Article October 20, 1928 Issue

Grace

NANCY H. ADAMS

In John we read, "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." What is this grace? The word expresses beauty, and one delights to linger in thought upon it. But the mere beauty of words is not sufficient: we must understand and appreciate their true significance. One definition of "grace" is, "The mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice." Little, comparatively, is said of grace in the Old Testament.

In what way did Jesus make this quality peculiarly his own? When speaking of Jesus' power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and command the winds and waves, Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 67), "Grace and Truth are potent beyond all other means and methods." In the light of this statement might it not seem that it was Jesus' understanding of God's mercy, united to His justice, that cleared away the dark forms of mortal thought? It is just that mortals should suffer for wrongdoing; but Jesus knew that man in God's likeness can neither sin nor suffer. He admitted no tides of human fear, no mental storms; and by destroying error he removed its penalty. Thus the justice of God, which Jesus so perfectly reflected. became mercv to mortals.

God's mercy has always been with us, for "upon whom doth not his light arise?" Christ Jesus, out of his own experience, and as the result of his more spiritual origin, showed us the fatherhood of God. His Father was Spirit; and his Father had the tenderness of divine Love. He saw the Father as divine Love, and this enabled him to heal the sick, express compassion to the sinner, and raise the dead; for did he not say, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do"? and again, "The Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth"? His understanding of this spiritual relationship he expressed humanly, revealing to mankind a loving Father, who was waiting to heal and save. Our Saviour's love for little children, his understanding of God's care for even the sparrow, his appreciation of the gracious beauty of the lilies of the field, all helped to express that tender outlook on life which transfigures thought. As a place for prayer he chose a garden; a hilltop for a sermon. John learned of him; and later, on the Isle of Patmos, John saw God as effacing even the signs of sorrow, wiping away the tears of affliction and suffering, thus indicating the compassionate quality of divine Love.

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