Article July 28, 1906 Issue

Seeking the footsteps of Jesus

John K. Allen

At this time of the year large parties of tourists leave America to visit the Holy Land, that little country which for centuries has been the focus of human interest. War after war has been unsuccessfully fought to prevent its falling into the possession of unbelievers, and whither once journeyed hosts of armed and zealously devout crusaders, intent upon preventing the land made hallowed by the footsteps of Christ Jesus from remaining in the possession of those who do not accept his teachings, now resort peaceful throngs of his professed followers who desire to see with their own eyes the scenes upon which he looked, and to stand where, mayhap, he once stood. Around the life of Jesus has centered more human interest than around that of any other man. Historians, dramatists, painters, and philosophers have been as zealous in their study of it as have been the theologians. Even now a continental Government, operating under permission from the Porte, is carrying forward excavations in Capernaum, and the officer in charge told an American lady who visited him last summer that he had every reason to believe he had uncovered the ruins of the synagogue in which Jesus preached and healed with “power and authority.” All this has been done in order that the veritable place may be found from which Jesus, in the flesh, spake as “never man spake.”

It seems surprising that such a large degree of interest should be attached to the place where Jesus promulgated that doctrine which so astonished his hearers, and that so little interest, comparatively, should be displayed as to the true meaning of what he said, or in his marvellous works of healing. Men testified that never man spake like him, and yet for centuries the real meaning of his words was unrevealed to a seeking and expectant world.

For the last forty years the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science has been imparting a demonstrable understanding of the true character of Jesus’ teaching such as the world has not before known. Mrs. Eddy has found thousands of waiting hearts ready to accept the larger interpretation of the Christ-teaching, and this fits them to undertake his mission in its fulness,—for the Master commanded his disciples (students), “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” This larger interpretation teaches us that “the divine ideal, or Christ” (Science and Health, p. 333), is ever with us, and that the recognition of the divine presence and power heals the sick to-day as surely as it did in the days of Christ Jesus and his immediate followers. With this understanding of Christ, Truth, Christian Scientists ascribe to God all-power, all-knowledge, and all-presence, and to the degree that they have this understanding they are able to obey the great Teacher’s commands above quoted.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Christian Science as seen by an Englishwoman