KUCHING, Dec 24: Christmas is a reflection of the desire to share joy and love with the world.
However, with the present situation Malaysia is in, with socio-economic difficulties, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak chairman Baru Bian urged every Christian to look beyond the temporal to the spiritual and to rejoice in the midst of the challenges faced.
“The past few days, I have been back in Lawas enjoying pre-Christmas programmes with the people here. One of the songs we sang, ‘Joy To The World’ — “Mawang Inan Amung-Amung” in Lun Bawang — is one of the carols sung every Christmas in the villages. Every villager knows the lyrics of this song by heart. This song expresses perfectly the immense joy of the people when Jesus was born.
“The birth of Jesus Christ was foretold more than 500 years before his birth. It was a time when the people were suffering many hardships – there were socio-economic problems and political challenges. In that context, prophets foretold of Jesus’ birth and in doing so, gave the people hope for the future,” Baru revealed in his Christmas message.
Quoting verses and scripture from the Bible, Baru said nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress as people walking in darkness have seen a great light; enlarged the nation and increased their joy; every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning as fuel for the fire.
He also highlighted Isaiah 9:6: “A child is born to us a son and the government will be on his shoulders and of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end as Jesus over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
“The Apostle John affirmed the prophecies when he said in John 1:14: the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Thus the song ‘Joy to the World’ was composed, declaring the essence of the Christmas message, that with the birth of the Lord Jesus, the world rejoices.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. I wish all Christians a Blessed Christmas and to all, a Happy New Year 2020,” Baru concluded. — DayakDaily
