THE ANGEL told the shepherd
in the field: “Don’t be afraid! I bring you the good news that will bring great
joy to all the people of the world. For this very night, in the City of David,
the Savior, Christ, the Lord, was born (1).”
02
As it is written, so it has come to pass. Out of the house of David, in the
City of Bethlehem in Judea, the Messiah was born. And, immediately, the righteous
and the wise sought to honor him (2, 3).
03 In time, this child grew to become a man who did mighty
works never before witnessed by human eyes because he is not of this world. He
is from above. He comes from heaven (4).
04 Concerning him, much is written and much is foretold. John, the Baptist
presaged his coming and acknowledged him to his followers (5). Isaiah, the
prophet, wrote of him and his work: his teachings of divine truths; his message
of hope, his path of deliverance and his promise of eternal life (6). Of his manner
and purpose, these are also written (7). And how that
some would believe and many would not (8).
05 He is wiser than the wisest and greater than the greatest that ever walked
the Earth (9). And the pure in heart alone shall be able to
receive him (10).
06 Many people in the world have not quite
attained to a high degree of development. They have the capacity to evolve to
higher levels but as yet, these capacities are like seeds in the process of
growth. Many are like sheep, adrift in a sea of darkness and ignorance, lost,
not knowing where to go and what to do. Mindless and confused, they need the
guidance of a shepherd.
07 Christ is the good shepherd sent by God to tend His sheep. And he knows
these sheep well; he feeds them and guides them towards that time when all of
them will be together again in the fields of heaven (11).
08 Because of the evil in the hearts of men, the world remains lost in darkness
and only the ways of love and goodness can bring light. Christ is this true
Light of the World! And through him, we are led to the right path that
leads to God. Through his life and teachings, we are guided such that we no
longer have to fear the darkness. So long as we walk in the light of truth, the
darkness can be dispelled (12, 13).
09 Very early in his life, Jesus already knew what he was to do (14). He came so that we may better understand the
divine laws, so that these laws may more effectively guide us in our quest for
the heavenly life (15).
10 He is especially sent to the sinners more than to the
righteous, because they are in greater need of his guidance and divine
instruction (16). But he teaches even the elect, because even
they have much to learn concerning the ways of righteousness. The world does
not know the ways of heaven. But Christ who comes from heaven knows. And
through him, we are able to obtain insights into these deeper spiritual
principles (17, 18).
11 He has revealed and will continue to reveal these truths
to all who are deserving. And henceforth, so long as we follow after his divine
ways of goodness and holiness, he will be our able guide, our elder brother and
our beloved friend (19).
12 There is nowhere else to turn if we desire the best
teacher. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Supreme
Teacher. No one else knows better than he does. To him are entrusted
the words of eternal life (20,
21, 22).
13 Love is the way, the only way. Christ demonstrating perfect
love, he is become as love. Christ is love. Christ is the way. Christ having
attained to perfect knowledge, he is become as truth. Christ is the truth.
Because Christ lives even though he died, he is become as life. Christ is the
life. And whosoever follows after the path of love and righteousness
shall inevitably find the Truth and enter into the everlasting life
prepared for us by the Father since the foundation of the world (23).
14 In order that the people may sit up and listen to his
teachings, he performed many so-called miracles. But these things that he did
were considered as miracles only because people then were not aware of the
underlying and applicable natural laws. In reality, there are no miracles. It
is only that the laws governing such phenomena have not as yet been discovered
or accepted by our scientists. But all these he performed in order that his
message may be heard and accepted (24).
15 He demonstrated his ability by turning water into excellent wine (25). He multiplied the loaves and fish needed to
feed thousands (26, 27). The forces of nature obeyed him and acceded
to his commands (28). He demonstrated his ability to walk even on
water (29). He did many things that no man ever did. But
they were not enough. And so he did more.
16 As foretold by the prophets before him, he made the blind to see and the
deaf to hear (30, 31, 32). He healed all kinds of diseases and ailments,
like fever, leprosy and paralysis, in his desire to alleviate the suffering of
many, all the while stressing the need for those afflicted to realize the error
of their ways. And still, many people would not listen (33, 34, 35, 36).
17 He cast out evil spirits who had great fear of him, he
being the Holy One from God. Evil always being subject to goodness and holiness
in all things, except upon the Earth, nevertheless, the evil spirits meekly
obeyed him (37, 38, 39). Further, he saved many from the clutches of
certain death (40, 41). And finally, he raised even the dead back to
life (42, 43, 44). All these mighty deeds are recorded in the
Holy Scriptures so that all may believe in him, the Christ from God.
18 John the Baptist testified of him but John himself came to doubt his own
testimony. To confirm to all who doubted that he was who he said he was, Christ
performed his mighty miracles again (45). For more than just the testimony of John,
Jesus had far greater proofs to support his contentions. His whole life is one
magnificent revelation and his teachings and mighty works prove that he is sent
from God (46).
19 Other Bible passages prophesy the death of Jesus: his return to Jerusalem
riding on a colt; the soldiers casting lots for his robe, the piercing of his
side and the condition of his bones (47, 48, 49).
20 He himself gave sufficient notice to his disciples many
times concerning his demise, but they failed to understand what he meant until
what he had predicted had actually come to pass. Only then were they able to
understand that life is not of the body but of the spirit (50).
21 Had he so desired to keep his Earthly life, he would have asked for legions
of angels to safeguard him (51). But his kingdom is not of this world. He came
down to Earth to accomplish a mission of love. Having completed it, he was to
go back home to heaven. And though he dreaded the pains of death as anyone would,
he knew that the true life awaited him immediately after. And so he resigned
himself not to the will and desires of his physical form but to the divine will
of God (52).
22 Three days after they had killed his physical body, his followers searched
for him but could not find him. And only later when he appeared to them did
they realize that he had conquered death just as he had foretold and that he is
risen. And because he lives, we too can live. This is the
promise of Christ.
23 Many believed in him because they witnessed his many miracles and his
triumph over death but more blessed are those who have not even seen him and
yet have believed in him (53).
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