The promise given to the world today by Christian Science is a repetition of the glorious message of the angels to the prophet shepherds of long ago, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." The record continues, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, has written in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 482): "Jesus was the highest human concept of the perfect man. He was inseparable from Christ, the Messiah, —the divine idea of God outside the flesh. This enabled Jesus to demonstrate his control over matter. Angels announced to the Wisemen of old this dual appearing, and angels whisper it, through faith, to the hungering heart in every age."
Mankind generally has thought of angels as ethereal beings or supernatural apparitions appearing under unusual circumstances and in a mysterious manner. However, through the enlightened understanding which came to Mrs. Eddy, angels are now known to be "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality" (Science and Health, p. 581). These "spiritual intuitions" can come to anyone, at any time, when thought has been sufficiently purified and uplifted.
Our Master, Christ Jesus, was ever conscious of his oneness with God, his Father-Mother. This understanding was the natural result of his awareness of God at all times and under every circumstance. He never temporized with evil or disease, and he had but one answer to erroneous suggestion—instant dismissal. After the temptations in the wilderness and the overcoming of them, the Bible narrative closes with the statement that "angels came and ministered unto him." Again, before his betrayal and crucifixion, when he had prayed in the garden, "Not my will, but thine, be done," it is recorded that "there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."
