Neville Goddard on Mark 5:41

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard uses the biblical story from Mark 5, where Jesus raises a young girl from a deep sleep, as a direct metaphor for the individual. After recounting the scene—closing the door on the mocking crowd, taking the girl by the hand, and commanding her to arise—Neville's interpretation is revealed in his statement that the listener is personally 'pictured in this' drama. This reframes the scripture as an internal, psychological event rather than an external, historical one.

Key Concepts

• The biblical story of the damsel is not literal history but a psychological drama.
• The entire scene is a symbolic representation, or 'picture,' of the individual listener.
• The state that appears 'dead' is merely in a 'deep sleep' and can be awakened.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard's interpretation of Mark 5:41 centers on recasting the biblical narrative as a personal, psychological allegory. He first sets the scene as described in the scripture: Jesus dismisses the 'mocking crowd,' enters the room with only a few others, takes the supposedly dead damsel by the hand, and says to her, "Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."

Immediately following this retelling, Neville provides his interpretive key by stating directly to his audience, "You are this very night, as you are seated here, pictured in this." This single sentence transforms the story from an ancient miracle into a timeless, internal drama. The events are not about a historical figure but are a symbolic representation of a process that occurs within the consciousness of every individual. The story becomes a mirror, reflecting the listener's own state and potential.

Important Quotes

"And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise." Mark 5:41

— Thinking Fourth-Dimensionally

You are this very night, as you are seated here, pictured in this

— Thinking Fourth-Dimensionally

Related Concepts

The interpretation of this verse aligns with Neville's broader teaching that the Bible is a psychological text about human consciousness. By stating the listener is 'pictured in' the story, he connects it to the concept of States. The 'dead' damsel can be seen as a desired state that appears unattainable, while the awakened girl represents the same state brought to life in experience. The entire drama illustrates a movement in consciousness, which is a foundational element of his teachings.

Common Misunderstandings

A common misunderstanding would be to interpret this story as a literal, historical account of a miracle. Neville's approach, based on the provided text, directs the student away from a historical reading. His statement that 'You are... pictured in this' reframes the entire event as a symbolic drama that unfolds within the individual's own mind.

Practical Applications

The practical application is to view your unfulfilled desires or seemingly hopeless situations not as dead, but as the 'damsel' who is merely in a deep sleep. The story serves as a model for your own inner work. You are to shut the door on the 'mocking crowd' of your own doubts and sensory evidence, and within your own consciousness, speak to your desire with the authority to 'arise.' This implies assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled to awaken it into your reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Neville interpret the story in Mark 5:41 as a historical event?

No, the provided material shows that Neville presents the story as a psychological drama. He explicitly tells the listener, 'You are... pictured in this,' shifting the focus from a historical event to an internal, symbolic one.

What does the 'damsel' represent in Neville's teaching?

The source material implies the entire scene, including the damsel, is a picture of the individual's own state. It suggests the damsel could represent a desire or ambition that seems lifeless but is only 'sleeping' and can be awakened.