Jesus Taught by Revealing Truths Normally Inaccessible: The very first truth in this category would be the reality of God himself. A very closely related concept would be the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven, usually mentioned as heaven. In discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus discovered that even a famous teacher and member of the Jewish Council like Nicodemus was ignorant of things that take place or should take place here on earth. If he could not understand things like the need of being born again in order to see the Kingdom of God, how would he , and much less anyone else, understand if Jesus were to talk about the things of heaven? "In very truth I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, and yet you all reject our testimony" (John, 3: 11). There is a reason why not anyone can speak about heaven in an authentic manner that is spelt out by Jesus in these words: "No one ever went up into heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man whose home is in heaven" (John, 3: 13).
Jesus is God Himself: If knowledge about heaven, which is God's throne (See Matthew, 5: 34), is not so easy to acquire what about the one who is seated on it? (See Revelation, 4: 2-3; 9-11). Here we feel the need of someone who has not only come down from heaven, but also who is with God and who is God Himself. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (See John, 1: 14) who can authentically speak about God as he would be speaking about himself. While all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God Himself (See Genesis, 1: 26-27), the Word being the Son of God by his very nature is the perfect image and likeness of God (See Colossians, 1: 15-20).
The Son of God: There is a difference between the one who comes from heaven and the one who is from the earth. The former is above all others bearing witness to what he has seen and heard, even though no one accepts his witness. The latter belongs to the earth and uses earthly speech. Since he whom God sent utters the words of God, to accept the witness of the one from above is to attest that God speaks the truth and here one can see how measureless is God's gift of the Spirit (See John, 3: 31-34). "The Father loves the Son and has entrusted him with all authority. He who puts his faith in the Son has hold of eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see that life; God's wrath rests upon him" (John, 3: 35-36). How do we know whether God's wrath rests upon someone or not? It is known from the evil practices of those who stifle the truth as a result of which their misguided minds are plunged in darkness. Consequently, God gives them up to the vileness of their own desires that degrade their own bodies. Furthermore, God gives them up to shameful passions constituting in their own persons the fitting wages of such perversion. Not only that, because they did not think it fit to acknowledge God, God gives them up to their own depraved reason. They indulge in all sorts of injustices breaking all rules of conduct (See Romans, 1: 18-31). "They know well enough the just decree of God, that those who behave like this deserve to die, and yet they do it; not only so, they actually applaud such practices" (Romans, 1: 32).
Relationship with the Father: The Jews were thoroughly confused and enraged by the fact that Jesus healed the sick on Sabbath days breaking the law of God given them through Moses (See Exodus, 35: 1-3). If they wanted to kill Jesus because of it, they could be said to follow God's own instructions as anyone who broke the Sabbath rule had to be killed (See Exodus, 35: 2). In order to address the apprehensions of the Jews, Jesus adopted a two-pronged strategy. On one hand, he said that as his Father had never ceased from work, he too could not refrain from work and on the other hand, if they understood Scripture or believed Moses they would have come to him for life as both the Scripture and Moses point towards him (See John, 5: 17, 39-40, 46-47). "It was works of this kind done on the Sabbath that stirred the Jews to persecute Jesus. He defended himself by saying , 'My Father has never yet ceased his work, and I am working too'. This made the Jews still more determined to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but, by calling God his own Father, he claimed equality with God" (John, 5: 16-18). The justification for claiming equality with God was expressed by Jesus in replying that he was identified with the Father in every way to the point that they are one (See John, 5: 19-23; 10: 30; 14: 7-11; 17: 11). And yet, the Father is greater than the Son (See John, 14: 28) who does not know the day and the hour fixed by the Father for the end of the world (See Matthew, 24: 36). Although everything in heaven and on the earth would be brought under the authority of the Son at the end of time, the Son himself would be subject to the Father (See 1 Corinthians, 15: 28).
The Holy Spirit: This inimitable relationship of the Father and the son is possible as the Holy Spirit is the bond of their love for one another. Jesus left this world in order to send the Holy Spirit to those who believe in him. He being the Spirit of truth would teach the believers all the truth there is to know as he would be drawing from what belongs to the Son who has everything in common with the Father (See John, 16: 7-15). Thus the reality of God consisting in the mystery of the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit constituted by their intimate relationships is revealed by Jesus Christ. It follows that life consists in relationships and everyone is called to fulfill themselves through their proper relationships to God, human beings and the entire creation.
Our Food and Drink: In order to fulfill themselves Jesus advised the people to work not for the perishable food but for the food that lasts, i. e., the food of eternal life. Although he was compassionate at the plight of the people who came to hear him and multiplied loaves and fish for them to eat, Jesus wanted people to work as God would want them to work This work consists in believing in the one whom God has sent. As the Samaritan woman wanted the kind of water that would stop her thirst forever, the people want the bread from heaven that gives life to the world (See John, 6: 26-34). "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never be hungry' " (John, 6: 35). The bread of life is given by the Father from heaven to those whom He has chosen and Jesus would never turn away those who come to him (See John, 6: 36-40). Our duty of proclaiming the Gospel leads us to announcing the source of the bread of life and the life-giving water. Only those who are drawn by the Father will believe it and come to Jesus for eternal life (See John, 6:44). However, it should not be an uninvolved and mercenary type of announcement exemplified by the heralds of a king announcing his laws to the people. The message of the Gospel should transform the proclaimer before he or she could effectively announce it. (We shall discuss it in detail in our Fifth Section "The Theology of Gospel Proclamation" in the coming Posts). By giving his own body and blood as food and drink to those ho believe in him, Jesus offered eternal life to all those who came to him (See John, 6: 51-58). (To be Contd). .
