Christ and Christianity: the Word, spiritual life, and the fruits of love

It is said that Christ (may my spirit be sacrificed for Him) one day passed by a dead animal with the disciples. One said, "How putrid this animal is!" Another said, "What an ugly appearance it has!" Another said, "How repulsive it is!" Christ said, "Look at its teeth, how white they are!"

Christ's sovereignty was an everlasting sovereignty - not like the sovereignty of Napoleon, or Genghis Khan, or Hannibal. Christ's sovereignty was spiritual sovereignty, eternal sovereignty, sovereignty of conscience. His dominions were hearts; He reigned in hearts, not in dust, and His sovereignty endures forever without end.

O thou who art advancing toward God! Know verily that the reign of Jesus was a spiritual reign, penetrative in the hearts and the spirits and not ever the bodies, rocks and earth.

The fetters which Christ put on Satanis neck meant the breaking of his power, the hindering of his dominion and the dispersing of his assemblage through the power of Inspiration and Revelation.

The principles of Christ's life were love and mercy. He prayed for his enemies on the cross. He came into the world in order to show men a new application of the Law of Love and he embodied this divine Idea in his life. He was the founder of the law of non-resistance.

The outward meaning is this: Since Christ intended to promote a Cause that entailed the education of the human race, the quickening of the children of men, and the enlightenment of all humanity, and since promoting such a mighty Cause--a Cause that would antagonize all the peoples of the earth and withstand the opposition of every nation and government--was bound to bring about the spilling of His blood and to lead to His crucifixion and death, therefore at the moment He revealed His mission He offered up His life, welcomed the cross as His throne, regarded every wound as a balm and every poison as sweetest honey, and arose to instruct and guide the people.

The greatness and exaltation of Christ is clear as the sun from the Books and Tablets of Baha'u'llah, and likewise in the letters of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

… And the Baha'i belief regarding the station of Christ is that Christ is the Word of God.

Question: In what manner does the human spirit proceed from God, since in the Torah it is said that God breathed the spirit into the body of man?

Answer: Know that procession is of two kinds: procession and appearance through emanation and procession and appearance through manifestation. Emanational procession is like the procession of the handiwork from its author. For example, the writing proceeds from the writer. Now, just as the writing emanates from the writer and the discourse from the speaker, so does the human spirit emanate from God. But it does not manifest Him: that is, no part has been separated from the divine Reality to enter into the body of man. No, the human spirit has emanated, just as speech emanates from the speaker, and become manifested in the body of man.

As for manifestational procession, it is the manifestation of the reality of a thing in other forms, like the procession of this tree or this flower from their seeds, for it is the seed itself that has become manifested in the form of the branches, leaves and flowers. This is called manifestational procession.

The spirits of men proceed from God by emanation, in the same way as the discourse proceeds from the speaker and the writing from the writer; that is, the speaker himself does not become the speech, any more than the writer becomes the writing: the connection is rather one of emanational procession. For the speaker remains in an absolute state of ability and power as the discourse emanates from him, even as the action emanates from its author. The true Speaker, the divine Essence, ever remains in the same condition and experiences no change or alteration, no transformation or vicissitude. It has neither beginning nor end. The procession of human spirits from God is therefore an emanational procession. When it is said in the Torah that God breathed His spirit into man, this spirit is even as speech that has emanated from the true Speaker and taken effect in the reality of man.

Now, if we were to understand manifestational procession as "appearance" rather than "division into parts," we have already stated that this is the manner of the procession and appearance of the Holy Spirit and the Word, which are from God. As it is said in the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." It follows then that the Holy Spirit and the Word are the appearance of God and consist in the divine perfections that shone forth in the reality of Christ. And these perfections were with God, even as the sun which manifests the fullness of its glory in a mirror. For by the Word is not meant the body of Christ but the divine perfections that were manifested in Him. Thus Christ was like a spotless mirror which was turned towards the Sun of Truth, and the perfections of that Sun, that is, its light and heat, were plainly manifest in that mirror. If we look into the mirror, we see the sun and we say it is the sun. Therefore, the Word and the Holy Spirit, which consist in the perfections of God, are the divine appearance. This is the meaning of the verse in the Gospel which says: "the Word was with God, and the Word was God;" for the divine perfections cannot be distinguished from the divine Essence. The perfections of Christ are called the Word since all created things are like individual letters, and individual letters do not convey a complete meaning; while the perfections of Christ are even as an entire word, for from a word a complete meaning can be inferred. As the reality of Christ was the manifestation of the divine perfections, it was even as a word. Why? Because it comprised a complete meaning, and that is why it has been called the Word.

And know that the procession of the Word and the Holy Spirit from God, which is a manifestational procession and appearance, should not be taken to mean that the reality of the Divinity has been divided or multiplied or has descended from its heights of purity and sanctity. God forbid! If a clear and spotless mirror were placed before the sun, the light and heat, the form and image of the sun would appear therein with such a manifestational appearance that if a beholder were to say, "This is the sun," he would be speaking the truth. But the mirror is the mirror and the sun is the sun. The sun is but one sun, and remains one even if it appears in numerous mirrors. There is no place here for inherence, egress, commingling or descent; for egress, regress, inherence, descent and commingling are among the characteristics and requirements of bodies, not of spirits, how much less of the holy and sanctified Reality of the Divinity. Glorified is God above all that ill beseemeth His holiness and sanctity, and exalted is He in the heights of His sublimity!

The Sun of Truth, as we have said, has ever remained in the same condition and undergoes neither change nor alteration, neither transformation nor vicissitude. It has neither beginning nor end. But the sanctified Reality of the Word of God is even as a clear, spotless and shining mirror, wherein the heat and light, the form and image of the Sun of Truth--that is to say, all its perfections--are reflected. That is why Christ says in the Gospel, "The Father is in the Son," meaning that the Sun of Truth shines resplendent in this mirror. Glorified be He Who hath cast His splendour upon this Reality that is sanctified above all created things!

