Article April 11, 1936 Issue

Witnesses to the Resurrection

BLANCHE NELSON

ON page 31 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy, referring to Jesus, writes, "First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his followers the healing power of Truth and Love;" and she adds, "It is the living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes Jesus 'the resurrection and the life' to all who follow him in deed."

Turning to the record of the work of Jesus' immediate disciples, as given in the Acts of the Apostles, we find that, after their Master's resurrection, when they had more fully grasped the import of his teaching, their spiritual understanding enabled them to be better healers, released them from prison, and gave them wisdom and courage to withstand the violent antagonism of the Jewish council.

Since the first five chapters of the Acts contain references to the fact that the apostles were witnesses of the resurrection, the student may profitably ponder the significance of these statements. One of the first things the apostles did after Jesus' ascension was to choose another in the place of Judas "to be a witness ... of his resurrection." On the day of Pentecost, Peter, to the amazed or deriding throngs at Jerusalem, centered his argument upon the fact of the risen Saviour, to which the apostles were witnesses. To iterate and reiterate that Jesus had been crucified but had risen from the dead might have aroused curiosity or incredulity, even sensation, and nothing more. This, we know, was never the method of the lowly Man of Galilee; neither was it that of the apostles. They knew that proof of their understanding of the risen Christ must follow their statement, and an opportunity soon presented itself for a proof to be given. A crippled man, who appealed to Peter and John for alms, needed healing, and he was healed.

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