Sidhartta (not verified) — Tue, 12/30/2008 - 11:55pm

My dear friend, I am sure you now want to ask the question which many ask, and which is one of the most important questions in the world, namely, who is this great person whose history I have just briefly related you? Many large books have been written in answer to this questions, and though it is difficult to explain briefly who Jesus Christ is, I will now attempt to do so. Since the only entirely trustworthy information regarding this matter is found in the Holy Bible, I will depend on it alone for what I will not write.

From the accounts of the life of Jesus Christ which we have in the four Gospels we see that He was truly a man. Though he did not have a human father He was descended, through His mother Mary, from David the great prophet and king of Israel. He grew in body and spirit as other boys do. He ate food and slept. He worked as a carpenter, He grew weary, and was acquainted with all the joys and pains and sorrows that people experience in their life on this earth. He is, therefore, able to sympathize with us in all our human experiences. Since Jesus was a man He might have married and had children, but He did not do so. His decision was no doubt made in obedience to Gods' will for Him.

However, while Jesus was truly man, He was in some respects quite different from other men. As already explained, all men, even the prophets and holy men of old, have sometimes disobeyed God and are therefore sinners. But in all His life, Jesus never did or said, or thought, anything contrary to God's holy will. He is the only sinless man. Not only did He commit no sin, His will was perfectly one with the will of God. He is indeed the one Perfect Man who has ever lived on the earth.

The people who witnessed the deeds of Christ were amazed at His power. Once He met a man blind from his birth and give him sight. On another occasion, when a great storm was about to sink the little boat in which He and His apostles were crossing the Lake of Galilee, He commanded the wind and the waves, and the sea became calm. He called from the tomb a man named Lazarus who had been dead four days, and the dead man arose and walked out alive. And, most amazing of all, Jesus, having predicted that He would come to life and meet His disciples on the third day after His death did just that. What man other than Jesus has ever done such deeds as these? What man has risen from the dead and never did again? No one!!! Hence it is evidence that while Jesus was truly man, He was much greater than the greatest of men. who then is He?

As I previously stated, Jesus Himself claimed to be the son of God. Not only at His trial before the Jewish council but many times before that trial, Jesus made this high claim for Himself. Moreover, He usually referred to God as "my Father". Once, when He said: "I and my Father are one." His enemies wanted to throw stones at Him, for they thought He had spoken blasphemy. But we know that Jesus was not a liar or a blasphemer, for all that He said was true. We should remember that if anyone should say that Jesus not God's son He makes Jesus a liar, and if He is a liar no one should believe on Him. But Jesus, in claiming to be the Son of God, was only repeating what God had said, to Him in a voice from heaven at His baptism, which was: "Though art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased. In all the books written by the apostles of Jesus it is stated many times that Jesus is the Son of God, and all the Christians of the world have always believed this to be true. You, of course, understand that this term is used not in a physical but in a spiritual sense. It is evidence that God did not take a wife and have a son, for such a thing is utterly impossible and unthinkable.

In the Injil Jesus is also called the "Word of God". While the title "Son of God" expresses His closeness to and His oneness with God who is His true Father, the title "Word of God" tells us that it is through Jesus Christ that God speaks to men. It is thus written: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with god: all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.....and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth: we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father." (John 1:1-14).

This means that God, who had previously revealed Himself through prophets and their books, finally revealed Himself perfectly in a perfect person. That person is much greater than a prophet, and is truly one with God. For this verse from the Injil tells us that that person is the Word of God, and the Son of God. He was from the beginning one with God, and through Him all things were created. then, at the appointed time, the Eternal Word of God put on the garment of humanity in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and became Jesus Christ. So we see that he had two natures, one divine and the other human. Jesus Christ is both man and God.

Those Jewish apostles who first believed on Jesus were strict monotheists, that is, they believed that God is One. However, after being with Jesus for more than two years, they became convinced that their Master was one with God. thus Peter confessed: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16). Also, Thomas, when he saw Jesus alive after His resurrection from the dead, cried out: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). In both instances Jesus commended these apostles for their faith in Him, and to Thomas He said: "Have you believed because you have seen me? blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20:24-29). This blessedness is ours today if we believe that He is the Son of God.