Question: Are not all Christians Baha'is? Is there any difference?

Answer: When Christians act according to the teachings of Christ, they are called Baha'is. For the foundations of Christianity and the religion of Baha'u'llah are one. … Whoever acts completely in accordance with the teachings of Christ is a Baha'i. The purpose is the essential meaning of Christian, not the mere word.

Have you ever thought that the one heavenly song which issued from the sweet mouth of Christ found millions of echoes in the hearts of men and women throughout ages and cycles and has grown into thousand rich accompaniments? That was a real melody; all others were imitations.

He sent forth the Spirit (Christ) to summon all the world to His oneness, for acknowledgment of this oneness is the cause of fellowship and unity among the peoples of the world.

Concerning what thou didst mention about the Spirit [Christ], the Most Exalted Pen doth at this moment testify that all His acts - whether sitting or standing, sleeping or waking, moving or still, speaking or silent - whatsoever proceeded from that Manifestation, all were proof and were distinguished above the deeds of all who dwell on earth.

Know that the attributes of perfection, the outpourings of divine grace, and the effulgences of divine revelation shine resplendent in all the Manifestations of God, but that the all-encompassing Word of God--Christ--and His Most Great Name--Baha'u'llah--have appeared with a revelation beyond all conception.

The Messiah is but Our Word which We cast unto Mary.

Jesus, son of Mary, was naught but a Messenger before whom other Messengers had passed away, and after whom came Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets. He was but a Messenger of God and the first of them that worship.

And among them was Jesus, whom God assisted with the Holy Spirit and sent with truth. He said: "Fear ye God, O people of the earth, and be not of those who are not guided by the light of God."

Rather, what is meant by the Word is that the world of creation is like letters, and all humans are like letters. A letter alone has no meaning, no independent meaning, but Christ's station is that of the Word, which has complete and independent meaning. Therefore He is called the Word. What is meant by complete meaning is the emanations of divine perfections, for the perfections of other souls are partial, not their own, and derived from others. But the reality of Christ possessed complete and independent perfections.

'For example, this lamp is illumined, the moon is illumined, but their light is not of themselves - it is derived from another. But Christ was like the sun - His light was His own, not borrowed from another. Therefore we interpret Him as the Word, meaning a comprehensive reality possessing complete perfections.

But a word is composed of letters and has independent sense and meaning. Therefore, as Christ conveyed the perfect meaning of divine reality and embodied independent significance, He was the Word. He was as the station of reality compared to the station of metaphor. There is no intrinsic meaning in the leaves of a book, but the thought they convey leads you to reflect upon reality. The reality of Jesus was the perfect meaning, the Christhood in Him which in the Holy Books is symbolized as the Word.

The reason we call Christ the Word, is because we human beings, compared to Him, are like letters, and He as a word. A word has a complete meaning, whereas a letter has not.

Christ is the Word. Now what may this mean? The sign of the Word of Christ is the Divine Virtues: the sign of the Messianic Word is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Word means Divine Perfection, Heavenly Bestowals.

"The title of the son is not as great as the title of the Word, because in the old Testament all the Israelitish people are called the sons of God and even God addressing David says - thou art my son. On the other hand no divine Messenger is called the Word except Christ. The station of the Word is so great that it is [recorded] in the first chapter of St John:- In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God."

It is evident that the Letter is a member of the Word, and this membership in the Word signifieth that the Letter is dependent for its value on the Word, that is, it deriveth its grace from the Word; it has a spiritual kinship with the Word, and is accounted an integral part of the Word. The Apostles were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself; and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendor on those Letters.

The Christ reality was like unto a pure mirror and the Sun of Reality shone upon it from the Holy Horizon. Therefore, it became evident that the sun is one with regard to reality but manifesting itself in all mirrors.

As for the difference between Christ and others, Christ was spirit while others are body; Christ was the Sun while others are mirrors; Christ was Truth and bestowed eternal life while others are dead and bestow lethargy and negligence.

The difference between Christ and others is this: Christ was the Spirit, others are bodies. Christ was the Sun, others are mirrors. Christ was the Truth and was bestowing Eternal Life; others are dead and are imparting deadness and negligence.

Thus the reality of Christ, Who is the Word of God, undoubtedly precedes all created things in essence, in attributes and in distinction.

So long as He dwelt in the corporeal world He was despised and reviled by the weakest nation on the earth, the Jews, who saw it fit that a crown of thorns be placed upon His blessed brow. But after His ascension the gem-studded crowns of all the kings became humble and submissive before that crown of thorns.

It follows clearly from this verse of John that even the existence of the Apostles proceeds from a spiritual reality rather than from a material power. The honour and greatness of Christ reside not in His being without a father, but rather in His divine perfections, outpourings, and splendours. Were the greatness of Christ due to His lacking a father, Adam would be even greater, for He had neither father nor mother.

As to thy question concerning Christ: Know thou, He was perfect in respect of spirit as well as body. His material (body) was a perfect body in every respect; none of His material conditions were imperfect at all, inasmuch as imperfection is contrary to perfection. His heavenly condition was also a perfect one, comprising all the divine perfections.

It is also proved by the statements in the Gospels that Jesus Christ had brothers. (It is understood that they did not believe in Him). The brothers were from Joseph, but Christ was from God, and Joseph was not His father. All the Prophets have a special name for themselves and as the name of Jesus was "Son of God" that must become a realized fact. He must be born materially and spiritually the Son of God in order to fulfill the Name.

Even when someone addressed Christ and called Him good, He responded, "Why callest thou me good? For there is none good but One, that is God."

The body is the word. The spirit is its meaning. The word passes. The spirit remains.

