Christ versus Popularity

EUGÉNIE DE SCHNEEUHR

We read in John's Gospel that after Jesus had fed the multitude with five loaves and two fishes he "perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king;" also, according to Mark and Matthew, who record the same incident, he went on a mountain to pray after constraining his disciples to get into the ship and go to the other side "while he sent the multitudes away."

He who in the wilderness dispelled the vision of the kingdoms of the world with the words, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve," found himself again in the presence of the tempter, this time disguised as enthusiasm of the multitudes who thronged Jesus with their urgent claim on his personality. Jesus promptly directed his disciples to leave him "while he sent the multitudes away." No doubt he knew that his disciples were apt to be influenced by the mental contagion of the crowd.

Then "he departed again into a mountain himself alone," and there he must have risen in consciousness to a spiritual altitude where he was above and beyond the material sense of the crowd, above vanity, selfishness, and self-seeking pride. And was it not this elevated understanding which enabled him later, at night, to walk on the agitated sea? The disciples apparently did not recognize him when he drew "nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid."

All through his three years of ministry Jesus was confronted by the difficulty of imparting by words, deeds, and example to his followers that his was not the mission to establish an earthly kingdom. He was to testify to the spiritual kingdom within the reach of humanity, to the perfect consciousness where neither sin, nor disease, nor death has any abode. He unveiled to his followers the eternality and heavenly origin of the Christ, and made it clear—beyond any doubt—that healing, redemption, and salvation must come through the Christ, the spiritual idea of God.

Jesus' exalted patience in presence of the dullness of his followers is summed up in Mrs. Eddy's sublime definition of "Gethsemane" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 586): "Patient woe; the human yielding to the divine; love meeting no response, but still remaining love."

Popularity and personal sense go hand in hand. Jesus rebuked personal sense and put his disciples to the test when he asked, "But whom say ye that I am?" Because of his answer, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Peter received the blessing of his Master. To the impulsive disciple it was evident that the healing work of Jesus, not his material personality, revealed the Christ. Mrs. Eddy once wrote in a letter to a clergyman (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 120), "Those who look for me in person, or elsewhere than in my writings, lose me instead of find me." Should we approach Christian Science because of its growing popularity, seeking through its practical ministrations fame or ease in matter, we should fail to perceive the Christ; and we should lose Christian Science instead of finding it.

Christian Science teaches us that the perfect man, made in the image of God, has dominion over all the earth. He reflects divine activity, and the bliss of immortality. Realizing this, and proving it step by step, we shall waken to the recognition of "a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Christian Science demonstrates the Christ, Truth. Realizing this, we seek in all humility for spiritual riches, the perfect qualities of God; assimilate them till they mold our character after the divine model; and thus we come nearer to the goal—the perfect man. Sooner or later whatever is false in human consciousness must be redeemed. Christ comes to mankind destroying the beliefs of mortal mind; and this is the Christ-healing.

Our inspired Leader says in one of her much loved hymns (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 397; Poems, p. 12):

"And o'er earth's troubled, angry sea
I see Christ walk,
And come to me, and tenderly,
Divinely talk."

Alert Christian Scientists strive not to allow personal sense and popularity to darken their vision of the healing Christ. With their Leader they see the Christ triumphing over error, and tenderly and divinely imparting to mankind the understanding of redeeming love.

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