IN the long ago, when the angels sang their song of "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," the world at large had no concept of the marvelous work which was to be performed by the one who was born that day "in the city of David," although the angel then proclaimed him as the "Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Only a few holy men and women, at that time, were able to glimpse something of the future influence which Jesus' earth-life would have upon mankind. Only a very few could look forward to the coming ages and discern that men would finally so revere his name, would so long to model their lives after his holy pattern, that all would finally be drawn to the Christ, which Jesus demonstrated so perfectly.
Christians for the most part have seemed to be so concerned with the peace and good will which the angels promised, that they have not always kept awake to the manner in which these desirable conditions were to be brought about. Christian Science, the blessed Comforter which Jesus promised would bring all things he had said to our remembrance, is showing men to-day that Jesus is our Saviour largely because he is our Exemplar.
Jesus did not become our Redeemer from all evil by doing all our work for us. Had it been possible for him to do this, his perfect life among men would have blotted out forever all further appearance of sin. disease, and death. To be sure, he found the way and walked through it,—the way of triumph over every belief in evil,—thus showing all men exactly how to take each step in the heavenward pathway. Each individual, however, must traverse this way for himself and demonstrate, even as Jesus did, his own unity with God by proving through the complete relinquishment of all error its unreality.
