Editorial April 17, 1976 Issue

We Can Overcome-Cheerfully

Naomi Price

Christ Jesus is our individual Saviour from the world's evils. He is our personal Way-shower, whose example we must follow if we are to emerge from the discordant atmosphere of mortality into the heaven of spirituality. Do we, then, have to suffer as he did, even to the point of literally or figuratively going through the agony of crucifixion?

The Master is unique. Nobody can follow in the precise human footsteps of this man who so perfectly proved himself to be the Son of God, nor should anyone expect to have to endure identical suffering and indignity. Eventually all human beings must overcome the same general claims of the flesh and popular misconceptions of the carnal mind as he did; to some extent they must drink of the cup of bitterness that, according to worldly belief, accompanies this rejection of error. But among the great gifts that Jesus gave humanity is the promise that if we learn the lessons he taught, and follow his example faithfully, we can get free from the claims and vindictiveness of the carnal mind. And be able to follow his footsteps cheerfully right up to the point of ascension.

Shortly before his crucifixion the Master said to his disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."^{ John 16:33;} His own experience of tribulation and overcoming began before the start of his ministry. The vision of his sonship with God, divine Spirit, had come to him vividly at the time of his baptism. The heavens opened and a voice was heard saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."^{ Matt. 3:17;}