Objectives: Spiritual, social, economic freedom of our people

Means: God, Prayer, redeemed ones and  all God-given resources

God of Bible is God of Creation. After creating all things, He declared all of them, “good” (Genesis1:31). Being the Creator, He loves and cares for His entire creation; we can find His loving and caring heart throughout the scriptures. God is with His people and favoring them. God made from one root all mankind and blessed them, in their forefathers to be fruitful and multiply. He provided them the good things in the Eden garden. He continued to show his care for His people by sending rain and sunlight, without favoring anyone. Indeed, in Him, we find the pictures of loving, caring, and approachable God, the Father.

The Bible reveals that God is concerned about his people. He specially pays attention to the suffering and oppressed people. This we see when He sent His servant, Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and oppression. The Egyptian had made the Israelites life as hell.  We find that God frees them, so that they might worship Him. God showed His concern by performing many miracles for His people and by bringing them to a land of honey and milk. The picture of promise land for the Israelites, show that they enjoyed freedom and dignity under God’s rule.

Dalits too, are God’s people and a wonderful part of His supreme work, created in His own image (Genesis 2:27) God knows Dalits poor condition too. Being as a caring Father, He can not see them in physical and spiritual oppression. So He wants them to see free like the Israelites, so that they too, worship and bring glory to Him. He wants Dalits yoke of slavery and captivity to be broken. He has Good News for them. And the good news is that, He is their Creator. He has come to the earth in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ to show that love and care. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for his (sheep) followers. He does not want any one to wander and to perish. The Lord does not delight in the destruction of men. Jesus is the Messiah who does not punish but gives life. Jesus has come to “preach the Good News and to set the captives free” (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-19). The God of universe is concerned about poor, widows, marginalized, and the oppressed. Dalits as the suffering people of God have been waiting for message of Hope and Liberation. God has finished the work of saving and liberating people in His Son, when He said, “It is finished”  (John 19:30).

 The Good News of Jesus’ message is the only hope for the Dalits in Indian subcontinent. The Researcher believes, it is the Message of Christ that will set the Dalits free and will give them the dignity as human being. The message of Messiah has to be shared and be shown in practical ways to the oppressed by the Christian Missions.

When we see God’s righteous and just heart for his creation, it must encouraged, His believers to do the same, for their neighbor and oppressed. The followers of God can not remain cold and mute spectators rather they should make His justice to rule the injustice of this world everywhere. And bring comfort and hope for the victims of injustice and oppression. The Bible says that, “the creation groans” for liberty (Rom.8:22), and it’s true of the Dalits of India. It is a community, which has been oppressed physically and spiritually. It needs the love, care, liberation, and transformation in view of God’s people.

It is sin and Satan actually which inspires people to make, others suffer. Satan from the very beginning had not been at peace with God and his wonderful creation, which bears his image. Satan caused our forefather to sin and brought them under suffering of many kinds.

What Hindu scriptures teach and high caste Hindu practice today is the consequences of sin and its impact, “therefore they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).” Therefore, it is Christian Missions duty, now to bring these people, to the true knowledge of our Lord. The researcher believe if people know the  True God and his Word, then the whole life of individuals and distorted society is going to be totally different. The distorted picture of our life and society will be changed and people will be transformed and will live at peace. Yes, there is hope for the betterment of Dalits. When they will come to the true knowledge of our Lord, then, they will be changed, inwardly and outwardly.

As God’s people, we can not be mute spectator of Dalits situation. “The Church must accept a new paradigm of the Mission of Dalit Liberation. The Dalit issue must be on the Christian Missions priority. The Missionaries must… join hands with all forces that enable Dalit Liberation: oppose all forces that perpetuate Dalit slavery. Church must be committed to liberate the Dalits from the age-old Hindu oppressors.”[1]

 As we live together, we have to show our love in action for them as God did it by sending His only Son for us. The Bible says, “Speak for the voiceless.” Therefore, the role of mission is to be voice of the voiceless and bring hope to hopeless. The missionaries need to tell that God loves the Dalits and cares for them. And that they too, have the right to life, dignity, education and employment. The role of Christian missions is important to bring, the holistic transformation for the Dalits

