In the Christian Science Bible Lesson December 19, 2011 Issue

Our guiding light

For the lesson titled "Christian Science" from December 19-25, 2011

Abby Fuller

In the Bible Lesson this week, titled “Christian Science,” we hear reasons why Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, showing us how we can see the Science of the Christ. The two independent nativity stories from Matthew 1:18—2:23 and Luke 1:26—2:40 lay the foundation for Jesus’ Messiahship (see excerpts in citations 2–4). While many of us know the generalities of the stories very well, I recommend taking some extra time this week to dive deeply into these great narratives and read them in their entirety. 

Luke’s version of Jesus’ birth is the only one with the shepherds, the inn, and the manger, for example. The shepherds are told that when they see Jesus in the manger, they will be meeting Christ the Lord, their Messiah. Science and Health describes the child born in Bethlehem as “the human herald of Christ, Truth” (p. vii. cit. 2). The story in Luke includes more background, talking about Elisabeth, Zacharias, and John (Luke 1:5–25) and their relationship to Mary and Jesus. The annunciation, when the angel speaks to Mary, her response, and her greeting to Elisabeth (often called the Magnificat, Luke 1:46–55) are found only in Luke.

Through his healing ministry Christ Jesus shone a light on the way, heralding the dawn of the Science of Christ–or Christian Science–as Mary Baker Eddy named it.