The letters (alphabet) and the numbers (arithmetic) have a mystic correspondence with transcendent reality. The letters and numbers are the elements (the Greek word for elements, which is also used by the Arab philosophers, is called "Stoicheia") of the spiritual and the material worlds. As words these elements are the source of all things intellectual, as letters they represent the source of matter. The plurality (27 to 28) of the letters can be traced back to the point (nuqtih), in the case of the numbers, to the one. The point of the world of letters and the one of the world of numbers thus become a universal principle which conditions, penetrates and limits the world of appearances.

O thou seeker of Truth! The Lord of Hosts became manifest in Moses and the children of Israel in a pillar of fire, and appeared to Christ in the fire of the love of God. This is that of which it is said in the Gospel: one must be baptized with fire and spirit. Now the lights of the divine bounties of the fire of the love of God have shone forth in the word and letters. That is, the words and letters are similar to a mirror, and the Sun of Truth and the Rays of Significances have become manifest and shone forth in these mirrors of words and letters.

Wouldst thou Love's inmost mysteries explore, Unseal the eye of tears, shut pride's proud door.

Then shalt thou see here Sinai circling round, And restless Jesus' Spirit, love-spell-bound.

Then strive thou with all thy might to guide the people, and eat thou of the bread that hath come down from heaven. For this is the meaning of Christ's words: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven ... he that eateth of this bread shall live forever."

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Convey my greeting to ... and say to her: "Verily the teachings which flowed from the lips of His Highness Christ were spiritual, celestial, heavenly and the cause of the eternal life; therefore it is explained as heavenly food and the divine table.

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Some imagine that the bread of the Eucharist is the reality of Christ, and that the Divinity and the Holy Spirit have descended into it and are present therein, whereas when once the Eucharist is taken, in a few minutes it is wholly disintegrated and entirely transformed. How then can such an error be conceived? I beg the forgiveness of God for such a grave delusion!

As Christ desired that this custom instituted by John be practiced by all at that time, He Himself submitted to it, that souls might be awakened and that the law which had issued from the former religion might be fulfilled. For even though this custom was instituted by John, it represented in reality the purification of repentance which has been practiced in all the divine religions.

It is not that Christ was in need of baptism, but He submitted to it because at that time this action was praiseworthy and acceptable before God and presaged the glad tidings of the Kingdom.

After a long pause He continued: "Christ was once eating grapes and He said: 'I shall not eat these grapes any more until I shall eat again in the Kingdom of my Heavenly Father.'

It is stated in the New Testament that Jesus Christ was once drinking of the fruit of the vine (juice of grapes) and said he would drink no more except in the presence of the Father.

When His Holiness Christ gathered his disciples together on that last night, it was not in a church, it was in a room. On that night they had the Last Supper. It was in a room.

We have sat together many times before, and we shall sit together many times again in the Kingdom. We shall laugh together very much in those times, and we shall tell of the things that befell us in the Path of God. In every world of God a new Lordis Supper is set for the faithful!

Although this assembly is now limited to a few souls, yet since it is a divine assembly, like the assembly of the Lord's Supper of Christ, it will expand day by day until it spreads throughout all regions. Consider how the small assembly of the Lord's Supper of Christ, when confirmed by the Holy Spirit, produced such mighty results and great effects!

Observe how the seed that Christ scattered still bears fruit. That is why He said My word is like seeds scattered by the farmer's hand.

The Son of Mary - upon Him be the peace of God and the peace of His Prophets - observed a fisherman engaged in catching fish. He said: "Put down thy net and come, that I may make thee a fisher of men."

Jesus Christ did not come from the world of princes or scientists. Outwardly he was but an humble artisan, his disciples simple fishermen. Why were these disciples able to do what philosophers and scientists failed to accomplish?

Therefore, the Holy Spirit endowed the Apostles with the tongue of the Kingdom, and they spoke with all peoples as if in their own tongue; that is, whenever they conversed with a person of any faith or nation, it was as though they were speaking his own tongue. Were it otherwise, there are at present more than a thousand known languages and it would be fair to expect that the Apostles would have written at least one Gospel in the language of one of the other nations. It is, however, well established that the Gospel was written only in Hebrew and in Greek.

Christ was asking of His Disciples whom he was, and when Peter answered: "Thou art Christ, the son of the Living GOD". Christ wished to confirm this statement and also show that his whole religion was founded on this truth; that is why he called Peter by his name which means "Rock"; and He said: "I shall build my church on your belief, which is the true belief and the foundation of God's church."

Notwithstanding that his holiness Christ said nothing about Peter except the one word, 'Thou art the rock and upon this rock I build my church,' this word became cause of dispelling differences, so that whatever Peter said the others would accept.

There were dissensions after the departure of Christ because there had been no Center appointed. Did Christ say to anyone, "You are the Centre of my Covenant, you are the explainer of my book?"

Sometime after Christ, Arius, the Patriarch of Alexandria, founded a new sect. He was an orator, articulate of speech and a very audacious and powerful person who succeeded in bringing one and a half million people under his influence. He even secured the allegiance of the Emperor Constantine. But since he deviated from the Covenant of Christ, at the end he faded away and perished. This Covenant was based on the words addressed to Peter, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." And though these words attributed to Christ are based only on the report of some of His disciples, nevertheless Christian unity was preserved for eight hundred years through this implicit Covenant.

Consider thou, at the time of Christ and after Him, how many childish attempts have been made by different persons! What claims they have advanced and what a multitude have they gathered around themselves! Even Arius attracted to himself a million and a half followers and strove and endeavoured to sow the seeds of sedition in the Cause of Christ.

You see how many sects and religions appeared after Christ. Now the Blessed Beauty has designated one point so that no differences would remain.

Christ said, "Fast, so that you may not fall into temptation." Verily, tests withheld a great Apostle (Judas) from the Mercy of God, and made him take part in the shedding of the blood of Christ. The tests made Peter the Apostle deny Christ. The tests made the Brethren of Christ deny Him; many a just, faithful and assured souls did not endure the power of the tests but turned backward, until he reached the lowest of the low.

