A two-thousand-year-old story still engages our modern world. A man’s birth is still globally recognized. What was it about the way Christ Jesus lived his short life that has brought forth this reverence, influencing the building of nations and inspiring artistic masterpieces, culture, and even our current timeline?
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science, explains the impact of Jesus’ life when she writes, “Jesus aided in reconciling man to God by giving man a truer sense of Love, the divine Principle of Jesus’ teachings, and this truer sense of Love redeems man from the law of matter, sin, and death by the law of Spirit,—the law of divine Love” (p. 19).
Let’s pause to think about this: Christ Jesus, the Son of God, showed humanity “a truer sense of Love,” and this Love is the divine Principle of his teachings. Right there is a simple and yet profound answer to that opening question. All the elements of that humble and holy nativity night long ago, pointed to this Love. The shepherds, Mary, and Joseph were receptive witnesses to what was brought to light in the world—the strongest and most enduring lesson on the nature of God as omnipresent, divine Love and of man’s relation to this Love. Through the virgin birth of Jesus, the world received solid proof that this Love, which is divine Spirit, annuls matter and its supposed laws of existence. And Jesus’ appearing helps us glimpse the eternality of Love as divine Life. Is this why the angels sang of peace? Is this what truly illumined the skies?
