Afterward 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?” [John 6:42]
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. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
