ALL Christians can agree that the religion taught by Christ Jesus has not yet fulfilled his predictions for it. The lives of his earnest followers do not yet show the results of his teachings which he foretold and promised. What is the explanation for this comparative failure? The reasons ought to be found and heeded. In any commendable endeavor that does not fully succeed, finding the reasons for failure should contribute to better results.
One reason, perhaps the main reason, why Christianity has not yet accomplished all that Jesus foretold for it is that Christendom has been loath to regard him as a man who acted within the range of what is possible for other men. In this regard, most Christians have not given full effect to his plainest statements about himself. Some of his allusions to himself depend for their meaning on Jewish history and usage, especially during the period immediately before his time, of which no adequate record has been preserved. This comment applies to such expressions as Son, Son of God, and Son of Man. Apparently, these descriptions were titles like Christ and Messiah.
On the other hand, we have a plain and simple statement from Jesus about himself in the words "a man that hath told you the truth" (John 8:40). Not only is this description consistent with all of his other utterances, but it is also so clear and explicit as to leave no opening for doubt or question. Therefore, Mary Baker Eddy followed the example of the Master himself when she referred to Jesus as a "Godlike and glorified man" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 54).
