Rebellion that is based upon right thinking, the wisdom, truth, and power of which can be proved by the overcoming of evil, must be worth while and must achieve its purpose. Not for a moment can it ever be right for us to accept as true and powerful that which can be shown to be an utter imposition. An imposition, when recognized as such, must of necessity be faced with rebellion against its claims. This rebellion does not come from fear, resentment, or hate, but is born of that "true spirituality" which, as our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, declares in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 99), "must deepen human experience, until the beliefs of material existence are seen to be a bald imposition." And under the marginal heading "Righteous rebellion" she writes (ibid., p. 391), "Instead of blind and calm submission to the incipient or advanced stages of disease, rise in rebellion against them."
Surely this righteous rebellion was known and felt by Christ Jesus, the Way-shower! As he stood by the pool of Bethesda and listened to the words of the impotent man, telling him of years of waiting for release from his bondage, and revealing where his hope of recovery lay, surely Jesus must have seen false belief as an imposition, incapable of holding in bondage for a single moment anyone who had the understanding of God and man which Christ Jesus possessed. Disregarding the sufferer's pitiable story, and prompted by righteous rebellion, Jesus gave that word of command, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." In a moment a perfect wholeness was manifested. Instantly the sufferer did what he was told to do. He stood up and walked, something he had not done for thirty-eight years.
Again, on that memorable night in the garden of Gethsemane, when Caesar's guards were waiting to arrest Jesus, and Peter severed the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant, Jesus saw material existence with its evil suggestions as "a bald imposition." Instantly righteous rebellion prompted him to redress the wrong of retaliation and establish the right of love. He rebuked and calmed his overzealous disciple, and with a gentle touch healed instantaneously the severed ear. Surely this scene exemplified the majesty and power of righteous rebellion.