And now, The Christian Missionaries duty is to make people know that God loves and cares for his creation. Dalits have hope in the present world and the world to come. And that God has entered in the human society in the form of Christ Jesus, the God-man. He has come as the Messiah of the oppressed people. He has broken the walls between Jews and Samaritans, clean and unclean, servant and Lord, male and female, Greek and Jew. And He wants to become the Messiah of Dalits, The Christian missions need to take this message to the concerned people and show their Christian love in actions, so that their lives will no longer be the same as it is today but will experience the social and spiritual transformation. 

Few weeks ago, I read a person who was suggesting/advicing Dalit people to remain in the Hindu religion in spite of all the oppressions and discriminations. I felt that I should reply to his view because it is very important.

I don’t know the person was a Dalit or not but I’m sure that he did not like our people getting rid of the oppressive philosophy of religion. So I asked him, are you suggesting this as a Dalit or as any other member of Hindu faith. The person did not reply, so I had to guess and go on to present my views on the issue.

If you are Dalit…then don’t you believe in What Dr. Ambedkar said, practiced and made provisions in the constitution for the oppressed people?

Do you want to spend your energies on reforming a society which is based on the unequality? How long will you do that? The oppressed have a history of injustices and brutalities of more than 3000 years. And the Hindus still not ready to give up that evil philosophy.

If your shirt is torn apart or became rag, and you have the means to change/replace it then what’s wrong with you that you still want that old one to continue.

Don’t you change your pots, shoes, Tv’s, bus, hospital, doctor, books, cellphones, computers, jobs, living place?

Why not religion, if it helps us to get our dignity and gives us better philosophy to live? The change and freedom should be excercised in any thing.

Have you not read, “Believe in the Best”?

If something better is available in the world then why not opt for it?

Are you more wiser than Dr. Ambedkar, who himself, after getting tired from Hinduism, being the most educated man of his times chose to reject it. He said, It was not in my control to be born as a Hindu but to die yes, and he did not loose the opportunity.

Let’s read his thoughts on conversion:

Dr Babasaheb in his speech at a Massive Mahar Conference held on 30th and 31st May, 1936 in Mumbai said:

“I do accept that the untouchables need equality as well. And to secure equality is also one of our objectives. But nobody can say that this equality can be achieved only by remaining as Hindu and not otherwise. There are two ways of achieving equality. One, by remaining in the Hindu fold and another by leaving it by conversion. If equality is to be achieved by remaining in the Hindu fold, mere removal of the sense of being a touchable or an untouchable will not serve the purpose. Equality can be achieved only when inter-caste dinners and marriages take place. This means that the Chaturvarnya must be abolished and the Brahminic religion must be uprooted. Is it possible? And if not, will it be wise to expect equality of treatment by remaining in the Hindu religion? And can you be successful in your efforts to bring equality? Of course not. The path of conversion is far simpler than this. The Hindu society does not give equality of treatment, but the same is easily achieved by conversion. If this is true, then why should you not adopt this simple path of conversion?” *

Don’t think just for yourself but think for the little ones (your future genereations). Do you want them also to be humiliated like Dr. Ambedkar and others and even you if you are a dalit.

Think and decide ……..you only have this birth to do something……No ReBirth…

*www.jaibheem.com

With the coming of breath of God the dry bones had come to life and become a mighty army (Ez 37:1-14).

The dry bones represented the weak and dead Israel (v.11) Dry bones were pictures of failures and defeat. They had been lying out side of the society in a valley. People did not come to them, for they smell.
Ezekiel was asked by God if there was any hope for them. He simply replied, Lord I don’t know. YOU ALONE KNOW.
Prophet Ezekiel was a man, and from his perspective LIFE for the dead was not possible. There was none to give them life. There was none to care for them. They had been defeated and were crushed to death. They had died there with the expectation of victory but sadly they were overpowered and there was none to fight for them and to be an encouragement for them. There was no hope for them.
But they had hope one time…Now it was gone. Now no more sign of a bright future (V.11).

