Long before Jesus was born, several Old Testament prophets foretold his birth. But the prophet Isaiah also spoke about his divine purpose as the Savior of mankind. God gives all His children a purpose. He said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (1:5). God knows us intimately and has a specific purpose for each one of us.
Christian Science teaches that there’s something to learn from every aspect of Jesus’ life and example. These lessons have relevance and practical application for us today.
The virgin birth: Referring to this in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, author Mary Baker Eddy states: “The time cometh when the spiritual origin of man, the divine Science which ushered Jesus into human presence, will be understood and demonstrated” (p. 325). The virgin birth is unique to Jesus, but it demonstrated that God’s children are born, not of the flesh, but of Spirit. Christian Science teaches that we are each and all God’s children. Therefore, we are neither material nor a mixture of the material and spiritual, but wholly spiritual. Gaining a better understanding of our relationship to our perfect, divine Parent has a practical effect. It heals.
Jesus’ boyhood: At twelve years, the young Jesus is recorded as saying he was about his Father’s business. The Bible also says that as he grew to manhood, he increased in wisdom and the knowledge of God. Therefore, parents, teachers, guardians, can learn from Jesus’ example and encourage children to cherish their individuality as they go about their heavenly Father’s business, expressing self-government. We’re all God’s children regardless of age. Our true employment is to glorify God in any task. And we can constantly expect to grow in spiritual understanding through diligent study of God’s Word.
Jesus’ temptations: Before Jesus embarked on his healing ministry, he faced temptations. The Bible says he was tempted in every way, yet he overcame each temptation. We too have the Christly authority that Jesus embodied. We’re able to resist and overcome tempting thoughts whether they present themselves as sinful suggestions, a diseased body or mind, or fear. We’re inherently Godlike. This gives us dominion, but we must exercise our divine authority. It requires spiritual discipline—praying and watching thought to ensure it aligns with what’s spiritually true, or Christly.
Jesus’ ministry: Jesus taught, preached, and healed. He assured all his disciples, including those who follow him today, that we’re all capable of doing the healing works he did. Christian Scientists expect healing because healing is the evidence of Immanuel—God’s influence in human consciousness (see Science and Health, p. xi). This divine influence is the Christ, Truth, present today, as it was not only in Jesus’ day but prior to his incarnation. Jesus instructs us to heal the sick. Echoing this instruction, we read in Science and Health: “Implicit faith in the Teacher and all the emotional love we can bestow on him, will never alone make us imitators of him. We must go and do likewise. . .” (p. 25). How? The Christian Science textbook contains the rules of Christ-healing that anyone today may study, understand, and begin to prove in living, and in healing, even if at first in very modest ways.
Jesus’ crucifixion: Jesus’ crucifixion—his sacrifice on the cross—proved practically that he’s indeed the Way-shower, showing us the way of salvation. Submitting to the crucifixion was the only way the sinless Jesus could give indisputable proof of the eternality of Life. This proof is critical to us because it points to our ability to demonstrate what Christian Science teaches—that God is our Life. Therefore, no child of God is lost or ceases to exist. In truth, we always reflect divine Life because we live in God, not in a material body. Our true life is uninterruptible and immortal. This understanding brings comfort to the sorrowing.
Jesus’ resurrection: Jesus rose from the dead three days after his body had been buried, thus proving once and for all that the incorporeal Christ—the divine nature of Jesus—is deathless. Our nature, too, is Christly. Realizing, at least to some extent, that this is our glorious inheritance, resurrects a deadened sense of good in our experience and heals grief, and we begin to exercise our dominion over the challenges we face.
Ascension: Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended. Science and Health describes his ascension this way: “In his final demonstration, called the ascension, which closed the earthly record of Jesus, he rose above the physical knowledge of his disciples, and the material senses saw him no more” (p. 46). This may indicate that we can expect human thought to continually tend Spiritward till we arrive at the full understanding of our spiritual perfection. What a wonderful hope.
No one can replace or substitute for Christ Jesus as the Way-shower of humanity. His place as the Savior of the world is unique. Mrs. Eddy, who discovered Christian Science and is therefore the pioneer or Leader of this Science, echoes the Apostle Paul’s statement in First Corinthians 11:1 when she enjoins Christian Scientists to follow her only in so far as her teaching and works do not deviate from the teaching and example of Jesus. Christian Science doesn’t diminish in any way the place of the master Christian who presented Christ, and who is the one example for all to follow.
As this year draws to a close, let’s spend some time appreciating the tremendous import of Jesus’ example and what it means for us and all humanity, whether we’re looking forward to the holidays, anxious about a physical challenge, struggling with a sense of loss, or meditating on the deeper meaning of Christmas. There’s much to learn from the various aspects of Christ Jesus’ life that will bring peace, comfort, and healing.
Moji George
Member of the Christian Science Board of Directors
