Image: Madonna in Glory1
Was Jesus Christ God?
As I was sitting at Mass on Corpus Christi Sunday, I heard the priest quote Jesus: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." I thought, how could a man say such a thing if he were not God? No man could satisfy one's thirst or hunger forever, be it physical or spiritual!
There are those who say that Jesus was a man who was able to tap into the Christ consciousness, which enabled him to do all the miracles he performed. However, if we examine Jesus' words in the Bible, we discover that he was not referring to a force outside himself, but to himself as the second person of the Trinity!
Let's just look at some of Jesus' quotes from the Gospel of Matthew:
"So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! (Matt: 9:6-7)
John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?" Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen — the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, 'God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.'" (Matt: 11:2-6)
In effect, Jesus is saying, "Yes, tell John that I am the Messiah."
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt: 11:27-28)
Jesus is saying that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him by his Father whom he knows intimately. Moreover, only God could give rest to everyone who was tired and burdened.
Jesus is saying that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him by his Father whom he knows intimately. Moreover, only God could give rest to everyone who was tired and burdened.
"I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt: 12:6,8)
Jesus is greater than the Temple. He is the reason for the Temple: it was built to praise God and him, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
Jesus is greater than the Temple. He is the reason for the Temple: it was built to praise God and him, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." (Matt: 13:16-17)
Jesus is the one whom the prophets and saints longed to see: the Messiah.
Jesus is the one whom the prophets and saints longed to see: the Messiah.
"The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt: 13:41-42)
Jesus is referring to "his" angels and "his" kingdom.
Jesus is referring to "his" angels and "his" kingdom.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (Matt: 16:15-17)
Jesus is acknowledging that his Father has revealed to Peter that he is the Messiah.
Jesus is acknowledging that his Father has revealed to Peter that he is the Messiah.
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Matt: 16:19-20)
Jesus and his successors will decide who gets into heaven because it is Jesus' kingdom.
Jesus and his successors will decide who gets into heaven because it is Jesus' kingdom.
"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." (Matt: 16:27)
Jesus will return with his angels and dispense justice.
Jesus will return with his angels and dispense justice.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt: 19:28)
Jesus is the one sitting on the throne of heaven.
Jesus is the one sitting on the throne of heaven.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” (Matt: 20:23)
Jesus' Father will decide who will sit beside Jesus' throne.
Jesus' Father will decide who will sit beside Jesus' throne.
“It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matt: 21:13)
Jesus is referring to the Temple as his house.
Jesus is referring to the Temple as his house.
"Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town." (Matt: 23:34)
Jesus didn't say, "God or the Father is sending prophets, sages and teachers." He said, "I am sending..." Jesus is God.
Jesus didn't say, "God or the Father is sending prophets, sages and teachers." He said, "I am sending..." Jesus is God.
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matt: 26:53-54)
God could send angels to save his divine son, Jesus.
God could send angels to save his divine son, Jesus.
But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt: 26:63-64)
Jesus is admitting that he is the Messiah and that everyone will see him with the Father.
Jesus is admitting that he is the Messiah and that everyone will see him with the Father.
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt: 28:18)
With his last words, Jesus affirms again that He is the king of heaven and earth, and that he, the Father and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, but one God, the Trinity.
I hope that this article has cleared up some of the confusion surrounding the divinity of Jesus. Sometimes Jesus' expression, "the Son of Man," can be difficult to understand. He is actually referring to his dual nature: "second Adam" (truly man) and "Messiah" (truly God).
So Jesus is the bread of life. He is the bread, the physical wafer that we receive in Holy Communion. He is also life, eternal life that nourishes us spiritually, that washes away our sins and gives us the strength to carry on the good fight. Jesus is God and man. He is present in the Eucharist body, blood, soul and divinity. Let us be eternally grateful for such a wonderful gift.
The priest at Corpus Christi mass said that he saw a sign on a marquee of a protestant church near his rectory in New Jersey that read: "If you don't partake of the bread of life, you're toast!"
A word to the wise is sufficient!
With his last words, Jesus affirms again that He is the king of heaven and earth, and that he, the Father and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, but one God, the Trinity.
I hope that this article has cleared up some of the confusion surrounding the divinity of Jesus. Sometimes Jesus' expression, "the Son of Man," can be difficult to understand. He is actually referring to his dual nature: "second Adam" (truly man) and "Messiah" (truly God).
So Jesus is the bread of life. He is the bread, the physical wafer that we receive in Holy Communion. He is also life, eternal life that nourishes us spiritually, that washes away our sins and gives us the strength to carry on the good fight. Jesus is God and man. He is present in the Eucharist body, blood, soul and divinity. Let us be eternally grateful for such a wonderful gift.
The priest at Corpus Christi mass said that he saw a sign on a marquee of a protestant church near his rectory in New Jersey that read: "If you don't partake of the bread of life, you're toast!"
A word to the wise is sufficient!
"Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (Psalm 37:5)
Meditation: Your way, not mine, O Lord. Choose the path for me.
"Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough." (Psalm 37:18-19)
"Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough." (Psalm 37:18-19)
Meditation: With the Lord by my side, "the darkest night shall end in brightest day." (Paul Gerhardt, hymnist)
"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37:23)
Meditation: I will follow the footsteps of Jesus wherever they may lead.
"Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path."(Psalm 37:34)
Meditation: God's path is always the best path, because I am too close to the road to see where it ends.
Meditation: I will follow the footsteps of Jesus wherever they may lead.
"Put your hope in the LORD. Travel steadily along his path."(Psalm 37:34)
Meditation: God's path is always the best path, because I am too close to the road to see where it ends.
Here is the 10th prayer from my book, 100 Prayers of Purity for the Mission of Our Lady of America. Enjoy!
Prayer 10
Madonna in Glory1
From the sacred Head of Jesus Blood poured down when it was crowned with thorns, in punishment of our pride and evil thoughts. Shall we, then, continue to nurture haughtiness, foster foul imaginations, and feed the wayward will in our minds? Henceforth let there be ever before our eyes our utter nothingness, our misery, and our weakness; and with generous hearts let us resist all the wicked suggestions of the devil. Amen.19
1"Madonna in Glory." Web. 18 May 2016.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ File:Dolci_ Madonna_ p1070185.jpg>
19"Raccolta: Precious Blood of Jesus Chaplet Fourth Mystery." Web. 20 May 2016.
<http://www.liturgialatina.org/raccolta/blood.htm>.
Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.
