Article August 17, 1929 Issue

"With his stripes we are healed"

MARJORIE N. BUFFUM

ON page 20 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy makes this highly important statement: "Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal belief, and 'with his stripes [the rejection of error] we are healed.'" It has always been admitted that Jesus bore our infirmities, but it has sometimes been thought that his personal sacrifice absolved individuals from making any effort. Mortals were to do the best they could to lead upright, moral lives; but what a poor best it appeared to be compared with the example of the Master, which has seemed well-nigh impossible to follow! No wonder that after the third century a gulf apparently yawned between the Way-shower and his followers! How many since then have contemplated the glorious achievements of our Master with a wistful gratitude and a frustrated longing to go and do likewise!

Gratitude, however, is never fruitless. The flame of spiritual gratitude kept alive through intervening centuries prepared the way for the revelation of Christian Science to our Leader. The tremendous value of her discovery is that it shows us precisely—as an exact Science must of necessity do—how to obey the teachings of Christ Jesus. There need be no more groping and wondering when one is ready to accept Christian Science as a revelation of the divine Principle illustrated in the life of the great Exemplar.

Through its mistaken interpretation of Jesus' life-work, scholastic theology has taught the virtue of unjustly suffering for others. It has inculcated gratitude and adoration for Jesus as the one who preeminently suffered for others. This has unfortunately led to the doctrine that God sends suffering and is responsible for it, thereby apparently presenting patient endurance till death should come as the only escape from human agony. In this cloud of misery and resignation the joyous victory over suffering and death is almost lost sight of.

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