Poem January 8, 1938 Issue

Christ Jesus

MABEL CONE BUSHNELL

He stood before his accusers,
The most loved man in all the world;
And Pilate said,
"Hearest thou not how many things
They witness against thee?"
He answered not a word, the loved one,
So that they marveled greatly.
What could he answer, for they understood him not;
And clamor rose on clamor when he was found free
In thought, and they bound fast in the bonds of hate;
And mortal anger crucified the Beloved
And laid him fast within a tomb,
That guilty ones might not be troubled
With his purity.

And then, because 'twas feared
He might arise, the tomb was sealed;
A watch was set
Until the third day should come and go.
Oh, Pilate, could they not see
That he who understood the Christ
Was filled with love through all this storm?
This God-illumined man, facing rebellious wrath,
Knew only healing in his heart.
The washing of the hands, the cries, the shouts,
Not e'en the scourge brought forth a word.
The man of God stood there alone—
And darkness brooded o'er the earth
During the crucifixion.

And so they set a watch;
And Pilate said,
"Make it as sure as ye can."
But he who always knew his God
Rose from all bonds of earth;
His love-illumined thought
Turned darkness into light,
And all the watch "became as dead."
But he whose love could know no death
Rejoiced—his crucifixion turned
To resurrection. The earth did quake,
The stone was quickly rolled away;
And for all time the watches that are set
Will only prove again
His glorious demonstration:
The Christ was never held within a tomb—
The loved Master knew this truth
And lived it, to a full fruition!

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The recognition of the marvelous cures that are accomplished...
January 8, 1938
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