CHRIST REVEALED IN THE VEDAS Probably you’ve heard the same old story of Christmas a thousand times, but the true story is told in what I am going to share to you. This story is not just of the birth of Jesus Christ two thousand years ago, but it is a story very dear to my heart and I’m sure it will bless you if you are able to understand this message. Don’t think I am preaching to you, but this is a message from the heart. Give it a careful thought. This message might seem contrary to your belief, but I am writing to you that might know that God loves you so much more than you understand. Your life might be a shamble, it might be rags, or you might be wondering why am I suffering when he loves me? It is not true my dear one, in this story you will understand the entire truth and also the true meaning of Christmas. The following is a quotation from the bible from John 3:16-21: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. This is the salvation the world has been looking for since the beginning of times. Do not think that I am stating this in order to bring a message of religion. No, this is message is to make you understand more about the real reason of Christmas. This message was first preached to the first man when he was created. We are all created in the image and likeness of God – Genesis 1:26 - And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Everything was beautiful until man sinned by disobeying God and produced in him the curse of death; – Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, not of a physical death but lost contact with God. But God in his love decided to redeem man – Gen 3:15 - And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This is a direct reference to the coming of Jesus Christ into this world. When the bible talks about ‘HER SEED’ it refers to one offspring, not many and not a generation. That seed is Jesus Christ. There are many references in the bible about the coming of Jesus. For example, in Isaiah 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” What a marvelous truth, and yet the world is missing this truth. In John 3:13-15 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Daniel, the prophet, talks about the exact time of the coming of the savior of the world – Dan 9:21-27 talks of this. Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Again, Isaiah 53 1-12, talks about the suffering of the savior which was fulfilled only in Jesus Christ. Now, it is Christmas, and why am I talking about the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection? Because your own religious books talk about this Jesus, and if you don’t believe you are at a total loss. Go search your books, and if you still don’t believe then come back to me and you can ignore what I am saying. And again, the bible says in Acts 4:10–12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. If you don’t believe and you are a Muslim, Micah 5:2 talks about the divinity of Christ, that his origin is from the beginning – But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. This is a direct reference to Christ, for Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem. And if you don’t believe he rose from the dead read Psalms 16:10 - For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. And again, Jesus said, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. He again says in JOHN 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:11 “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” There are thousand’s of records to testify that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead and was seen by thousands of his followers. One of them is the Archko Volume in which the Jewish authorities had to write an explanation to the Romans as to why Jesus was tried unlawfully from evidence of false witnesses and was executed in haste. In one of the reports, Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest at the time, who pronounced judgment on Jesus, has stated that Jesus Christ did appear to him after his death and told him that he was the Messiah or the savior they were looking for and he was the sacrificial lamb. If you are a Hindu and you don’t believe, then read your own religious books. Christ in Ancient Vedas When Christ was born in Palestine it was informed the wise men of the east, the non-Jewish world. Not only at His birth, even before that, the plan of salvation through the sacrificial death of Christ was revealed in the ancient Vedas, the Hindu religious books. When the ancient sages wrote about the sacrifice of Prajapati (God), quite unknowingly they were portraying the Lord Jesus Christ as the way of salvation. Prajapati’s Sacrifice as described in the Vedas The Vedas are a collection of Hindu religious books written before the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The literal meaning of the word is the Lord of all creation. He is the Creator. Therefore, the Prajapati’s Sacrifice means the Sacrifice of God Himself. There are several verses in the Vedas in connection with this. Let me quote one of them from the Tandyamahabrahmana in its second part, chapter 7: “Prajapatirddevebhyam Atmanam yajnam krtva prayacchat” (Having done a self-sacrifice, Prajapati, the Lord of all creation, offered Himself for gods.) This concept of self-sacrifice is very significant. Normally, God is supposed to receive sacrifices and offerings; but here the victim of sacrifice is God Himself. The opinions of the Hindu Scholars Among the Hindu scholars we cannot see any unanimous opinion about the Prajapati-sacrifice. According to some scholars this sacrifice has not yet been done on this earth, yet others hold that it is only a model of a perfect sacrifice, which is already done in heaven. H. Aguilar, one of the Sanskrit scholars of India, writes in his book, The Sacrifice in the Rg Veda, as follows: “Taken in its totality, the myth of the Purusa/Prajapati is not unworthy of the Christian conception of the redemptive incarnation of the logos (Word = Jesus) by means of ‘kenosis’ (emptying), leaving out the question whether they (Christians) can be homologated (in agreement) or not” (The Sacrifice in the Rg Veda, Page 69. Bharatiya Vidya Prakasam, Delhi. India. 