While there seems to be no way…..God makes the WAY. While there seems to be no hope, God brings the hope. While there seems to be all sad and gloomy, God brings the Good News. While there seems to be oppression and captivity….God brings the trumpet of joy and the message of Deliverance. While we were Yet sinners God sent His Son for us…

The Lord said to Ezekiel, O man, there is still hope for these people, who have been defeated and lying here. They can still stand up and they will come to life and fight for their causes (V.6)
How that was possible?
God said to Prophet Ezekiel GO AND PREACH TO THE DRY BONES.
EZEKIEL WITHOUT DOUBTING: OBEYED GOD AND PREACHED (v.7).
(Ezekiel did not ask, Lord they have no ear to hear).
Lord why should I waste my time with these life less bones?
Lord What if I get sick by walking in the valley full of the bones? etc
 BUT Because of the SIMPLE OBEDIENCE AND THE POWER OF WORD and the WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT…
A MIGHTY MIRACLE TOOK PLACE: THE BONES BEGAN TO MOVE, THE LIFE LESS BONES STOOD UP ON THEIR FEET AND BECAME A MIGHTY ARMY (V.10).
This is how the hope of dry bones came alive. When the Word of God was ministered to the STINKING, hopeless, defeated and dead people, the Holy Spirit worked in them thru the Preaching of   Word.
Dalits have been in the same state as the dry bones of the valley. They have been mistreated, victimized by injustices, their dignity have been put to death. They have been a defeated people by the upper castes. They have been crushed physically, socially and spiritually.
And there was and there is none to care for them. All people turned their faces from them. No body came to see them in their miseries and oppressed ways. People hated them very much. They made them live outside of their village. They feared their shadow would make them polluted. People feared of serving them anything good for they feared of excommunication from the society and loosing of many benefits.
The gods, Dalits worshipped declared no hope for them. They added to their miseries by causing their adherents to treat them more and more cruelly. They said, they deserved sufferings and oppressions for they have “bad karmas’ in their previous births. They said, they only deserved to be mistreatments and injustices for being born in ‘lower castes’ and finally the curses of the gods.
THEY DID NOT CONSIDR THESE PEOPLE EVEN HUMANS BUT LIKE AND EVEN LOWER THAN ANIMALS. THE ANIMALS HAD FREEDOM, THEY CAN WALK FREELY IN THE SOCIETY AND JUNGLE BUT DALITS NO, THEY COULD NOT.  THEY MADE AND DECLARED THEM “NO PEOPLE”.
While all this was going on….The Bible says, “While we were yet sinners, God sent his Son for us.”
Yes, Jesus has come to give us hope. Jesus has come to preach and teach us. Jesus has come to seek us. Jesus has come to give us rest. Jesus has come to love us. Jesus has come to call us his own. Jesus has come to give us life. Jesus has come to be our living bread. Jesus has come to quench our thirst. Jesus has come make us his blessed people. Jesus has come to declare us; you are more valued than a sparrow. Jesus has come to give us life.
Jesus has come to make us an army (triumphant people). Jesus has come to set the captives’ free. Jesus has come to show God love in action. Jesus has come to make the walls of disunity to be broken. Jesus has come to deliver us. Jesus has come to be our leader. Jesus has come to identify with us. Jesus has come to be our Good Shepherd. Jesus has come to call us his people. Jesus has come to show us the Way. Jesus has come to make us walk. Jesus has come to heal our diseases. Jesus has come to make us see. Jesus has come to experience us social and spiritual freedom. Jesus has come to give the dignity as part of his beautiful creation. 
The same Jesus of Nazareth, the humble man, who was born to set His people Free, calls us today to set us freeeeee… from the bondage of death and the bondage of social and spiritual oppression.
He is still alive. He is still at work. He is still calling people COME TO ME, I WILL GIVE YOU REST. He wants us to be our Messiah.  He wants to make the Dalits move. He wants Dalits to be in the Shepherd Fold. He wants Dalits to hear His voice and be alive. He wants us to experience LIFE. He does not delight in our dark state. He wants us to be the part of his Life which shines in the dark World.
How can Dalits become His living sons and daughters? How can they have hope? How can their filthiness and bad smells be removed? How can they have the life of dignity and honor? How can they experience the joy eternal? How can they rejoice in HIM always? How can their eyes be opened? How can they hear again?
Well the answer is IF THEY CAN HEAR THE MESSAGE OF HOPPE.
If can hear the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST.
HOW CAN THEY HEAR? UNLESS SOME ONE SHARES IT WITH THEM LIKE PROHHET EZKILE DID IT WITH THE BONES.
WELL MUCH DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD NOW.
GOD WANTS IT…………
DALITS, THE OPPRESSED, VICTIM OF INJUSTICES, THE WOMAN, THE CHILDREN, “NO PEOPLE” WANT IT…………
BUT DO YOU MY CHRISTIAN Friends DO YOU also WANTS IT?
DO YOU WANT TO SEE MIRACLES HAPPENING? DO YOU WANNA SEE DEAD, STINKING, PEOPLE WALKING AND REJOICEING?
Is there any hope for the Dalits today in this world?
Yes…. Yes…. yes
 Make the people hear it. Make the people believe it. Give the people option. Give the people hope. You yourself have to have a hope.
LIKE THE PROPHET EZKIEL OUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE FULL OF HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT, FULL OF CHALLENGE, FULL OF COMPASSION AND FULL OF LOVE.
IF THE CHIRSITIAN BELIVERS ARE WILLING TO OBEY, GOD WILL DO HIS PART. LET’S DO IT. NOW WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE REVELATIONS OF GOD TO GO AND PREACH.
JESUS ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR, GO…….AND MAKE DISCIPLES ALL NATIONS.
YES, THE BLIND WILL SEE, THE LAME WILL WALK, THE DUMB WILL SPEAK, THE OPPRESSED WILL BECOME STRONG, THE CAPTIVES WILL EXPERINCE FREEDOM, AND THE DEAD WILL COME TO LIFE.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE…..amen

