Editorial March 31, 1923 Issue

Easter

Ella W. Hoag

ON that morning of the long ago, when the women at the sepulcher were met by the angel who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead, it is little likely they had even a faint concept of what that wonderful event was to mean for all mankind. To their sorrowful hearts, grieving because of the supposed loss of the one whom they held most dear this assurance of Jesus' resurrection must have brought the glad hope of renewed companionship. But how could they realize in that hour the significance of his marvelous triumph, or that it held for all humanity the promise of complete victory over all materiality? The Christian world has always stood in awe before this demonstration of Jesus, accounting the day of its commemoration as perhaps its holiest festival. Nevertheless, until Christian Science was revealed,—in spite of all the Biblical teaching on the subject,—comparatively little of the deep helpfulness of Jesus' resurrection had been understood.

To the disciples, who had walked daily with Jesus for the three years of his public ministry, this demonstration must have evidenced, as never before, the truth of his teachings, since here was a mighty proof of his words, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Paul also preached the truth which the resurrection revealed. Again and again he insisted on the fact that through a proper apprehension of it men might be delivered from all the ills of the flesh, and rise into an understanding of the Christ which would enable them to reap the fulfillment of Jesus' promise, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." He emphasized this possibility when he said, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 179) Mrs. Eddy asks, "What is it that seems a stone between us and the resurrection morning?" and she answers by saying, "It is the belief of mind in matter." Then she adds, "We can only come into the spiritual resurrection by quitting the old consciousness of Soul in sense." Now Christian Scientists accept the teachings of the Bible and of their Leader as the correct interpretation of resurrection. They believe that Jesus came forth from the sepulcher because of his stupendous victory over the flesh through his understanding of Spirit. With the light of Christian Science they see he must have taken each step by mastering the atheistic beliefs in matter with his understanding of the allness of God, divine Mind. Through the power of Mind he proved the undesirability, the powerlessness, yes, the unreality of matter!

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Easter

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access