One late afternoon a few summers ago the writer climbed down a narrow winding stair in the quiet little village of Bethany and found himself standing beside the tomb called by tradition the tomb of Lazarus. Here, standing in a cave lighted dimly by the candle held by his little boy guide, at the very place where Christ Jesus is said to have stood nearly 2,000 years ago, the writer recalled the powerful, assured words of our Master: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." John 11:41, 42; The Bible narrative continues: "And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."
So it was, then, that Jesus proved for all time to come that man's individual consciousness is forever intact, forever present. Death was proved an illusion and Life was glorified. That afternoon the writer clearly realized that in this triumphant moment Jesus had given mankind through his example a rule for Christian healing: to offer thanksgiving to God for a healing—to accept it as already accomplished—even before the healing appears.
The writer has seen in his own experience that in the midst of a problem it has been helpful to prepare the testimony he will ultimately give at a Wednesday meeting in his church to express his gratitude for the healing. This he has been able to do with assurance, remembering that every problem of his has been solved through Christian Science ever since he was a small boy. He knows that he will be able to give that testimony in due time, and he takes his guidance for this practice from a line of a beautiful hymn which reads, "And during the battle the victory claim."Christian Science Hymnal, No. 204;
