CHILDREN. The spiritual thoughts and representatives of Life, Truth, and Love.

BELOVED CHILDREN

From Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 110:

Beloved children, the world has need of you, — and more as children than as men and women: it needs your innocence, unselfishness, faithful affection, uncontaminated lives. You need also to watch, and pray that you preserve these virtues unstained, and lose them not through contact with the world. What grander ambition is there than to maintain in yourselves what Jesus loved, and to know that your example, more than words, makes morals for mankind!

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From Mary Baker Eddy's EASTER MESSAGE, 1902:

May the dear Sunday School children always be gathering Easter lillies of love with happy hearts and ripening goodness. Today may they find some sweet scents and beautiful blossoms in their Leader's love, which she sends to them this glad morn in the flowers and the cross from Pleasant View, smiling upon them.

These words are found in Miscellany on page 155.

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This Easter story is found in the King James Bible, in Luke’s gospel, chapter 24.

Because of what Christ Jesus had been teaching the people about God, whose name is Truth, and Life, and Love, — the chief priests and those in authority, who did not agree with what Jesus was saying, had Jesus arrested. Betrayed by Judas, one of his own disciples, Jesus was then falsely accused, ridiculed and severely beaten, and then suffered a cruel death by crucifixion. It had been a terrible day for the many disciples who had followed their holy Master, Christ Jesus. A very terrible day indeed. Their beloved Master, who had taught them about God, and who had healed all those who came to him for healing, had been killed, and now it seemed that the truths which Jesus had taught were silenced and the world seemed dark and very, very sad. Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, and who explained the Science of Christ Jesus’ wonderful teaching and healing works, describes this dark state of thought in her book Retrospection and Introspection on page 23. Mrs. Eddy wrote this: Matter was no longer spanned with its rainbow of promise. The world was dark. The oncoming hours were indicated by no floral dial. The senses could not prophesy sunrise or starlight. The title of what Mrs. Eddy wrote is called “Emergence Into Light.” And that is what was just about to happen not only for Jesus’ disciples but for the whole world - they were about to emerge into the light of truth.

Luke’s gospel story continues. Now it was the first day of the week, which was Sunday, and two of Jesus’ disciples were going to the town of Emmaus which was about 7 miles from the city ofJerusalem where Jesus had been crucified. One of the disciples was called Cleopas. We do not know the name of the other disciple. The apostle Luke says it this way; And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

And as these two disciples walked along they were talking about all the things that had happened to their beloved Master, and the things that they had heard about since Jesus had been crucified and buried in the tomb. And as they walked and talked together, a man came towards them, and walked along with them. The man was the risen Jesus, but they did not recognize him, which gives everyone who is really interested in this story a great deal to think about. Luke writes it this way: But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things?

Here is something else to really think about. Jesus had said to them, ‘What things? Jesus had been betrayed by one of his very own hand-picked disciples. He had been denied by one of his closest disciples. He had been brutally treated, and then cruelly killed. During that terrible day most of his disciples had run away. Only a few women and the disciple John, had stayed near his cross while Jesus was hanging there.

And now Jesus was saying to his two disciples, What things?

Christ Jesus was the greatest Teacher who ever lived and when we realize that Jesus was explaining to these two disciples that Life is truly Spirit, that Life is God, good, and that because man is the image of God, good, no evil can touch him, or hurt him. Jesus had proven this truth by coming out of the tomb. Even death had no power over Christ Jesus who understood that God was his Father, and our Father, and our Father God is the only power that exists anywhere and everywhere, all the time. God is infinite divine Love and protects and cares for all his beloved children. Jesus was teaching his disciples about God, Truth, about Life and Love.