As ye have heard of the former times, when (for example) Christ--glory be to Him!--appeared, a storm of trials arose, afflictions appeared, the winds of tests blew, the thunder of temptation descended and hosts of people (Pharisees) surrounded the houses of the friends; then the weak ones were shaken and were misled after once being guided; but the disciples withstood the hardships and endured the storms of ordeals, remaining firm in the Religion of God.

After the crucifixion of Christ the few apostles who were left behind were thrown into a state of utter consternation and agitation. Peter who was the chief of Apostles denied the Lord thrice...

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Even as in the time of Jesus the Son of Mary, those who were under the shadow of Christ knew not in what shadow they dwelt, but afterwards they proved faithful. May my soul be a sacrifice for them! Yet during His own time they achieved nothing.

At the time of His ascension, Christ had raised up twelve men and four women. There were to be sure a few others beside these, but they had not reached the station of certitude. And among these twelve men, one became His sworn enemy: Judas Iscariot, who, notwithstanding his position as the chief of the Apostles, arose to have Him killed. The most prominent among the remaining eleven was Peter, and even he failed to stand firm in the face of trials, since, according to the explicit text of the Gospel, he thrice denied Christ at the hour of His martyrdom, to the point of entirely recanting his faith in the last instance. It was only after the cock crowed that he was reawakened and made contrite and repentant.

When Christ ascended, only a small number had become believers and were assured, and the greatest of the apostles was Peter the renowned. Despite this, he denied Christ three times. But observe the Cause of the Blessed Beauty - at the time of His ascension, hundreds of thousands of souls were gathered under the banner of certainty and were in complete steadfastness and firmness. The proof of this is that hundreds upon hundreds hastened to the field of martyrdom with utmost joy and gladness and sacrificed their lives and property.

At the time of Christ's ascension there were eleven believers. Now see what is happening! Praise be to God, the call is raised in Africa, and in Asia the Turk and Tajik are awakened, and from America the shot of the unity of mankind reaches the ear of every poor and noble one.

The people are exceedingly heedless. They must be made to understand by force how agitated people became in the time of Christ - even Peter denied Him three times. But in this Most Great Cause, the companions and loved ones remained so firm and steadfast that they gave up their lives dancing and stamping their feet in the field of sacrifice, and their firmness, steadfastness and self-sacrifice astonished minds.

If you gather together all the teachings of Christ they will not exceed ten pages. If you gather together the teachings of the BLESSED PERFECTION they will exceed sixty or seventy volumes. Those of Christ have no new laws, except the regulation about divorce. Those of the BLESSED PERFECTION contain many instructions. The greatest teachings of Jesus Christ are such as these: Love you enemies; bless those who curse you and revile you; when struck on the right cheek turn the left. Of course, these commands are right, and what is contained in the world can not equal them in value; but these instructions refer particularly to individuals, and do not deal with nations. They are personal, not universal. Those of the BLESSED PERFECTION are for all nations, like the injunction for universal peace, although even these apply to individuals as well as to nations.

The teachings of Christ covered a period of three years; the dispensation of Moses lasted forty years. After Moses led the people of Israel from the land of bondage, he found it necessary to inaugurate certain physical rules to show them how to live. In the lifetime of Christ only a small group gathered around him. After his declaration, his mission lasted but three years; there was neither time nor occasion for a complete code of laws.

The Master said that the differences between this Revelation and that of Jesus Christ are that, in this Cycle, all the inhabitants of the world will be gathered into one nation; universal peace will prevail; bloodshed and war will cease; there will be a general language union and harmony will reach the highest state; there will be no bigotry. All will be gathered under the tent of peace.

A friend asked how the teachings of Baha'u'llah contrasted with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"The teachings are the same." declared Abdu'l-Baha; "It is the same foundation and the same temple. Truth is one, and without division. The teachings of Jesus are in a concentrated form. Men do not agree to this day as to the meaning of many of His sayings. His teachings are as a flower in the bud. Today, the bud is unfolding into a flower! Baha'u'llah has expanded and fulfilled the teachings, and has applied them in detail to the whole world.

There are seasons in the revelation from God, as in the natural year, and just as the Christ manifested the Spirit of God in the flesh and helped the earth in his time, now the message of Baha'Ullah is the medicine of which the world has much need.

We do not oppose the religion of anyone. We act in accordance with the Gospel. But we must also act in accordance with the teachings of Baha'u'llah. They are--the oneness of the world of humanity, independent investigation of truth, abandonment of prejudice, universal peace, etc. You must act in accordance with these teachings.

Christ gave new life and effect to the meanings of the ancient law.

This is what Christ meant when He said, "I am not come to destroy the law of the Torah but to promote it."

Christ proclaimed the Glory of Moses and spread His fame far wide throughout the East throughout the West. He propounded the basic principle of His Divine Law, and though the Torah was before Christ confined to Palestine, yet by the wondrous Grace of Jesus, it hath now spread to the uttermost parts of the earth whilst the fame of Moses and of the Prophets of Israel hath become renowned throughout the world. Manifest, indeed, is the Spirit of Love that Christ hath thus shone for Moses!

Christ -- this single and unique Personage -- appeared amongst these despised and degraded people, reflecting a divine power and the potency of the Holy Spirit. He unified the various peoples and nations of the world, brought them together in fellowship and agreement and gathered them beneath the overshadowing protection of one Word.

… All Christians believe in Moses. They declare that He was a Man of God, the Interlocutor and Prophet of God, that His Book was the Book of God, that the people of Israel were the people of God and that all the prophets of Israel were valid and true. They offer unlimited praise, sincere eulogy, and manifest unlimited love for the religion of Moses.

Until Christ, Who was one of the Israelites and had neither armies nor wealth, single and alone, reestablished their ancient majesty and glory. He subjugated Rome and humbled Greece. Though He was but a single individual from among the Israelites, He established eternal glory and promoted the reality of Moses and the Torah.

