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.

Throughout the book of Matthew, there are many reasons listed for how and why Jesus is the Messiah. They include Joseph’s relation to David, son of Jesse (because the Messiah was foretold to be one of Jesse’s descendants, see Isa. 11:1) and the fact that he was from Nazareth, but born in Bethlehem. Matthew’s version of the nativity is the only one with the wise men, the “star in the east” (Matt. 2:1), and the flight to Egypt. The wise men, likely astrologers from Persia and/or China, did not show up right away, but may have arrived up to two years later. What was the “star in the east”? There are many guesses, but it seems possible that it was not a star, but a conjunction of planets in an astrological sign (a constellation in the zodiac, those that the sun passes through) important to the Hebrew people, but unknown to King Herod, a Roman citizen. Science and Health explains that the wise men followed the “daystar of divine Science, lighting the way to eternal harmony” (p. vii, cit. 2).

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. In Section IV of this Lesson, we hear the story about a woman with an issue, or flow of blood (see Luke 8:43–48, cit. 14; also Matt. 9:20–22 and Mark 5:25–34), which is half of the story that includes Jairus’ daughter’s resurrection. The woman who touched Jesus had lost all of her faith in physicians, but had a very great deal of faith and trust in Jesus’ ability to heal her and in his patience with her. She was breaking a law by touching him, but he forgave her and healed her. Jesus’ ability to know that someone had touched him when no one else could see it, was a sign of his spirituality (see Science and Health, p. 86, cit. 16) and of the fact that he was the Messiah, the Christ.

“Christ, as the spiritual or true idea of God, comes now as of old, preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the sick, and casting out evils” (Science and Health, p. 347, cit. 21). Jesus represented the Christ, but his birth, life, death, and resurrection were not the only times that the Christ was with humanity. We do not need to wait in anticipation of the advent of the birth of Jesus to be able to experience the Christ, the presence of God’s love in our lives; it is always with us, and the laws that govern it, Christian Science, show us how to demonstrate its saving and healing power. “My weary hope tries to realize that happy day, when man shall recognize the Science of Christ and love his neighbor as himself . . .” (Science and Health, p. 55, cit. 24). Let us take time this Christmas season to see the Christ in each other, looking for ways to love one another more deeply.

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Testimony of Healing

Mother's healing prayer, a son's choice

December 19, 2011

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