Sri Sathya Sai On: The Message of Jesus Christ – Part 1

Two thousand years ago, when narrow pride and thick ignorance defiled mankind, Jesus came as the embodiment of Love and compassion and lived among men, holding forth the highest ideals of life. You must pay attention to the lessons He elaborated in the various stages of His life. ‘I am the Messenger of God’ He declared first. Yes. Each individual has to accept that role and live as examples of Divine Love and Charity. The Guru must act as the alarm clock; He should awaken the sleeper to His duty to himself. “Uttishthata! Jagratha,” as the Upanishads proclaim- “Arise! Awake”, and bear witness to the God within, in every thought, word and deed.
This day, Christmas is celebrated. Bring to mind the words He uttered, the advice He offered, the warning He gave, and decide to direct your daily lives along the path He laid down. His words must be imprinted on your hearts and you must resolve to practice all that He taught.
 - “The Meaning of Christmas”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 14,
December 24, 1980, Prasanthi Nilayam

It was to teach mankind the greatness of Divine love that Jesus came.
…He resolved on three tasks; one, to be filled with Divine love and to share it with others was the main purpose of His life; two, He should not succumb to praise or censure in carrying out His mission; three, to inspire in others the conviction that the Divinity within is omnipresent. Jesus considered spreading the gospel of love as His foremost task. He encountered many ordeals in carrying out His mission, but he regarded them all as challenges to be overcome. He was determined to treat pleasure and pain, sickness and failure with equanimity. He could not bear to see any one suffer. He was opposed to the ‘trafficking of birds’ going on in the temple in Jerusalem. The affected persons turned against Him. But Jesus carried on regardless of their hostility. In the end, He sacrificed His life for the sake of others and out of His love for all.
… As a nation we have achieved freedom, but we have not achieved unity. Unity can be achieved only through love. This was the message of Jesus.
- “Realise God through Pure Love”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 28, December 25, 1995, Prasanthi Nilayam

There is one point that I cannot but bring to your special notice today. At the moment when Jesus was merging in the Supreme Principle of Divinity, He communicated some news to His followers, which has been interpreted in a variety of ways by commentators and those who relish the piling of writings on writings and meanings upon meanings, until it all swells up into a huge mess.
The statement of Christ is simple, “He who sent me among you will come again!” and He pointed to a Lamb. The Lamb is merely a symbol, a sign. It stands for the Voice - Ba-Ba; the announcement was the advent of Baba. “His Name will be Truth”, Christ declared. Satya means Truth. “He will wear a robe of red, a blood red robe.” (Here Baba pointed to the robe He was wearing). “He will be short, with a crown (of hair). The Lamb is the sign and symbol of Love.”
Christ did not declare that He will come again. He said, “He who made Me will come again.” That Ba-ba is this Baba and Sai, the short, curly-hair-crowned red-robed Baba, has come. He is not only in this Form, but, He is in every one of you, as the dweller in the Heart. He is there; short, with a robe of the colour of the blood that fills it.
 - “He whom Christ Announced”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 11, December 24, 1972, Bangalore 

Just as sparrows during a storm fly towards a warm shelter. Man too must take shelter in the Divine Principle to escape from the storms of life. He will be welcomed by the Divine, only when, as Jesus said, he becomes a child. Allow the children to come to me, He said. Children have no strong wishes to run after; they have no overpowering passion of hate or greed; so they are embodiments of Peace.
- “Veda Vyaasa”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 7,
May 23, 1967, Prasanthi Nilayam

The ego has to sacrifice itself so that man’s Divine nature can manifest itself. ‘Mine’ is death; ‘not mine’ is immortality. Renunciation results in peace. 
The golden key of non-attachment opens the lock which keeps the door to heaven shut. “Give up; I shall fill the gap”, says Jesus.
- “The Garden of No Grief”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 7, November 23, 1967, Prasanthi Nilayam

