Every time I have read about Pilate, he always seemed powerless to stop what felt like a tidal wave of hate directed at Christ Jesus.
Today I was reminded of the following from page 134 of Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy (from the March 24th, 2019 lesson):
The true Logos is demonstrably Christian Science, the natural law of harmony which overcomes discord, — not because this Science is supernatural or preternatural, nor because it is an infraction of divine law, but because it is the immutable law of God, good.
I had looked up the word “Logos” (which isn’t in the 1828 Webster’s) and found on “yourdictionary.com” Aristotle’s three “modes for persuasion” (in bold):
Ethos (sometimes called an appeal to ethics), then, is used as a means of convincing an audience via the authority or credibility of the persuader, be it a notable or experienced figure in the field or even a popular celebrity.
“All the chief priests and elders of the people” (Matthew 27:1) did their best to use their “authority” and “credibility” to persuade Pilate, yet he could see their “impassioned plea” was one of envy and hatred.
Pathos (appeal to emotion) is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response to an impassioned plea or a convincing story.
His wife tried to use her own influence and story of suffering “many things this day in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)
Logos (appeal to logic) is a way of persuading an audience with reason, using facts and figures.
Pilate’s own human logic saw that this situation was wrong and unreasonable, and yet, because he didn’t have Christian Science, he had no means to counter “animosity [and] mere personal attachment,” avoid “influencing or being influenced erroneously,” or “defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion.” (The Daily Duties)
On page 62 of Dominion Within, Rev. Kratzer talks about the boy who is not given the right change by a clerk, but is too unsure of mathematics to protest because “his knowledge of the facts is not instant and ready-on-demand.” How many times in my life I have been presented with a situation, and personal sense led me one way despite feeling it was wrong. Had Pilate and I both understood “The true Logos” of Christian Science, we could never have been persuaded by personal sense at any time to either give in to error, or give up.
That saying, “Either stand for something or fall for anything” applies here, and what could be better to stand for, and with, than Christ, Truth?
I am very grateful for Christian Science, and for this church and my practitioner for teaching me how to have it “instant and ready-on-demand.” Thank you!