Article April 5, 1924 Issue

"Take ye away the stone"

MABEL REED HYZER

Jesus' demonstration on the occasion of the raising of Lazarus, as told in the eleventh chapter of John's gospel, included three audible rebukes to materiality. The first was in the words, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." This was the Master's reply to Martha, that dear, eager Martha to whom the way sometimes seemed difficult, and to whom Jesus had once said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful."

Jesus, then, with great patience and loving spiritual understanding indicated to Martha and to all mankind the way to the understanding and the demonstration of Life eternal when he uttered these deeply significant words before the great act of restoring the beloved Lazarus. So clear to him was man's unity with the Father that the very occasion presented itself to him as replete with the activity of Life, instead of, as to those about him, a time for sorrow and mourning.

Nor did he weep until, upon his inquiry as to where they had laid Lazarus, he was bidden, "Lord, come and see." It would seem plain that his tears were not because of Lazarus' experience, but because of the unbelief that had placed him in the tomb,—the unrelenting mortal thought that had not yet yielded to the Master's teachings and proof that God is Life. So, amid the remarks of those who accompanied him, Jesus reached the grave; and his next words were his second rebuke to materiality in the form of a command that comes clearly and continuously to all who would progress and succeed in the healing work of Christian Science,—"Take ye away the stone."

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