Article December 23, 1939 Issue

The Humanity of Jesus

JESSIE BARCLAY MOTTEN

"THE divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus." In this brief sentence on page 25 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy sets forth a profound truth. The beginner in the study of Christian Science finds it helpful to ponder this passage, which brings out clearly the relation between the loving, human Jesus and the eternal Christ, which he manifested. And the student of wider experience gives earnest heed to it as he seeks to gain inspiration for his daily tasks. The need for each one is a greater, and still greater, measure of Christlikeness in his human contacts.

How did Jesus express "the divinity of the familiar he went his way among men? To anyone familiar with the Gospel narratives there will come immediately to memory numerous instances which illustrate the tenderness, the loving-kindness of Jesus, and his sensitiveness to human needs. The very figures of speech which he used in his immortal parables bespoke a keen knowledge of the affairs of the men and women to whom he talked. When he told of tending the vineyards, of setting one's hand to the plow, of breaking bread, or of journeying down to Jericho, he showed plainly his knowledge of the customs of the people and of their problems and activities. Yet no one ever lived upon earth who so consciously and constantly acknowledged the guiding hand of his heavenly or who realized so completely his oneness with God, divine Mind. He spoke of himself as "the Son of man which is in heaven" while he went about his human ministry.

Perhaps there is no incident in Jesus' marvelous career which illustrates better how "the divinity of the Christ" was made manifest in his humanity, than the account of the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead. As recorded by Luke, Jesus had returned from a visit to the country of the Gadarenes and was surrounded by an eager throng, for, as we read, "the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him." Then Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came beseeching him that he would heal his little daughter, who lay dying. On the way to the ruler's house, however, an interruption occurred. A sick woman, thinking to escape detection in the crowd, touched the border of his garment in the hope of receiving healing. Instantly the thought of Jesus, ever ready to respond to a human appeal, perceived that virtue had gone out of him. Did he rebuke the woman for thus trying to receive help? No, he encouraged her to acknowledge that her healing was instantaneous; and his loving assurance, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace," must have echoed in her memory always as a precious benediction.

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