Article February 7, 1931 Issue

Transforming Rebuke

HELEN MARY ROLLESTON

On page 215 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes, "The tendency of mortal mind is to go from one extreme to another: Truth comes into the intermediate space, saying, 'I wound to heal; I punish to reform; I do it all in love.'" How well this function of rebuke was exemplified in the life of our Master, Christ Jesus! Mrs. Eddy writes of him in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 53), "He rebuked sinners pointedly and unflinchingly, because he was their friend." It seems clear, however, that Jesus' rebuke, though pointed and unflinching, when properly understood and accepted, could never leave the sinner still in bondage to his infirmity; it must destroy the false sense. It must have produced a higher state of consciousness.

An outstanding example of the healing rebuke is seen in its effect upon Peter, whose faults were the subject of strong rebuke on the part of his Master, and who at last rose triumphant over the sense of failure. Two other characters, because they brought upon themselves rebuke from Jesus, have come down to us through the centuries. Do we not hear of one, overanxious in household affairs, referred to as "Martha"? Now let us examine carefully the history of Martha in the Gospels, to see if much more does not appear than the story which tells that Jesus rebuked Martha's material anxieties and showed her the nature of true activity. The rebuke of Jesus surely did not leave the matter there; the correction must have done its work, and Martha's nature have been in a measure transformed. The Scripture seems to confirm this.

In the eleventh chapter of John is told in marvelous detail and vividly the story of the raising of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. There we read, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus." In this mention Martha takes precedence, though always elsewhere it is Mary who seems nearest to the Christ. Then comes the account of the arrival of Jesus at Bethany; and we learn that Martha "as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him," and therefore had the privilege of that wonderful talk with the Master, wherein he showed her that one fully conscious of the Christ-principle cannot be overcome by the false material belief in death, whatever evidence that belief may present. There, Martha also makes a declaration of faith equal to that which brought such blessing to Peter (see Matthew 16:17). This done, she goes and calls Mary, who has sat still "in the house." When Mary comes she is in tears, a crowd of mortal thoughts with her; and the time for explanation is past.

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The Way of Love
February 7, 1931
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