Luke then writes how Cleopas and his friend tried to explain to this man who was walking along with them, this man who did not seem to know what had just happened in Jerusalem: And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

And then Luke tells us that Jesus explained to his two disciples what the Scriptures had said about him. Jesus began with Moses and all the prophets and explained how Christ Jesus had been prophesied. And as they got nearer to the town of Emmaus, it looked like Jesus would go further, and here is something more to think about. Their Master Teacher was leading them further in spiritual things, but they constrained him, which means that they held him back, they wouldn’t let him go further, but asked him — remember they still do not realize that it is their very own Master who is talking to them - they asked him to stay with them. To stay with them where they were in their thinking. To stay with them while they were still believing that material sense evidence -- what we seem to see and hear and feel -- is what is real. And Jesus, filled with compassion as he always had been, stayed with them, even though they did not seem to understand very much about Truth at all.

Luke says it this way: But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it~ and brake, and gave to them.

It was at this moment that Jesus’ disciples finally recognized him. Jesus had explained to them what had happened in the way that they could understand. He shared truth, bread with them. He broke the bread of truth into small pieces so that they could understand what he was saying. And then the eyes of their understanding were opened. This was their Master who had overcome death and the grave. Jesus was teaching them grand spiritual truths, but making it simple for them to understand.

Luke says: And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And as soon as they recognized him, Jesus vanished out of their sight.

Here is something else to think about. Jesus had risen from the dead. He had overcome all the material beliefs associated with death, and now he had full dominion over the belief in matter. He was able to come and go as he pleased. He could suddenly appear in their midst -- which you will hear about in a minute -- and could be hidden from their vision and then could vanish from their sight. Just like that.

Then Luke writes: And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Cleopas and his friend were not part of the original twelve disciples but were among the many disciples who followed Jesus. Returning to Jerusalem, they joined other disciples who had gathered together. Judas was already dead. After betraying Jesus, Judas was overcome with remorse and he had committed suicide.

As the disciples talked together, they shared with each other what they knew about what had been happening on that incredible day. They knew that their Master had been crucified and had died and had been buried. They had been witnesses of these things. But, Simon Peter had seen Jesus. And some of the women had seen a vision of angels which said that Jesus was alive. Then Cleopas and his friend told the other disciples about their experience on the road to Emmaus. They had seen Jesus too. Soon the disciples would learn that Mary Magdalene had also seen Jesus, and her wonderful story is told by the disciple John in his gospel in chapter 20.

       Luke then tells us what happened next: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Just think about what was going on in that room. What a holy experience for these disciples to see their beloved Master, their great Teacher, again. Jesus was alive. He had triumphed over death and the tomb. They saw their Master suddenly appear in the room before them, looking just the same as he had before. He still had the marks of the nails on his hands and on his feet, and the wound in his side, where he had been pierced with a sword, but he was still the same Jesus. Now they knew that what he had taught them about God, about Life, Spirit, Truth, and Love, was true. His teachings were all true. God is Love, and God is everywhere, and we are all God's beloved children. How happy they all were. Their faces must have been shining for joy.

Luke writes that Jesus said to them: . . . Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

They watched Jesus eat. He was the same Jesus as before the crucifixion and being buried in the tomb. The same Jesus who had walked along the dusty roads with them as he healed the people. He was the same Jesus who had taught in the temple. But he was there, with them, just like before.

And then Jesus explained to them from the scriptures as he had done for Cleopas and his friend. Jesus said to them: These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And then Jesus said to them that they were witnesses of these things. The disciples had actually seen these things. They were witnesses to the most wonderful event in human history.  And their work was to tell the whole world what they had seen and heard and learned. And the gospels tell the wonderful Easter story. The Easter story is a true story. A true story for all to hear, to understand, and to love.

Here are the first two verses of Hymn 381 in the Christian Science Hymnal.

What brightness dawned in resurrection
And shone in Mary’s wondering eyes!
Her heart was thrilled with new affection,
She saw her Lord in life arise.

She knew the Christ, undimmed by dying,
Alive forevermore to save;
Creative Mind, all good supplying,
Had triumphed over cross and grave.

You may want to read the other two verses for yourself.