“Lucknow: After targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his anti-Ram remarks, the BJP in Uttar Pradesh today demanded an immediate ban on the sale of books by Dalit icon Periyar alleging they contained “objectionable” references to Hindu gods and epics….” http://content.msn.co.in/News/National/NationalPreT_251007_2133

Names are revelatory in nature. Names reveal of a person character and his/her personality. Although at times it may not be true for we are human beings. But everybody desires a good name. The names were officially given by a Brahmin priest in the Indian society. They usually did not like the shudras and the untouchables, so when called at the time of birth of a new born baby, these clever pundits never gave good name to the child of a Shudra or untouchables. So the oppression and discrimination started from the very birth of oppressed classes in India.

A few days ago only I watched a very famous Hindi movie ‘Lagan.” Lagan is a good movie made by Amir Khan, a well known Bollywood Star. In this movie, all the peasants had a Cricket match with the British, on the condition if Indians won, they will get Lagan (tax) free 3 years but if they loose they will be forced to pay 3 times more Lagan to the British in spite of the bad weather.

The movie showed a good point that all the sections (Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh) of Indian society fought together against British oppression. The Director also included a Dalit Character in the game, called ‘Kachara’, the director showed that caste people were not comfortable at his entrance to the Team. This was an example of the common behavior of caste Hindus toward their ‘lower brothers.’ They opposed anything against the Dalit people. Kachara proved to be a good player in the match in spite of his weak hand. Over all, Kachara’s opposition in the team was just a glimpse of the deep rooted oppression.

I wonder, If Amir was the one to give Kachara name to the Character or it was some body else. Well, what is wrong with Kachara name? Actually ‘Kachra’ means ‘junk’ ‘a pile of dirt’ ‘thrown over’ ‘left over’ ‘garbage’ etc. Yes, this name gives the full explanation how the Dalit people were considered by the majority of Indian people. The Dalits were really ‘junk’ for them. In the movie it was not a big thing who gave this name to this Dalit Character; this could be a natural one from the society.

