It is highly improbable that when, as related in the gospel of Mark, "Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome" were met at the empty tomb of the crucified Savior with the information, "He is risen; he is not here," that they grasped either the import of the words or the tremendous significance of the event. In the flush of surprise and of consternation, with a sense of fear, and, perhaps, also of disappointment at their inability to perform the gentle rites which they had planned in token of their tender affection for their beloved Master, it is more than probable that they quite failed to comprehend the meaning of the occurrence which held such boundless promise for all the generations to come. The resurrection was the crowning event in the earthly career of him whose privilege it was to become the pioneer and the Exemplar to mankind in making full and complete demonstration over the belief, in all its varying aspects, of life and intelligence as inherent in matter, supported by it, and dependent upon it.
Christian Scientists, in greater degree than any other group of religionists, understand the significance of Jesus' experience, and prove their position by demonstration. Utilizing the spiritual understanding gained through following the teachings of the Nazarene as interpreted by Christian Science, they overcome the claims of mortal mind to a degree that foretokens final victory over even the last enemy. On page 44 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy, with her accustomed clarity, states the meaning of the resurrection: "His [Jesus'] three days' work in the sepulchre set the seal of eternity on time. He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate." Marvelous words! They signify nothing less than the demonstration of eternity and the proof that the utmost efforts of hate and malice were of no avail against the irresistible impulse of divine Love! Our Leader saw the true meaning of this all-comprehensive demonstration and applied her understanding to the practical end of healing mankind of its beliefs in life circumscribed by materiality, subject to disease and discord, and ending in death. She saw in the resurrection the proof of God's ever-presence, and of His power to destroy every phase of the false claim that existence depends upon matter, a belief directly opposed to the understanding of divine Love as Life, eternal and indestructible.
Paul, comprehending the import of Jesus' demonstration of the continuity of existence, laid much stress upon it in his first epistle to the Christians of Corinth. "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen," he argued; "and," he continued, "if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain." And he further declared that in that event, "your faith is also vain." Thus Paul placed the resurrection as the basis of Christian faith, apparently attaching greater importance to it than to all other events in the career of Christ Jesus, even his unprecedented proofs not only of the power of the Christ to heal and redeem mankind through the destruction of sin and disease, but of the power of the Christ to annul the so-called laws of matter,—laws, be it said, so universally accepted as final and irrevocable. These so-called laws were set aside by Jesus; yet such mighty works were secondary in importance to the great demonstration over the belief of death. Jesus foresaw the necessity of this final proof of the meaning of his mission, and, foreseeing it, he took no steps to avoid it. While the restoration of Lazarus and the healing of the daughter of Jairus had created a profound impression among his followers, and it seems throughout the countryside, to remove all doubt, to destroy the last vestige of uncertainty which might remain as to the all-presence of Love and the eternality of Life, he submitted to the indignity of his enemies, permitting malice to do its worst, even to take its full toll upon the common belief of material life, in order to prove the truth of his thesis.
In discussing the miracles of Jesus, Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 117), "Human theories are inadequate to interpret the divine Principle involved in the miracles (marvels) wrought by Jesus and especially in his mighty, crowning, unparalleled, and triumphant exit from the flesh." Nothing less than the understanding of God as infinite Love and the perfect spiritual nature of the Christ could have enabled Jesus to accomplish his great purpose to finally demonstrate the continuity of existence.
May not the resurrection, then, be regarded as Love's greatest message to mankind,—a message of Life and peace, destroying enmity, hate, and death? Was it not the exemplification of heaven as present here and now, and of the reign of perfect peace and harmony to a degree that overcomes all discordant beliefs of the flesh, all the arguments of error? It was the revelation of the nature and quality of God and of His Christ, lifting humanity out of itself into the pure atmosphere of spiritual perception, where only reality reigns, without beginning or end.
The lover of nature finds an analogy to the risen Christ in the annual renewal of her varied manifestations. How beautiful the appearance of renewed life, which at each springtime finds expression in nature's marvelous transformation! What an exemplification of the continuity and eternality of existence is found in the bursting bud and leafing tree, which yearly at Love's behest renew the face of the earth in all the freshness of "being, newly born." Out of the inactivity and sleep of the blighting winter, they spring forth as at the command of some magic unseen power, beautifying earth and cheering the paths of men! "He is risen" is the import of the message of spring's manifold voices; and each year the vernal season furnishes its recurrent proof of the continuity and beauty of Life in its never ending cycles of light and love. What rejoicing comes to the hearts of Christian Scientists for the understanding of the spiritual truth underlying this portentous event; and what gratitude do they feel to the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, as Truth unfolds in proof of Love's ever-presence, beauty, and continuity!