Jesus is God Himself: If knowledge about heaven, which is God's throne (See Matthew, 5: 34), is not so easy to acquire what about the one who is seated on it? (See Revelation, 4: 2-3; 9-11). Here we feel the need of someone who has not only come down from heaven, but also who is with God and who is God Himself. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (See John, 1: 14) who can authentically speak about God as he would be speaking about himself. While all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God Himself (See Genesis, 1: 26-27), the Word being the Son of God by his very nature is the perfect image and likeness of God (See Colossians, 1: 15-20).
The Son of God: There is a difference between the one who comes from heaven and the one who is from the earth. The former is above all others bearing witness to what he has seen and heard, even though no one accepts his witness. The latter belongs to the earth and uses earthly speech. Since he whom God sent utters the words of God, to accept the witness of the one from above is to attest that God speaks the truth and here one can see how measureless is God's gift of the Spirit (See John, 3: 31-34). "The Father loves the Son and has entrusted him with all authority. He who puts his faith in the Son has hold of eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see that life; God's wrath rests upon him" (John, 3: 35-36). How do we know whether God's wrath rests upon someone or not? It is known from the evil practices of those who stifle the truth as a result of which their misguided minds are plunged in darkness. Consequently, God gives them up to the vileness of their own desires that degrade their own bodies. Furthermore, God gives them up to shameful passions constituting in their own persons the fitting wages of such perversion. Not only that, because they did not think it fit to acknowledge God, God gives them up to their own depraved reason. They indulge in all sorts of injustices breaking all rules of conduct (See Romans, 1: 18-31). "They know well enough the just decree of God, that those who behave like this deserve to die, and yet they do it; not only so, they actually applaud such practices" (Romans, 1: 32).
Relationship with the Father: The Jews were thoroughly confused and enraged by the fact that Jesus healed the sick on Sabbath days breaking the law of God given them through Moses (See Exodus, 35: 1-3). If they wanted to kill Jesus because of it, they could be said to follow God's own instructions as anyone who broke the Sabbath rule had to be killed (See Exodus, 35: 2). In order to address the apprehensions of the Jews, Jesus adopted a two-pronged strategy. On one hand, he said that as his Father had never ceased from work, he too could not refrain from work and on the other hand, if they understood Scripture or believed Moses they would have come to him for life as both the Scripture and Moses point towards him (See John, 5: 17, 39-40, 46-47). "It was works of this kind done on the Sabbath that stirred the Jews to persecute Jesus. He defended himself by saying , 'My Father has never yet ceased his work, and I am working too'. This made the Jews still more determined to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but, by calling God his own Father, he claimed equality with God" (John, 5: 16-18). The justification for claiming equality with God was expressed by Jesus in replying that he was identified with the Father in every way to the point that they are one (See John, 5: 19-23; 10: 30; 14: 7-11; 17: 11). And yet, the Father is greater than the Son (See John, 14: 28) who does not know the day and the hour fixed by the Father for the end of the world (See Matthew, 24: 36). Although everything in heaven and on the earth would be brought under the authority of the Son at the end of time, the Son himself would be subject to the Father (See 1 Corinthians, 15: 28).
The Holy Spirit: This inimitable relationship of the Father and the son is possible as the Holy Spirit is the bond of their love for one another. Jesus left this world in order to send the Holy Spirit to those who believe in him. He being the Spirit of truth would teach the believers all the truth there is to know as he would be drawing from what belongs to the Son who has everything in common with the Father (See John, 16: 7-15). Thus the reality of God consisting in the mystery of the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit constituted by their intimate relationships is revealed by Jesus Christ. It follows that life consists in relationships and everyone is called to fulfill themselves through their proper relationships to God, human beings and the entire creation.
Our Food and Drink: In order to fulfill themselves Jesus advised the people to work not for the perishable food but for the food that lasts, i. e., the food of eternal life. Although he was compassionate at the plight of the people who came to hear him and multiplied loaves and fish for them to eat, Jesus wanted people to work as God would want them to work This work consists in believing in the one whom God has sent. As the Samaritan woman wanted the kind of water that would stop her thirst forever, the people want the bread from heaven that gives life to the world (See John, 6: 26-34). "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall never be hungry' " (John, 6: 35). The bread of life is given by the Father from heaven to those whom He has chosen and Jesus would never turn away those who come to him (See John, 6: 36-40). Our duty of proclaiming the Gospel leads us to announcing the source of the bread of life and the life-giving water. Only those who are drawn by the Father will believe it and come to Jesus for eternal life (See John, 6:44). However, it should not be an uninvolved and mercenary type of announcement exemplified by the heralds of a king announcing his laws to the people. The message of the Gospel should transform the proclaimer before he or she could effectively announce it. (We shall discuss it in detail in our Fifth Section "The Theology of Gospel Proclamation" in the coming Posts). By giving his own body and blood as food and drink to those ho believe in him, Jesus offered eternal life to all those who came to him (See John, 6: 51-58). (To be Contd). .
No comments:
Post a Comment