I know from the society, How lower caste people were given names like Kurdh i (a heap of dirt), Jaimal (hail to human dirt, Buddhu (foolish), or some without any meaning.

In my childhood I read a version of Ramayana, it is written by Yashwant Singh. At that time, our family also took part in the play of Ram story. And I recollect from my memory that this Ramayana had a commentary on names. The author suggested the good names for the caste Hindus and made a fun of the oppressed classes names. At that time I did not understand it but I do understand it that it is the part of the oppression of the Dalits.

The Hindu scriptures still record ‘rakshasas’ (monster), ‘Adharmi’ (not righteous), ‘chandals’ (wicked, notorious) names for the original people or the oppressed people of India. And show that how badly they treat them.

A Very prominent Dalit leader became from ‘Ram Raj’ to ‘Udit Raj’. He removed ‘Ram’ from his name, and replaced it ‘Udit’ means ‘arisen.’ Why because, He did not want to identify with a god or king who was opposed to Dalit people.

In conclusion, the oppression of oppressed classes started from the birth of a baby and ended up when he/she died. The Brahmins oppressed Dalits in two ways, in this regard, at the time of birth of a baby they took “dakshina’ (money, clothes, animal, land as gifts) from the family and they also gave funny and bad names to their children. It is a sad thing to know that the oppressed people are still bearing this and don’t want to be part of a liberation movement. May all the oppressed people understand this truth that they need to come out of a system which opposes them from their very existence in this world

 We are commanded to love God and our neighbor by the Holy Word of God. The people of Dalit community are our neighbors. A neighbor is a person who is in need of your help. We can help these people in the following ways:

1. Identifying with them and with their problems.

2. Challenging and encouraging  them for the education of their children. Mostly they dont send them to the school  but keep them at home for helping in the house work/domestic helpers.

3. You can help them by supporting their children for going to school and for buying the stationary, clothes, shoes and paying the tution fee etc.

4. You can help to bring commuity awareness. If you are a social worker, you can help them with your skills.

5. If you are Medical doctor you can visit their houses or villages to distribute medicines and to check the sick.

6. If you have any professional skill like journalism, computer, or any other skills, you can share it with the Dalit youths.

7. If you are a Pastor or a missionary, you can come and pray, visit, Share gospel and Encourage the family.

8. If God has given you a heart to challege people for this community, you can be a voice for them in terms of writing and standing for them in whatever way you can.

9. You can also serve the widows and orphans, the bonded labors, the sexually abused children, and physically and sexually harrassed women.

10. You can be a teacher for the children or for the adults for a short time or for long life.

11.You can help by telling about the Dalits to your friends and families. you can share this with your church or clubs.

12. Please visit the people and see  yourself, how you can be a help to them.

13. Pls write to us if you have any comment, suggestions to serve and to show God’s love.

Thanks.

Prayers is one of the best methods to show our love and concern for the suffering people.

1. We can pray for God’s grace to be upon these people.

2. We can pray for the leadership of the Dalit people.

3. We can pray that God will open their hearts to the new ideas and new life.

4. We can pray that God would bless their children, the future generations.

5. We can pray for the poeple, who can support the Dalit children education.

6. We can pray, that Dalits will realize the oppression, they are going through and will come to know the Messiah and Librator.

7. Pray for the people who can share the Dalits oppression and the solutions through the media to the world.

8. Let’s pray that many would come to identify with Dalit people and their cause.

9. Let’s pray that Dalit will understand Gospel and the love of God in Christ for them.

10. Let’s pray for the unity and peace of the people

“Seek the first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.”

