MCCM: July 2012

THE BIBLE PROCLAIMS: JESUS IS GOD

The Jews crucified him for blasphemy. 'Being a man you make yourself God' (Jn. 10) was his crime. He is the Living God. Thousands of them martyrs just for that cause. Roman Caesars and Neros worked hard to kill his Church, but Rome became its capital. Iglesia Ni Cristo spends millions in T.V. shows to propagate 'Jesus is not God. He is only a mere man. Many are wounded and pained because of harsh criticisms against the Catholic faith. What is the truth? What does the Bible really say about Jesus? Who is he?

• John 8:40 "Now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God" is the Bible passage that is used by non-Catholic brothers to throw Jesus out of his divine nature.

We can never deny the human nature of Jesus, but he is not 'only man'. The Bible reveals him as "Man and God'. Over 30 times the Bible describes Jesus as 'The Son of Man,' Over 30 times also it says Jesus is 'The Son of God'. He is the 'Word that became flesh'. St. John starts his gospel John 1:1-3 states: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. He made all things; and with-out Him was not anything made that was made... and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us". Old Testament prophets foretold this mystery of the incarnation.

THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHESIED JESUS IS GOD

Ø Matthew, 1:23 states:

Ø "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means, God with us."

Ø The scripture makes it clear that God has a Son when it asks in Prov. 30:4 ("Who knows the name of God and the name of His Son").

Ø Isaiah 9:5 clarifies the divine nature of that Son in his great prophecy about the birth of Jesus ("For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, The everlasting father, the Prince of Peace.").

JESUS CLAIMED HE IS GOD

Ø Jesus never taught he is God.

q Jesus Himself claimed his divinity. In Exodus 3:14-17, God reveals His name to Mosses as "I AM who am." God even commanded Mosses to say the Israelites "I AM sent me to you. This is my name for ever. This is my title forever." In the New Testament Jesus is using the title of God for himself.

Ø John 8:57-59 states:

ü "Then the Jews said to him, 'you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them: "Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM". Then they took up stones to throw at him." He even insisted that the Jews must believe that he is "I AM."

ü In Jn. 8:24, Jesus says to Jews: "If you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."

ü The Jews tried to stone him because he claimed his eternal existence, which is blasphemy Only God exists eternally. In another occasion, Jesus instructed His apostles to believe that he is I AM (Jn.13:19) "You may believe that I AM."

ü John 5:17 states:

ü "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God is his father, making himself equal with God." But Jesus strongly defended his divine nature saying he is the master of life, which only God can claim "For as the father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. Jesus answered Philip: "I have been with you for a long time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." (Jn. 14:8).

“How happy are those who have no doubts about me!” Mt 11:6

Together with Simon Peter we say in unison, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life”.

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