Article July 11, 1931 Issue

Admitting the Christ

HELEN WARD BANKS

All the Gospels tell the story of Jesus' feeding the five thousand in a desert place near the Sea of Galilee; and three of them, Matthew, Mark, and John, tell of the return of the disciples and Jesus across the lake. By reading these three accounts we find that Jesus, when the satisfied multitude had been sent away, had started his disciples homeward in their boat, while he himself had gone up into the hills to pray. From this height he saw the rising of the storm, the tossing of the little boat, the disciples toiling at their oars and making little progress through the heavy sea. Always compassionate, always ready with help when it was needed, the Master went down to the shore and walked out upon the water toward the tossing boat. None of the disciples knew him, and he might have passed them by, but, seeing their fear, with comforting words he entered the boat. At once the wind dropped, the little vessel no longer toiled through a heavy sea, and they were immediately "at the land whither they went." Now the disciples realized the presence of the Christ.

On page 332 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines "Christ" as "the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness." Although as Christian Scientists we all desire and strive to be faithful disciples, we too sometimes, in a heavy sea, toiling in rowing, fail to recognize the Christ, Truth, coming to us through the tumult, and perhaps even let it pass us by. The storm may rise in a church meeting, in our office or school, or when we are at work or play, or in a meeting of a committee, or even in our own homes, and we toil at our oars and make little progress. Then let us turn our eyes toward the spot where we left the Christ; let us pause a moment and lay down the oars which are moved by mortal desires, and let us wait for the Christ to enter the boat, remembering our Leader's words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 397; Poems, p. 12):