Article December 20, 1982 Issue

Healing: celebration of the Christ

RUANNE Y. GENTRY

Christian theology includes not only the dynamic record of Christ Jesus' teachings. Inherent in his words, the Gospels show, was the healing potential of the Christ. Jesus healed because he embodied the Christ, the saving message of God's eternal presence. His words were the inevitable outcome of his works—works that established his God-given authority as the incarnation of the Christ.

When at the Christmas season we celebrate the nativity of Jesus, it is well to lift thought above the human event to a contemplation of its spiritual significance. The Saviour's birth was the appearing of one who was to give undeniable evidence of God's ever-present healing power. Jesus came not only to establish his own sonship, or oneness with God, but also to show others how to assert their own sonship and Christly authority.

The Christian is under the specific instruction of the Master to heal. To his followers, including us today, he said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also."^{ John 14:12.} The celebration of the Christ, therefore, demands demonstration in healing. And Christian Science teaches us how to celebrate the Christ in obedience to the Master's instructions. Today's Christian must not only recognize healing as an integral part of Jesus' mission; he must strive to emulate the Master's works according to the degree of his understanding of the eternal Truth that Jesus taught.