Humanity properly appreciates and honors many individuals who have contributed to the advancement of civilization by their unselfish heroism. The holy heroism of Christ Jesus comes within this category, but with certain important distinctions. His was no ordinary manifestation of valor, because the divine Principle he lived to demonstrate was important to mankind beyond anything which the world had known. He not only suffered and died for a righteous cause, but he overcame that suffering and death by rising from the grave. And later, he ascended. It is this aspect of his heroism which calls for the thoughtful attention of all who would find their way out of human discord, sin, and destruction.
Jesus embodied and expressed holy heroism in the highest degree. It must have taken more than ordinary courage, strength of character, and firmness of purpose, to remain the immaculate one; to withstand the varied temptations of the flesh; to heal by spiritual means in direct opposition to the material methods of the day; and to State spiritual truth in refutation of the prevailing, though false, theological doctrines. The Master overcame with spiritual love and understanding extreme physical and mental hardships imposed maliciously and unjustly on him, even though he embodied the purest and best character that has ever been known. It is this overcoming which Christian Science observes and emphasizes.
The crucifixion, and other indignities which Jesus experienced, did not glorify suffering as a means of grace, but they did glorify spiritual understanding, which overcomes suffering through self-government and self-purification that reflect the control of divine Principle. The suffering of the flesh has little to recommend it as a means of salvation. All that suffering can ever appear to do is to turn the individual from the fleshly beliefs which produce the suffering to the Christ, Truth, which heals, purifies, and regenerates.
