Neville Goddard on John 1:45

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the biblical statement, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote,” as the personal discovery of one’s own imagination as the creative power of God, or Jesus Christ. This is not finding a historical figure but awakening to the Christ within you, which is your imagination. This realization often comes as a shock, as one recognizes that this divine power is the same faculty they have used daily, often for unlovely thoughts, without knowing its true identity.

Key Concepts

• The phrase “I have found him” signifies the personal discovery that Jesus Christ is your own human imagination.
• This discovery is confirmed through personal experience; when you use your imagination to create a desired outcome and it proves itself in the testing, you have “found him.”
• The name “Jesus” means “to save,” and your imagination is the savior that delivers you from unwanted states of being by moving you into desired ones.
• The Christ spoken of in scripture is within you as your imagination, and this is the “hope of glory.”

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard teaches that the declaration in John 1:45, “We have found him,” is a metaphor for a profound inner revelation. The “him” that is found is not an external person but the being you truly are: Jesus Christ, who is your own imagination. Scripture asks us to believe that Christ is in us, and this discovery is the fulfillment of what Moses and the prophets wrote about.

The process of “finding” this power is one of testing and proof. When an individual is persuaded to try using their imagination to alter their circumstances—for instance, to move from a state of poverty to affluence, or to experience an event in imagination before it occurs physically—and it proves itself in performance, they have found the savior. The successful application of this inner creative power is the evidence that one has found Jesus of Nazareth.

This realization can be an “awful shock.” It means that the very imagination one misuses throughout the day for unlovely thoughts and failed efforts is, in fact, the creative power of God. The discovery is that this power, Jesus Christ, was within you all along, but you did not know it. The scripture also points to the character of one who is prepared for this revelation, describing Nathaniel as an Israelite “in whom is no guile,” signifying a purity of heart and an inability for deceit.

Important Quotes

When I found Him, I could hardly believe that that really was Jesus! It was an awful shock. You mean, my imagination that all day long I misuse?

— Where Are You Staying

Well, if I can tell it to the point where they are persuaded to try it, and in trying it, it proves itself in the testing, then we have found him.

— Power

Related Concepts

This interpretation is central to Neville's teaching on Imagination as the one and only creative reality. The process of discovery through testing is a direct application of the Law of Assumption, where assuming a state and persisting in it leads to its fulfillment. The discovery itself is the realization of your true identity, or I AM. The practical result of this discovery is the ability to consciously move from one State (like poverty) to another (like affluence), which is what is meant by salvation.

Common Misunderstandings

The primary misunderstanding of this verse is to interpret it literally as a historical account of disciples finding a physical man. Neville corrects this by internalizing the entire drama. The discovery is not external but is a personal, psychological awakening to the creative power residing within you as your own imagination.

Practical Applications

The practical application is to test the principle for yourself. You are encouraged to use your imagination to bring about a desired change in your life. By defining an aim and imagining it as already real, you test the power within you. When your imagined reality becomes your physical reality, it proves itself in the testing, and you will have “found him” through your own experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the 'him' that is found in John 1:45, according to Neville?

The 'him' referred to is Jesus Christ, who Neville identifies as your own wonderful human imagination.

How does a person 'find' this power within themselves?

You find it by testing it. When you are persuaded to use your imagination to create a desired outcome and it proves itself by coming to pass, you have found the creative power within you.

What does the name 'Jesus' mean in this context?

The name 'Jesus' means 'to save.' Your imagination is the savior because it saves you from undesirable states by enabling you to assume and experience desirable ones.