Be Like Jesus - 4

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the glories of God, reflected in his face the radiance and splendour of the

Divine. His intense devotion and love ultimately transformed his face and

filled it with a Divine radiance. This is revealed in the Bible. In

Christian thought, the Bible has been taken as an authority. The Jews believed

that God would send a Messiah to protect the people of Israel. Jerusalem was

the sacred city of the Jews and continued to be so even under the Romans. This

was the time when Jesus was born. When we learn about his life story, we come

to the conclusion that he was born of the Virgin Mary. The ruler of the

realm had ordered a census, and each had to be counted in his own village. So

Mary and her husband moved along the road that led to his native village. Mary

was with child and the pains started midway. They knew no one in the hamlet

through which they were passing, so they took refuge in a cowshed. Joseph made

ready the space between the cows, and went out into the road at midnight to

seek some woman who could help. But, soon, he heard the baby's cry.

Appearnaces of splendour, and other signs to herald the era that has dawned

are natural when Incarnations happen on earth. This is illustrated by the

strange phenomena that occur at the time of their advent. It is believed that

when Christ was born there were such manifestations. The story says there

was a star in the sky, which fell with a new light, and this led a few

Tibetans and others to the place where the saviour was born. This story is

read and taken on trust by many, though stars do not fall or even slide down

so suddenly.

The star that appeared that day - which appears only once in 800 years -

actually had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. There is no rule that,

when Divine energy or a Divine Incarnation descends on Earth, a star has to

appear. That is the opinion of devotees only. But, Jesus was himself a "star"

of infinite value, spreading the brillinace of the infinite compassion. Why

posit another less brilliant glow? What the story signifies is this... There

was a huge halo of splendour illuminating the sky over the village when Christ

was born. This meant that he, who was to overcome the darkness of evil and

ignorance, had taken birth and that he will spread the light of love in the

heart of man and councils of humanity. Jesus was to shatter the darkness that

had enveloped the world and the aura of light was a

sign that announced the event. Masters like Jesus arrive in answer to man's

prayer, "Lead us from darkness unto light!" (Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya") When

Jesus was born three Arabian kings came to see him. They were overjoyed at

seeing the newborn babe. While returning, the first king said to Mary,

"Mother, you have given birth to a child who loves God." The second king said,

"Mother you have given birth to a child who will be loved by God". The third

king said, "Mother Mary, your child is not different from God; both are one

and the same." The first one's statement indicated Jesus' role as a

"messenger of God." The second one's statement indicated that he would be the

"Son of God." The third one's statement indicated that the child would one day

declare "I and my Father are one." Once we

understand the inner meaning of these three statements, we will know the truth.

The one who loves God is the messenger of God; the one whom God loves is the

son of God; the one who understands the principle of unity becomes one with

God. --- Sri Sathya Sai Baba. From the book "Be Like Jesus" The Good

News of Jesus in the words of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Compiled by William and

Debra Miller. .