Article August 19, 1916 Issue

Not Death, but Life

FRANCIS M. MC GEHEE, A.B.

IN the course of a sermon a clergyman said he had once witnessed a very pathetic scene. A lady had died, and her daughters, who belonged to some peculiar sect, tried to console themselves by saying, "There is no death," although there was the casket and in it lay the body of their dear mother. He added that several years before these people had belonged to his church, but now they could not even ask him to pray for them, and to him this was very pitiful.

Looking at the subject from the gospel standpoint, we remember that Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep." At this his disciples said, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well." They had not yet learned that the material sense of existence is but a dream from which we need to be awakened, and that "death is but another phase of the dream that existence can be material" (Science and Health, p. 427). Jesus then told them that Lazarus was dead, that is, to material sense, but he by no means left the problem there. On the contrary, he went to Bethany, and in spite of unbelief and denial on the part of all, at his command he that was dead four days came forth from the tomb.

Jairus besought the Master to restore his daughter to life, and when Jesus came to the house there was great tumult, both weeping and wailing. He however asked them, "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." Then we are told that "they laughed him to scorn," but his sweetly spoken "Talitha cumi" awoke the maiden, and she arose and walked.

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