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To most of us, self-sacrifice has negative connotations. It implies giving something away. That is a misconception. Self-sacrifice involves no loss; it is the process by which short-term interests are exchanged for long-term dividends. It is like exchanging junk bonds for reliable and late-maturing bonds, or junk food for healthy food. Self-sacrifice is the catalyzer of perfection; it is the yeast that elevates the human spirit by breaking down apathy, inertia, complacency, pride, self-glory, and attachment to the world. It is the price that must be paid for a lasting and genuine happiness. (2:1) God's ways are often opposite to ours. By His standard, 'We must lose to gain; we must give to obtain; we must be humble to be exalted; we must be least to be greatest; we must die to live.' (2:2) How can My way accord with thine?6 Baha'u'llah (2:3) Behold how contrary are the ways of the Manifestations of God, as ordained by the King of creation, to the ways and desires of men!7 Baha'u'llah (2:4) All great Messengers have endured pain and suffering. The only difference is this: Some of them have become martyrs, others living martyrs. Death does not necessarily impose the gravest suffering. In some ways, life can be far more painful than death. Baha'u'llah's life was of this kind. Martyrdom attracts our attention because, in addition to being tragic, it is dramatic. The deaths of Christ and the Bab were of this kind. (2:5) In the Bab's death we can discern evidence of a divine power at work. Should we use that evidence as proof of His station? Definitely not. Then what purpose should it serve? Only this: It should elevate us from apathy to awareness. It is not evidence in itself, but a call for us to investigate the evidence. For instance, you know you will be asleep at 7:00 a.m. You set your clock to awaken you at that time to be ready for an invited guest. In the state of sleep, you are unaware of the coming of the guest. When you awaken, you begin to see and hear. That is the only purpose miracles should serve. You do not welcome your guest because of the alarm clock, you welcome him because you see him and recognize him with your own eyes. (2:6) With these points in mind, let us proceed with the story of the Bab's martyrdom. The Persian government wanted to make the execution of the Bab a lesson to all people, especially to His followers. Hence, a decision was made to make it a public event. (2:7) But, as we shall see, God had a different plan. (2:8) Just before the time of the execution, the Bab was in prison speaking to a disciple. A government official came to the Bab's prison cell and told Him to come to the public square for the impending execution. The Bab asked for a little time to finish His conversation with the disciple, but the official would not comply. The Bab offered this warning: 'Not until I have said to him all those things that I wish to say, can any earthly power silence Me. Though all the world be armed against Me, yet shall they be powerless to deter Me from fulfilling, to the last word, My intention.'8 The official ignored the warning and took the Bab (along with a young disciple who wanted to die with Him) to the public square to be shot by a regiment of 750 soldiers, who stood in three lines ready to fire. (2:9) The regiment was headed by an Armenian colonel, Sam Khan, who had no animosity toward the Bab and no interest in executing two young men for their religious beliefs. To absolve himself of responsibility, he went to the Bab and said, 'I profess the Christian Faith and entertain no ill will against you. If your Cause be the Cause of Truth, enable me to free myself from the obligation to shed your blood.'9 (2:10) The Bab replied, 'Follow your instructions, and if your intention be sincere, the Almighty is surely able to relieve you from your perplexity.'10 (2:11) The martyrdom of the Bab and His disciple was planned with precision. To give people a good view of the event, the officials suspended the Bab and His disciple above the ground by putting two heavy ropes under their armpits and tying the ropes to a heavy nail driven into a thick wall. The Bab's disciple pleaded to be placed in such a position that his body would shield that of his Master. He was suspended so that his head rested on his Master's chest. (2:12) At about 10:00 a.m., the gaze of thousands of onlookers was fixed on the two young men suspended in the air. The first of the three lines of soldiers, 250 of them, were ordered to fire. They fired, then knelt so that the second and then the third lines of soldiers could fire. The firing of 750 bullets created a great cloud of smoke that obscured the people's vision. (The smoke came from the gun powder used in those days.) For a few minutes, people were blinded, but when the smoke cleared, they saw no trace of the Bab. His disciple was standing unharmed on the ground just below the point of suspension. (2:13) It is hard to imagine the uproar, the astonishment, and the confusion that seized the onlookers, especially the government officials. The nervous and puzzled officials frantically searched for the Bab. Where do you think He was found? In His original prison cell, completing His unfinished conversation with His disciple. (2:14) The man who located Him was the same man who had taken Him for execution. When he arrived, the Bab was ready. His face radiated with unruffled calm. He welcomed the official by saying, 'Now you may proceed to fulfill your intention.'11 The guard was so shaken by what he saw that he refused to take the Bab a second time. He left the scene and resigned from his position. (2:15) In the meantime, the Christian colonel, who had been looking for any reason to excuse himself from the ominous task, could not have been more jubilant. He saw this as a sure sign from God and immediately withdrew his soldiers and swore never again to engage in that task, even if his refusal led to his death. (2:16) A second regiment was ordered into action. Now two hours had passed. It was about noon. Because of the seemingly miraculous event, the Bab had a more receptive audience. He had a chance to address the people: (2:17) Had you believed in Me, O wayward generation, every one of you would have followed the example of this youth [the disciple who wanted to die with Him]...The day will come when you will have recognized Me; that day I shall have ceased to be with you.12 (2:18) Everything was now ready. The second regiment took position and was ordered to fire. This time the bullets reached their targets. The two bodies were so shattered and riddled with bullets, they blended into one mass of mangled flesh and bone, except for the face of the Bab, which miraculously remained intact. (2:19) Unto God do I commit Mine affair ...Naught shall touch Me besides that which God, My Lord, hath preordained for Me. In Him have I placed My whole trust...13 The Bab (2:20) I am well pleased to lay down My life in Thy path and ere long to return to Thy presence. Unto Thee be praise in the heavens and on the earth.14 The Bab (2:21) Glory be unto Thee, O my God. Thou art well aware that I have proclaimed Thy Word and have not failed in the mission Thou didst enjoin upon me.15 The Bab (2:22) I, verily, have not fallen short of My duty to admonish...people, and to devise means whereby they may turn towards God, their Lord, and believe in God, their Creator.16 The Bab (2:23) The One called the Desire of nations, the Savior and Redeemer of humankind, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, was made a sacrifice for the world. This is the way it has been and may always be: (2:24) You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. Acts 7:51-52 (2:25) Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. Albert Einstein (2:26) The sacrifices made by the Bab and Jesus present us with two dramatic examples by which God teaches us lessons of detachment and dedication. He allows the Ones He loves most to become sacrificial Lambs. The few examples of self-sacrifice by God's chosen Messengers have had and will continue to have far more influence in elevating the human spirit than countless books of commandments and counsels. (2:27) How did this seemingly incredible event happen? The only explanation offered is that some bullets hit the rope first and severed it, thus allowing the Bab and His disciple to fall to the ground. Did God intervene or was it merely a coincidence? We have the choice to come to either conclusion. (2:28) References: |