In John's gospel, third chapter, we read: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." This is a declaration that humanity is saved by and through belief in divinity and the demonstration of this faith, which gives special significance to Mrs. Eddy's statement that "the divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus" (Science and Health, p. 25). A careful study of Jesus' life, words, and works emphasizes a humanity rising higher and higher until it disappears entirely in divinity and is replaced by spiritual being.

Jesus was born in a manger, and he submitted step by step to the customs of the age in which he lived, saying, when baptized by John, "Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." His ever-ready sympathy for those who were overburdened with the cares of this world, in need or in distress, is expressed in such words as, "He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted;" "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,"—conveying a promise of deliverance to the captives of sense, and reward to those who value spiritual gifts more than worldly ones, seeking Principle rather than personality. Consider the comforting assurances and hope he brought the sorrowing, as when he said: "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted;" and when he restored to the weeping widowed mother her only son; to Jairus, his cherished daughter; to Mary and Martha, their beloved brother.

His pitying tenderness was shown toward repentant sinners (those who had suffered for their sins), as in the case of Mary Magdalene, whose sins were completely obliterated by divine Love and the sinner reformed; his parables of the "lost sheep," the "lost piece of money," the "good Samaritan" whose mercy toward the unfortunate was symbolical of divine mercy, and the "prodigal son." The spirit of all this is seen in Jesus' words: "If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

When Peter asked, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Jesus replied: "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven;" and he followed this declaration by his wonderful parable on the method of divine pardon, and how to obtain it forgiving others as we would be forgiven! Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus interceded for his enemies, praying, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Divine Love blotting out the sins of the world! What infinite compassion he had for the helpless sick and suffering, a compassion that carried healing in its wings, as in the case of the man "sick of the palsy," who was brought to him on a bed. With what tenderness and helpful sweetness he spoke to him: "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee," and healed him of his physical ailment! Again, where the woman who had suffered for so many years thought, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole," he turned to her and said: "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." He did not repulse or judge her for her infirmities, but blessed and healed her because of her faith in the Christ,—his divine power.

Jesus did not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, but he demonstrated in all ways the power and victory of divine Life, Truth, and Love over every form of error,—sin, sickness, and death. His mission was to present the true concept of God and man as divinely reflected in the true humanity! What a lofty ideal, for us to reflect as in a mirror the divine Principle that blesses, heals, and saves! to redeem sinners and raise the fallen; to relieve the oppressed; to restore to life, hope, and freedom the spiritually dead; to give health to the sick and suffering; to love our enemies; to return blessing for cursing, and lift the world out of the mire of belief in evil into the glorious freedom of the sons of God!

Jesus never acknowledged any condition of sickness, sin or the sinner, as hopeless or beyond the reach of divine power, but steadfastly believed in the omnipotence and efficacy of the redemptive divine Principle, God, even though persecuted, reviled, crucified, for this faith! In the instance of the woman of Canaan, who so persistently pursued and cried after him to save her daughter, his disciples begged him to send her away. But he would not, and replied: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He did not answer the woman's importunities when she called upon him as the "son of David," but when she recognized and admitted his divine sonship in the words, "Lord, help me," his reply to her humble pleading was immediate, and her recognition of his divine power and of her own unworthiness won for her the healing of her child.

In every case where Jesus' divinity was acknowledged as the power that did the work, the healing followed instantaneously as a natural sequence; but where they were slower to perceive that God was the power, the healing was more gradual; and in some places the "mighty works" were not accomplished because they would not accept or believe in his divinity (or Christ nature), which was spiritual and inseparable from God. He referred to this when he said, "I and my Father are one;" and again, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." But when one would have confounded his human personality with his divinity, he said, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God," showing how sharply he drew the line of distinction between flesh and Spirit, at the same time acknowledging no power for good apart from God.

In following the Master's demonstrations, as he rose higher in the scale of being, it is well to ponder the meaning of each step as mortality disappears and immortality appears; and as we approach Gethsemane (where the human will surrendered to the divine), let us tread with reverent unshod feet, for the ground is holy, wet with the dew of agony, revived with sweet submission to divine will, and the acceptance of martyrdom as the only way to prove the glorious power bestowed on man by his Maker.

He was indeed "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." He prayed that the bitter cup of martyrdom might pass from him, but in meekness said, "Not my will, but thine, be done." Since in that way only could the victory over death be proved to blind and unbelieving mortals, then he must meekly submit to martyrdom that he might prove the truth of his teachings and words! Led "like a lamb to the slaughter," he made no murmur, but carried his demonstration to the summit of Calvary and beyond the grave, that all might know and believe in Life eternal.

We who chafe under daily demands and the fulfilment of human duties, let us not forget that at the supreme moment of his earthly career,—when nailed to the cross, bestowing upon mortals the greatest proof of divine Love and immortality the world has ever known,—he gave his mother into the tender care of his best beloved disciple, "Woman behold thy son!" and to John, "Behold thy mother!" What a sublime climax to his humanity, what a surpassing proof of his divinity, thus to crown the humane lesson he came to teach mankind with tender solicitude and care for the human mother, although he realized better than any one of less spiritual origin could, the unreality of all human ties.

The inspired words, "It is finished," ended this human lesson accomplished for the redemption of humanity by divinity! Yielding to death for our sakes, that he might prove the redemptive power of divine Life over death and the grave, and reveal the great truth that Mind is not subject to death, and that being cannot see corruption or evil of any kind, he rose to a higher, more ethereal form which Mary Magdalene did not at first recognize upon his reappearance after the crucifixion. His personal appearance had changed somewhat, the human being "clothed upon" by the divine,—personal sense melting away, to be replaced by the impersonal, true sense of being; mortality disappearing, "swallowed up" in Life, and death vanquished, overcome in victory!

Let us, then, seek that higher humanity which, as Mrs. Eddy tells us, "will unite all interests in the one divinity" (Science and Health, p. 571), remembering always that the glory, honor, majesty, might, and power, all good, belong unto God, whom man reflects; and let no presumptuous mortal attempt to arrogate unto himself the divine power, or Christ, for this sin is the serpent's argument throughout all ages, "I will make you as gods." Let us meekly obey the Principle and rule laid down by the great Teacher who in his divinity served humanity in every instance, thus working out the ends of good.