Jesus who attempted to rebuild mankind on the basis of Love was crucified by little men who feared that their tiny towers of hate and greed will be toppled by His teaching… Those who seek to know God must steel themselves to bear insult, injury and torture, with a smile.
- “Name, the never-failing fountain”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 8, May 16, 1965, Mumbai

You see many people suffering. In what way are you helping them? Jesus opposed the practice of animal sacrifice in Jerusalem. As a result, He had to face strong opposition. People who help mankind are put to harm. The dualities of life such as pain and pleasure go hand in hand. Pain and pleasure coexist. It is impossible to separate them. Pleasure does not exist separately. The fructification of pain is pleasure. This message of truth must be taught to the entire world. Without pain, one does not realise the value of pleasure. The value of light can be realized only when there is darkness. This was the teaching of Jesus.
- “Sacrifice Leads to Immortality”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31, December 25, 1988, Prasanthi Nilayam

The Romans addressed Jesus as ‘persona’ meaning one of sacredness. The English word person has been derived from this. It means that there is Divinity in everyone. That is why I address you as embodiments of Divinity. I and you are one. There is Divine spirit in everybody. The very self is called “persona”. There is no life principle without Divinity.
- “God Never Forsakes His Devotees”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34, December 25, 2001, Prasanthi Nilayam

Today, man runs after desires; he does not pursue ideals. He yearns for long life, not for a life lived in God. He does not recognize or follow the footprints of the Great. Man has reduced himself to the position of a servant of the household who has no means of knowing where the master has treasured his most precious gems. If he is the master, he ought to know. But having failed to rise to that status, he is unaware of the treasure he can command. Each one has to examine for himself whether he is clinging to trinkets or conserving gems. A lamp kept on mound illumines the area; if kept in a pit, it is as if it were not. A virtue that is practiced is a lamp that shines for all; good thoughts and good deeds have a way of influencing others. The gems of wisdom, the light of intuitive experience should not be kept away from fellowmen. They have to be shared, even at the cost of one’s life. That was the lesson Jesus taught and symbolized.
There are many who are deeply devoted to Jesus. Their duty is to glorify the great message of Jesus. The most important message of Jesus is the ‘establishment of Peace on Earth and goodwill among men’. Without peace, mankind cannot achieve progress in any sphere - material, spiritual or moral.
...There is no use in merely invoking the name of Jesus and praying to Him without regard to His most vital message, “God is in everyone. Do not revile anyone. Do not cause harm to anyone”. This was Jesus’s greatest message.
At present there is a growing tendency among propagators of the Christian faith to cast aspersions on other religions. Money is being spent lavishly to spread Christianity. None of you should have any part in such activities. This type of propaganda does great harm to the personality of Jesus, Jesus was a supremely pure and sacred person. To forget Jesus’s teachings and to profess love for Him is no love at all. You must all remember, “God is One. Love is God. Live in Love.” Only by this means can humanity, despite the many divisions that exist at present, be unified. Absorb the teachings of all the great seers and prophets. Do not despise anyone.
 - “One God: Basic Truth of All Faiths”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 18, December 25, 1985, Brindavan
Once, Jesus and Peter were going in a boat. When they reached the shore, a man approached them saying that he was hungry. Peter gave him a couple of fish. Then Jesus said, “Peter, why are you giving fish to the needy? If you give him a net, he will be able to catch fish for himself. Truly, it is not practical for you to provide him with fish or for his daily sustenance.” Instead of merely satisfying a man’s hunger for one day, try to find him a job with which he can earn for his livelihood. Due to the influence of Kali Age people expect rewards without any effort.
- “Righteous Practice - The True Sadhana”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33, November 24, 2000, Prasanthi Nilayam

Christ’s basic teachings were related to promotion of compassion, sympathy, love, sacrifice and fellowship among human beings. Jesus was named the Christ as He was regarded as the ‘chosen’ Messenger of God.
- “Develop Spiritual Oneness”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 24, December 25, 1991, Prasanthi Nilayam

Continued...


1 comment:

Back to Top