Article June 10, 1944 Issue

"The manger and the cross"

AUDREY M. DAVIES

In many situations today, war has stressed the need of facing and meeting the problem of so-called death. How thankful we can be that we have access, through Christian Science, to the true understanding of Life, which overcomes death. This understanding comes only as we grasp the simple facts concerning life which it was the mission of Christ Jesus to reveal. For interpreting this mission anew to this age, we owe Mary Baker Eddy an endless debt of gratitude.

In a striking sentence on page 142 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy states, "In vain do the manger and the cross tell their story to pride and fustian." "The manger and the cross"! Could two words savor less of worldliness and materialism than these? They connote, in a limited sense, the obscurity of Jesus' birth and the ignominy of his death, and if considered merely as signifying the beginning and end of his personal life history, they might indeed hold little appeal for us. But in a wider sense, these words point to the tender qualities of lowliness and sacrifice which glorified Jesus' earthly career and mark the true Christian in every age. In their fullest import, they convey the universal scope and radiant glory which distinguished the life of our Lord, and which continue to impart their vital message to all in need of it today.

Neither the origin nor the end of Jesus' earthly career was wholly human. He made his appearance in the flesh, like other humans, yet manifestly to glorify his sonship with God, healing sickness and overcoming sin. He experienced the agony of death, yet rose in dominion over it. Thus his origin, as also his departure from the flesh, eclipsed mere human understanding. But he himself furnished the simple explanation, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

Developing Latent Abilities