Edgar Cayce claimed no special abilities, nor did he ever consider himself to be some kind of twentieth-century prophet. The readings never offered a set of beliefs that had to be embraced but instead focused on the fact that each person should test in his or her own life the principles presented. Though Cayce himself was a Christian and read the Bible from cover to cover for every year of his life, his work was one that stressed the importance of comparative study among belief systems all over the world. The underlying principle of the readings is the oneness of all life, a tolerance for all people, and a compassion and understanding for every major religion in the world.
An Overview of Edgar Cayce on Jesus as a Pattern
Over a three-year period, Jesus the Nazarene amassed a group of followers who would eventually provide for one of the greatest religious transformations the world would ever know. These people from all walks and stations of life followed after Him because of His promises, the allure of His presence, and the impact of His ministry. Perhaps, more than anything else, it was Jesus’ miracles of healing that first attracted so many to Him. His fame spread throughout the Holy Land and, almost as quickly, disagreements arose as to just “Who was this man?” Consensus on that one question has eluded much of humankind for the last two thousand years.
Throughout history, the perspectives people have had on the life and teachings of Jesus have been varied, oftentimes even at odds. Some individuals involved in “new age philosophies” or comparative religious studies have sometimes decided that Jesus was “just a teacher.” Others have decided to disregard Him altogether. Was He only a prophet? Members of non-Christian faiths may have ignored His life and ministry. Others may have said, “Well, Christians have been cruel to me, and therefore I’m not interested in Jesus.” Was He a man who committed blasphemy by thinking Himself God? Even among those who call themselves Christian, there is no complete agreement about His divinity. Disagreements over the meaning of His life and ministry have resulted in dozens of denominational factions, charges of heresy or breaking away from the faith, and countless wars. Was He the only son of God? Was He a God who became man or always God?
The perspective on Jesus in the Edgar Cayce material is unique in that it presents Jesus’ life as having meaning for every soul in the earth, not simply for those who call themselves Christian. In fact, the readings state that Jesus was a pattern for every soul in the earth—somehow the way in which Jesus manifested the full awareness of the spirit in the earth is a pattern of behavior for each and every soul. With this in mind, Cayce called Jesus our “Elder brother”—a soul who came to show each one of us the way back to our spiritual Source by perfectly manifesting the laws of the Creator. Jesus’ life of service provides an example for all of humankind, and from Cayce’s perspective, each individual will ultimately be challenged to manifest that same pattern in his or her life. One of the readings describes it in this manner: “For the Master, Jesus, even the Christ, is the pattern for every man in the earth, whether he be Gentile or Jew, Parthenian or Greek. For all have the pattern, whether they call on that name or not . . .” (3528-1)
Elsewhere, Cayce suggested that this pattern of perfection could be called the Christ Consciousness, which was described as the “awareness within each soul, imprinted in pattern on the mind and waiting to be awakened by the will, of the soul’s oneness with God.” (5749-14) Regardless of an individual’s religious or personal beliefs, this Christ pattern exists in potential upon the very fiber of her or his being. It is that unique portion of each individual that remains in perfect accord with the Creator and is simply waiting to find expression in the earth.
From Cayce’s perspective, seeing Jesus as a pattern for life is helpful in the same way that an older sibling can sometimes provide insight and counsel into life’s difficulties because he or she went through them first. Thus, Jesus is not interested in religious conversion, denominationalism, or even mighty, personal accomplishments. Instead, He is simply interested in how we love one another and how well we apply our love for God in the earth. This same counsel was given to Thomas Sugrue, author of Cayce’s biography There Is a River, when he was told the ultimate lesson that could be learned from Jesus as the pattern:
What will ye do with this man thy elder brother, thy Christ, who—that thy Destiny might be sure in Him—has shown thee the more excellent way. Not in mighty deeds of valor, not in the exaltation of thy knowledge or thy power; but in the gentleness of the things of the spirit: Love, kindness, longsuffering, patience; these thy brother hath shown thee that thou, applying them in thy associations with thy fellow man day by day, here a little, there a little, may become one with Him as He has destined that thou shouldst be! Wilt thou separate thyself? For there be nothing . . . that may separate thee from the love of thy God, of thy brother, save thine own self!
849-11
For years, individuals from every background and religious tradition have found the Edgar Cayce information on Jesus extremely helpful in dealing with challenges as well as their own attitudes and emotions in daily life. This book of excerpts from the Cayce readings has been compiled to provide an understanding of Jesus the pattern as well as to explore some of the advice given to individuals who had readings and were told that the life of Jesus would be instructive for them personally. With this in mind, it may be read for insights into the readings’ approach to Jesus or even as a daily devotional. This is the Jesus—Elder brother, wayshower, pattern for all of humankind—that is found in the Edgar Cayce readings.
Kevin J. Todeschi
Executive Director & CEO
Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. / Atlantic University
1
Understanding Relationships, with
Jesus as the Pattern
[Background: Housewife, Protestant. This was a joint reading for her husband (1467) and herself in regard to their marriage and future; they were having many problems. Later, they worked these out and had a harmonious relationship; their marriage became an inspiration to others.]
Reading 263-18
GC: You will have before you the entities present in this room, [263], born April 16, 1911, near Murfreesboro, N.C., and [1467], born January 22, 1905, in Norfolk, Va.; also the information which has been given them through this channel. In the light of what has been given, what have they to work out together in the immediate future or in this experience? You will answer the questions they each have submitted, concerning their work; relationships to one another, in the home, outside of the home and with others. You will give such counsel as will help them to carry on and understand their duty, that there be more love and better understanding as to their relation to each other:
EC: Yes, we have the entities here, [263], [1467]; together with the information indicated through these channels as to their experiences in the earth, their relationships one to another.
In giving advice or counsel, it would be well that each analyze the information that has been indicated for each—their faults and failures and their virtues; and that each not attempt to find their differences but rather that upon which each can agree.
There are agreements in some directions. There are differences in many; yet, as is understood from the experiences of each, as well as the information indicated, it is not by chance that there is this union of activities in the present; but if each will accept same it is an opportunity through which each may be the gainer in the soul, mental, as well as material development.
If they each reject