I have been privileged by the Grace of God to wish you MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2003 on behalf of Diocese of Amritsar, Anglican Church of India (CIPBC), Voice of Christians Ministries and our whole staff of the Masihi Sansar (Christian World) Newspaper, Jalandhar, India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the readers of “Spiritual Food – Window on the World” for their comments and criticism. Your comments and criticism is really my strength and encouragement. God bless you all.

The Biblical theologians say that God revealed Himself in the world history through the Holy Bible. God waited until history reached His appointed time and He has sent His begotten son Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour in this world. Just at the right time when the Roman rule, Jewish subordination, freedom, a degree of safety, a common Hebrews language, cruel and barbaric punishment accompanied by religious infighting was existed in the Israel.

In times such as these, he sent his Son to be a woman's son. He emptied his home so he could send a redeemer to our home. He did it so we could be his children -- not pretend children, but real children, with full rights. “He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. St. John 1: 11-13. So he could not only be our God, but so he could be our Abba (Heavenly Father) too.

The Lord Jesus was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). He had a human body that developed mentally and physically in the same way that other children do (St Luke 2:40, 52). He became tired (St. John 4:6-8), hungry (St. Matt 4:2) and thirsty (St. John 19:28). He slept (St. Matt. 8:24). He wept (St. John 11:35). He was tested (St. Matt. 4:1-11; Heb 2:28; 4:15). He felt anger and grief (St. Mark 3:5), compassion (St Matt. 9:36), and agony (St. Luke 22:44).

Thus Lord Jesus Christ is the God-man who appeared on our planet to reveal God (St. John 1:1-14), to show us how to live (1 St. John 2:6), and rescue us from the guilt and power of sin )Romans 6: 1-14). He is our Saviour (Acts 4:12) Life (St. John 14:6), and the Lord (Romans 10:9, 13) to all who put their trust in Him.

He endured not only what we endure but far more, He understands and feels what we are going through. Because He lived as a real man, He showed us how to depend on the Holy Spirit for our every need. He modeled the way all of us can depend on God.

Because of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us, He deserves our genuine heartfelt appreciation, our deepest affection, our complete obedience and our unconditional loyalty and complete surrender to Him on this very holy occasion of Merry Christmas 2002 as through Him only we became the sons of GOD. Hallelujah!

Rev Isaac Newton Johnson Click here

The above article published on 15st December, 2002 issue of Masihi Sansar (Christian World) newspaper, Jalandhar, India. Freddi Joseph, Chief Editor “Masihi Sansar” (Christian World) Newspaper, Lamba Pind, Jalandar, India.