Sect 5. Bible Parables for Teaching (7:1)

Parable 1.
The following parable about the Lord of the Vineyard can be used to help explain Baha'u'llah's Station of the Father-the Lord of the Vineyard, as Christ's Station was that of the Son: Unfortunately, those who don't understand or accept the oneness of the Prophets, tend to place Christ higher than all other Prophets, since they believe He was more than a Prophet, thinking that He is the only begotten Son of God and, misunderstanding the Trinity, think He is God and therefore higher than all the Prophets. They need to be educated in the Oneness of the Prophets, the Station of the Manifestation, and the truth about the Trinity. You can reference the previous section as well as The Kitab-i-iqan for expositions on these subjects. Remember: ''Abdu'l-Baha never argued religion with anyone. He simply explained to them how what they were saying was true, dispelling their idle fancies and vain imaginings with the Truth in an informative, knowledgeable, sincere and kindly way. Most Christians should be at least somewhat familiar with this parable and many will have heard an explanation of it up to the point where the Son is sent into the Vineyard. The Vineyard is this world which has been sown with the seeds of the Word of God. The husbandmen are the human race. The Lord of the Vineyard is, of course, God Himself, the Father. The Servants Whom He sent are the Old Testament Prophets, the Son is, of course Jesus Christ, Whom they also slew. Just as the Holy Spirit as the Son came in the form of the human temple of Jesus, so, too, did the Holy Spirit as the Father come in the form of the human temple of Baha'u'llah. The actual parable follows as recorded in the Book of Matthew: (7:2)

Parable 2.
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?5They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons (7:3)

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. [Mat 21:33-44] (7:4) see

Know Them by Their Fruits
2. The following is a well-known verse from the New Testament. Refer to Part 2 of Thief in the Night for some of the "fruits" of the Tree which is Baha'u'llah. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [Mat 7:16-20] (7:5) see

The Greatest Proof
3. The following passage from the Gospel of John can be used to help explain how the greatest proof of the truth of the Manifestation is His Self and His Word. A passage from Baha'u'llah's Writings follows in support of this as well (7:6)

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. [joh 4:40-42] (7:7) see

'Say: The first and foremost testimony establishing His truth is His own Self. Next to this testimony is His Revelation. For whoso faileth to recognize either the one or the other He hath established the words He hath revealed as proof of His reality and truth. This is, verily, an evidence of His tender mercy unto men..' [gwb 105:1] (7:8) see

Baha'u'llah's Station
4. The following passage from the Gospel of John can also help to explain Baha'u'llah's Station in terms of what is revealed in the Bible. Following this passage are passages from Baha'u'llah's and ''Abdu'l-Baha's Writings expounding these verses (7:9)

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [joh 16:12-13] (7:10) see

'..Proclaim then unto all mankind the glad-tidings of this mighty, this glorious Revelation. Verily, He Who is the Spirit of Truth is come to guide you unto all truth. He speaketh not as prompted by His own self, but as bidden by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' 18:9> [tbh 12:2] (7:11) see

'The revered minister read from the words of the Gospel, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." The century has dawned when the Spirit of Truth can reveal these verities to mankind, proclaim that very Word, establish the real foundations of Christianity and deliver the nations and peoples from the bondage of forms and imitations. The cause of discord, prejudice and animosity will be removed, the basis of love and amity be established. Therefore, all of you must strive with heart and soul in order that enmity may disappear entirely and that strife and hatred pass away..' [pup 41:3] (7:12) see

Jesus speaks again of the coming of the Spirit of Truth in the following passages. Notice how Christ says that 'he [the Father] shall give you another Comforter'. and that 'the Comforter'.. is the Holy Ghost' And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [joh 14:16-17] (7:13) see

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. [joh 14:26] (7:14) see

Jesus Not then Only One
5. Jesus phrased the following reply to His disciples in such a way that other Messengers besides Himself are clearly not excluded, although in this case 'him whom he [God] hath sent' was most likely a reference to Jesus Himself as the One Whom God had sent at that time: (7:15)

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. [joh 6:28-29] (7:16) see

Jesus' Greatest Power
6. The following passage from the Gospel of John can be used in support of Jesus's greatness, power and Mission stemming from His spiritual perfections rather than His physical body upon which so many Christians base so much of their faith in Him (7:17)

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. [joh 6:61-63] (7:18) see

God Known Thru His Manifestation
7. The following passages may be useful in explaining how God is known through His Manifestation, in this case Jesus, and the station of servitude of the Manifestation: (7:19)

' Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.' [joh 8:19] (7:20) see

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. [joh 8:42] (7:21) see

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. [joh 13:4-16] (7:22) see

Doubting Thomas (comment)
8. The following passage about doubting Thomas may help to show how it is actually not necessary to be able to see the holes in Jesus's hands and side in order to recognize Him. Indeed, though Jesus permitted this inspection from Thomas. He then says: 'blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.' [joh 20:29] (7:23) see

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. [joh 20:24-29] (7:24) see

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