FOR centuries the Christian world has somewhat blotted from human contemplation the true significance of Calvary by a seasonal observance of saddest lament over the cruelty of the crucifixion. It is true, mortal mind needs to be aware of the magnitude of this offense committed against the highest exponent of purity, goodness, love, and spiritual dominion that the world has ever known, for mortal mind must be rebuked and self-seen in order to be destroyed.
However, this was not the intent of Christ Jesus when he submitted to the ordeal of the cross. Because of his boundless love for mankind and his humble obedience to his heavenly Father, whom he always served, the physical suffering involved must have been the lesser part of the anguish with which he was coping as he handled for humanity the world's ignorance, resistance, rebellion, and hatred of the truth for which he stood.
Before his three-year ministry, Jesus had become so familiar with the text of the Old Testament that he based his life and teaching upon its authority. In every phase of his daily service to mankind, he proved that he had come not to exalt the human Jesus, but to reveal the real man by emulating the "Christ," which Mrs. Eddy defines in the Glossary of Science and Health as, "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error" (p. 583).
