I have often seen this post on facebook pages shared widely by Christians. I am not sure about its authenticity. However, the catchy title of this page strikes the mind of every people: ‘The Truth That The World Leaders Knew’ where the quotes from some famous world personalities on Jesus Christ were mentioned.
Just with a surface glance, it may really seem prideful and
astonishing that World Leaders really embraced and respected Jesus Christ and so,
they had come up with such high honour for our Lord. Just with these few
quotes, many believers must have been so much glad that the one whom we believe
is embraced and respected even by world famous figures. However, it is not wise
to come into an excitement or joy immediately when we see such posts just
because it seems witnesses or testimonials in favour of our Lord. The whole
case should be examined indeed.
Before getting into the issue, I would like to begin with an
important question asked by our Lord: “Who do you say I am?” Matthew
16:15, which was not only for his disciples of that time. It is rather an
essential question for people of each and every generation. This question
reverberates every seconds of our life.
In Matthew 16:13-20, we can see different responses. Some
think Jesus as John the baptist, some think him as Eliah, Jeremiah and even just
a prophet from God. These were the responses of general public but in verse 15
Jesus asked same question to his disciples. And, Peter confesses Him to be the
Christ, Son of Living God. Focus on what Jesus replied to Peter in verse 17 –
18; Jesus said that the truth was revealed to him not from men but God. According
to John 7:25-44 also, local people did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. They
were indeed asking each other whether Christ could be able to perform such great
deeds as Jesus had done ! Special emphasize on verse 27, 31, 41-42 and 43. In
brief, it is crystal clear that they did not know that Jesus was indeed the
same Messiah for whom people had been waiting for so long time!
Now, the question is for us. What do we say Jesus is? Are we
seeking world and just collecting quotes of famous persons to answer it? Are we
seeking their thought on Jesus rather than the essence of our heart?
Now, let me discuss very shortly on the post. To keep this
writing very short as far as possible, I wanted to deal with two great personalities
from above post: Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda.
Gandhi was well known to be inspired by the Gospel esp. Sermon
on Mount (Matthew 5:3-10). Matthew 5:39 is one of the Bible verses
that he had used in his lifetime as an inspiration for non-violence or
tolerance. Similarly, his another quotation, “I like your Christ, I do not
like you Christians. You Christians are so unlike your Christ.”[i]
is very famous, which is usually found to be used in discussion of
religious issues. Did Gandhi really know who Jesus was? Did he really love
Jesus Christ? It is to be remembered that loving Jesus doesn’t mean just liking
and believing only, it doesn’t mean just to believe the existence of Jesus as a
holy moral teacher etc. If we love Jesus, we must keep his commandments and if
we believe Jesus, we must follow his words, his commandments, and his
teachings. In a book named ‘What Jesus means to me’ first published on
September 1959 (https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/whatjesusmeanstome.pdf), it would be so clear that the real
case about Gandhi’s view on Christ is not what we Christians usually think. Gandhi
had rejected Jesus’ uniqueness as Son of God and he had even objected
His miracles as well. Few years back, I had read his book and I was also
glad to hear such quotes from Gandhi. After reading the book, my heart tore
apart and the whole case just turned different than what I had really expected.
Since that time, I realized that what other people (no matter even if they were
great personalities) have their opinion on Jesus, it should not be the essense
to our spiritual understanding and life.
Second, the great religious personality of Hindutva was Swami
Vivekanand, who was reputed and the most influencing religious preacher on the
occasion of speech conducted on Parliament of World’s Religions at Chicago on
11th September, 1893. He was one of the figure who introduced
Hinduism to the west and till today many westerners are eager in eastern
religious activities like yoga and philosophies. We should not even forget that
Hinduism is such a complex religious system that bears no barrier to accept
other religious figures in its circle. Hence, it is not astonishing point that
Jesus is also revered in such a religious system.
I have also read His various quotations on Christianity and
Jesus that seems very grateful to our mind in a surface level. However, a
deeper excavation reveals something odd aspects that can strike our mind. A
deeper study about the reality behind Swami Vivekanand views on Christ has been
already discussed in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksza3U5Oe3Y. The meaning of the quotation of Swami
Vivekanand in the above post is however true that Christ really changes the
life of people. I really don’t know how much the reference given is the
authentic one but the issue here is that the true case is not what it seems to
be in a surface level. Deeper study reveals how views of such personalities
obviously contradicts our faith no matter even if the starting seems the same
road leading to the same destination. Christians must be alert in these things
before getting into their use just to show greatness of Jesus Christ.
What I just wanted to express in this writing is that, we do
not believe Jesus as God and Lord just because great personalities says, or
just because the Bible says. There is the necessity essense of Jesus in our
life. Our personal opinion is very important about him. We shouldn’t even
forget that none disciples believe the resurrection when women came to give
their witness. Thomas didn’t believe Jesus has come to life until he himself
testified and later he confessed him as Lord and God. It is not the matter of
just following Jesus because he was a great personality of human history! It is
matter of knowing who he was. This is the essence of our salvation and
relationship with God! Why do we believe Jesus? Why not others? Jesus indeed
came to live among us so that we may know God by knowing him(John 1:18). His
actions, his words, his teachings and his life were representing God’s love,
grace, power, authority and will. All in all, Jesus was indeed God incarnate
who was revealing the one true God (2 Cor. 5:19).
Finally, to sum up, let us not become like one of those who
did not ever recognized who Jesus was. We just do not follow the teaching of
the teacher, but the teacher itself (Please read https://nepalchurch.com/16003/mahatma-gandhi-on-christianity-accept-the-teaching-but-never-accept-the-teacher/). Let us live a life representing
Christ. Let us show his love in our actions. Let us introduce the God-Man
Savior to the world by the message of our transformed life! Don’t run to know
what and how the world acknowledge about Him, speak to your heart and ask the
same question: “Who do you say Jesus is?”.
Thank you!
[i]
The quote from Gandhi is
found on different versions on resources. Due to lack of recognition of true
quotation by him, I have just mentioned a similar version but the meaning is
the same.
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