Almost every day there is news related to Dalit atrocities. On September 1 also, it was reported by  Indian Express Daily that in Danapur (Bihar), “ Steaming ‘dal’ was poured on a Dalit woman and her six-month-old daughter, while several others were beaten up for allowing their children to play in the premises of a temple here, police said on Saturday.”*1

These children of Dalit caste never knew that they will be punished for playing in the local temple premises. When a man belonging to Yadav caste saw this he “objected and roughed up the children”. Later on, the parents of these children came and spoke in favor of their children, which the Yadavas did not like. They made a decision to teach a lesson to the dalit women and children. So these ‘high caste’ man and his family members, later on on the same day evening, beaten the 3 women and their children, and not only that “ Steaming ‘dal’ (boiling soup of pulses) was poured on a Dalit woman and her six-month-old daughter.”

What a sad thing to read. Children who knew nothing about what was their fault, were punished. These children may not know that  they were “lower’ humans and not allowed to enter in the temple of their gods. Shame on our society, and on our system, where the educated people involve in such inhuman activities. The man, who involved in the crime was an educated one, retired from the Indian railways.

Yes, For these reasons, Dr. Ambedkar protested against the Caste system. And he literally burned the book called Manusmariti, publicly on 25th December- 1927, which divided the people into different sections, making them lower and higher. And on that same day Dr. Ambedkar asked his followers to take the following wows:

1. I do not believe on Chaturvarna based on birth.

2. I do not believe in caste distinctions.

3. I believe that untouchability is an anathema on Hinduism and I will honestly try my best to completely destroy it.

4. Considering that there is no inequality, I will not follow any restrictions about food and drink among at least all Hindus.

5. I believe that untouchables must have equal rights in temples, water sources, schools and other amenities.*2

Well, Dr. Ambedkar did his best to fight against the evil of societies in regards to caste system. And little has improved but mostly, it is same even today, as it was during the time of Dr. Ambedkar. He has been called ‘Messiah’ by the Dalits because of his love and contribution for his people.

Nothing is wrong in calling Dr. Ambedkar as Messiah, but let me point out that, ‘Messiah is the biblical term and has been used only for Jesus Christ, who loved his people, cared for them, fought for them against injustices and ill practices of then religious and social system.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah stood with the lepers, the outcaste, the unclean, the Samaritans (the untouchables), the tax-collectors and with the weaker section of the people. He became the voice for the voiceless. His love and work was  perfect and great for his people. The weaker section of the people, the womens, the sinners, the uncleans loved HIM and liked Him but the religious, social and political authrities hated him very much. But Jesus did not disassociate Himself from the service of the humanity. He said to the people, “I have come to serve and not to be served.” His teachings inspired his disciples to carry the misisons in the first century until now. He stands with with the people even now invisibly and speakes for them.

The Church today is Messiah’s agent to do the same for the weaker sections. Many people hate the Church and its teachings, not because they are wrong  or corrupt but because they attack the evil practices of the societies and brings dignity, equality, peace, freedom, liberation to the adhrents. The oppressers and the evil minded people can not bear that. They want a system which will protect their system of enequality and social injusctice.

The same loving  Messiah shouts for  Dalits (children) today, “Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them, for the kindom of God belongs to such as these.”  Jesus’ discples had thought, the children would disturb the function and meeting with Jesus but Jesus asked his disciples, not to stop the children from His presence. When children were brought to Him, He loved and  blessed them. What a love of the SAVIOUR! Many thanks to the Messiah of the oppressed and the lover of children.

Jesus teaches us a lesson to love the children, work for them and to do our best for them. The children ministry of the Church plays an important role in the eyes of their CREATOR.

All the children, women, and people are welcomed in the house of God (the Church). And there is no discrimination. If there is, then, those people do not know who Christ, the Messiah is and They are liars according to the Bible, though they claim to know God but they have no relation with HIM.

Will our poeple understand this?

*1.http://www.indianexpress.com/story/213973.html

*2. www.ambedkar.org

The natural tendency of human heart is to identify with the higher sections of society. While everybody wants to be called a friend of highly educated, of noble birth, of good background people, Jesus did the opposite. The people (religious/political authorities) 2000 years ago had the same inclination as of today.They wanted to be entertained by the rich, religious, and  of high learned.

