Take Ye Away The Stone

Sentinel article from 1924 written by Mabel Reed Hyzer on Jesus' teaching about the resurrection at the place where Lazarus was laid.

Jesus' demonstration on the occasion of the raising of Lazarus, as told in the eleventh chapter of John's gospel, included three audible rebukes to materiality. The first was in the words, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." This was the Master's reply to Martha, that dear, eager Martha to whom the way sometimes seemed difficult, and to whom Jesus had once said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful."

Jesus, then, with great patience and loving spiritual understanding indicated to Martha and to all mankind the way to the understanding and the demonstration of Life eternal when he uttered these deeply significant words before the great act of restoring the beloved Lazarus. So clear to him was man's unity with the Father that the very occasion presented itself to him as replete with the activity of Life, instead of, as to those about him, a time for sorrow and mourning.

Nor did he weep until, upon his inquiry as to where they had laid Lazarus, he was bidden, "Lord, come and see." It would seem plain that his tears were not because of Lazarus' experience, but because of the unbelief that had placed him in the tomb,—the unrelenting mortal thought that had not yet yielded to the Master's teachings and proof that God is Life. So, amid the remarks of those who accompanied him, Jesus reached the grave; and his next words were his second rebuke to materiality in the form of a command that comes clearly and continuously to all who would progress and succeed in the healing work of Christian Science,—"Take ye away the stone."

Surely he who could walk upon the waters and command the storm and the waves could have removed the stone by the same spiritual understanding. But Jesus was ever most wise in the steps he took in his healing work; and in this instance it is significant that it was his desire that those who had placed the stone there should take it away. Here again the protests of Martha would have prevented the work. Still believing firmly in the necessity for the tomb, Martha, no doubt voicing the thoughts of many present, reminded Jesus that Lazarus had been "dead four days." And it was only after another gently rebuke in the words, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" that Jesus impressed upon Martha and her friends the fact that the stone had to be taken away.

END.

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