Jesus – the silver star that always shines

Christmas is being celebrated all over the world. The nights are filled with an impression as though the constellations in the Milky Way seem to be falling down onto the earth. Not only in India, but all over the world, there is a custom of exchanging sweets or other gifts on special days. But two thousand years ago, God gave humanity a priceless gift. He laid his beloved son Jesus in a manger and gave him to the people of the world. The holy Bible says that

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

When that child grew up and became a young man, he said – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Even today, whoever finds Christ, whoever accepts Christ walks in the light. The mind and body are enveloped in the silver light of God’s glory.

It may seem ironic that the first announcement of Jesus’ birth was made by ordinary, illiterate shepherds. The priests or Jews, who proudly boasted of knowing everything about God, did not receive that announcement. It was through shepherds, who knew nothing about God and were tending to their sheep, that God announced that gift of hope to the world. Even today, it is not those who boast of being enlightened by intelligence and knowledge who seek Jesus. Those who live in perpetual poverty, those whose lives are broken, those who are tormented by diseases, and those who see death in front of them – these are the ones who seek Jesus; those that set out to seek the owner of that wonderful name. When they believe in Jesus, by obeying Jesus’ word, they enter into a wonderful light that they have never seen before. Then, through a continuous process, they move to heights in life like the stars in the sky.

The greatest gift God gave to the world was the miraculous baby Jesus, wrapped in a swaddling cloth and given to humanity. That bright light has always illuminated the world. Jesus was born in a small village called Bethlehem, located almost in the centre of the world. He lived for about 33 years in Galilee, a commercial city in Israel. Jesus, who did nothing wrong and preached only good, was given death on a wooden cross by the greatest priestly power of that time, Judaism, and the greatest military power, Rome. Having survived death, Jesus continues his victorious journey to this day; he continues to shed light on the world.  Having divided the world history into two as  A.D. and B.C., he have become a historical hero. However, he did not choose palaces or large houses as his residence while living on earth. He lived a humble life as an ordinary person among ordinary people.

From that small part of the world, he conquered the world by sending his 12 chosen disciples. He did not have to take up arms for it. Civilizations like Rome and Greece collapsed before them. Socrates taught his people for 60 years in Greece. Plato, Socrates’ disciple, taught them for 40 years. Aristotle, Plato’s disciple, also devoted his life to teaching the world for 40 years. Alexander, Aristotle’s disciple, moved forward by destroying empires with the intention of conquering the world in front of Greece. But at the age of thirty-two, he had to say goodbye to this world ,without fulfilling his desire to live, ending everything. But Jesus, who lived until the age of 33, is still alive today;  As a starlight for the world, shining brightly!

If God chose shepherds who were tending sheep to announce the news of Jesus’ birth, Jesus invited those who made a living by fishing to follow him. Religious leaders could have been called, priests could have been called; those who claimed to be intellectuals could have been called. Jesus chose those who knew where to cast their nets and where to catch fish. They were ready to follow him without even knowing where he was going. They were ready to wait patiently and sacrifice sleep, while others were sleeping comfortably. Jesus needed those who were ready to leave everything and follow him.Jesus still looks for those who are willing to leave their jobs, their wages, and their security to follow him.