The full appearing of the spiritual idea in the advent of Christ Jesus brought to mankind the way of complete deliverance from the bondage of the flesh. In this appearing the coincidence of the divine with the human is seen. John's Gospel records this unparalleled event, which inaugurated a new era for the world in these impressive words (1:14): "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." It is significant that the phrase "the only begotten of the Father" refers to the Christ, the Word, and also to Jesus' spiritual identity, or real selfhood in Christ. Our Master's mission was to demonstrate the Christ-idea to humanity, to show that God, Spirit, is the creator of all. Jesus' divine origin was evidently revealed to him in early boyhood, and henceforth, though he was, to human sight, Mary's son, he was clearly conscious of God as his Father.
Luke records that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (2:32). indicating that his human growth was in entire accord with his spiritual advancement. His divinity harmonized, beautified, and ennobled his entire human experience. Jesus' steady growth in divine wisdom and understanding came through his ever-closer communion with the Father and enabled him ultimately to reach the full stature of Christian manhood. The compassionate Christ was preeminent in every thought and triumphant in every act of the Master's throughout his healing ministry. Traditions, creeds, physical laws, and adverse material conditions were annulled by his understanding of the allness of God operating through spiritual law.
Referring to the transcendent revelation of the Christ which appeared to St. John, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 561), "John saw the human and divine coincidence, shown in the man Jesus, as divinity embracing humanity in Life and its demonstration,—reducing to human perception and understanding the Life which is God."
