Jesus came to heal the world

by Siripathy Jayamaha

Christmas, in our blessed land is called Naththal. In English it means birth. Hence this hallowed word is in the Medical vocabulary. Pre-natal and Ante natal.

To all Christians scattered around the globe and in our own motherland, Christmas Day is commemorated as the birth of Jesus Christ 2012 years ago. It was to be the beginning. A beginning that will have no end. On December 25 or the month of Unduwap, Christians bow their heads in prayer. Churches are packed. Beginning with the Midnight Mass or watchnight service, churches on this planet hold divine services till late evening.

Since Christmas falls just seven days before the dawn of another year, there is always a feeling of gaiety and joy among all mankind. It is a children's feast. New books, new class, new clothes, crackers, parties, fireworks. Christmas and New Year cards are beautiful happenings. Tunes of Christmas carols fill the Radio and T.Vs.

It would be wonderful to walk down with time. It begins with a divine message to a simple Jewish girl, who was to wed a handsome young wood craftsman. ”Be it done to me she says” little realising as to how many times she would utter these words from the birth of her son Jesus.

Born in a shed with his foster father Joseph the worker in attendance as a midwife, a couple of quadrupeds to give warmth Jesus Christ the Redeemer and Saviour was born. Visited by the rustic shepherds and the regal wise men, His happy mother realised with humility that Her Child was to be a Teacher and Redeemer for all mankind.

He was the Messiah or the promised One as said in the Old Testament. He was not an intellectual. He was agentle revolutionary who was to sacrifice his life for the first sin committed by God's creations according to Holy writings of the Holy Bible. “Greater love” He said. Than this no man has, than to give his life for his friend.

His teachings were loathed by the priests and intellectuals in the Jewish community. He showed his absolute love for His mother when He acceded to her request at the wedding feast in Cana. He spoke on hypocring and the utter impossibility of the rich gaining entry in Heaven. Jesus broke ancient traditions. Angered the ruling elite. He disagreed with their ‘Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth’ practice. He was very angry in seeing vendors selling their wares inside the Temple of God. When they reprimanded him for breaking the Sabbath, He asked “Will you not rescue a sheep that has fallen into a hole on the Sabbath. “He called them the offspring of vipers, Wolves in sheep's clothing. He washed the feet of His disciples as an act of humility. Jesus moved with the despised. Astonished the ruling class when He said that he would have meals with a gantilear menials as called by them. He humiliated them when they brought a woman in sin before Him. Yes! the punishment was by stoning. He said “He that is without sin let him cast the first stone'.

Later He found only the accused by Him. Others had slowly walked away. He spoke on the dignity of labour. He said, “The labourer shall be worthy of his labour and which one of you will ask your subordinate to eat before you do”? He loved the children. Suffer the little children to come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven”.

He taught us most graphically by His preachings, deeds and parables. He spoke on truth. On forgiveness and on loving one's neighbour.

That then was Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. He lived for thirty-three years, preached for three years and after a mockery of a trial, trekked up Calvary, carrying a heavy piece of timber to die for love and shed His precious blood that drenched Mother Earth.

His everlasting teachings show us that faith, forgiveness and love are three integral virtues in the life of a human being.

His immortal teachings bring to mind of another enlightened Teacher who walked this Earth preaching His vision for mankind. They seem similar on man's inborn qualities. The Buddha says Thanhaya Jayaththi Shoko. Yes! Sorrow will always follow greed and do not do to others what you do not wish to be done to yourself”. He too spoke on compassion, tolerance and wished that all mortals be happy.” This was about 540 years before Jesus.

The teachings of Jesus traversed the globe for more than 2,000 years.

As we step into the two thousand and thirteenth year after the birth of Jesus Christ let us express our determined faith in the belief of those in whom we believe and as Christians in the hope that He who lay down His life for us will give us the faith that the Roman Centurion had when He said, “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter my house but only say the word and my servant shall be healed! Jesus healed his servant and said. “Verily, I say to you greater faith than this I have not found in all Israel”.

Jesus came to heal the world. He said “ A stone should be hung-round and dropped into the ocean's should any one scandalise these little ones”. He was speaking on the abuse of children. His beloved father created all living beings and wished that they multiply. All to walk on Earth and enjoy the beauty of His creation.