Article August 14, 1943 Issue

The Divine Way

DOROTHY EILEEN HEYWOOD-DOVE

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you," said Jesus, well knowing the source and quality of the divine affection reflected by him from the Father, its healing and regenerating nature, its sublime unchangeableness. He then added to his command and exhortation these immortal words, elevating and spiritualizing the true concept of friendship to that of divine, unselfed giving: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Soon the great Exemplar was to give the supreme test thus signified, and so prove, in the laying down of his human selfhood, that he could lift up forever his spiritual individuality and thereby establish a complete and signal victory over both materiality and mortality. In this overcoming not only the chosen twelve, nor yet the following crowds, nor even his own immediate generation would reap the fruits of his impressive achievement. Throughout all time it would bless those who heeded and obeyed the spirit of his teachings and followed his example in their daily lives.

When the blessedness and blessing of such love are apprehended and made operative, friendship, indeed, all human relationships, will express conclusively the permanence and purity, even the spiritual characteristics, associated with Christlikeness; then men will grow into "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" through the relinquishment of a human, fleeting sense of life and love for the divine idea as presented by Jesus.

In the brief period to elapse before his betrayal by one of his immediate followers, the Master was to prove progressively his divine control, his unrivaled dominion over all the malicious efforts to discredit his lifework, to silence and destroy his message. Steadfast, immovable, and unswerving was his adherence to the vision, leading him through selfless deeds, accompanied by healing of all manner of sin and disease, to the very judgment hall of the world's hatred of Truth, there to be sentenced to a felon's fate.

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