In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, writes (pp.476,477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." As indicated by this statement, a correct estimate of man's genuine selfhood is necessary if we are to follow Jesus and do the works he did. Not understanding the divine Principle involved, and believing mortal existence to be real, one may ask: Where is the perfect man? Cannot we see that man is far from perfect, manifesting discord, sin, and sickness—in fact, practically the opposite of God's likeness?
Too long has the world held this erroneous view of man and suffered the consequences. Christian Science, with its demonstrable proofs, has come to awaken mortals from this sense-dream by revealing the reality and ever-presence of God's pure, spiritual creation, and to point the way for the realization of its blessings here and now. The Scriptures record that God made man in His image and likeness, and it should be self-evident that what God creates remains as unchangeable and eternal as the creator.
Jesus performed his wonderful deeds as direct evidence of divine Principle, never failing to give all the glory to his Father, who did the works, and saying that of himself he could do nothing. The personal Jesus, whom mortals beheld, was not outwardly different from themselves, but the Life, wisdom, and power he reflected made him superior to other men, proving that his real selfhood was neither in nor of matter. Christian Science is demonstrating that Jesus was not alone in that he could heal the sick by beholding the perfect man, but that all can do the same when they conform their life to his invariable standard of Truth and refuse to believe in the reality of an opposite to God and His reflection, perfect spiritual man.
