Article August 21, 1954 Issue

"NO VAPID FURY"

ANNA M. BROWN

When the master Christian, Christ Jesus, did many mighty works on the shore of Galilee near Capernaum, the throng became so great that he had to go on board a fishing vessel while he preached to the multitude. That same evening he commanded the disciples to row across the sea to the eastern shore. While on the way, Jesus fell asleep in the hinder part of the ship. A great storm arose, and the boat began to fill with water. Having no faith in their own understanding to still the tempest, the disciples became very fearful, awakened Jesus, and implored him to help them.

What did Jesus do to meet the situation? Here was a human need, and he met it by rebuking the winds and the waves with the words (Mark 4:39), "Peace, be still." Much spiritual understanding, power, and authority lay behind his few words. These divine qualities and his clear thinking not only destroyed the belief of a tempestuous sea, but, far more important, they destroyed the fear and lack of faith which the disciples displayed.

In reality there is no matter. What appears as matter is simply a belief—the objectified state of mortal mind. Furthermore, scientifically considered, there is no mortal belief to be objectified. Matter and mortal mind are illusions, the Adam-dream or counterfeit sense of creation. Jesus must have realized that what the disciples saw and their human experience with the elements were the result of erroneous thinking; that mortal mind and physical force are one and the same thing—an illusion. The disciples looked to the personal Jesus for help, but finding him asleep, they feared they were lost to the elements. When Jesus rebuked the error, the storm ceased and they felt the presence of the Christ, which saves and heals.

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