1976). We can agree to the opinion of the Sanskrit scholar when we understand the sacrificial nature of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the remission of the sin of mankind. The Holy Bible always explains the death of Jesus Christ as sacrifice. This concept of sacrifice involves love, self-denial, covenant, bloodshed and burning. It is the greatest manifestation of love. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, that one laid down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Some Important Features of the Prajapati’s Sacrifice fulfilled in Jesus (1) The meaning of the word ‘Prajapati’ (the Lord of all creation) is fulfilled only in Jesus. According to the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ is the creator of the world: “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1: 3). About Him it is also written: “Thou Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thy hands” (Hebrews 1: 10). Jesus is the real Prajapati – the Lord of all creation. (2) According to the Vedas, Prajapati is called Purusa, the Man of perfection. (Purusasukta, Rg Veda 10: 90: 1-16). Christ refers to Himself ‘Son of Man” (Matt.20:28). (3) The definitions of ‘Purusa’ in Vedic literature are meaningful only when they applied to Jesus. Definition #1 is quoted from ‘Yajur Veda’ 32:4: “Purvoh jatah Purusah” which means one who is born in the beginning. Well, Jesus has no beginning. He is eternal. Still Jesus is called the first born in the Bible: “He is the image of invisible God, the first born of all creation” (Colossians 2: 15). Definition # 2 “Purnatvad Purusah” means the One who is perfection is Purusah is also fulfilled in Jesus. When all men of the world are imperfect beings, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man is the one and the only perfect Man in this world. Definition #3: “Sa yat purvo asmat sarvasmat sarvan papmana ausat tasmat Purusah (He who burns out sin before all is Purusa” (Brhadaranykoponisad 1.4.1). The Chandogyopanisad 1.6. 6-7 says: This man is above all sin and one who worships Him and follows Him also raise himself above sins.” Jesus Christ came to this world to save sinners from their sins. At the same time He was above from sins. He is the one and the only sinless Man in this world. According to the Vedas the victim of the Purusa-Prajapati’s sacrifice should be blameless. It is completely fulfilled in Jesus. (4) The Sacrificial Man should be closely tied to the sacrificial pillar (Sathapathabrahmana 3.7.3.1). Christ was closely nailed to the cross, the sacrificial pillar. (5) The blood of the Sacrificial Man should be shed, according to the Vedas. Fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion. (6) The Sacrificial Man should return to life after the sacrifice. (Brhadaranykopanisad 3.9.28.4,5). Fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection There are many other features of the Prajapat’s sacrifice in the Vedas fulfilled in Jesus. For a detailed study read the book, Christ in Ancent Vedas, written by Dr. Joseph Padinjarekara. The Katopanisad another Hindu book written around 600 B.C. says, “the one who knows this Purusa becomes free and attains immortality” (ch.6.8). Dear friends, the Upanisads also say that knowing Him is the one and the only way for your Mukti - salvation. The Svetasvataropanisad firmly declares that “there is no other way to enter into eternal life.” (ch.3.8). The same thing was told by Jesus: “I am the way, the truth and life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6). The answers to the prayer of the ancient sages in the Upanisads are found only in Jesus Dear friends, the ancient sages prayed in the Brhadaranykopanisad, (1.3.28): “asatoma satgamaya (from unreal lead me to the truth” In answer to this Jesus said: “I am the truth” (John 14:6). The sages prayed: “tamasoma jyotirgama (from darkness lead me to light)”. Jesus answered: “ I am the light of the world’ (John 8;12). They prayed: “Mrtyorma amrtam gamaya (From death lead me to immortality)” Jesus responded: “I am the resurrection and life; he who believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25). “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world as the victim of the perfect sacrifice of God. In order to communicate the meaning of His sacrifice Jesus Himself said to His disciples: “I am the living bread. . . If any one eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51). Again Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). If we believe in Him we are His sheep. However, as the Prophet Isaiah has written, “All of us like sheep have gone astray” (53:6). The Bible says: “There is none righteous, not even one”(Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23). In order to save us from our sins, Jesus gave His life in sacrifice because He loved us. Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). If we miss the point – the sacrificial love from the crucifixion – it would be a mere senseless bloodshed. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3: 16). Friends, the ancient Vedas of India also say that the way of salvation for all mankind is to believe in sacrifice of Almighty God (Prajapati). This concept God’s sacrifice is completely fulfilled in Jesus’ Crucifixion and resurrection. Would you believe in this sacrifice? Jesus died for your sin. WHAT MUST YOU DO TO BE SAVED? You need to be born again!!! Seems to be a familiar term, but unlike some religion belief, the term ‘Born Again’ does not refer to another birth in your next life, but a new birth in this life. John 3:1-8 talks about this birth - There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. In Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Rom 10:9-10 talks about what one must do to be born again in this life. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. What Happens when you are born again? Col 1:13 - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Eph 2:6 - And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:12-17 - Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. Col 2:26 – 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. I pray according to Ephesians 1:17-23 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: I The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Rom 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Isn’t this the greatest truth you ever came to know? This is the true story of Christmas that Jesus came to be with us, to live in us. God Bless You Prashanth J Email: gospelmessage@gmail.com