Life of Lord Jesus – The Message of His
Birth
Divine Life
Society Publication: Life and Teachings
of Lord Jesus by Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj
The Supreme Light descended
into this mortal world of gloom and darkness, two thousand years ago.
The Law governing the Lord’s
descent upon earth is the same at all times, everywhere. When unrighteousness
grows and righteousness is waning, when the forces undivine seem to be stronger
than the divine forces, when the Word of God or commandments of His Messengers
are forgotten or disobeyed, when religious fanaticism follows the letter of the
scriptures killing the spirit, it is then that the Lord incarnates Himself on
earth, to save Man, to save righteousness. That is why we find so much in
common between the birth of Lord Jesus and the Avatara of Lord Sri Krishna.
Even at birth, the Lord had
silently begun to deliver His Message. He chose, not a palace but a stable to
be his first earthly home. He chose, not royal parents, but humble, poor, but
faithful and pious people to own Him the Lord of the Universe, as their
offspring. His scale of values is different from mortal. In His eyes, earthly
pomp and splendor, as also pride of piety and vanity of intellect, are not
receptacles worthy of His descent: for, “blessed are the pure at heart, for
they shall see God.”
Mary, the Divine Mother of
Lord Jesus, had already been informed by His Angels that the Son of God would
be born of her. She married a good man named Joseph, the carpenter. They lived
in Nazareth. The ruler of the country in which they lived passed an order that
all the people should register their names in their native town or village and
then pay tax. Joseph had, therefore, to go to Bethlehem, their native place.
However, when they did arrive there, they found that they had virtually no
decent house or inn to live in, and had to spend the night in a stable. It was
here that the Lord was born.
The blessed, pure and pious
shepherds were the next to see the Lord. They were keeping watch over their
sheep in the country; and an angel appeared before them and informed them of
the Divine Birth. Then the angels sang a beautiful song in praise of the Lord
and in so doing, revealed the Purpose of His Descent:
Glory to God in
the highest
and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men.
and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men.
Lord Jesus had come into this
world of men in order to re-establish the true and the highest glory of God,
peace on earth, and goodwill in the hearts of men towards all fellow-beings.
These blessed shepherds were the very first blessed souls on earth to literally
worship the Savior.
When a good old man of
Jerusalem, named Simeon, saw the Lord in the temple, he knew that Jesus was the
Savior, the Divine Light that had descended on earth to dispel the darkness of
ignorance and sin, to redeem the people and to lead them along the path of love
and goodness, to the realization of the Kingdom of God within. In the temple
that day Anna, a prophetess also saw Lord Jesus and proclaimed that Jesus was
the Son of God, who would shine as the Light of the World.
At Nazareth, Lord Jesus, the
Son of God, the Incarnation of His Light, the Savior, grew up as a dutiful son
of the pious parents and learnt carpentry from Joseph. The Divine Master who
later in life was to shape the twelve great apostles, and whose flaming words
were to shape for all time to come the destinies of countless human beings and
even nations upon earth,—He busied Himself in learning carpentry.
When the Lord was twelve years
old, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus
was very much interested in the Temple and the discourses of the priests there.
In fact, He was so much engrossed in the thoughts of God and His Divine Law,
that He returned to the temple and joined a group of religious teachers who
were discussing religious questions. Even to these masters of philosophy, His
words were astounding.
Lord Jesus was now about
thirty years of age, and sought John to be baptized by him on the banks of the
river Jordan. John recognized Jesus’s Divinity and asked: “Dost Thou come to
me, when I have need to be baptized by Thee?” But the Lord had determined to
set an example to mankind: spiritual illumination can be had through a Guru
(Preceptor). The moment the baptism was complete, Lord Jesus saw a vision of
God’s spirit descending like a dove and alighting upon Him, and He heard a
heavenly voice say: “Thou art my beloved son, I am well pleased with thee.”
After the baptism, Lord Jesus
resorted to seclusion in the wilderness and practiced extreme austerities and
fasted for 40 days. Austerities and meditation had, no doubt, earned for Him
divine powers to work miracles. And, the Lord did perform miracles to save
people and to heal them.
The Lord considered psychic
powers as obstacles on the path of a true spiritual aspirant, and he would
never even think of utilizing them for his selfish ends. Even when his life was
at stake, Lord Jesus would not use His miraculous powers to prevent His being
crucified. All the miracles He performed during His travels were prompted by
the supreme compassion of His heart which overflowed with love and mercy towards
all beings.
Jesus, after the period of His
seclusion and austerities, came back to his native village, eager to impart His
wisdom to his fellow-men. John the Baptist had already declared to the people
that the Kingdom of God was at hand and called upon people to repent with a
contrite heart and effect a change of heart in themselves in order to be able
to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus, too, began with a repetition of this
Message. But, whereas John had painted God as a stern Judge, Lord Jesus spoke of
Him as the All-Merciful Father Who loved to save the sinner. To Lord Jesus,
faith in God, earnestness in prayer, and ethical discipline ranked far above
religious observances and ceremonies.
A rich young ruler one day
approached the Lord and asked: “Good Master, what should I do to inherit
eternal life?” Lord Jesus replied: “You should keep the Commandments.” “Oh
yes,” the young ruler replied: “and I have kept them since my childhood. What
else should I do?” “There is one thing more,” said Jesus, “and that is: sell
all that you have and give to the poor. Then take up your Cross and follow me.”
At the very mention of this sacrifice and renunciation, the young ruler turned
away and walked off. Lord Jesus remarked: “It is easier for a camel to enter
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.”
One day as Lord Jesus was
passing by, a crowd had collected around a woman who had been charged with
adultery and had been sentenced “to be stoned to death.” As the crowd was about
to carry out this execution Lord Jesus came upon the scene. Such was the
magnetic and divine personality that he possessed that the people instinctively
obeyed His command to desist from the cruel act.
“A man must be born again if
he is to see the Kingdom of God—reborn not of the body, but in the spiritual
sense.” Lord Jesus proclaimed that a true change of heart constituted this
rebirth.
The feast of the Passover was
approaching. As commanded by the Lord, the disciples prepared for the feast in
a pious citizen’s house. Strangely enough, as soon as they were also seated and
had begun to eat, Lord Jesus let fall a remark: “Verily I say unto you, that
one of you shall betray me.”
During this Holy Supper, the
Lord took a bread, broke it and distributed it among his disciples saying:
“This is My body”; and gave them wine with the significant remark: “This is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Yes, the All-Merciful Lord Jesus lived and died so that the sins of mankind
might be forgiven and that men might learn to repent truly and lead the life
divine thereafter.
Lord Jesus wanted to seclude
Himself for a while and pray to the Divine Father. He prays. He knows that the
end has come.
The Lord is unwilling even to
pray to the Divine Father for miraculous help on this occasion: for His Will be
done. The Lord had to be crucified so that for all time to come the Cross shall
stand as the Holiest Symbol of sacrifice and Love. The Lord said: “Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do.”
On the third day, there was a
great earthquake. An angel from Heaven, told the keepers of the seupulchre and
the women – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, that the Lord had risen, and that they would
see Him in Galilee!
Before these women could tell
the disciples, the latter had met Jesus who said to them: “All Hail.” The
disciples went to a mountain in Galilee and worshipped Him. The Lord gave them
His last Message:
“Go ye therefore and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you;
and lo, I am with you Always, even unto the end of the world.”
May Lord Jesus ever thus dwell
in your heart, bringing Light and Love, into your Life! Amen.
Excerpts from:
The Message of His Birth – Life and Teachings
of Lord Jesus by Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji MaharajArchives - Blog
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