Christ Jesus is the Saviour, Master, Way-shower. He showed the way for each of us to be reconciled to God and thus to know ourselves in truth as God's pure image and likeness, the spiritual reflection of infinite Mind. The Master not only showed the way but exemplified it, and he cannot be separated from it.
The way of the Christ—the ever-present ideal of God—is the way of salvation, of redemption and purification. It is the way of healing, of light and spiritual understanding and true self-knowledge, of manifesting and living divine Love. But when considering all of this, and all else that is expected of a faithful Christian disciple, do we ever fail to grasp the real glory and joy that come with following the Way-shower? Perhaps the human mind even balks and cries out, "I don't want to change; it seems so much is required. Why should I follow this way?"
The answer is: ultimately, we have no choice. The textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, clearly states, "We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught." Science and Health, p. 30. There is actually no other way to go up higher and know the truth of God and man but the way of the Christ. Any other path we might think to pursue leads only to a dead end. And then we find that we must turn back, for our anticipated destination—where we thought we were heading—has eluded us. It was a detour, a mirage, an illusion of the false, material sense of existence.
