Article June 2, 1917 Issue

"Tell no man"

REV. WILLIAM P. MC KENZIE

There are many who look upon the story of Jesus of Nazareth as if the words and acts recorded were like other happenings of history, fortuitous and disconnected. The ordinary recorder contents himself with saying, "Thus it befell," sure that the events were of interest, but indifferent to any meanings lying deeper. The record of those self-named "the Great" is the record of deeds usually incoherent and capricious, serving the moment's desire, passing the hour along, lighting the glory of a day. For those of a later time much of the record has value only as showing what it were well for a wise man to avoid. It is true that in the courts of the great there were men termed "the wise," but in their sententious sayings there was often as much incoherence as in their masters' deeds. In neither the saying nor the doing was there evidence of "the hidden wisdom."

It is being understood in this age what wisdom characterized both the words and the acts of Christ Jesus. When it becomes fully understood how he illustrated the action of ever operative divine Principle, we shall by study of these coherent acts and words of wisdom come to know Principle itself. Consequently we should begin by recognizing that nothing is a chance happen-so in the record; that the story of healing is not for mere hearing "as a tale that is told;" that the words of the Master were not transient like the lute's music, but were rather like the continuing light. Hence in act and word we should seek the reason metaphysical, the meaning mystical, and thereby come to a comprehension of the hidden things and the mystery of the kingdom of heaven.

If we turn to the gospel narratives of the man full of leprosy, we note that one writer observed that the man worshiped, another that he kneeled, another that he fell on his face before Jesus, asserting his faith with his cry for help, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." They all noticed that Jesus "put forth his hand, and touched him," saying, "I will; be thou clean," and that his leprosy departed from him. Also they were emphatic in regard to the counsel given. In Luke it is said that Jesus "charged him to tell no man." In Mark the direction is quoted, "See thou say nothing to any man," and in Matthew it is given more tersely still, "See thou tell no man."

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