Throughout the early history of the Jews the demand for atonement for sin was prominent. Aaron was the first high priest, and his son succeeded to that honor, and the Aaronic priesthood, as it was called, came to perform important religious rites and ceremonies.

Reading in the book of Leviticus of the elaborate preparations for extensive rituals on the day of atonement, one is impressed with the recognition of the need for holiness on the part of the early Jews. The appointing of stated times for purification from sin, the cleanliness demanded of the priests, and the sacrificial gifts indicate that the material ceremony typified, though faintly, a spiritual fact beyond their understanding at that time. And their efforts toward purification, when they were faithful in their worship of God, yielded proportionate results in the way of progress and better living.

In the epistle to the Hebrews, reference is made many times to the spiritual high priest typified in the life of Jesus. Familiarity with that part of the book of Leviticus which has to do with the duties of the priesthood may help one better to understand the book of Hebrews. The letter to the Hebrews was written at a time when there was an inclination on the part of some of the converted Jews to return to the Judaic religion. This epistle shows clearly that only the Christ presents the spiritual priesthood, and that no human intercession is necessary or possible with reference to obtaining forgiveness of sin or making the seeker after Truth at one with God.

Jesus indicated the need for forgiveness by including in what is known as the Lord's Prayer the sentence, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." In its fullest meaning this demands so much of each one of us that we shall do well to ponder it. With Jesus the healing or forgiveness of sin at times was clearly coincident with the healing of sickness, as when he healed the sick man who was let down through the housetop, to whom he said, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." This statement, however, caused such a stir among those present that it was necessary for Jesus to elucidate his meaning by saying, "Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?" Then addressing the sick one he said, "Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house;" and the man rose, took up his bed, and walked. Thus the prayer, "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," may be regarded as an endeavor to realize the healing of all error, or, in other words, that all mankind may through regeneration realize man's at-one-ment with God.

For many years students of Christian Science have been studying twice each year a Lesson-Sermon on the Doctrine of Atonement, and in proportion as the subject has been approached intelligently and with a deep desire for purification from all that is unlike God, healings physical, moral, and of every nature have been experienced.

Our wise and gentle Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, recognizing the great need for the understanding of true atonement, which involves the healing of both sin and sickness, has given considerable space to the subject in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." That we may be at one with God, reconciled to God, in our thoughts, words, and deeds should be our daily prayer. To realize in our experience the wholeness, purity, and peace which are from God is to approach the understanding and demonstration of the true atonement.

The incident of the healing of the Magdalen by Jesus is sometimes included in the Lesson-Sermons, and it cannot be too prayerfully or too frequently studied if we would understand its spiritual meaning and experience the results of that understanding. Nothing was farther from Christ Jesus' consciousness than sin of any sort, yet his spiritual alertness enabled him to detect and destroy its false claims in the experiences of those about him. Great spirituality is needed truly to reconcile one's consciousness to God, and this spirituality Jesus possessed. His attitude toward those whom the world called sinners was one of clear detection of the claims of sin; but so great was his understanding of God and the true man that the unreality of all sin was evident to him at all times.

Jesus knew the significance of the alabaster box of ointment which the Magdalen brought and so generously used in anointing him. He also knew that by that act of gratitude the Magdalen conveyed her glimpse of the fact that the "only priest is the spiritualized man" (Science and Health, p. 141). In those days both the alabaster box and the ointment were very precious. The Jews always brought something precious to their priests as a sacrificial gift, so the Magdalen had brought a costly gift to lay at the feet of the Master, that she might receive from his spiritual understanding the healing truth. Do we always bring a precious gift when we come to the Christ for healing? Are we willing to give of our time, our unselfish efforts, our pure desires? These represent the alabaster box of ointment for us, and they are the signs of true repentance.

It is also helpful to observe the difference between the mental attitude of Simon the Pharisee toward the Magdalen and the true view of man by which Jesus healed all error. Jesus' way was the only way to true spiritual absolution, since "to absolve" means "to loose from." When we, as Christian Scientists, learn "to loose from" sin in our own thoughts every dear one who may be suffering from bondage, when we learn to maintain the true view of man, then we are helping others to recognize the true resurrection, even as the Magdalen was enabled, through the vision of the Master, to rise in spiritual understanding, and so to be among the first to view the risen Lord.

The individual need for reformation is emphasized in the teachings of Christian Science on the subject of atonement. It was necessary for those Jews who were converted to Christianity to abandon their belief in vicarious atonement, and this was the burden of Christian ministry among the Hebrews. Better to understand the true priesthood and the spiritual high priest expressed only in the Christ was recognized as a necessity to them even as it is to us today. Great spiritual strength comes from the exercise of individual effort and the lessening, through spiritual growth, of dependence upon others for healing and assistance in the solution of one's problems.

Our atonement is realized in a degree at least as we approach the joyous understanding of the words and works of the Master, free ourselves and others from belief in errors, and thus become more truly one with God. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

Copyright, 1933, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.