Now I know you wish to ask, "How is it possible for Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and one with God since god is One?" This is indeed a mystery too great for our little minds to comprehend. Who can fully know the essence (zat), that is, the nature or character of God, except God Himself? But we must remember that God is almighty, and nothing, that is not contrary to His holy will, is impossible for Him. Moreover, we see in the world of nature, which God created, something which illustrates, though imperfectly, this great reality. Look at the sun in the heavens, it is so great and so hot that if it should come nearer to the earth we would all perish. And to the sun shed froth the sunlight, which is really one with itself, and, through it, lights and warms our earth. In a similar way our great God sends His Light, which is one with Himself, into our world to give us life. God calls that Light His Word and His Son. That Light became Jesus Christ, who said of Himself: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). When we see the sunlight we see the sun, and likewise when we look at Jesus Christ we see God. Jesus once said: "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (that is, God). (John 14:9). Therefore, we Christians are sure that God Himself has come to us in His Son Jesus Christ.
Who is really Jesus Christ? Is he God or Prophet..Christian view:
My friend, does it seem strange to you that the Almighty God should come in this way to our earth to save sinful men? But, remember, God, who is so great, always acts in love, and in coming in Christ to our world He has perfectly revealed His divine love to us. No doubt you have heard the story of the good king who loved the people of his kingdom so much that he sometimes would put off his royal robes, dress as a poor man and go to the homes of the people to talk with them and help them. this is an inadequate illustration of how the Son of God, who was one with the Father, left His heavenly glory, came to earth and lived in poverty as a man to reveal to them God's love and bring them to Him. What amazing love was this!!

El (not verified) — Tue, 12/30/2008 - 12:02am

There are so many religions in the world...and it is not wise to say which one is the best...but it should be wise to measure any individuals with their character and attitude and how they relate these toward harmounious living in the communities.

I'm a Muslim, but my closest friend is Christian...And I once lived in the U.S. where I made friends with Jewish...As a matter of fact, I had a wonderful Jewish room mate...And one of my good friend is an atheist...So What?...We are all human...

So, you can say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy this religious celebration, and so on and so on...
Common sense should be the measurement here to deal with global diversity, as it is what God has created all human beings different from animals...

Andrew Watson (not verified) — Mon, 12/29/2008 - 2:25pm

Dear All; What is not forbidden is allowed. The importance of an issue is proportional to the number of mentions it receives in The Holy Qurán or Haddith. All things in Islam depend on the Niat.
By the above principles, it seems to me that this issue is not a mjor one for faithful Muslims who wish to convey good wishes to a Christian celebrating the birth of Nabi Isa. The line to be drawn is clear as a person named Nabi Isa was born, as stated in the Holy Qurán. Clearly, a good Muslim cannot, in good faith, pass good wishes at some other times, eg Easter is much more complicated as the Christian beliefs differ from what is written in the Holy Qurán.
Such is the tolerance of the majority of Indonesian Muslims, that Easter passes without discussions about the differences in belief. My personal view is that most Indonesians value tolerance and harmony. Hence a desire to know if they can give a Christmas greeting without being contrary to their religion. That is, behind the question there is good will. In my opinion, acknowledging points of common belief can do no harm. Indeed both giver and receiver of the gfreeting benefit, even with momentary human warmth resulting from the good will passed back and forth.
Regarding Christians knowledge of Islam, my belief is that neither Catholic nor Protestant church leadership encourage that Christians look into Islam, or indeed any other religion. That is natural in any human group.
However, on a larger scale, the world is not helped by an ignorance of Islam that is found in influential people, such as world leaders and opinion formers.
Also Ïslam is not one Monolithic "thing"to be understood easily in a short time. There are basic large differences in religious practice and beliefs between, say, Saudi Wahhabis, Indonesian Sunnis, Nigerian Sunnis and Iranian Shia, more relqated to cultural differences "hard wired" into the people. A Malaysian Moslem husband is going to have a very unhappy home if he bans his wife from driving or going shopping with her friends without male escort. Plates will fly, ha ha. Whereas in Saudi, thats normal life.

Syam (not verified) — Mon, 12/29/2008 - 2:04am

As a Moslem I do not have any concerned at all for wishing someone merry christmas. Why can't we? As far as I am concerned Christmas is celebrating the born of Jesus which is also our second most beloved prophet.

Hilds (not verified) — Fri, 12/26/2008 - 9:07pm

I agree with the writers, this is indeed an issue that should be clarified by the Ulama and experts of this area in this country, so that the same question will not rise again and again in every year.

As a layman, I understand that the hesitation of Muslims wishing Merry Christmas is because it is somewhat touched the Tauhid side of the religion which is very sensitive and also principle. Wishing merry christmas considered by some as acknowledgment that Jesus is God and not a prophet, as believed by Muslims. However, there is also some that are wishing it just as courtesy and nothing to do with acknowledging the above mentioned.

There is one thing though that I would like to ask the writers, I stumbled across informations that 25 December is not really the date of birth of Nabi Isa. If this is true, can we still wishing it as were it's the celebration of the prophet that is not born on that day?.

Many of my acquittances are non-muslims, and as courtesy I usually send them best wishes in their important days. I believe that everything is depends of niat (intention).