Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1906).djvu/64

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48
Science and Health

ble material intelligence. The pangs of neglect and the staves of bigoted ignorance smote him sorely. His Gethsemane glorified students slept. He said unto them: “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” Could they not watch with him who, waiting and struggling in voiceless agony, held uncomplaining guard over a world? There was no response to that human yearning, and so Jesus turned forever away from earth to heaven, from sense to Soul.

Remembering the sweat of agony which fell in holy benediction on the grass of Gethsemane, shall the humblest or mightiest disciple murmur when he drinks from the same cup, and think, or even wish, to escape the exalting ordeal of sin's revenge on its destroyer? Truth and Love bestow few palms until the consummation of a life-work.

Judas had the world's weapons. Jesus had not one is of them, and chose not the world's means of defence. Defensive weapons “He opened not his mouth.” The great demonstrator of Truth and Love was silent before envy and hate. Peter would have smitten the enemies of his Master, but Jesus forbade him, thus rebuking resentment or animal courage. He said: “Put up thy sword.”

Pale in the presence of his own momentous question, “What is Truth,” Pilate was drawn into acquiescence Pilate's question with the demands of Jesus' enemies. Pilate was ignorant of the consequences of his awful decision against human rights and divine Love, knowing so not that he was hastening the final demonstration of what life is and of what the true knowledge of God can do for man.