There is no question of greater importance than that which pertains to the Christ, and to him, Christ Jesus, who understood the Christ and demonstrated it so marvelously. Unquestionably, much confusion reigns in the thought of many on the subject. Indeed, it can truly be said that failure to distinguish between the Christ and Jesus, who so closely identified himself with Truth, shows that those who fail to make the distinction are misinformed on some of the most profound, some of the most essential, truths of the Christian religion; that they are lacking in understanding of the nature of God and of His Christ, and of Jesus, the Founder of Christianity, whose birth Christendom annually celebrates. So erroneous are the views held by many in regard to God and His relation to the real or spiritual man, that it is no exaggeration to say these views are not far removed, if at all, from paganism.
Christian Science is doing a great service to Christendom by clearing up this question through its clear teaching. If anyone will study, earnestly and conscientiously, what Mary Baker Eddy says on the subject of Jesus and the Christ in the chapter "Science of Being" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 332:9-334:30), he will not fail to gain the enlightenment which will dispel his doubts and misapprehensions regarding it. It needed great courage on the part of the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science to do this; but she was inspired in her thinking and sustained in all she wrote upon it, by the assurance that her understanding of God and the real man was correct.
Christian Science teaches, what the New Testament so clearly records, that Jesus was born of Mary in Bethlehem of Judea. The manner of Jesus' birth was similar to that of other children, but the manner of his conception was different from that of all others. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was distinguished from other Jewish maidens chiefly by the degree of her spirituality and purity. Like other members of her race she knew of the Messianic prophecy, that one should come to redeem mankind; and such was the intensity of her spiritual vision that she perceived, with a clarity theretofore never equaled, that God is the Father of man. Thus, it was inspired understanding which made possible the conception of Jesus, who during his ministry acknowledged only God as his Father. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 261 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," "Jesus, the Galilean Prophet, was born of the Virgin Mary's spiritual thoughts of Life and its manifestation."
