These outward miracles are of no importance to the followers
of truth. For example, if a blind man is made to see, in the end he will again
lose his sight, for he will die and be deprived of all his senses and
faculties. Thus, causing the blind to see is of no lasting importance, since
the faculty of sight is bound to be lost again in the end. And if a dead body
be revived, what is gained thereby, since it must die again? What is important
is to bestow true insight and everlasting life, that is, a spiritual and divine
life; for this material life will not endure and its existence is tantamount to
non-existence. Even as Christ said in reply to one of His disciples: “let the
dead bury their dead”; for “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” [Matt. 8:22; John 3:6.]
Consider that Christ reckoned as dead those who were
nonetheless outwardly and physically alive; for true life is life eternal and
true existence is spiritual existence. Thus if the Sacred Scriptures speak of
raising the dead, the meaning is that they attained everlasting life; if they
say that one who was blind was made to see, the meaning of this seeing is true
insight; if they say that one who was deaf was made to hear, the meaning is
that he acquired an inner ear and attained spiritual hearing. This is
established by the very text of the Gospel where Christ says that they are like
those of whom Isaiah once said, They have eyes and see not, they have ears and
hear not; and I heal them. [Cf. Matt. 13:14–15; John 12:39–40]
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by
‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the
Baha’i World Center)
