Article August 9, 1947 Issue

"THOU ART THE CHRIST"

LESLIE BURN ANDREAE

Christ Jesus never gave power to anything which had a material basis, even though it professed to be good. He rebuked the rich young ruler whose sense of good he discerned to be material and personal. To Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came by night in an attempt to find out if Jesus was the Christ, Jesus said that a man must "be born again" before he can "see the kingdom of God." Spiritual sense must be awakened before the things of Spirit can be understood. Apparently Nicodemus did not understand this, nor even the Master's simile of the wind blowing where it would, and he was rebuked accordingly. On the other hand, the centurion who asked for healing for his servant had his reward. Surely he glimpsed something of the power of the incorporeal Christ and recognized that the personal presence of the Master was not necessary to effect healing, for he said, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed" (see John 3:1–12 and Matthew 8:5–13).

Whereas orthodox theology generally has accepted the human personality of Jesus as the Christ, Jesus always rebuked this false concept. In contrast, he gladly welcomed Peter's declaration when in answer to his inquiry, "Whom say ye that I am?" Peter replied, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." The Master commended Peter's spiritual sense in the words (Matt. 16:15–17): "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

Later on Peter was rebuked for remonstrating with Jesus, who had told the disciples of his coming trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. Peter had temporarily lost sight of the incorporeal Christ and reverted to a material sense of personality and good in matter. This belief of reversal claims to impose itself on mortals in different ways, sometimes after a particularly uplifting experience. But the Christian Scientist, knowing that whatever has been demonstrated of Christ, Truth, in human experience is irreversible, is not deceived by the argument of error that it can reverse spiritual enlightenment with a material sense of being. Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 74) says, "In Christian Science there is never a retrograde step, never a return to positions outgrown."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Poem
HIS PRESENCE
August 9, 1947
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit