Christ Jesus healed instantaneously. He understood the operation of the one, universal law, the perfect law of God. Christian Scientists strive to emulate his character and work, including his instantaneous healings. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." ^{John 14:12;} This promise was not restricted to any specific time, place, or persons. Yet Jesus attached the condition that we believe on him, that we understand, accept, and express the Christ-power.

Since Jesus promised that his followers could also avail themselves of the Christ-power to perform similar healing works, we may ask why those who practice Christian Science sometimes fail to bring about visible healing results immediately. Matthew records that Jesus immediately healed a boy who was suffering from epilepsy, after his disciples failed to cure him. When they asked Jesus the reason for their failure, he replied, "Because of your unbelief ..., " and continued significantly, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." ^{Matt. 17:20,21;} Throughout his ministry the Master himself spent many hours in prayer—in persistent, unselfed communion with his heavenly Father—and in fasting, not in the usual sense, but in abstinence from limited, material thinking.

Our petitions in Christian Science are not for God to change a physical condition but for a firmer faith and clearer spiritual understanding of Truth's omnipresence and omnipotence. Our insistent affirmations of God's allness and man's perfection bring healing naturally.

Our Way-shower, Christ Jesus, did not approach a situation in need of healing with the expectation of giving prolonged or extensive treatment. He was fully conscious of the eternal presence of God's allness and of man's perfect being, which allow for no delay or incompleteness. We, too, as we advance in Christliness, can expect our healing work to be instantaneous. Divine Principle, Love, is always immediately at hand. It follows that when this truth is fully recognized and accepted in connection with any human ill, healing is the result. Mrs. Eddy writes, "If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous." ^{Science and Health, p. 411;}

The passage of time is not necessary to reveal God's omnipotence and omnipresence. Since sickness is no part of God's creation, it has, in reality, no beginning, middle, or end; it is only a false belief.

The activity of the healing truth brings out what has been, is now, and forever will be changeless, divine Principle. Christ's healing power is available to reveal man's wholeness, regardless of any physical symptoms, and the operation of this power involves no element of delay.

Since the operation of God's law is always instantaneous, how can we explain the fact that our demonstrations are sometimes delayed or incomplete? Maybe we are looking in the wrong place for the evidence. After declaring the truth, we may watch for improvement of the material condition instead of looking away from matter to the spiritual and true concept of man. Neither health nor sickness is a condition of the body.

Perfection cannot admit an element of incompleteness. Partial perfection is impossible. True demonstration, therefore, cannot be partial or incomplete. In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes, "Not partially, but fully, the great healer of mortal mind is the healer of the body." ^{ibid., p. 326.}

The immutable truth of absolute perfection is the only reality of creation. This eternal truth is the immediate and infallible basis for all Christian Science healing; it is always available and needs only to be perceived and accepted. By precept and example the master Christian set before his disciples the goal of immediacy and completeness in healing. As we, through our prayer and fasting, develop clearer concepts of man's perfection, completeness, and wholeness as God's expression now, we can follow in Jesus' footsteps.