Article October 13, 1956 Issue

A CROWN ON EVERY CROSS

W. STUART BOOTH

For centuries the cross has been designated as the symbol for the Christian church. A leading English dictionary, in its definition of the noun "cross." speaks of it as the "symbol of Christ's death, and so of the finishing of his mission of redemption." Evidently Jesus did not so regard the cross, for through Christ he put a crown of spiritual victory on it when he brought his body forth from the tomb. He completed his mission of redemption when his thought became wholly dematerialized—completely spiritual—and he ascended above the perception of his disciples.

Christendom has chosen to regard Christ Jesus as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,'" to use the words of Isaiah (53: 3). Yet the world has never known such a life of complete triumph over adversity and limitation, over disease and discord, over sin and sorrow as that of the master Christian. Once when he was in a synagogue Christ Jesus selected and read from Isaiah words which he said applied to him and his mission (Luke 4:18. 19) : "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Not tears, but triumph is indicated there.

When God revealed to her the Science of Christianity, Mary Baker Eddy saw that the experiences of Christ Jesus during his three years of ministering, teaching, and demonstrating were a succession of negations and nullifications of evil in all its forms and phases, a succession of triumphs over disease and death. She saw that these victories were due to the spiritual fact that God, good, divine Truth and Love, is the only cause and creator, the only law-creating, law-governing power, and that therefore whatever in human experience is unlike God and His harmony and perfection is from. Satan, the liar, and is a falsity, even as Christ Jesus saw and demonstrated. This knowledge led Mrs. Eddy to see why the Master promised that those who believe on him, who understand his teachings and obey them, will do the same works which authenticated his words.

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