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Like Christ before Him, the Prisoner thus willingly accepted undeserved punishment for the sake of others (156:3) That day represented but a drop of the ocean of tribulation that He was to receive in the path of God. Time and again, through a series of exiles and imprisonments, He willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice that the peoples of the world might receive the blessings of God: (156:4) The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities! Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 99 (156:5) I am He Who feareth no one, though all who are in heaven and all who are on earth rise up against me .. Baha'u'llah cited in: God Passes By, p. 169 (156:6) At some point in His earthly life, the Manifestation of God receives a revelation that transforms Him. At that point He becomes invested with the knowledge and power of God Himself. Until that time He is as a man who is asleep - this knowledge and power latent within Him, but not manifest. Upon experiencing this transformation, however, at that moment, He is no longer merely a great man with wonderful qualities; no, at that moment He has become the Lord of mankind
(156:7)
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