But Jesus stood different from the crowd. He  identified with the despised, downtrodden, the sinners, tax-collectors, the prostitutes, the Samaritans, and the uncleans.

Because of  Jesus’ association with the humble and the outcaste people, He was called their friend  by the people. For some it was a shamful title but Jesus took it gladly, knowing that the the title which world offers is of not eternal value. He loved the lowely, humble, despised, the down-trodden and outcaste from his heart. It was not a showy thing for Him.

The question arises why did Jesus associate himself with the sinners and despised? The answers could be many but let me list, a few here:

1. Jesus is Creator: Jesus is the image of invisible God among us. He is the Creator, all things were made by Him. All the people love their best handiwork in the world and show them that it belongs to them. They take pride in that, It was created by them. It is same with Jesus too, He created man and woman by His hands, and He takes pride in them, for they bear His very image and were the supreme in all his handi-work. 

2. The friendship in Eden garden: In the garden of Eden, God came to meet his representative, and image bearer everyday. He showed his love, concern and care for them. He showed his friendsip with them. He came to love them. Do you remember, even on the day of fall, God came to meet them, and asked where are you? I have come to meet you and fellowship with you. But we know someting bad happend that day and the friendship was broken, but God also promised to restore it, in the seed of Woman. And from that promise, Jesus came to the world in a form of Saviour and God-friend.

3. Restoring the relationship: Satan is enemy of God, since he hated God and rebelled against Him, he also hates the people associated with their Creator. Since satan himself is not at peace, he wants others also in the same state. It was Satan’s conspiracy to destroy the friendly relationship between God and humanity. And satan extends that hate compaign to God’s creation, the people of His hands.

So when Jesus came to this world, He restores that relationship and unites people with people thru His death and resurrection. He makes them one in Church and prayes for them to be united as one as He is One. Restoring the broken relationships was Jesus mission.

4. Jesus was the perfect man: Since Jesus came as the perfect and sinless man in the world, therefore He loved the people and cared for them as it was intended from each perfect man. He came to show us, this is, what God wants us to be in our relations, this is how God sees us and this is how you should treat your brothers and sisters in the world. He is the perfect example of friendship, for He loved people unconditionally and without being partial in any form.

5. To give the dignity and honor : God knew, that because of sin, the world is affected very much and satan is trying to destroy the people in various ways. So Jesus, knowing that the priestly class of his time, and the political authorities did not do anything for a marginalized section of society but rather put them down, became friend of them. He restored them to the fellowship of other people and united them in bond of love.

Jesus became the friend of sinners and despised because he Created them. Jesus became the friend of sinners because, it was the real plan of God to love everyone and not to hate. Jesus became the friend of people, to show us that Son of God expects the same from all of His followers.

Jesus became the friend of sinners to show the love of God to them. Jesus became the friend of poeple to show that God the Father loves all His people irrespective of their background, color and look. Jesus, knew many have come to destory and punish them but there was none to offer the hope and love. God could not bear it, any more and therefore He manifested His Agape Love for His wonderful creation.

 Through his friendship, Jesus wanted to remove the bad labels from the people such as sinners, unclean, polluted and untouchables etc. While He was upon the earth, He called his people as His, ‘children of God’ ‘friends’, disciples’, ‘followers’, ’saints’, ’sheep’, ’light of the world’ ”people of the located on the hills” etc. These shows, how much Jesus loved His people.

I really did not have good friend in my life. And I always longed for it but as I mentioned above the world has its own standard, so I felt some time lonely and despised but now I thank God that I have the best friend in the world. I thank Jesus for walking and talking with me. I thank Him for unconditional love. I thank Him for identifying with me and standing beside me. I thank Him for restoring my relationship with God and with many others, whom, otherwise I have thought they are my enemies. Jesus has changed my perspective to see the people.

Yes, I can say with the great hymn writor, “what a friend we have in Jesus all our sins and griefs to bear…

How about you friend, do you feel the same way as of me? Then know Jesus and have Him as your friend today! Get the best friend in the world has ever known!

Raj