And if we set aside prejudice and investigate reality, we observe that Christ accomplished more than Moses in establishing an ordered society and brought diverse peoples and faiths under the shadow of the Word of God. Thus there remains no doubt that these were Prophets, for the purpose of prophethood is the education of humanity. Christ was a solitary individual, yet He educated these mighty nations. He brought peace to warring peoples; the savage became civilized; the oppressors donned the garment of justice; human morals made extraordinary progress.

Jesus Christ was an Educator of humanity. His teachings were altruistic; His bestowal, universal. He taught mankind by the power of the Holy Spirit and not through human agency, for the human power is limited, whereas the divine power is illimitable and infinite.

For example, Christ educated and developed mankind universally. He rescued nations and peoples from the bondage of superstition and idolatry. He summoned them all to the knowledge of the oneness of God. They were dark, they became illumined; they were material, they became spiritual; earthly they were, they became heavenly. He enlightened the world of morality.

Thus the Jews had traditions about Jesus, and the Christians exalt him much. But we should look to the personality of Jesus as we ourselves see it. If we find that the perfections of God, the graces and inspirations of God, appear in him and in his teachings,- that these are clearly shown forth,- this should suffice us. Now we perceive that Jesus was a world-educator; therefore we acknowledge his greatness.

It is therefore evident that mankind requires a universal divine educator who can gather the diverse peoples under the shadow of one Word, cause contending nations to drink from a single fountain, transform enmity and hatred into love and fellowship, and convert strife and conflict into peace and tranquility. … Likewise, Christ (peace be upon Him) gathered together the antagonistic, hostile, and warring peoples of Greece, Rome, Syria, Chaldea, and Assyria who were filled with the utmost hatred and enmity, uniting them at one fountain and establishing complete harmony among them.

Again, consider Christ: how that marvelous expression of unity bestowed education and ethical training upon the Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Syrian and Assyrian nations and welded together a people from them in a permanent and indissoluble bond. These nations were formerly at enmity and in a state of continual hostility and strife. He cemented them together, caused them to agree, conferred tranquillity upon humanity and established the foundations of human welfare throughout the world.

Christ appeared in this world nineteen hundred years ago to establish ties of unity and bonds of love between the various nations and different communities. He cemented together the sciences of Rome and the splendors of the civilization of Greece.

As to Christ the Glorious, the Word of God and the Spirit of God, who upheld the Gospel, God raised him up among a subject people who had accepted bondage and silenced their own voices before the power of Rome. He breathed the spirit of life into them, and revived them after their death, and made them the foremost in the land. The Romans were humbled before them, Greece submitted to them, and their reputation spread around the world, to the present day.

In the days of Jesus Christ, the Syrians were (before His Prophethood) as the Jews had been in Pharaoh's time. But Christ's teachings again changed everything. All the regions were in a veil of darkness and ignorance, but when the Sun of Jesus shone forth from the horizon of the Unseen World, then all things were changed from ignorance to knowledge; from darkness to light through His instrumentality.

His Holiness Jesus, peace be upon Him, educated the nations of the West until they reached that highest degree of progress.

After the lapse of time the Israelites deteriorated, and became subject to the Romans and the Greeks. Then the brilliant Star of Jesus rose from the horizon upon the Israelites, brightening the world, until all sects and creeds and nations were taught the beauty of unity. There cannot be any better proof than this that Jesus was the Word of God.

Hath thou not seen how, in former ages, Christ, the resplendent Day-Star, solitary and alone---having neither helper nor supporter, neither intimate friend nor outward succourer---achieved divine conquests in the fields of the West, and made its nations and peoples submissive and lowly before a Word that shone forth from the Pole of the East? It was as a sun rising from its manifest horizon and flooding with light those far-flung regions and distant lands, nor could the barriers of nations nor the power of states withstand the victories He achieved.

Consider the Faith proclaimed by Jesus. Though it first appeared in the East, yet not until its light had been shed upon the West did the full measure of its potentialities become manifest.

Christ, single and alone, without schooling or outward education and trained to labor in the shop of a carpenter, appeared in the world at the time when the Jewish nation was in the greatest abasement. This radiant Youth, without wealth, power of armies or prestige, rescued the Jews who believed on Him from tyranny and degradation and lifted them to the highest plane of development and glory.

Yes, this is true, but one man is so exalted that others bow down before Him and He is adored by them like Christ or Moses, who called people to the oneness of divinity and who became the cause of the education of a nation, while another is so degraded that he bows down before dust and worships ants and serpents.

… But observe what a banner of unique being Christ unfurled without friend or helper.

Amongst such benefactors of the human race was His Holiness Jesus Christ. Although outwardly he was poor he possessed the treasures of the Kingdom; although he was humble yet he was the Sovereign of the realm of hearts. Through the light of his commands Europe emerged out of the darkness of idolatry and ignorance. Christ was an ensample to all humanity.

All of them, even Christ, wore the crown of poverty and set their hearts on the heavenly treasure. … Even Christ, who would have been the wealthiest in the world, had a bed of earth in the wilderness, at night had a lamp of celestial stars, and food of plants of the earth.

His Holiness Christ lived in destitution, which is why He revealed, "Blessed are the poor."

Consider His Holiness Christ: He appeared in the world as one of the poor. He was born of a lowly family. All the apostles of Christ were of humble birth and His followers were of the poorest in the community.

His Holiness Christ delivered the Cause of God in the wilderness of the Holy Land, with bare feet, old clothing, thirsty and hungry.

Be thou follow (the example of) His Holiness Christ until thou mayst succeed.

That sweet Being Jesus Christ one night offered up this prayer: O Lord! I commune with Thee from a place such as this, where my bed is the dust of the earth and my food the grass of the fields and my night lamp the stars of heaven. Yet who is there richer than I? For Thou vouchsafed unto me what the rich and the wise are deprived of having; Thou hast hast granted me what Thou did not give unto the princes, the kings and the nobles."

