In the Gospel of John we read of Jesus' last supper with his disciples, just prior to his betrayal by Judas. We are told that Jesus laid aside his garments and, taking a towel, proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel. Walking the dusty roads, wearing only sandals, men considered a daily foot washing essential; but this service was usually performed by a servant. Can we not visualize the embarrassment of the disciples when their great Teacher stooped to this menial task? Can we not realize the great question that must have been in their thought?

This question was soon answered, for after Jesus finished this work and sat down again, he asked (John 13:12-15): "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." Was not Jesus saying to them in effect that if he with his infinitely greater ability to demonstrate the Christ found himself in the position of servant to mankind, so they, as they rose higher in spiritual attainments, must make their lives of greater service to their fellow men? That the disciples understood and profited by the lesson is beautifully recorded in the book of Acts. We find them establishing churches, healing the sick, giving themselves to the cause of Christ.

The scene has changed in the intervening centuries since that significant event, but the truth Jesus imparted and the example he gave ever remain the same. The example is for all who would truly follow our loving Master. How may we today follow his teaching and example? The way is made plain by Mary Baker Eddy in the great spiritual discovery she named Christian Science. In this Science we learn what the nature of God, the one primal cause, is; and we see man as the image of God.

Christian Science reveals God as the one self-existent Being, the I AM, or Life; as Love, the divine Principle of the universe. It reveals the nature of man, the image and likeness of God, as wholly spiritual. Mrs. Eddy says in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 336): "The spiritual man's consciousness and individuality are reflections of God. They are the emanations of Him who is Life, Truth, and Love. Immortal man is not and never was material, but always spiritual and eternal." Man's eternal heritage is Godlikeness, and this heritage is sustained by invariable, divine law. Effect must always show forth the exact nature of its cause.

When our consciousness has been enlightened by the truth as revealed in Christian Science, we fully accept the Bible teaching found in the first chapter of Genesis (verse 31), "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." We acknowledge that God and His creation are wholly good. Reasoning from this scientific premise, we begin to see the unreal, mythical nature of evil in the myriad forms in which it appears to be manifested. We see that since sin, disease, and death have no good in them they have no reality. Actually they have never been created. With this recognition we can challenge the erroneous evidence coming to us through the avenue of the five senses. We learn in Science that these senses are only the false agencies through which suppositional evil claims to assert itself to human consciousness. Then it is that we find ourselves beginning to serve mankind. We separate from our concept of man all that is evil, mortal, distressing, and in Science behold the perfect man of God's creating, the only man there is. We are now in the great work of lifting the burden of condemnation and penalty from our fellow men. As the dust that Jesus washed from the disciples' feet was no part of their feet, so the dust of materialism is no part of man, made in the image and likeness of God, Spirit.

What a glorious example our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has given us in obeying the Master's injunction. From the moment the Christ first dawned in her consciousness, her life was dedicated to the service of mankind. She first worked untiringly, searching the Bible for three years to gain a clear understanding of her discovery and its rules so that she could impart them to others. Then, discerning a further need, she devoted time and energy to writing a textbook expounding her discovery. Though ridiculed and persecuted, she toiled on—often alone and against untold opposition—to establish a movement that could perpetuate and carry on her great discovery. How much the world owes this tireless laborer, this truly Christlike servant of mankind!

We who call ourselves Christian Scientists and acknowledge Mrs. Eddy as Leader have a great work to do in the world today. Mankind has never been so ready to receive Truth, never so weary of theories which do not stand the test of proof. Never was our service so needed and so wanted. Our Leader writes of this age (Science and Health, p. 570): "Millions of unprejudiced minds—simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert—are waiting and watching for rest and drink. Give them a cup of cold water in Christ's name, and never fear the consequences." Let us follow Jesus in the way that Mrs. Eddy has pointed out and see each individual as he is in Science—the sinless child of God. Let us offer each needy one a cup of cold water fearlessly, sharing the inspiration gained from our increasing demonstration of at-one-ment with God.