"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." With these arresting words Jesus opened a discussion between Nicodemus and himself. It was a memorable interview, sought indeed under cover of darkness, but the truth in the statements which followed, when understood spiritually, illumines forever the scientific sense of being, clarifies the mission of the Christ, makes plain the witness of Jesus, revealing the divine purpose of salvation undimmed by condemnation.

Drawn by an irresistible impulsion, this Pharisee came by night, fearing no doubt to inquire openly from one whose teachings were at such variance with popular and traditional doctrines, and yet discerning, if only dimly, the divine power and authority which found such pre-eminent expression in the words and works of Jesus.

The sublime thought of Jesus, which, even while it perceived unerringly the motive of his questioners, sought as always to enlighten and spiritualize the thinking of those who approached him, found further expression in the words, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," adding with great significance: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." Startled—nay, amazed—the inquirer exclaimed, "How can these things be?"

The unenlightened thought of the Pharisee, notwithstanding the fact that he was a master or ruler of Israel, failed to apprehend the nature of the steps indicated by the Master, embracing as they did first the vision of the kingdom and then entrance therein. Jesus, however, with patience, amplified and illustrated the profound message of spiritual birth and sonship, sonship which abides forever in the presence of the Father, which is born of Spirit and by reason of its divine origin must give unfailing proof of dominion, of heaven, of harmony. So it will continue to do in just such words and works as those which arouse and impel the interest and bring forth the inquiry of seeders like Nicodemus.

Continuing his explanation, Jesus declared, "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." Through the great revelation given to humanity by Mary Baker Eddy students of Christian Science are enlightened as to the spiritually scientific meaning of both sonship and heaven, interpretations which have made alive and operative the teachings of the Master and brought into practical effect the healing and regenerating purpose of his earthly ministry.

In "No and Yes" (p. 36) Mrs. Eddy has written as follows: "Jesus' true and conscious being never left heaven for earth. It abode forever above, even while mortals believed it was here. He once spoke of himself (John iii. 13) as 'the Son of man which is in heaven,'—remarkable words, as wholly opposed to the popular view of Jesus' nature."

In the statement made by Jesus concerning himself in the talk with Nicodemus, together with the light thrown upon it by our beloved Leader, we have revealed to us the foundation for successful healing of all ills, whether physical, mental, or moral, whether for ourselves or for others, whether national or international. Here did the human Jesus express identification with the divine. From the altitude of the "Son of man which is in heaven" we may indeed behold the absolute truth of being, that which alone heals all the falsities of material sense.

To one student confronted with a problem which involved the life and happiness of others, together with the need for making a number of far-reaching, difficult, and complicated decisions, some realization of these spiritual facts came with gradual and growing conviction. She was enabled to turn resolutely away from the personal clamor of difficult environment and despondent, even hopeless and fearful, forecasts of disaster and despair to the comforting assurance that every individual idea, having its perfect place in heaven, must also express that perfect law of placement, of order and security in human affairs. This realization brought with it added confidence that no human act or omission could interfere with the Father's divine plan for His beloved son.

In the working out of this experience all speculative mortal thinking was resolutely excluded and thought was held steadfastly to the divine facts of being represented by "the Son of man which is in heaven."

Quite suddenly the first forward step was taken by one of those connected with the situation. Then everything began to fall into place. Opposition faded, resistance gave way, the right ideas for each situation and circumstance appeared in orderly sequence, and it became abundantly clear that what had announced itself as a "wilderness" experience, which Mrs. Eddy defines on page 597 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" as "loneliness; doubt; darkness," was lifted into what Mrs. Eddy further defines as "spontaneity of thought and idea; the vestibule in which a material sense of things disappears, and spiritual sense unfolds the great facts of existence."

God's law of health and harmony to His own spiritual idea had been proved likewise to be the law to the human concept; that which appeared humanly was seen to evidence the activity of divine government. The vision of "the Son of man which is in heaven" had become manifest upon earth.

Thus does the Christian Scientist learn through spiritual communion to seek and find that secret place typified by Jesus as the kingdom of heaven. By his consecrated, prayerful thinking he proves the presence and power of the government of the kingdom in his daily experience.

As thought expands spiritually, it learns to acquaint itself with infinity, to impersonalize the Master's teaching, and to embrace the meaning of divine parenthood, the Father-Mother God, as revealed by Mrs. Eddy. In this way men may learn how to interpret scientifically the significance of divine Love, which gives to the world the true idea of being. This idea brings the consciousness of everlasting life and ends all condemnation, since life and condemnation cannot dwell together, the latter having no place in the divine allness.

The human concept of sacrificial atonement, of the beloved Son as hostage for humanity's shortcomings, gives place in this spiritual interpretation to the understanding of the great and loving purpose of salvation, wherein is no element of condemnation; it reveals the full effulgence of the mission of him who progressively demonstrated the true idea of being in all the details of his daily experience with unparalleled power and authority. Jesus knew that his eternal spiritual selfhood was the expression of its divine Principle. He never thought of himself otherwise than as the Son of the Father, and therefore in all things illustrated and demonstrated the Christ.

Thus Mrs. Eddy writes (ibid., p. 316), "Christ illustrates that blending with God, his divine Principle, which gives man dominion over all the earth." Here is set forth the glory which all may share in the measure of their approximation to the divine ideal, the understanding of scientific sonship.

Copyright, 1942, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918. Published every Saturday.