The greatest teacher of mankind was Christ Jesus, for he taught the Word of Truth not only by words but by works and example. His whole life was a spiritual education for men, bringing to light God's true nature as infinite, divine Love, and man's sonship with Him. As the image and likeness of God, Love, man reflects the spiritual qualities of Love. Jesus taught and exemplified this, proving the truth of his teaching by healing the sick and the sinning. His affection for mankind was intense and his precepts were effective.
The teachings of Jesus have endured the most bitter persecutions and the most scornful condemnations, because they are the outcome of his understanding of enduring, spiritual reality. His affections were so pure and holy that they aroused the violent antagonism of the carnal mind, for his whole life was a rebuke to materiality and sensualism. Worldliness rejects such affection.
In spite of every opposition of the carnal mind, the education and development of the human affections Jesus set in motion has continued throughout the history of Christianity, and today there is a greater humanity and desire to meet the needs of mankind than ever before. But higher spiritual education, on the basis of the Christ, the impersonal and ever-present Truth which Jesus demonstrated, is needed to meet the growing complexities and problems of today. This education Christian Science offers. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, says of the Master in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: "Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error. The world acknowledged not his righteousness, seeing it not; but earth received the harmony his glorified example introduced."Science and Health, p. 54
