Article December 26, 1994 Issue

After Estonia

Written especially for the Swedish Edition of The Herald of Christian Science, to be published in Spring 1995.

Rosalie E. Dunbar

LIKE any disaster, the sinking of the ferry Estonia in the Baltic Sea has left in its wake a host of questions as well as families who have lost relatives and friends. At times like this, even somewhat after the fact, what one can say about the human circumstances may offer little comfort. Yet there are spiritual thoughts and concepts that can serve as guides to new peace and hope.

Not long before he was taken prisoner and eventually crucified, Christ Jesus told his disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). I have often pondered this, asking myself how Jesus could have been so confident when he must have known what lay ahead. How can we begin to be confident when we face tribulation following a disaster?

The answer seems to be in the last part of Jesus' promise, which is "I have overcome the world." Surely the Master is telling us here that we can resist the world's temptations, beliefs, angers, and sorrows by putting our full trust in God. The Bible makes clear that Jesus was willing to do this—even going so far as to experience death in order to prove the fullness of God's love and His willingness to save. That Jesus returned from the tomb shows that his hope was not in vain.

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