"Because of the people"

MABELLE BURGESS WILSON

The Christian Scientist who has often proved the power of God to heal sickness, sin, or some other form of discord, may withhold an audible expression of gratitude at a Wednesday evening meeting because a present problem, perhaps of long standing, remains unsolved. The suggestion may come to one that he ought to wait until this difficulty has been overcome, when he can speak of the efficacy of Christian Science with more assurance. The argument may say, "You had better waith and be sure you are going to be healed of this before you give your testimony."

Every student of Christian Science should know that such a thought could not emanate from the divine Mind; he should at once recognize it as suggestion masquerading in the garment of wisdom, but without truth or intelligence. However dark one's present outlook may seem to be, there is always much for which to be grateful. To have proved in a single instance the power of Truth over error is cause for ever-present gratitude.

All through the Bible, men are admonished to praise God, to be thankful unto Him, and the records furnish many accounts of men and women who in the midst of great peril turned wholeheartedly to God, claiming His protection, and with psalms of praise and thanksgiving won deliverance from evil in some form.

In the New Testament we find in more than one instance that Jesus thanked God as his first step in the healing work he was about to perform. When feeding the five thousand in the wilderness, we are told that he accepted the loaves and few small fishes, the only visible supply, and gave thanks for them before he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the multitude. That Jesus would even consider such a meager amount of food for so many may have seemed foolish to some of those present; for had not his own disciples, who had often witnessed his wonderful works, requested him to send the people away, saying of the few loaves and fishes at hand, "What are they among so many?" But Jesus did not measure supply by the evidence of the material senses. He was grateful for what he had, and so the apparent lack was changed to proof of abundance. All the people were fed, and there was much to spare.

Among the many works of the master Christian was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. In the eleventh chapter of John's Gospel it is related that as he stood before the tomb of Lazarus, "Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." Then he called, "Lazarus, come forth." Jesus knew that his Father heard him always, but the people which stood by did not know, and it was because of them that he spoke audibly, that they might believe that the power which was to raise Lazarus from the dead was no personal attribute of his, but the power of God, his Father, ever-present Life, which was being made manifest through him.

And thus the Master not only restored Lazarus but at the same time raised the thoughts of those who stood by, waiting to see what he would do, from doubt, fear, and skepticism to belief in the power of God over death.

Christ Jesus was "the way," and if those who claim to be his followers wish to do the works which he did and said they too should do, they must emulate him in all his ways.

It is the sacred privilege of everyone who has named the name of Christ, as taught in Christian Science, to give testimony to the healing power of Truth, at the Wednesday evening meetings held in Christian Science churches. We are always grateful for each added proof of the allness and goodness of divine Love, and we should be equally grateful for the opportunity to share these proofs with others.

Though we can be just as grateful in our silent communion with our Father as in the audible expression, let us remember "the people which stand by," those who come to these meetings as our invited guests and are waiting and listening to hear some assurance of the healing power of Christian Science from those who can speak with authority. Should not our gratitude recognize the debt we owe to them? If we invite a guest to our home, we gladly serve him with the best we have prepared for his coming. How much more needful that we feed our guests at these spiritual gatherings with that living bread which sustains and nourishes as nothing else can!

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