In the Gospel of John it is recorded that Christ Jesus' hearers once demanded of him (10:24): "How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly."

"Tell us plainly" was the urgent demand. At first such a question, whether asked by Jesus' hearers or by modern questioners, seems reasonable. However, in looking at the question closely, one can see that it was an appeal to Jesus to answer in a manner that the material senses could grasp. Perhaps the Master knew that behind this demand was the hope that the Messiah would be a human leader who would give his followers dominion over worldly conditions on materiality's own terms.

Jesus knew, however, that the Christ, which he exemplified, was the spiritual idea of God, which manifests harmony and peace, and that it does not and cannot conform to materiality's concepts. Mary Baker Eddy defines "Christ" on page 583 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as, "The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error."

Jesus knew that he had been telling them "plainly," and he rebuked them for not accepting the truths he had taught. He said (John 10:25), "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." He also said (verses 37, 38): "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him."

His works resulted in good health, daily supply, selfless love, and life because he understood that God is good and is all-powerful. His works, such as healing the sick and raising the dead, showed that harmony was and is the fact and that evil can be blotted out when it is seen as the opposite of God, the All-in-all.

A study of the work done by the disciples whom Jesus sent out to teach and heal, as recorded in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, will indicate that he did tell plainly those who heard him willingly, for these disciples performed works similar in many respects to those of the Master. Even Paul, who did not hear the Master preach directly, perceived the truth plainly, and he raised Eutychus from the dead after an accident. The works of these men proved that Jesus' words could be understood by the obedient and receptive thought.

After a few centuries, however, people began to consider that Jesus' works were for the purpose of identifying him and were not intended to be available to future generations. This conclusion was reached even in the face of the great Teacher's own injunction (John 14:12), "Verily, verily, I say unto you. 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."

In this present age Mrs. Eddy gives an answer to the dilemma of the Master's questioners and doubters when she writes (Science and Health, p. 481): "Material sense never helps mortals to understand Spirit, God. Through spiritual sense only, man comprehends and loves Deity. The various contradictions of the Science of Mind by the material senses do not change the unseen Truth, which remains forever intact."

She further amplifies the answer to the problem inherent in the request, "Tell us plainly," when she states (ibid., p. 298): "Spiritual sense, contradicting the material senses, involves intuition, hope, faith, understanding, fruition, reality."

One dictionary definition of "intuition" reads in part, "the power of knowing"; and a partial definition of "hope" is "desire with expectation of obtaining what is desired." Thus it can be seen that if one uses spiritual intuition and hope—"the power of knowing" and the "desire with expectation of obtaining what is desired"—he begins to understand that the Master's words and works do manifest the Christ, Truth. These spiritual qualities point out the evidence of God's omnipresence and enable one to produce works similar to those of Jesus.

As one's faith is confirmed by repeated demonstrations of spiritual facts, faith becomes consistent understanding. This understanding in turn permits fruition of one's spiritual desires and enables one to achieve a sense of harmony.

One finds that as "material sense never helps mortals to understand Spirit, God," so it cannot help them to understand the true nature of man, the image and likeness of God. Spiritual sense, on the other hand, does enable one to understand the real man and to prove that he is immortal and perfect.

A young woman who was about to begin a vacation trip with her husband and small children noticed a growth on her wrist. She was a student of Christian Science, although her husband was not. She recognized that the growth was but a manifestation of error or false belief and not part of God's idea, the real man. However, the condition did not yield; rather, it grew worse as her vacation progressed.

Except for her small children, she was not among other Christian Scientists, and she became fearful that her husband and their friends would be alarmed and that their vacation would be marred. So she called a Christian Science practitioner who lived near her home, several hundred miles away.

The practitioner assured her that the Christ was actually right where she was and that her true consciousness was the expression of divine Mind, God. He reminded her that the erroneous material senses do not help mortals to understand God and the perfect man of God's creating. He emphasized that the material senses or fears of those around her could not influence her thought or condition if she were alert to the truth of her being.

He recommended that she translate "holiday" into its original meaning, "holy day." She could see the experience as an opportunity to witness the presence of God in every thought and action. She could enjoy the eternal holy day and let her spiritual senses testify to perfection and health. This she did.

As she dwelt on these truths instead of on the testimony of the material senses, her fear gave way to confidence. Then the growth disappeared. She enjoyed the rest of her holiday activities, including swimming and water skiing, with perfect freedom and peace.

Thus it can be seen that the Master did speak plainly, not only to his own times, but to ours also. Our spiritual senses enable us to enjoy the fruition of our obedience to his direction. As Paul expressed it (I Cor. 2:12), "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."