We celebrate Christmas on 25th December as Christians in Nagaland. Again Christmas season has arrived to celebrate the birth of the holy one sent from heaven more than 2000 years ago called Jesus. Thus the saviour was born whose birth was prophesied by prophet Isaiah 700 years before he was born. He is called the Messiah, the saviour. The incarnate being came in the form of flesh and lived with humans in this world to save humanity from the darkness and sins. God did not want us to perish so He sent his only son to save us. Jesus taught us to love each other. He paid his life on the cross so that the sinners could be pardoned of sins and gifted grace to the world. He came to spread the light and the truth that is the gospel, the scripture or the words of God so that the world would be saved. God is love and His kingdom overflows with love. God granted us the right to be His children because He loves us.
Jesus is called the prince of peace who came to the world to bring peace at the time when the world was filled with violence and wars everywhere among the tribes, communities and nations. People were not at peace and harmony among themselves because they did not know the Almighty God, the creator of the universe, earth, human beings in His image, every living thing and non living thing on it. People of God perished because they lacked knowledge. So they were betrayed and misled by Satan into worshipping the creatures including him rather than the creator.
He is called the wonderful counselor because he gave wonderful advice beyond the imagination of man which is of heaven. He is wonderful for performing wonderful miracles resurrecting the dead to life and healing the blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, dump speak and cured leprosy, diseases and so on. He himself got resurrected. He taught the world the truth that leads to the way to eternal life and salvation.
Christianity first came to the Nagas from the west 15 decades ago when various tribes and villages had been at wars hunting each others’ heads among themselves for centuries. They lived in the dense forests in the hills and fed on agriculture, hunting and fishing. We should not forget that amazing grace of Jesus Christ has transformed the life of Nagas from illiterate head hunters to literates and educated lots. Otherwise we might not live to see and know the lights of the day; God’s love, gospel, education, salvation and all round development. Compare the life of our state with that of non Christian states in India and other nations and see life is like burning hell in many places because of evil practices of superstition, castes system, discrimination of women and children, religious fanaticism, killings, bigotry and so on. Humans have transformed this peaceful planet to a place of untold sufferings and unrest in the name of religions. Nagas have been fortunate to get liberated from the cycle of satanic traps since time immemorial and know Jesus Christ and to have over all peaceful and prospering life though inequity exists.
I think for us Christmas celebration should go beyond simply making beautiful decorations, greetings, gifting, wearing nice dresses, marrying, eating meats and cakes, feast and passing down the news of birth of Jesus. And use this opportunity of annually commemorated occasion to inculcate attitude of enquiry to know the truth and glorify Jesus Christ for wonderful things that he had done for mankind and spread the gospel message far and near with ultimate goal of attaining eternal salvation. God bless Nagaland. Praise the Lord!
Kvuchilo Thong (Achilo)