Editorial December 23, 1922 Issue

The Peace of God

Duncan Sinclair

Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem. His birth had been foretold many times by the prophets of the Hebrew people; and so important was the event that the star of Bethlehem shone forth to celebrate it and to guide the wise men to where the babe was laid, while "a multitude of the heavenly host" burst forth in praise to God for His unspeakable gift to the sons of men, that gift which would bring to them the peace of God which passeth understanding. The Savior had come in the fullness of time to glorify God, the Father, and to bring peace to the world, by teaching men the love of God and how to embody that love in their relations with their fellow-men.

How many centuries have gone since he who was cradled in the lowly manger and afterwards became the great Revelator of Truth to his own and all succeeding ages, demonstrated to the multitudes who thronged his steps, as he traversed his native land, the power of God to heal all manner of disease and sin, and taught them how to gain the peace of God? Over nineteen centuries. And is it not pathetic to think that even now, nearly two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, the world still finds itself often the sorely tortured victim of its own evil beliefs? Individuals there are who certainly have attained to some measure of the peace of God; but as a whole, mankind remains much as it was when the Roman held sway over Palestine and the Hebrew paid tribute money to Cæsar.

When comforting his disciples and promising them "another Comforter," "even the Spirit of truth," as John records in unsurpassably beautiful language in the fourteenth chapter of his gospel, Christ Jesus said to them: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." It had always been thus with Jesus. He was constantly assuring his followers that the peace of God would be theirs, if they but hearkened to the Word of God and lived in conformity with His revealed will. But what is the will of God, obedience to which brings peace to the human heart? First of all, however, one must be enlightened as to the nature of God. God's nature must be understood; and it is this understanding which Christian Science gives.

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The Star of Bethlehem