In Paul's first, epistle to Timothy we find this statement: "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness." The scholars of course tell us that the word mystery as used in the New Testament had a different meaning to that which is now attached to it, but in spite of this we find the spiritual significance of this passage and similar statements brought to light in Christian Science. Christian people in general have felt compelled to accept much of the Bible teaching, because it was evident that if they began by rejecting one part of the Bible they were opening the door to adverse criticism of every sort; and so they chose what seemed the lesser evil, and professed belief in many things which they yet held to be mysterious. This, however, is not the case in Christian Science. While it is true that its students have gone but a little way along the path of spiritual understanding, and have gathered but a few of the treasures which are awaiting them with a higher understanding of the truth, no one of them would deny that all things are possible to God, and that all which seems mysterious to material sense can he clearly explained by the understanding of spiritual law.
A good many people who are regarded as advanced thinkers unhesitatingly speak of the gospel records of the birth and mighty works of Christ Jesus, also his resurrection and ascension, as largely mythical, but they yet say that his pure ethical teachings are of such value that we cannot afford to give up the gospels. Not so, however, the student of Christian Science. With reverence and almost with awe he reads in the gospels of Matthew and Luke the marvelous and thrilling story of the appearing to human consciousness of the divine idea conceived and born of the pure virgin mother, accepting the same because he understands it to be essential truth.
On page 589 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy presents the thought of Jesus as "the highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man's immortality." If we take this statement with us as a light to dispel the darkness of mortal and material belief, we shall begin to understand that the manifestation of God's idea to humanity through the birth of Christ Jesus was in vindication of the spiritual law which was afterward demonstrated by the Master in the overcoming of sickness, sin, and death for those who sought his aid and were ready to accept the truth which he said would make men free from everything unlike God.
