A Christian Scientist entered a familiar garden one early spring morning. A soft snow had fallen during the night, lightly covering the ground. He knew, however, that the brave little crocuses were not to be daunted by late snows, and that by this time they were endeavoring to lift their heads above the earth, reaching out for the sunshine. He knelt by a spot where he knew they grew, and there under a thin covering of snow he found a few scattered leaves which had fallen the previous autumn. These readily yielded to the touch of his finger, and there, in all its glory, was a lovely crocus. Its growth had moved the leaves in such a way as to provide protection for it. Here, thought he, is another lesson which helps to reimpress upon me the need for looking through the seeming in order to find true beauty. Material sense accepts outward appearances. Spiritual sense penetrates these and finds reality. Then he questioned. What is reality? What is truth?
The question, "What is truth?" has been asked throughout the ages. It was asked by Pilate after Jesus' statement, "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." If Pilate, however, had not even glimpsed the significance of what had been said and done by the Master, it is not at all likely that he would have understood, had further explanation been given. His thought appeared to be closed to Truth, unready to receive.
In this well-known incident we read that Pilate asked Jesus whether he was "the King of the Jews;" but Jesus turned back the question. In answer to Pilate's subsequent question, "Art thou a king then?" Jesus said: "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." Here was disclosed the very purpose of the Master's life, namely, to bear witness unto the truth. A witness is one who understands a given subject and testifies of his knowledge of it. Jesus bore witness to his abundant knowledge of Truth, of God.
