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And in another place the New Testament declares: (105:1) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.16 (105:2) The Body of Christ’s Faith, without the works of His disciples to give it life, was dead for three days. (105:3) Bahá'u'lláh comments with sadness upon the failure of mankind to grasp the meaning of such Scriptural events as the resurrection. (105:4) Again and again they read those verses which clearly testify to the reality of these holy themes, and bear witness to the truth of the Manifestations [Messengers] of eternal glory, and still apprehend not their purpose. They have even failed to realize, all this time, that, in every age, the readings of the scriptures and holy books is for no other purpose except to enable the reader to apprehend their meaning and unravel their innermost mysteries. Otherwise reading, without understanding, is of no abiding profit unto man.17 (105:5) Unless the Scribes, the Pharisees, and the people of this day believed in the resurrection and life which the Word of Christ could give them, they would be spiritually dead. This was the sign of Jonah and the sign of Christ. It was an outward symbol of the inward truth. (105:6) Christ, in His very last words on earth, at the crucifixion, emphasized this principle once again: (105:7) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit ...18 (105:8) His spirit, not his body. Christ was eager for His disciples to understand the meaning of His words. He told them:
(105:9)
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