For centuries the Christ had been anticipated in prophecy by devout Jews as King, Counsellor, Wonderful, Prince of Peace, and other names indicating an expectation that the Messiah would wield worldly power or rulership. During and following his earthly sojourn, Jesus of Nazareth was known by many titles. Those who loved the Nazarene referred to him as Master, Teacher, Saviour, and Lord—titles indicative of service to, rather than rulership over, the mortal domain in which his life had been spent.
However, the identification which has been most familiarly applied to this great character, both in history and in connection with his teachings, is Christ Jesus. Mary Baker Eddy was the first to insist that Christ was not a synonym for the human Jesus, but rather his divine title (see Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 333). For many centuries the two names were used interchangeably. That they cannot properly be so used is evident when we consider the spiritual meanings of both, given in the Glossary of the Christian Science textbook above cited. Here (p. 589) Jesus is defined as "the highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man's immortality." And Mrs. Eddy defines Christ (p. 583) as "the divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."
Even to the mind uninstructed in this Science there should be no difficulty in distinguishing between Jesus, a corporeal concept, and Christ, the divine manifestation of God. The conscientious student of Christian Science learns to use these terms precisely in both thought and speech, and this understanding instantly clarifies many an otherwise obscure passage of Scripture.
The term "Jesus the Christ" is the complete and accurate translation of the Greek and may be taken to mean that the Master was looked upon by his disciples and students as divinely anointed—sent by God to give to the world a workable and understandable knowledge of Deity, divine good. Throughout his momentous career, every word and deed of Jesus gave evidence of this divine anointing. His constant, consistent endeavor, even in boyhood, to show himself approved of God won as a reward the ability and power to triumph over every form of disease and disaster which confronted him, and finally over the belief of death and the grave.
Jesus was humble, and his humility evidenced the Christ. Jesus was truthful, and his truthfulness spoke of the Christ. Combining meekness with truth, Jesus enshrined the Christ in an unprecedented exemplification that has won the reverent homage of millions of hearts down through the centuries.
Today the sick are being healed, the grieving comforted, the hungry fed, the sinning reformed, and the dead are being raised up through the Christlike understanding of the Science which Jesus knew and practiced. All credit for this reinstatement of primitive Christianity is due the inspired and undaunted Discoverer of Christian Science, who so completely understood the Christ—the true idea of God, man, and the universe—that she became the Founder and Leader of the Christian Science movement.
If we revere her unselfed example, may we recall that again and again throughout her writings our Leader enjoins us to follow Paul's advice (Phil. 2:5), "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." We shall obey her injunction and truly exemplify the Christ in proportion as we understand the real import of Jesus' life and strive to emulate his mighty works. We are true followers of the Christ, not in proportion as we claim to be Christian Scientists, but in the degree in which we demonstrate Christ in our own lives by actually casting out evils and healing the sick. Thus each individual may today prove the universal presence of infinite good, potent to the accomplishment of every right purpose for the betterment of mankind.
A man and wife who had worked faithfully for a number of years in an orthodox denomination gained an understanding of Christian Science. They were much gratified to note the quicker response to their prayers. In analyzing and explaining this result of the introduction of Christian Science into their lives, the husband remarked, "You see, heretofore our prayers were audible pleas directed to Christ Jesus, whom we thought of as a far-away, corporeal being, as an intercessor with God; whereas our prayers now are joyous affirmations of the Christ's presence with us." They had found in Christian Science a religion wherein the heart both speaks and hears. A daughter in this family, upon leaving the parental roof to go out into the world of business, was able to demonstrate progress in one excellent position after another by holding steadfastly to the truth that she was, and forever is, led by the ever-present Christ, and not by inordinate ambition.
"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit," said Jesus (John 15:8). He implies that otherwise we cannot lay claim to being his disciples. We shall find ourselves capable of bearing much fruit in proportion as we comprehend the Christ, "the divine manifestation of God," and humbly and lovingly demonstrate its potency to destroy incarnate error, even as did the Master. Through this scientific understanding, countless followers of Christ Jesus have experienced the joy of spiritual liberation so well portrayed in the words of Isaiah (Isa. 55:12), "Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
