Christmas Message "The Greatest Gift of God to Mankind"

Vermini Sanasam *

When a man or a woman presents a gift to his or her near and dear ones, it cannot be returned back. The best gift is presented to the most loved one. It is universally true that anything we give as a gift to someone, is of the best.

Let us lift up our eyes on high and see who has created all these things - the numerous stars, the sun, the moon, the planets, the wind and all that is in the universe. How do the planets go around in their respective orbits without colliding with one another? Everthing we use in our daily lives has a maker or manufacturer.

Likewise, there is a creator who has made the numerous stars, planets and all living things. We call this very Creator the Living God or the Creator God. The Living God created us in His own image by His own hands and gave us the living soul and we became living human beings. The Living or Creator God loves us so much but we do not know God or who He is.

We have failed to acknowledge Him and have gone astray why is this so? Because of sins and the gods of this world that have blinded us spiritually. What is sin? Sin is God's curse. The wages of sin is death (Roman 3:23). Because of sins, we, human beings will die.

Death is the separation between the soul and the body. Our body will return to dust - whether it is buried or burned. This is God's command (Genesis 3:19). But where will our souls go after death? That is the big question.

There are two places - one is Hell, where the souls will be tormented forever and ever; and the other is Heaven where there will be no pain, sorrow, crying, darkness, hunger and there, our homes will be of gold. God will be the light for ever and there will be joy from everlasting to everlasting (Revelation 21:4).

Therefore, because of sins, we are separated from God. Because of sins, there is no relationship between us and God. But God remembers us and He does not want us to go to Hell. He loves us so much (John 3:16). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life". God promised us to give His son to save us from our sins and so, he came into this world by being born as a human being.

So here begins the wonderful story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came from heaven to save this world that had rebelled against him.

About 3000 years ago, God began to speak to the world through the prophets of the land of Israel: "Look! The king of this world is coming! He will be as the light of the morning sun, as the sun coming up into a cloudless sky.

"He will banish war from the earth, and bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea, to the very ends of the earth. His enemies will not outwit with, nor will the wicked overpower him".

"I will make him the mightiest king in all the earth. His throne shall be as endless as the days of heaven. I will give him the ruling power and glory over all the nations of the world, so that all people of every language must obey him. His power and authority are eternal, they will never end; his government shall never fall".

"He will reveal the meaning of justice to the nations of the world. He will impart courage to the downhearted, and mete out just punishments to the evildoers; yes, he will bring at last true justice to the world. He will not rest or grow weary until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth".

God, the Eternal God, who created the heavens, who created the earth and everthing in it, and gives life and breath to every creature; He is the one who says concerning Christ, the Saviour, "Look! I'm going to give you a sign! A virgin shall conceive and give birth to a male child. He will be named 'Immanuel' (this means: 'God is among us'). He will light the path of all nations, and lead them to me.

"The government of this world will be handed to him. These will be his royal titles : 'Wonderful', 'Counsellor', 'The Mighty God', 'Everlasting Father', 'Prince of Peace'.

"His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice, and bring true peace and righteousness to all the nations of the world. And the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God just as the waters fill the sea".

Jesus Comes to This Earth

About 2000 years ago, God sent an angel from heaven to speak to a virgin girl named Mary who lived in a town in the country of Israel. Mary was engaged to a man called Joseph.

The angel greeted Mary and said to her, "God has chosen you, Mary, and you will receive a great blessing from God".

Mary was startled and afraid. She tried to think what the angel's words meant.

"Don't be afraid, Mary", the angel said to her. "You have been chosen by God to give birth to the baby boy who was promised by the prophets long ago. He will become very great. You must name him 'Jesus' (this means Saviour), because everyone who believes in him will be saved from their sins. He will be called 'the Son of God', and someday he will be king over God's coming kingdom. There will be forever and ever".

Then Mary asked the angel, "How can such a thing happen? I am a virgin. I don't have a husband yet."

The angel replied, "The Spirit of God will come upon you, and you will be overshadowed by the power of God. So the baby born to you will be called the Son of God. For nothing, Mary, is impossible with God". And then the angel disappeared.

Now Joseph, the man to whom Mary was engaged, was a man of stern principle, and when he heard that Mary was pregnant, he decided to break the engagement. But he wanted to do it quietly, as he didn't want to publicly disgrace her.

As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him.

"Joseph", the angel said, "don't hesitate to take Mary as your wife! The child within her has been sent by God. She will give birth to a Son and God's message through His prophets will now come true : Listen! A virgin shall conceive and give birth to a male child. He will light the path of all nations, and lead them to me.'

As soon as Joseph awoke, he did as the angel commanded, and brought Mary home to be his wife. But she remained a virgin until her son was born.

And so, it was that the promised baby was born. Mary gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, in the place where they were staying. And Joseph named the child, "Jesus".

Thus, Jesus came to this world to give us peace and save us from our sins. In our state, Manipur, there is no peace but bloodshed and selfishness where people do their own will. At this critical juncture, let us open our hearts and receive Jesus Christ as a free gift from God.

A true Christmas celebration is not about buying and wearing new clothes, drinking, eating and so on, but about thanking God from the depths of our hearts for sending us His son to earth and for that immense love He has for us.

God bless you and Manipur. Amen.