Discussion about Jesus with a Hindu Colleague

I met with an Indian (Hindu) colleague of mine at work this week about a work matter. He came and sat at my desk early Wednesday morning. That day, everyone was working from home in my department – he and I were the only ones there. After we resolved the technical issue that had to be resolved, he started telling me about his son, who is 9 years old and what was going on with him. I mentioned that I also work with kids around his son’s age. I told him I’m a leader in AWANA for 3^rd to 6^th graders. He asked a little about it and I told him it was Bible based teaching, memorization and games for kids. He told me that he “believes in” Jesus. I said, “Oh really…” He said that he believes that Jesus is a god. Rather going after that statement with intensity, I just asked him in a very polite and curious way how he had learned about Jesus. He said that when he was in school many years ago, they had instruction in world religions and Jesus was one of the religious figures they studied. I always try to carry with me small New Testaments I can give out to people if need be and fortunately, I had 2 of them in my back-pack. I know Indian people like gold, so I gave him the small black leather New Testament (NIV) that I’d purchased at Good Will for $2.99. He said, “Oh, may I keep it?” I said, “Absolutely!” I then explained to him that this book contains the earliest and most reliable information we possess about Jesus’ life and teachings. I opened the book to the Gospel of John and suggested to him that if he wants to know more about Jesus and what he taught, he should read starting there. I explained that there are 21 chapters in that book and then it continues from there. He said he would read it. Hopefully, if and when he reads it, he will be able to understand some of the key verses in the book of John that let us know that Jesus is not just ‘a god’. For example, when he reads John 1:1, he will find out that Jesus is God and that He is the Creator of all things. And progressing to John 1:14, he will find out that Jesus, who is the one and only God, became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Furthermore, he will see that Jesus is God’s Son and that God the Father gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. And also, that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him, and whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already (John 3:16-18). This is quite a different picture than Karma and reincarnation! I hope that when he reads that, if he has any questions, he will reach out to me. It might be a shock to him based on his Hindu world view that “men loved darkness, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19), but he’ll hopefully acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. He will have to ultimately come to grips with this Jesus he says he believes in and who says “There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words. That very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day” (John 12:48) and who also said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). If he gets to the end of the book, I hope he responds when he reads the statement by the book’s author “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing, you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). Let’s pray that this Hindu friend of mine will see the light and be saved!