THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUS

1 THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUS 1 THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUSby H. Spencer Lewis 1937, 1964 and 2015 Supreme Grand Lodge Of The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis. All Rights publication is for your personal, private use only, and may not be used for any commercial purpose. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the express and prior written permission of Supreme Grand Lodge Of The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. For permission requests, please contact: Supreme Grand Lodge Of The Ancient And Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, Inc., Rosicrucian Park, 1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose, California information in this book is distributed on an as is basis, without warranty.

2 Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author nor the publisher shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this Hieronymusof BelgiumWhose spiritual countenanceand purity of character giveboundless charm to themagnificenceof his An Astonishing Discovery2. The Need for Secrecy3. The Great SECRET School4. The SECRET Mission of Jesus5. The Stewardship and Discipleship of the Chrisitan Mysteries6. Individual SECRET Missions7. Strange Biblical Passages8. The Greatest of Miracles9. More Biblical Verification10. The SECRET Doctrines11. The Grand Mysteries12. Progressive Modification of the Christian Doctrines13. The Preservation of the SECRET Teachings 6 PREFACEARGUMENT AND CONTROVERSY are not the primary reasons for writing this book, despite the fact that there is much argument in it and that it will unquestionably arouse some controversy.

3 Facts are stubborn things. The truth will reveal itself even when it is hidden behind a veil or intermingled with allegories, parables , and strange interpretations. Most of the facts contained in this book are very clearly revealed in the Christian Bible and particularly in the New Testament. This book, however, is not an example of how the Christian Bible may be misinterpreted or misquoted or promiscuously and arbitrarily quoted in parts to prove an idea, a theory, or a postulation. It has been said that almost any strange theory or staggering proposition can be proved by taking unconnected and unrelated passages from the Bible and piecing them together in such a manner, or giving emphasis to certain words in them, so that they form a new and wholly incorrect representation. The quotations from the Christian Bible used in this book are surprisingly and strangely illuminating when used precisely as they appear in the New Testament and without separating them from the general text.

4 They contain facts that have been deliberately overlooked or is interpreted, for they are not susceptible of several interpretations. They either mean something or nothing at all. Where the New Testament states that Mary, the mother of JESUS , was one of his SECRET students or a member of his band of disciples meeting in a SECRET place, it does not mean and cannot mean that it was any other Mary, or that she was a member of some other group of students, or that she was merely spiritually or symbolically or allegorically one of his students. It may be very surprising to learn that THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUS 7 JESUS included a woman among his members whether it was Mary his mother or some other woman. But just because it is a surprising fact is no reason to challenge either the truthfulness of it or its implication, its definitely intended meaning, and the significance that lies back of it.

5 If JESUS had his mother, as a woman, among his private students or SECRET disciples or band of disciples, it is very significant, and not just because she was Mary, his mother. And if this fact is surprising, what then are we to think of the other passages in the New Testament stating that there were other women besides Mary among his private disciples and that, therefore, all of his disciples and selected students were not men? Not that this should be something important enough to write a book about, for after all, women have been eminent students of the great Truths of life, and great teachers and great preachers, and certainly were qualified in those days as they are today to be disciples equal with men in any and all circumstances. The significance lies in the fact that either the church or its ordained representatives, or some of them, or the Christian movement in the past centuries has deliberately or unconsciously evaded this significant feature of the great work of JESUS the Christ.

6 The same is true in regard to the brothers and sisters of JESUS being members of his SECRET , private school. Are we giving too much emphasis to this relationship and to these heretofore veiled incidents of his life? We think not, in the light of the fact that many great sermons have been preached, and pamphlets written and chapters in books carefully prepared to interpret the attitude of JESUS toward his parents and his flesh-and-blood relatives. Think for a moment of how many millions of times clergy, in preaching and writing, have attempted to explain the New Testament passage which appears to be a rebuke to his mother on the occasion of his delay at the synagogue. That strange incident has been held before the eyes of Sunday School and Bible students as well as adults as an indication that JESUS had little or no patience with his parents, that they had little or no understanding of his mission in life, and that he could even be unkind, intolerant, and inconsiderate of women and their inquiries concerning his affairs.

7 THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUS 8 Such explanations and interpretations have left in the minds of many the doubt as to whether JESUS was as perfect in all human things as he was in all things divine. Is this fair? And are the interpretations of that incident fair in the light of the facts which show that JESUS was broad-minded enough, understanding enough, to allow his mother, brothers, sisters, and other women to be SECRET , private students of the great mysteries which he taught them?If it appears that the author of this book is going too far in giving emphasis to any possible SECRET meetings of a private school of discipleship, let it be kept in mind that the Bible itself is the very best authority for such statements and goes far indeed in giving emphasis to the fact that JESUS taught the multitudes in one manner, taught an outer circle of private students in another manner, and intimately taught and instructed an inner, private school in still another manner.

8 We have the repeated statements of JESUS that the great mysteries, the great secrets which he taught to the few in his private discourses and SECRET meetings, were not susceptible of revelation to the multitudes nor were they susceptible of understanding by the average person. Yet, the Christian church of today fails to make it plain to the masses that there are secrets, there are truths, there are facts, which they do not comprehend because these are difficult to comprehend, but which can be revealed and demonstrated to the worthy, the qualified, and the specially initiated. These facts give a different coloring to the picture of Christianity as a religious, philosophical, or moral system. In fact, they help us to understand that the original and true Christian instruction, and the original Christian DOCTRINES , were divine things not intended for all human beings.

9 Rather, they constitute a system of transcendental truths, esoteric revelations, and divine laws of unlimited application and omnipotent power. It remains for the challengers of the facts contained in this book to prove their contentions. The author sets forth his facts and the truths that are revealed by them. If the quotations used and the facts contained in them reveal truths that are contrary to those contained in this book, then readers who challenge the book must present their interpretations and show that they are superior to the ones found herein. THE SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESUS 9 Either the many quotations from the New Testament, the many intimations, the many revealing situations and conditions mean something very definite or they mean nothing at all. The reader with the open, unbiased mind will be the better judge.

10 That the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, throughout the world is devoted to the perpetuation and continued revelation of these ancient truths, and the carefully guarded dissemination of such truths to properly qualified individuals, does not separate the true DOCTRINES of JESUS or his great truths from the original system of Christianity. This book, therefore, is not in essential nature or intent any propaganda for the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, but a contribution solely to the esoteric literature of thousands of years ago and today. The Author Temple of Alden, Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, California January 20, 1937* Biblical quotations in this edition are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of the Bible. 10 Chapter 1AN ASTONISHING DISCOVERYNO DOUBT MOST Christians will be surprised at the intimation that JESUS taught secretly any divine principles, or practiced any divine art that he did not reveal to all the world.