It is helpful to ask ourselves, What does reading and pondering the life and works of Christ Jesus do for us? Does it not inspire us to draw closer to the Father, divine Principle, who governed the man Jesus? In gaining an understanding of the Principle of Jesus' teachings, we also gain an understanding of the Principle of his works. The inspiration of the Master's lifework comes to us in the degree of our receptivity to the spiritual truths he taught. As we apprehend the great fact of man's unity with God, we are awakened to the Principle of Jesus' demonstrations and enabled to accomplish in some measure his healing works. Paul reminds us (Rom. 8:16, 17), "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."
Wherever divine Love is clearly expressed, there the healing Christ is present. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, was animated by the Christ, Truth, in a remarkable degree. So earnestly did she strive to understand the Christ-idea of Life that she came to discern the spiritual facts of being, contrary to the mortal evidence of existence, and set forth the way of demonstrating immortal Life. Nothing but an utter selflessness, a spiritually born courage, a supreme devotion to God, and a genuine love for mankind could have brought forth Christian Science, or God's revelation of Himself and His idea, man.
Mrs. Eddy writes in the textbook. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 108): "Whence came to me this heavenly conviction,—a conviction antagonistic to the testimony of the physical senses? According to St. Paul, it was 'the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power.'" Mrs. Eddy had so divested her thought of the human, conflicting, material arguments against Truth that her consciousness became a transparency for the revelation of Christian Science, and her obedience to God brought forth the Christian Science textbook.
