Jesus revolutionized human consciousness by bringing the Christ—God's own self-expression—into full exemplification for mankind. He healed, preached, and taught. Through his ministry, he brought humanity closer to the Christ. Jesus knew God, and he knew what was required of mankind in order that they might understand God. He instructed his listeners: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."John 6:27.
If we do not pursue the "how" of Jesus' healing works, we come no closer to the Christ than did most of the multitude to whom Jesus ministered. When hungry, we do not want someone else to eat the meal prepared for us. It is our own partaking that satisfies. Similarly, individual hunger for the redeeming power of the Christ is fulfilled through individual spiritual development. God impels within us the desire to labor "for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." Accepting the healing and the preaching, we must also follow the teaching. The Master said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."John 6:44. It rests upon the follower to recognize divine Truth, honor it, and draw close to it with consistent adherence.
Whether our pursuit of the Christ, Truth, is at an initial point of interest or whether we are advancing into church membership, proceeding from the basic foundation of Primary class instruction, or seasoned with many years of established Christian Science practice, Mrs. Eddy has supplied us with the means for orderly, progressive development in spiritual understanding. She counsels, "Mortals must gravitate Godward, their affections and aims grow spiritual,—they must near the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper sense of the infinite,—in order that sin and mortality may be put off."Science and Health, p. 265.
