Contradictions
and confusions concerning Jesus Christ and Christianity
(taken
from SSB’ discourses).
Truly speaking, Christmas falls in the month of March, not in December.
Since it is very cold in December and people are confined to their homes, they
utilise this time to celebrate Christmas. Actually, Jesus was born in the month
of March. With the passage of time, this fact has been distorted and
misrepresented in the Bible. (25.12.1998, SS, v.42, #1, January 1999 ã., p.6)
There are various theories
about the birth date of Jesus based on the ‘bright star that appeared at his
birth.’ It is visible once in 800 years, it is said. Some say he was born on
the fifteenth day of September. But, he was born at 3-15 a.m. (early morning) on
December 28, 1980 years ago. It was Sunday. (25.12.1979, SSS, v.24, ð.288)
The 25th is not the birth.
It was on the 24th, near midnight. (J.Hislop. Conversations with Bhagavan Sathya
Sai Baba. ch.XXIX, p.92)
Jesus never laid any claim to His association with God either as a
Messenger or a Son. It is only in order that men may realise their own relation
with God that such interpretation is made. 24.11.1998)
There were controversies regarding Jesus. These differences were the
cause of the ordeals he had to go through. But Jesus was prepared to face any
trouble or any penalty. He considered Compassion as the supreme quality. At
first, he declared he was a “Messenger of God”. Then, he announced: “I am
the Son of God”. Ultimately he declared: “I and my Father are one”.
25.12.1997, SS 41, #1,p.9)
At the time of crucifiction, Jesus prayed: “O Father! What sin have I
committed? Why am I put to suffering thus?” (24.11.1998)
When Jesus reached this stage (“I and my Father are one”), He had no
suffering at all; He was always blissful and was prepared for anything. Even at
the time of crucifixion, he was smiling, because he realised that He was not the
body. (25.12.1998, SS 42, #1, p.5)
When it was ordered that all the devotees of Jesus should be crucified
along with Him, even His closest devotees, Peter, Matthew, and Paul refused to
identify themselves as His followers. (25.12.1998, SS v.42,#1,p.4)
In the beginning even Romans were Jews, not Christians. It is only after
the advent of Jesus that the term Christians came into use. (24.11.1998)
Jesus grew up at Nazareth till he reached thirty. After Joseph’s
passing, Jesus sought his mother’s permission to embark on his Divine mission.
He got baptised y John, the Baptist and spent forty days in penance in a forest.
(25.12. 1988, SSS XXI, p.272)
Jesus realised that he was Christ in his 25th year. For 8 years following
his 16th birthday he travelled in India, Tibet, Iran, and Russia. He was
variously regarded as a beggar or as a sannyasi. Jesus had no money. His parents
were very poor and practically abandoned him at an early age. (J.Hislop.
Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. ch.XXX, p.97)
Jesus announced himself as a Messenger of God. He spent many years in
austerities so that he could shower compassion and love on all humanity. Later,
he asked himself, “Am I just a messenger, or am I more closely related to God,
a part of God with the Divine as my essence?” Jesus spent twelve long years,
wandering alone in deserts engaged in this inquiry. At the end of this period,
he returned to the society of men and announced “I am the Son of God.” (
25.12.1979, SSS XIV, p.286)
He
(Jesus) said that He was ‘Persona’ meaning that He was the spark of Divine.
This has been translated by the British as ‘Person’, which has been termed
as ‘Purusha’ by Bharatiyas. Therefore ‘Purusha’ or ‘Persona’ have
originated from the Roman language. (24.11.1998)
Jesus
opposed the practice of animal sacrifice in Jerusalem. As a result he had to
face strong opposition. (25.12.1998, SS v.42,#1,p.2)
Similarly, among Christ’s eleven disciples differences developed and they fell apart. Only Mathew remained true to Jesus. He propagated the gospel. Peter was the first among Jesus’s disciples. But he denied Christ when the authorities questioned him. (7.09.1996. SS v.39, #10,p.269)