In the Old Testament there is a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, depicted by Isaiah in words that are both beautiful and significant. He states in Chapter 9: "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. . . . For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." It is manifest that these names indicate the nature or character of the Christ, which the individual Jesus was to represent so gloriously.
Through Christian Science the true meaning of the Christ is revealed. Mrs. Eddy, on page 583 of Science and Health, defines "Christ"' as, "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error." The office of the impersonal Christ is manifold in its character. This manifestation, expressing the nature of Deity, is universal and eternal. It came in some measure to such Bible characters as Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. However, the Christ was to enrich Jesus immeasurably, and because of this he was to become known as Christ Jesus, or Jesus the Christ.
In the chapter referred to above, Isaiah gives a comprehensive picture of the Christ in the names he has given the child who was to be born, for this child would have the character of the Christ in all the perfection of divine manifestation. Thus the name Wonderful can well apply to the nature of Christ as manifesting divine or spiritual power. God's healing and saving power, seen in the works of Christ Jesus, seemed miraculous and wonderful to human sense, but Christian Science shows that these healing works of the Master were divinely natural. Christ Jesus was the true exponent of the power of the Christ.