It is recorded in one of the Tablets of Baha'u'llah that at one time His Holiness Christ was in the wilderness. It was night and impenetrably dark. It was very cold and he was thinly clad. Then it started to rain very hard. Christ did not know to which direction he should turn his face in this pitch darkness. He tried to walk but he stumbled at every step. Finally he reached a cave. He wished to enter in, in order to escape the rain, but he heard the roaring of lions and wild animals. He came out and stood alone in the open.

The rain became torrential and dashing against the slopes of rocky mountains, formed streams of waters, carrying everything before them with fury and rage. Now and then flashes of lightening revealed the awful havoc wrought by the storm and thunder pealed across the sky. While the rain was pouring upon his head he said: 'Oh God! Thou hast provided nests for the fowls of the air, caverns for the wild beasts, folds for the sheep but Oh Lord! Thou hast not given even a small cottage to the Son of man so that he might protect himself from the rain. O Father! Thou beholdest that my bed is the hard earth, my food is the grass of the field and my lamps are the stars of the night.

After a few minutes of silence he burst forth in glorious thanksgiving by saying:- O God! Who is richer than I? Hast thou not given me the heavenly Gift, the Gift of the guidance of God? That celestial Bestowal which thou didst not confer upon the Kings, Ministers, nobles, princes, philosophers and rich men, Thou hast bestowed it upon the son of man. Verily who is richer than me?

It is a spot hallowed with the presence of His Holiness Christ - - May my life be a ransom to Him! Often he walked around the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and as He walked, taught His disciples.

His Holiness Christ always used to cross this Mount Carmel, Haifa and Nazareth. Therefore these cities and this mountain have a spiritual atmosphere.

Christ, in His own land, entered Jerusalem and the assemblies of the Israelites several times and gave counsels and exhortations. Consider how much importance Christian clergy later gave to this matter.

Reflect upon the matter of the ascetic of the world, namely Christ, and His mother, and likewise upon the events that transpired after the ascension of the Spirit.

These are the melodies, sung by Jesus, Son of Mary, in accents of majestic power in the Ridvan of the Gospel, revealing those signs that must needs herald the advent of the Manifestation after Him. In the first Gospel according to Matthew it is recorded: And when they asked Jesus concerning the signs of His coming, He said unto them: "Immediately after the oppression of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the earth shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

The reason for this was that they said: "The Revelation of Christ, according to the clear text of the Torah, will be attested by certain signs, and so long as these signs have not appeared, whoso layeth claim to be a Messiah is an impostor. Among these signs is this, that the Messiah should come from an unknown place, yet we all know this man's house in Nazareth, and can any good thing come out of Nazareth? The second sign is that He shall rule with a rod of iron, that is, He must act with the sword, but this Messiah has not even a wooden staff.

Regarding the appearance of Christ, there were many prophecies in the bible which foretold his coming... The teachings of Moses were like a seed, but when the seed grew into a plant and bore blossom, then fruit--the fruit signified Christ, who was the result of all the teachings of Moses...

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In the time of the manifestation of Christ the Romans and the Greeks thought that the Cause was especially for the Israelites; they thought they had no need for it because they saw that, according to appearances, they possessed a perfect civilization and they thought that they did not need the instructions of Christ. This false supposition caused many people to be deprived of its grace.

May the world be for you no obstacle hiding the Sun of Truth from your sight, as the human body of Christ hid his divinity from the people of his day.

In one place He says: "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." And in another place it is mentioned: "Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

"Anything is possible, but Jesus Christ, quoting the words of Isaiah, has said, 'They have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; they have hearts, but do not understand -- yet I will grant them healing.'"

Likewise, when the Word of God, His Holiness Christ and His apostles upraised the flag of guidance and the Light of Reality dawned, all the people abused and scorned them, as the texts of the Gospel bear testimony to this fact; nay rather, they spat on the holy countenance of Jesus Christ and ridiculed, insulted and vilified Him.

Remember the poverty of Jesus, the persecution of the Jews to His glorious person and the scorn of Him.

The Christians now think that when Christ declared Himself that all the people ran and kissed his Hands and Feet. On the contrary, He had always to hide Himself, while the Blessed Perfection never hid Himself.

The Cause of Christ (may my spirit be a sacrifice for Him) remained obscure for three hundred years, and many books and numerous works were written by the learned ones, even the philosophers of that time, against His Holiness, and there remained no accusation they did not make, no calumny they did not utter, and no slander they did not allow. Even one of the philosophers of that time wrote a book like the Tir-i-Shihab of Haji Muhammad Karim Khan (may God forgive him and pardon him). Among its contents was the claim that this Christ never existed, that at one time in Jerusalem a thief was crucified, and that Peter and Paul, after some time, conceived the idea of establishing leadership for themselves, named that thief Christ, and founded this religion and faith. The existence of Christ (God forbid) was, from beginning to end, a complete fabrication.

What guilt and calumny was evident from Christ against the Seal of the Prophets that you crucified Him?

Jesus Christ gave His life upon the cross for the unity of mankind. Those who believed in Him likewise sacrificed life, honor, possessions, family, everything, that this human world might be released from the hell of discord, enmity and strife.

In existence there is a sign which We have, in most of the Tablets, designated as ``the Most Great Elixir". Should this sign be present in any soul, all his movements and stillnesses shall prove efficacious and potent in the world. Consider Jesus: though the Jews put Him to death, that martyrdom seemed in their eyes of such little consequence that no mention thereof was made in their books. Yet because that aformentioned sign was present in the being of Christ, He remained not buried beneath the earth; and thou beholdest what a commotion it stirred throughout the world.

Consider how the Cause of Christ was confirmed. How many resisted it! What mountains of obstacles were raised against it! What hostile forces sought to destroy its foundations! Yet the kings and emperors of the world could not resist its spread and establishment.

