I congratulate all Christians and Muslims—particularly our Christian compatriots—on the birth anniversary of His Majesty Jesus Christ, the great prophet, as well as the commencement of the new Gregorian year.
This chosen prophet of God, invited mankind to the path of God, which is the path to mankind’s prosperity and happiness; he warned them against pursuing their evil desires, contaminating the purity of the human soul into depravity, cruelty and wantonness, safely and securely. They horribly tortured his apostles and adherents, for years, in order to destroy his teachings which were against corruption, oppression, idolatry, dissoluteness, warmongering and deceiving the public. They--who were themselves corrupt, oppressive, dissolute, warmongers and deceived people—could not tolerate God’s religion, God’s prophet, and the followers of the divine path.
Today powers of the same type do not want to tolerate those who submit to God, follow God’s religion and followers of truth. To obey Jesus Christ (pbuh), one needs to support truth and abhor the powers that are against truth. It is hoped tyrannical, corrupt and aggressive powers--who were the slaves of wealth and power--strained and slandered this divine messenger and intended to take his life; then God embraced him hat Christians and Muslims across the world will incorporate this great teaching of Jesus Christ (pbuh) into their lives and actions.
I ask God to make the New Year a year of prosperity for all nations and the entire mankind.
Ayatollah Khamenei, January 02, 1995
Jesus carried a divine message for humanity saving them from ignorance, and oppression
Jesus Christ was equipped with the power of performing miracles and carried a divine message for humanity which saved them from the darkness of polytheism, atheism, ignorance, and oppression and guided them towards justice, knowledge, and worshiping God. He never hesitated to fight evil and call people to piety throughout his life.
And this is the lesson which all Christians and Muslims who believe in the prophethood of Jesus Christ should learn. Today humanity is in need of these teachings more than ever before. And Islam which is a complement to real Christianity has put calling humanity to piety and moral perfection high on its priority list. Making use of the great powers of nature through their God-given knowledge, misguided humans tend to tread a different path, and this makes the duty of the followers of divine faiths even heavier.
The domineering powers and governments of the world have made life difficult for nations and individuals and do not refrain from inflicting any type of oppression on them. They do these things in the name of Christianity. These powers are in fact totally unaware of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Ayatollah Khamenei, January 3, 1994
Jesus Christ is the manifestation of divine attributes
If Jesus were among us today, he would not spare even a single moment to fight the leaders of despotism and global arrogance; nor would he tolerate hunger and wandering of millions of people, degenerated by the hegemonic and colonialist powers into war, corruption, and violence.
Jesus Christ, who is the manifestation of divine attributes, raised the flag of guiding and saving humans at a time when ignorance, injustice, and inattention to human values were prevalent. He stood up to oppressing powers – which were dependent on their wealth and power – and he promoted justice, mercy, and monotheism. Today those who believe in that great prophet – Muslims and Christians – should follow the teachings and the path of divine prophets and try to promote human virtues on the basis of the teachings of these prophets.
Dec 28, 1991
Prophet Jesus spent his life fighting or resisting oppression, corruption
I sincerely congratulate all Christians and Muslims, around the globe, on the birth anniversary of the Messiah, [Jesus (as)] the great divine prophet of all believers.
The value of Jesus Christ (as) through the eyes of Muslims is no less than his value to Christians, who pay tribute to this prophet. This great divine prophet has spent all his life among the people: fighting or resisting oppression, corruption and those who, relying on money and power, oppressed the people and dragged them from the hell of this world into the hereafter. The sufferings of this great prophet have persisted since childhood -- God gave him prophecy when only a child -- and it was all for this cause. It is expected that followers of Christ and all those who regard him of magnificence and high spirituality, corresponding to his elevated position, will follow his [Jesus's] path.
Today, many of those who claim to follow Christ tread down a different path than the one Christ had embarked upon. The guidance of the Prophet, Isa-ibn-Maryam (as), is guidance towards God's worship and confronting pharaohism and rebellion. Today, some of those who claim to follow this great divine messenger act like the very Pharaohs and tyrants that Prophet Jesus Christ was up against.
Ayatollah Khamenei, Dec 27, 2000
The guidance of the Prophet, Isa-ibn-Maryam (as) [Jesus son of Mary], is guidance towards God's worship and confronting pharaohism and rebellion. Today, some of those who claim to follow this great divine messenger act like the very Pharaohs and tyrants that Prophet Jesus Christ was up against.
December 27, 2000
Jesus Christ called on people to follow the path of God which is the path of prosperity for human beings. And he warned people against pursuing carnal desires and undermining their spiritual purity through engaging in evil deeds and oppressing others.
The corrupt and bullying powers that are dependent on wealth and power persecuted that divine prophet and leveled insults against him. They even tried to take his life. And when God saved the life of Jesus Christ, these powers inflicted several years of horrible torture on the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. They were trying to put an end to the teachings of Jesus Christ which were against corruption, oppression, polytheism, causing war, deceiving people, and pursuing carnal desires.
Those corrupt and oppressive powers who pursued carnal desires, caused wars against people, and deceived them could not tolerate the existence of divine faiths and prophets and those who followed the path of God.
n.d.
Iranian Muslims love Prophet Jesus
Muslims, like Christians, believe in Jesus Christ as a great prophet of God. Jewish people cannot claim that Moses is only their prophet. All Christians also believe in Moses, as do all Muslims. This is the case for Jesus Christ as well. Jesus Christ is not only a prophet for Christians. Rather, he is a prophet for Muslims as well.
Iranian Muslims love that great prophet and have high regard for him. Iranian Christians – whether Assyrians or the Christian people living in northern parts of Iran and Orumieh province – believe that Christianity originated in Iran. They believe that Jesus Christ started his mission in Iran and Christianity was in fact spread from here. From a historical point of view, they may be right.
