Nothing is more conclusive in Christian teaching and experience than that the human self must be renounced and put off in order that the real man, the divine idea, may appear. To the inquiring Nicodemus, Jesus replied (John 3:7), "Ye must be born again." This process of rebirth required of all seekers for Truth may be long or short, depending upon the individual's resistance to spirituality or willing yielding to it.
In his intimate discourse to his disciples shortly before the crucifixion, the great shepherd of humanity lovingly explained to them (John 16:7), "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." Jesus must have seen that despite his faithful teaching and practice of Truth even his closest followers did not always distinguish between his material' selfhood and the Christ, the divine idea or nature of God. They still glimpsed but faintly the unreality of matter and the substance of Spirit. More than once he had said to them (Matt. 16: 9), "Do ye not yet understand?"
Undoubtedly the cross which Jesus bore up the hill of Calvary was made heavier by his disappointment over the spiritual dullness of his disciples, whom he had been preparing to continue his redemptive work. W as it possible that the Master's charge, so vital to all mankind, could fall short of fulfillment? No, he knew that he could not fail, for he was chosen of God; but he also saw that the human Saviour upon whom his followers leaned so heavily must depart if they were to understand and demonstrate the Christ, their spiritual selfhood and his.
