“God’s incarnation” Rajinder Kalia allegedly groomed underaged disciples, as well as sexually and financially abused hundreds of his worshippers, for over 40 years. Now, the 68-year-old faces his accusers in the United Kingdom’s High Court.

The Daily Mail reports that one witness claims, “[Kalia] used to hit people … that weren’t mentally stable. … I remember one time, he did hit a woman because he said that she was possessed, and he hit her in front of the whole congregation.”

If the congregation had any doubt that these mentally-handicapped followers were “possessed,” they found Kalia’s authority difficult to challenge when he performed “miracles,” such as setting fire to water, and squeezing blood from a lemon.

He demanded that his followers wait on him, literally hand and foot!

But all that pomp vanished when Kalia entered the High Court. He claimed that he performed entertaining magic tricks that were never intended to be perceived as miracles. He also denies ever claiming divinity.

If the allegations hold true, Kalia stands as the antithesis of God.

Jesus, on the other hand, embodies every loving and perfect aspect of God.

Instead of hitting the deranged, He commanded the spirits of the possessed to come forth, and He healed the ill and afflicted by His word (Mark 5).

And His miracles were anything but party tricks. In fact, Jesus sometimes asked that the miracles of healing be kept quiet (Mark 1:40-44 and Mark 5:40-43). When He performed miracles before a large crowd, it was because He had compassion on the people (Mark 6:34-44).

But even when His divine power was evident, He redirected His followers to God. Luke 11:1-13 outlines how Jesus instructed believers to pray to the Father. And when correctly identified as the Messiah in Mark 8:29-30, Jesus warned the disciples to keep that fact to themselves.

Whereas Kalia’s disciples kissed his feet, Christ washed feet (John 13:1-17).

Jesus is a different kind of Messiah. His miracles testify that He came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

Sharing: How does the picture of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41 compare to that of God in Psalms 104:1-9? Reflect on the following similarities:

1. They effortlessly control nature
2. They are not fearful
3. They are so great that we find it hard to describe them with words
4. They protect
5. Other

Applying: Someone asks you what Jesus means to you, and what He frees you from. How do you respond?

~ Stefani Leeper

Stefani Leeper | Content Coordinator