In the days of Decius, Emperor of the Romans, which transpired after Christ, Decius harbored intense hatred and enmity toward Christ and the Christians. Just as in the time of Christ, Christians were greatly persecuted, being massacred twelve times. In France, the king of that realm was exceedingly hostile to Christians, being boundlessly antagonistic. He strove mightily to uproot Christianity but could not. At last he became enlightened, and gathering his ministers, deputies, and sons, he said: "Gentlemen, you know how opposed I was to the Christians. Night and day I labored to cut off their roots. I attempted every means and left no measure untried, but now I see this standard is bringing down our standard and cutting off our roots. We are being obliterated and destroyed. Therefore, before this standard overthrows our standard, it is better that we submit to it.

Christianity in France was emancipated in this manner. One of the monarchs in France realized that no matter how many Christians were slain, it bore no fruit. One day he summoned his ministers and consulted [with them]. Thereupon, he announced that he bore no opposition whatsoever to Christianity. This resulted in all the people being enticed to investigate, and gradually they became Christian.

In this Cause, it will also occur likewise.

It took three hundred years for the Cause of Christ to be spread but in the first century the Cause of Baha'u'llah will be promoted everywhere.

The Holy Sepulchre of Christ was a place for dumping all kinds of rubbish for three hundred years till St Helena came, cleared the ground and built over it a most wonderful church.

Rather, the meaning is that the People of the Book, that is, the Jews and Christians, acknowledge Christ's existence before His ascension, but differ in that the Jews believe in a crucified Christ who was destroyed and lost, while Christians believe in a crucified Christ who ascended to the seat of truth with the Ever-Living, Self-Subsisting Lord. The difference concerns what happened after Christ's ascension.

Although souls who were like the sun and moon among people became darkened, and souls who were like stars fell - meaning the famous ones of the horizons - yet the Lord of Hosts descended from heaven with hosts of angels, just as Christ, when He came, came from heaven. As He says, none ascends to heaven except he who descended from heaven.

And certainly Christ had come from heaven because He was the King of Heaven, though outwardly He came from Mary's womb.

...it matters not what name each calls himself - The Great Work is One. Christ is ever in the world of existence. He has never disappeared out of it... Rest assured that Christ is present. The Spiritual beauty we see around us today is from the breathings of Christ.

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This is but one melody from the melodies of the Gospel that was revealed concerning the Pride of the Messengers. However, as the Christian people have fallen into the wilderness of error and blindness, they have disregarded this explicit statement without any ambiguity, and have clung to vain interpretations, saying that what was meant by these verses was the Holy Spirit that descended upon the disciples after Christ's ascension.

This is the custom of all peoples, that they close their eyes to the clear meanings of the divine verses and cling to vain interpretations of ambiguous passages.

Say: Do ye doubt Him unto Whom the Son of Mary ascended?

The Master replied:

"It is nearly two thousand years since His holiness the Lord Christ taught this prayer to His people: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.'

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In the Koran are many things referring to Christ not mentioned in the Gospel. For instance: It is said that Christ took a bit of clay and shaped it into the form of a bird. Then he blew upon it, and it flew away.

Even regarding Christ, descriptions are recorded in the Qur'an that have no parallel in the Gospel, saying that Christ spoke in the cradle and proclaimed His prophethood.

Consider. Investigate. Examine. Search. You will be surprised to find, for instance, that in the Koran, the bible of the Mohammedans, there is praise offered His Holiness Christ that cannot be surpassed. Explicitly is it stated that His Holiness Christ was the word of truth; that His Holiness Christ was the spirit of God; that His Holiness Christ was born of the Holy Spirit; that His Holiness Christ was radiant.

From the beginning of Christianity and Islam up to the present day, no one has spoken thus, proving the validity of Christ and Muhammad in a Jewish temple and in a manner to which no one took exception.

Christ was the Word of God, the Spirit of God. The Blessed Beauty made His station manifest in the East. The people of the East did not read the Torah and the Gospel; Baha'u'llah spread them in the East. He mentioned Christ with utmost sanctity; He did not mention anyone else like Christ.

Baha'u'llah established Christ in the East. He has praised Christ, honored Christ, exalted Him, called Him the Word of God, the Spirit of God, raised the Name of Christ to supreme summits of glorification.

Consider thou that Abdul Baha is proving the validity of Christ through divine argument, brilliant traces and infinite outpouring, so that the Christians may attain to the Truth of His Highness Christ, and other nations likewise may realize His greatness. Nevertheless these Christians dislike me very much and turn away from me.

the Muhammadans were accustomed to think Mahomet the greater because of his title "Seal of the Prophets," but in the time of Jesus spirituality and spiritual life was far greater.

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A. B. "Whom do you think Christ was?"

H. S. "I believe he was a great philosopher."

A. B. "Oh, no! He was much greater than a philosopher. He was the Word of God, the Spirit of God."

When I was in Jerusalem, I observed that the Christens have divided the Church of Resurrection into many sections, like a bazaar, and they are always engaged in acrimonious controversies and factional fights, while they claim Christ brought peace and salvation. Where can one find peace, and how can one be saved? Through their religious hatred for each other they have shut the door of salvation."

When, however, the time approached for the effulgent beauty of Muhammad to dawn upon the world, the control of Christian affairs passed into the hands of ignorant priests. Those heavenly breezes, soft-flowing from the regions of Divine grace, died away, and the laws of the great Evangel, the rock-foundation on which the civilization of the world was based, turned barren of results, this out of misuse and because of the conduct of persons who, seemingly fair, were yet inwardly foul.

The leaders allied with princes. The foundation of Christ was completely altered. They became captive to traditions. The Christian nation became captive, and leaders and princes dominated like a nightmare illness. Divine teachings were completely lost and traditions prevailed, such that every sin was forgiven by the pure essence of the leaders, and every oppression and tyranny was pardoned with a confession.

