to avoid them as much as possible and remain at peace. But saints and masters have the ability to heal such people through direct encounter. I knew a very holy Christian black woman, Annie McKinney, who many years before had learned that a woman who had begun attending her integrated church believed absolutely as a Christian teaching that black people were animals and had no immortal souls! The son of this poor woman told me everyone avoided the subject of blacks being without souls, but Annie said that if no one else tackled the subject, she would. So the next time that woman came to church she was talking to some other women after the service and suddenly Annie came up behind her and put her arms around her and hugged her. Seeing the color of those arms, the woman stiffened up and stood stock still. Holding on to her, Annie began to talk to her, telling her how much she loved her and how she knew she was a good person who loved God, and how that made them sisters in Christ even if she did not believe Annie had a soul. Spiritual healing flowed from Annie into that woman, and she turned around and hugged Anne back and cried and apologized that she had ever believed and said such a stupid thing. From that day onward they were the closest of friends–no, sisters. Some time later, recalling that incident, she remarked to Annie: “I am sure glad you held on tight and did not let go until my heart changed, otherwise I would have killed you!”
Jesus, Annie’s Master, had this power to heal hearts and is now doing so by coming to stay at Asher’s inn. Just what took place we are not told, but in chapter ninety-two we are told: “Asher was no longer hostile to the Christ.”
Healing
“A servant at the inn was sick, nigh unto death; the healers could not cure. And Jesus came and touched the dying girl, and said, Malone, arise! and in a moment pain was gone; the fever ceased; the maid was well. And then the people brought their sick, and they were healed” (Aquarian Gospel 78:2-4).
The girl heard the call “Arise!” and did just that. If we would be healed of all ills of whatever kind, physical or mental, the answer is to elevate our consciousness and establish our lives on a higher plane than heretofore. And that must not be the end: daily we should meditate and live in such a manner that we progressively ascend in consciousness without interruption or regression. This is the yoga life.
The open gate
“But Jesus did not tarry long in Jericho; he went down to the Jordan ford where John was wont to teach. The multitudes were there and Jesus said to them,
“Behold, the time has come; the kingdom is at hand. None but the pure in heart can come into the kingdom of the Holy One; but every son and daughter of the human race is called upon to turn from evil and become the pure in heart. The resolution to attain and enter through the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One will constitute discipleship, and every one must make a pledge of his discipleship.
“John washed your bodies in the stream, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul, in preparation for the coming of the king, the opening of the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One. John did a mighty work; but now the Christine gate is opened up, and washing is established as the pledge of your discipleship.
“Until this age shall close this pledge shall be a rite, and shall be called, Baptism rite; and it shall be a sign to men, and seal to God of men’s discipleship. You men of every nation, hear! Come unto me; the Christine gate is opened up; turn from your sins and be baptized, and you shall enter through the gate and see the king” (Aquarian Gospel 78:5-12).
But Jesus did not tarry long in Jericho; he went down to the Jordan ford where John was wont to teach. Jesus was revealed to Israel when he was baptized at the Jordan ford where John usually taught and baptized. So he has returned there to announce the opening of the gate into the Christ(ine) Life: baptism.
The multitudes were there and Jesus said to them, Behold, the time has come; the kingdom is at hand. None but the pure in heart can come into the kingdom of the Holy One; but every son and daughter of the human race is called upon to turn from evil and become the pure in heart. The kingdom of Spirit is always right with us–at hand because it is actually within us (Luke 17:21). But just as food right next to him might as well not even exist if a starving man cannot perceive it, it is the same with the kingdom of divine awareness. Only those who turn within can find it, and it is impossible to turn within without purification on all levels of our being. Purification is so necessary that Patanjali lists it–in the form of yama and niyama–as the first step in Yoga. Meditation itself is purifying, but it must be based on external purification to have any lasting effect. The proof of my assertion is the contemporary “yoga world” in the West. To call it a Fools’ Parade is kind. The universal necessity for this is indicated by Jesus’ saying: “Every son and daughter of the human race is called upon to turn from evil and become the pure in heart.”
The resolution to attain and enter through the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One will constitute discipleship, and every one must make a pledge of his discipleship. “Believing in Jesus” and joining “His Church” and jumping through various hoops of doctrine and “Christian” activity does not at all make anyone a disciple of Jesus. Only the resolution to enter into union with God, the Holy One, constitutes discipleship. First a pledge of discipleship must be made, so Jesus continues:
John washed your bodies in the stream, symbolic of the cleansing of the soul, in preparation for the coming of the king, the opening of the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One. John did a mighty work; but now the Christine gate is opened up, and washing is established as the pledge of your discipleship. Note that baptism is the pledge of discipleship, but as Jesus said previously, actual discipleship is striving to enter into union with God. As he said: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Only those who conform to the divine pattern inherent in the universe, the will of God that all sentient beings shall attain conscious and total union with Infinite Being and Consciousness, can enter the kingdom of heaven which is that Being and Consciousness.
Until this age shall close this pledge shall be a rite, and shall be called, Baptism rite; and it shall be a sign to men, and seal to God of men’s discipleship. Baptism is a rite by which we say to God and humanity that we dedicate our life to the search for God. Then real disciples get busy to attain that sacred union.
You men of every nation, hear! Come unto me; the Christine gate is opened up; turn from your sins and be baptized, and you shall enter through the gate and see the king. Right away we must abandon our ignorant ways–not “work up to it”–take the pledge of baptism, enter the gate of discipleship and begin to live in spiritual awareness that leads to the revelation of divinity within us and everywhere.
The disciples baptized and commissioned
“The six disciples who had followed Jesus stood a-near, and Jesus led them forth and in the Jordan he baptized them in the name of Christ; and then he said to them, My friends, you are the first to enter through the Christine gate into the kingdom of the Holy One. As I baptized you in the name of Christ, so you shall, in that sacred name, baptize all men and women who will confess their faith in Christ, and shall renounce their sins. And, lo, the multitudes came down, renounced their sins, confessed their faith in Christ, and were baptized” (Aquarian Gospel 78:13-16).
There are three steps to the Christine gate: renouncing all evil; inner and outer, active and practical conformity of life to the principles of Christ (for that is what faith really is); and making the pledge of baptism. Then a person can say he is a Christine, but it is only the barest beginning. Becoming a Christ is a lifetime endeavor, making that the prime motivation and goal of life. Total dedication is the secret of success in this.
Read the next section in the Aquarian Gospel for Yogis: John the Baptist Speaks of the Christ