Editorial April 11, 1925 Issue

"He is risen"

Albert F. Gilmore

IN her communion address of January 2, 1898, on page 122 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy asks this pertinent question: "Can we say with the angels to-day: 'He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him'?" And she answers the question affirmatively: "Yes, the real Christian Scientist can say his Christ is risen and is not the material Christ of creeds, but is Truth, even as Jesus declared." This statement of our Leader answers the question, When is the Christ risen in one's experience? Jesus' demonstration out of the grave lifted the Christ for all mankind to behold and to worship. And the Christ is risen to each when each gains the ability to behold the risen Christ. But the problem is an individual one in the sense that each must gain for himself the spiritual vision, in order to behold the risen Christ. Did not the Master assert, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me"? To be drawn unto the Christ is the way whereby each will gain for himself the spiritual vision.

As Christian Scientists we know that Christ, Truth, was never crucified and never placed in a tomb. Because of his marvelous spirituality, Jesus, who underwent these experiences, was able to prove through his understanding the continuity and eternal harmony of Life. His extraordinary spiritual consciousness enabled him to leave the tomb, having proved the claims of death to be fraudulent, and to walk forth free among his disciples, until his higher demonstration took him beyond human view.

The experience of every Christian Scientist follows in some degree that of the Master. Beholding the Christ, Truth, individually as he must, the Christian Scientist proves his understanding by denying error in some form, by throwing off some claim of materiality which demands acceptance as true. Thus is progress made. Utilization of the spiritual truth strengthens faith and improves understanding, and the disciple rises higher through every triumph over fraudulent belief. What inspiration may be gained from the example of the Master! What assurance from his word and proof that every phase of error may be overcome, even the "last enemy," death itself!

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