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Christ came, saying, "I am born of the Holy
Spirit." Though it is now easy for the Christians to
believe this assertion, at that time it was very difficult.
According to the text of the Gospel the Pharisees said,
"Is not this the son of Joseph of Nazareth Whom we know?
How can He say, therefore, I came down from
heaven?"š
Briefly, this Man, Who, apparently, and in the eyes of all,
was lowly, arose with such great power that He abolished a
religion that had lasted fifteen hundred years, at a time when
the slightest deviation from it exposed the offender to danger
or to death. Moreover, in the days of Christ the morals of the
whole world and the condition of the Israelites had become
completely confused and corrupted, and Israel had fallen into
a state of the utmost degradation, misery and bondage. At one
time they had been taken captive by the Chaldeans and
Persians; at another time they were reduced to slavery to the
Assyrians; then they became the subjects and vassals of the
Greeks; and finally they were ruled over and despised by the
Romans.
This young Man, Christ, by the help of a supernatural power,
abrogated the ancient Mosaic Law, reformed the general morals,
and once again laid the foundation of eternal glory for the
Israelites. Moreover, He brought to humanity the glad tidings
of universal peace, and spread abroad teachings which were not
for Israel alone but were for the general happiness of the
whole human race.
Those who first strove to do away with Him were the
Israelites, His own kindred. To all outward appearances they
overcame Him and brought Him into direst distress. At last
they crowned Him with the crown of thorns and crucified Him.
But Christ, while apparently in the deepest misery and
affliction, proclaimed, "This Sun will be resplendent,
this Light will shine, My grace will surround the world, and
all My enemies will be brought low." And as He said, so
it was; for all the kings of the earth have not been able to
withstand Him. Nay, all their standards have been overthrown,
while the banner of that Oppressed One has been raised to the
zenith.
But this is opposed to all the rules of human reason. Then it
becomes clear and evident that this Glorious Being was a true
Educator of the world of humanity, and that He was helped and
confirmed by divine power.
-`Abdu'l-Bahá
Notes
1. [Cf. John 6:42]
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