At that time, they suffered blows and endured adversities, yet now the leaders of Christendom have made their present glory and tranquillity the means by which to selfishly advance their own interests.

Abdul-Baha: "Do not look upon the Christians of today. The Christians are today submerged in the sea of imitation.

For nineteen hundred years they have rung the church bell, yet they have grown neither weary nor tired. They regard the sound of copper and brass as the divine call, though it be but inanimate matter, and they hold it sacred and answer its summons, rushing forthwith to church.

It is equally false when the Christian missionaries place the whole emphasis on original sin, consider man as impure and corrupted from the time in the mother's womb, and when they, as the 'instrument of the Almighty', expect all salvation from their schooling and training of the small sinner.

The Christian Church with its hierarchy of clerics has reversed Christ's and Paul's teaching of unity. His Holiness Christ has set the slave beside the master, and what has the Church of the 19th century said to the slavery of the Negroes of America?

Yet some of their monks are better - not those who live in seclusion in monasteries, who enter alive and exit dead and whose existence is completely idle and fruitless - but rather those nuns who serve in hospitals work with heart and soul."

Christ and the Bible be for us; the Pope and all the priests be for you. We follow Christ and not the priests. We give more importance to what Christ said than what the Pope and the cardinals say. We are the followers of Christ. We love him and are always ready to sacrifice our lives for him.

Read, my daughter, the Holy Books of mankind; as a Christian study particularly the New Testament; show me, where does the great Master Jesus speak of the "Wrath of God"?

One of the spiritual utterances of His Holiness Christ in his sermon of the Mount is preferable to me than all writings of the philosophers.

Christ forbade war! When the disciple Peter, thinking to defend his Lord, cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest, Christ said to him: 'Put up thy sword into the sheath'. Yet, in spite of the direct command of the Lord they profess to serve -- men still dispute, make war, and kill one another, and His counsels and teaching seem quite forgotten.

Another passage in St. John 18:10, was in regard to the ear and the sword. The Master replied: "In the Gospels the Christ said to His disciples, 'He who has no sword let him go and buy one.'

The teachings of Christ are forgotten. Consider that Christ commanded Peter to sheathe his sword. He also said, 'Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also' [Matt. 5:39].

His Holiness Christ taught that when a man's enemy smites him on one cheek he must turn the other also, and that he must say a prayer for those who curse him, and that he must return good for evil. His Holiness Christ was the essence of love; but his followers have shown hatred and rancor. He promulgated life; they have caused death.

The Christ exhorted men to be kind. The Christians are fighting and killing one another, leading their young men into war, shedding blood, destroying dwellings, causing mothers to lose their sons and children their fathers. What has all this to do with the teachings of Christ?

The average, intelligent Westerner of today is not a Christian; he is a secular churchman. Parrot-like he may repeat the Teachings as laid down by Christ in the Gospel but he will not be ready to live up to these Commandments. Christ says:- 'Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.' But now Christian Europe is armed to the teeth ready to cut each other's throats at the slightest provocation.

These Christian nations wage war against Christ. Any Christian who opposeth the teachings of Christ hath risen in opposition to Him. These swords strike at Christ. These bullets are aimed at Christ.

… Strange it is that they call themselves Christians, utter the name of Christ, read the Gospel, yet Christ is clear of them. Were Christ to descend from heaven and were they to say "These are Thy people," He would say: "God forbid! These are Thy people in word only, but in truth they are the people of Caiaphas."

Jesus Christ established the religion of God through love. His sovereignty is everlasting. Napoleon overthrew governments in war and bloodshed. His dominion passed away; he himself was dethroned. Bonaparte destroyed human life; Christ was a Savior. Bonaparte controlled the physical bodies of men; Christ was a conqueror of human hearts.

The only means of defense that a lamb possesses are his horns. Now the means that the Lamb of God defended himself with were his horns - in other words, his utterances, his teachings. From the spiritual standpoint he 'saved' the world with his horn - his Teachings.

And Christ says that the owner of an orchard will not leave a withered tree in the garden but will surely cut it down and cast it into the fire, for dried wood is fit and worthy only for the fire.

To Miss Boylan and Edith Sanderson, in Thonon last summer, ‘Abdul Baha said: When Jesus Christ came to this world, He planted a tree. I have come to see what has become of that tree. The branches are all turned toward the earth.

We cannot believe the call to be spiritual when there is no result. Spirit is reality, and when the spirit in each of us seeks to join itself with the Great Reality, it must in turn give life. The Jews in the time of Christ were dead, having no real life, and Jesus actually wafted a new breath into their bodies. Behold what has been accomplished since!

For many years Christ taught these eternal principles in this holy land through both word and deed. He journeyed throughout Palestine, and gradually His teachings spread throughout the world. But alas, a hundred thousand times alas, that people have forgotten those divine principles.

They say that one day His Holiness Christ – may My spirit by a sacrifice unto Him – and His Apostle passed by a dog that had died and was decaying.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

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...realize that all the created things are as letters and words...

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This is the Day whereon human ears have been privileged to hear what He Who conversed with God heard upon Sinai, what He Who is the Friend of God heard when lifted up towards Him, what He Who is the Spirit of God heard as He ascended unto Him, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

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Know that faith is of two kinds. The first is objective faith that is expressed by the outer man, obedience of the limbs and senses. The other faith is subjective, and unconscious obedience to the will of God. … This condition of unconscious obedience constitutes subjective faith. But the discerning faith that consists of true knowledge of God and the comprehension of divine words, of such faith there is very little in any age. That is why His Holiness Christ said to His followers, "Many are called but few are chosen."

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The Christian Teaching was illumined by the Divine Sun of Truth, therefore its followers were taught to love all men as brothers to fear nothing, not even death! To love their neighbours as themselves, and to forget their own selfish interests in striving for the greater good of humanity. The grand aim of the religion of Christ was to draw the hearts of all men nearer to God's effulgent Truth.

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