Darkness was over all the land, the light of the world was temporarily eclipsed, the earth trembled, and the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. There had been a crucifixion. But look again! Three days later the light was shining in human consciousness brighter than ever before. He whom the carnal mind believed it had killed and entombed, even the promised Saviour of the world, Christ Jesus, was alive. No gloom of betrayal, of a cross, or of a tomb was present to mar the exaltation and freedom of this demonstration. Glorified, immortal, triumphal Life had dawned full-orbed upon the earth. This was resurrection. The deathless life of Christ Jesus, in the brilliance of revelation, was proclaimed to St. John thus (Rev. 1:18), "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore."
But just how had this victory over the last enemy and its sting been won? He who had loved humanity as no man ever had, who had been spat upon, slapped in the face, and had had a crown of thorns placed upon his head, denoting mockery and defeat, said (Luke 23:34), "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." At this supreme moment of utter human helplessness and desertion by all, Jesus, refusing the cup of vinegar to ease the torture, cried out to the Father (v. 46), "Into thy hands I commend my spirit," and then "he gave up the ghost." Laying down the belief of mortal life, the Master proved the spiritual forces of divine Life to be greater than the material beliefs associated with the cross and the tomb.
No wonder that he arose to the unbroken, scientific continuity of eternal life, even to his spiritual individuality, which was hid in Christ and could not be nailed to a cross! Mary Baker Eddy declares in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p.70): "Christ Jesus lived and reappeared. He was too good to die." Well did this great demonstrator of life know that his mission to humanity would be crowned with success by his resurrection. St. Paul, sensing its significance, wrote (Hebr. 2:14, 15), "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
