When the Master and His followers reached Cana, which, by the way, had been the scene of his first “miracle”—­the changing of the water into wine at the wedding feast—­one of the most striking of His earlier manifestations of occult power occurred.  An influential citizen of Capernaum, a town a score of miles distant, who met Him and besought His aid and power in the interest of his young son, who lay dying at his home.  The man besought Jesus to hasten to Capernaum to heal the youth ere he die.  Jesus smiled kindly upon him and bade him return to his son, for the youth was even now restored to health and strength and life.  His hearers were astounded at the reply and the doubters smiled knowingly, foreseeing a defeat for the young Master when the news of the youth’s death should become known.  Those of His followers who were faint of heart and weak of faith felt most uncomfortable and began to whisper the “if” of doubt.  But Jesus continued His working with a calm air of certainty, without further remarks.  It was the seventh hour of the day when the words were spoken.

The father hastened homeward to see whether the Master had succeeded or failed.  A day or two passed with no word from Capernaum.  The scoffers of the wedding feast repeated their sneers and revilings—­the word “charlatan” was again heard passing from lip to lip.  Then came news from the distant village, and upon its arrival the voice of scorn was stilled, and the hearts of the faint again beat freely.  The word came that when the father had reached his house he was greeted by the household with cries of joy and news that at the seventh hour the fever had abated and the crisis had been passed.

And yet the “miracle” above recorded was no greater than many occultists have performed in all times—­no greater than the many similar cures that have been performed by the modern healers of the many metaphysical cults.  It was simply an application of the subtle forces of nature called into operation by mental concentration.  It was an instance of what in modern phrase is called “absent treatment” along metaphysical lines.  In saying this we wish in no way to detract from the wonder that Jesus had wrought, but merely to let the student know that the power is still possessed by others and is not a “supernatural” thing but the operation of purely natural laws.

About this time there occurred another event in His life, and a manifestation of His power which is noted in the New Testament and which is told in the occult tradition with somewhat more detail.  It occurred when Jesus visited his home town of Nazareth on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath.  He rested over night and then the following morning betook Himself to the regular services in the local synagogue.  He took the seat which He had occupied as a young boy with Joseph.  No doubt the familiar scene awakened memories of His strange youthful history in His mind.  Then, much to His surprise, He heard Himself called