Sai’s inconsistencies on Jesus

 

Message from Serguei Badaev

email: badaev57@mtu-net.ru

September 19, 2001 

Sathya Sai Baba is considered to be omniscient by many his devotees. Some of his claims assume that as well. The quotations given below are either contradictory or do not correspond to some generally accepted facts about Jesus' life and the history of Christianity. It is obvious that in the case of SSB "omniscience" is not supported by consistency. The question arises: should the concept of omniscience as an Avataric feature of SSB be completely rejected or it should be seriously modified to fit the reality? These quotations are supplementary to the materials of Dale Beyerstein, but they are by no means exhaustive. Those who do have similar bits and pieces, please send me the references by email.

 

(A) Jesus birth date

Truly speaking, Christmas falls in the month of March, not in December. Since it is very cold in December and people are confined to their homes, they utilize this time to celebrate Christmas. Actually, Jesus was born in the month of March. With the passage of time, this fact has been distorted and misrepresented in the Bible. (25.12.1998, Sanathana Sarathi 42(1), p.6, January 1999)

There are various theories about the birth date of Jesus based on the ‘bright star that appeared at his birth’. It is visible once in 800 years, it is said. Some say he was born on the fifteenth day of September.

But, he was born at 3-15 a.m. (early morning) on December 28, 1980 years ago. It was Sunday. (25.12.1979, Sathya Sai Speaks XXIV, p.288)

The 25th is not the birth. It was on the 24th, near midnight.

(J.Hislop. "Conversations with Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba" ch.XXIX, p.92)

On December 25th, when Jesus was born, three kings came to his birth-place. (25.12.1992, Sathya Sai Speaks XXV, p.397)

(B) Jesus own words about himself

Jesus never laid any claim to His association with God either as a Messenger or a Son. It is only in order that men may realize their own relation with God that such interpretation is made. (24.11.1998, unpublished discourse)

There were controversies regarding Jesus. These differences were the cause of the ordeals he had to go through. But Jesus was prepared to face any trouble or any penalty. He considered Compassion as the supreme quality. At first, he declared he was a "Messenger of God". Then, he announced: "I am the Son of God". Ultimately he declared: "I and my Father are one". (25.12.1997, Sanathana Sarathi 41(1), p.9)

(C) Jesus' sufferings

At the time of crucifixion, Jesus prayed: "O Father! What sin have I committed? Why am I put to suffering thus?" (24.11.1998, unpublished discourse)

When Jesus reached this stage ("I and my Father are one"), He had no suffering at all; He was always blissful and was prepared for anything.

Even at the time of crucifixion, he was smiling, because he realized that He was not the body. (25.12.1998, Sanathana Sarathi 42(1), p.5)

(D) Paul and the closest devotees of Jesus

When it was ordered that all the devotees of Jesus should be crucified along with Him, even His closest devotees, Peter, Matthew, and Paul refused to identify themselves as His followers. (25.12.1998, Sanathana Sarathi 42(1), p.4)

(E) Romans and Jews

In the beginning even Romans were Jews, not Christians. It is only after the advent of Jesus that the term Christians came into use. (24.11.1998, unpublished discourse)

(F) Early years of Jesus

Jesus grew up at Nazareth till he reached thirty. After Joseph’s passing, Jesus sought his mother’s permission to embark on his Divine mission. He got baptized y John, the Baptist and spent forty days in penance in a forest. (25.12.1988, Sathya Sai Speaks XXI, p.272)

Jesus realized that he was Christ in his 25th year. For eight years following his 16th birthday he traveled in India, Tibet, Iran, and Russia.

He was variously regarded as a beggar or as a sanyasi. Jesus had no money. His parents were very poor and practically abandoned him at an early age. (J.Hislop "Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba", ch.XXX, p.97)

Jesus announced himself as a Messenger of God. He spent many years in austerities so that he could shower compassion and love on all humanity. Later, he asked himself, "Am I just a messenger, or am I more closely related to God, a part of God with the Divine as my essence?" Jesus spent twelve long years, wandering alone in deserts engaged in this inquiry. At the end of this period, he returned to the society of men and announced "I am the Son of God." (25.12.1979, Sathya Sai Speaks XIV, p.286)