Article February 8, 1908 Issue

A GREAT PROMISE

JOHN K. ALLEN

In the meeting-place of at least one Christian Science congregation there is emblazoned upon a panel at one side of the Readers' platform the words of Jesus as given in the seventh verse of the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." It seems true that when persons who have been Bible students or teachers in orthodox Sunday Schools become students of Christian Science, they find richer meanings in Scripture than formerly. To one such orthodox student, at least, this remarkable saying of Jesus was for many years not understood. It seemed too daring a statement to be considered other than as a part of the allegory of the vine and the branches. With the better understanding which Christian Science teaching gives as to the nature of God and of Christ, and of their relation to each other, the meaning of this statement of Jesus has become clearer. It stands out as one of the great promises of good things which shall come to his followers when the Comforter shall have come into their understanding, the "Spirit of truth," coming from the Father, testifying of the Christ.

If there was ever a time when Jesus spoke more earnestly than at other times, it may well be believed that this was the occasion. In that little upper guest-room the last supper had been partaken of, Jesus had performed the last material service for his disciples, the mental atmosphere had been cleared by the departure of the deluded Judas, and Jesus' farewell discourse had been given. The time of parting between disciples and Teacher had come; Jesus had uttered those sad words, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you." and had himself spoken the words, "Arise, let us go hence," which would have broken up the little gathering. But Jesus knew how little the dream of materialism had given place in his disciples' understanding to the reality of Spirit. Hoping to make the truth more clear to them, he immediately began to speak again, and gave to them the easily understood allegory of the vine and its branches, prefacing it with a declaration that he was the true vine, and following it with the application of the allegorical teaching, then easily grasped by them, that their fruitfulness depended upon the closeness of their relation to Christ, Truth. Then, temporarily abandoning the allegory, he said with great directness, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

Have Christians a right to say that these words are as true to-day as they were to the disciples to whom they were spoken? Assuredly! While the words were uttered by Jesus it is plain he was speaking as the Christ, the spiritual idea of God, coincident with God from the beginning, "having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;" the Teacher of men to-day; the Wayshower for all time. This promise is, then, for the present generation of men. Can we believe it literally? Yes, for it is an epitome of the entire teaching of Christian Science and is demonstrable. Closer examination and analysis show this saying to be absolute truth.

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