One of the most vital utterances of Christ Jesus was his declaration to the Samaritan woman that as God is Spirit, He must be worshiped "in spirit and in truth." This was said to one who evidently thought that moral delinquencies could be covered up by a certain amount of religious knowledge and observance of outward forms, but it is also evident that she was ready for something better; that she was actually hungering for the spirituality which was then offered her by one who was ever ready to prove the truth of his words. She was clearly a thinker, for otherwise she would have turned away disdainfully from the offer of "living water" made to her by the Nazarene prophet, but instead she eagerly sought all that he had to give and, what is more, called her townspeople to share the blessing which had come to her. That they, too, were ready for the truth is apparent from the statement that they besought Jesus to tarry with them, and their frank acknowledgment to the woman that they believed on him, not because of her words, but that after listening to his teaching they were convinced that this was "indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
We have no record of the further unfoldment of these Samaritans, but their progress would depend entirely upon how much of mortal belief and sense indulgences they were willing to give up for the sake of Christ, Truth. This requirement has been the test of men in all ages, and the same is true today of those who see enough in Christian Science to be willing at least to look into it, perhaps to accept what it has to offer in the way of healing. This is well, but it must be followed up by the further steps called for, if one is really to "enter into life," to use the words spoken by the Master to the rich young man who sought his counsel, and whose answers to Jesus' inquiries showed that he had strictly kept the commandments, at least in their outward and ordinary sense. We are told that Jesus loved him even for this, but there was a further demand, one which stood for the giving up of all material belief, and from this the young man shrank and went away "very sorrowful."
It is, however, cheering to be told, even if we cannot be quite certain as to the correctness of the story, that this young man was Joseph of Arimathea, who risked all to show his love for Christ Jesus when the world's hatred of goodness had brought its great representative to what men held to be a death of dishonor. Then did Joseph lavish upon him all that wealth and fearless affection could bestow, and this could have but one explanation, namely, the spirituality which had burst the fetters of mortal belief, its pride and fear, its love of comfort and luxury, its timid uncertainty as to spiritual things,—these shackles must have been thrown off that the man in his God-bestowed dignity might assert his freedom. Neither Pilate nor high priest, Herod nor even Caesar, were any longer to be reckoned with; it was God and himself!
