The Revelation associated with the Faith of Jesus Christ
focused attention primarily on the redemption of the individual and the molding
of his conduct, and stressed, as its central theme, the necessity of
inculcating a high standard of morality and discipline into man, as the
fundamental unit in human society. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any
reference to the unity of nations or the unification of mankind as a whole.
When Jesus spoke to those around Him, He addressed them primarily as
individuals rather than as component parts of one universal, indivisible
entity. The whole surface of the earth was as yet unexplored, and the
organization of all its peoples and nations as one unit could, consequently,
not be envisaged, how much less proclaimed or established. What other
interpretation can be given to these words, addressed specifically by
Bahá'u'lláh to the followers of the Gospel, in which the fundamental
distinction between the Mission of Jesus Christ, concerning primarily the
individual, and His own Message, directed more particularly to mankind as a
whole, has been definitely established: "Verily, He [Jesus] said: 'Come ye
after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however,
We say: 'Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the quickeners of
mankind.'"
- Shoghi Effendi ('The
Promised Day is Come')
