The Bible tells us that Peter was once commended by the Master for having discerned the latter's revelation of "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). Jesus' words strongly imply that he was hailing in his disciple a measure of the same Christ of which he himself was the perfect representative. Witness his reply: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The rock which Jesus referred to is Christ, Truth.
The church envisioned by Christ Jesus could only have been established on a foundation of Christian healing, a church signalizing itself by doing the works which he did, one with signs following. The history of the Christian church shows, however, that not for long was the divine healing element of Christianity practiced, as taught by Jesus. It was mainly neglected in the attempt to conciliate Christ and the flesh, spiritual healing and material conservatism, mental preparedness and pride of power.
Not until 1866 was the world to witness a return of the scientific operation of Christ-healing. That year Mary Baker Eddy, a deeply religious New England woman, discovered the fundamentals of the Christly method of healing. She hoped for a while that the Christian church would welcome her discovery and see in it the divine purpose revealing itself in this age. Disappointed in her expectations, she set out, after much searching and much prayer, to establish the Church of Christ, Scientist.
