The Divine Idea ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          Those unacquainted with Christian Science are sometimes at a loss to grasp the meaning of such phrases as "the divine idea" and "the Christ-idea." They have been accustomed to a large extent to think of the humanity of Jesus as confined to a certain epoch in human history, whereas students of Christian Science are taught to think of the Christ-idea that has been more or less clearly perceived by the spiritually minded in all ages. When the Christian Scientist speaks of the divine idea, his thought instinctively turns to the manifestation of this idea through Christ Jesus, who was, as Mrs. Eddy tells us on page 589 of Science and Health, "the highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error and bringing to light man's immortality." He would also know that this idea must be actually demonstrated by himself, for in this way alone could he furnish proof that he had grasped the intent of the apostle's inspired words, "Christ in you, the hope of glory."          It goes without saying that all Christian sects express belief in the human personality of Christ Jesus, but if their views respecting the nature and mission of the Christ are to be judged by their literature, these differ very widely; which would not be possible if all understood God and what St. John calls "his Christ." When Jesus came to the world, the Hebrew people had long been looking for the promised Messiah, but their views were to a large extent material and they consequently expected one who would drive out the Roman power and establish a new and earthly kingdom after their own hearts. Their concept of a Messiah or Christ was therefore very far from being the divine idea, although Isaiah had in marvelous terms presented this idea to those of his day — only to be misunderstood by them, however.          Jesus' idea of the Christ was not a human concept. It was the reflection of the divine nature which was continually manifested by him. So far as we can judge by reading the gospels, the Master's disciples came very slowly to the understanding of the divine idea expressed by the great Teacher, and although Peter was quick to see and acknowledge the Christ as expressed through Jesus, even he more than once lost sight of this idea, until after the crucifixion, when there was no longer any wavering or uncertainty, but that sublime loyalty to Principle which knows no fear because it knows so well the inseparability of God and His idea.          When we come down to modern times, we find many deeply spiritual writers giving us, ofttimes in beautiful language, their own conceptions of the Christ; and in most cases the gentleness, meekness, and unselfishness of Jesus are greatly emphasized. Apart from Mrs. Eddy's teachings, however, in no case do we find the presentation of the divine idea which made Jesus the conqueror of sin, disease, and death through all his earthly ministry, and which impelled him to say, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."          When we come to Christian Science, we find that we must get rid of our mortal concept of the Christ before we can lay hold upon the strength which the true understanding of God's idea bestows, and thus be able to follow the Master in the work which he required, namely, the healing of the sick and the overcoming of sin both in ourselves and others. If we are honest with ourselves, we shall sometimes find a tendency to hold the opinion that Jesus made easy concessions to sin, which is a great mistake; and so far as we entertain this belief, we are not rising to the altitude of the divine idea but are substituting for it a limited human concept.          At this point it is well for us to remember that when human sense made its strongest appeal to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed, "Not my will, but thine, be done." This meant that the human concept, even though pure and beautiful beyond anything which had ever appeared to human consciousness, must yield to God's idea of what His Son must be. After this brief struggle, with its glorious results, the Master was ready to prove the nothingness of death and the grave, and to bring, as St. Paul says, "life and immortality to light."   "The Divine Idea" by Annie M. Knott, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, January 6, 1917

 

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