In the previous lesson, we have scrutinised the Gospels, to see whether we can make use of them as historical documents. Now, the main theme of the Gospels is the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. We have seen in the first introductory lesson that we rely on Jesus Christ's witness to lead us on our search for truth. Now we have to see how Jesus Christ proves that he is a credible witness that we can accept.
What claim does Christ make about himself?
What proofs does he offer to support his claim?
1. What Claims Did Christ Make About Himself?
1.1 Did He Claim To Be Some Sort of Witness?
The Gospels tell us that Jesus consistently claimed to have been sent by God. In the Gospel of St John, the expression "He who sent me" appears twenty times, and five times Jesus calls himself "He whom God has sent." To be sent is to be a messenger and witness.
Other sample verses:
43* "I have come in my Father"s name." (John 5:43)
28* So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29* I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." (John 7:28-30)
25 They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Even what I have told you from the beginning. * 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. 28* So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." (John 8:25-29)
In the Gospels of St Matthew, St Mark and St Luke, Jesus affirms at least eight times "for this I have come".
1.2 What Other Things Did He Claim to Be?
He did not only claim that he was speaking on God's behalf. He claimed to be God himself! This was shown in many instances.
1.2.1 He used God's Name--"I AM"
56* Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." 57* The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" * 58* Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:56-58)
Twenty-four times, Jesus emphatically says "I am" (see John 4:26; 6:20; 6:35; 6:41; 6:48; 6:51; 8:12; 8:18; 8:23 (twice); 8:24; 8:28; 8:58; 10:7; 10:9; 10:11; 10:14; 11:25; 13:19; 14:6; 15:1; 15:5; 18:5; 18:6; 18:8). In the rest of the New Testament books, “I am” occurs a total of eighty–six times, of which only twenty–eight are emphatic (Matt 14:27; 22:32; 24:5; 26:22, 25; Mark 6:50; 13:6; 14:62; Luke 1:19; 21:8; 22:70; 24:39; Acts 9:5; 10:21; 11:5; 18:10; 22:3, 8, 19; 26:15, 29; Heb 1:5; 2:13; Rev 1:8, 17; 2:23; 21:6; 22:16). Why is this important? Because in the Old Testament, this is how God introduced himself to Moses. Exodus 3:13-14 tells us:
13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO AM." * And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
For more details, see the discussion of Fr Felix Just SJ: "'I Am' Sayings In The Fourth Gospel".
In fact, this is the reason he was put to death--he kept on insisting that he was God's Son, making him God as well. In St John 5:17-18, for example, we read:
17* But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." 18* This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God.
In John 8:58, when quizzed about how he has special knowledge of Abraham, Jesus invokes and applies to himself the personal name of God (I AM--see Exodus 3:14)
58 "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am".
His audience understood exactly what he was claiming about himself. The next verse of John tells us:
59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
In John 20:28, Thomas falls at Jesus’ feet, exclaiming,
28 "My Lord and my God!" (Greek: Ho Kurios mou kai ho Theos mou—literally, "The Lord of me and the God of me!")
In Philippians 2:6 (New International Version), Paul tells us that Christ Jesus
[w]ho, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
1.2.2 He forgave sins
When sick people were brought to him, he didn't cure them right away. He first forgave their sins, something only God can do. Saint Luke, in Chapter 5 of his Gospel tells us the story of the paralysed man who was brought in through the roof of the house.
20* And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk? 24 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home."
1.2.3 He is referred to as "Alpha" and "Omega"--the "First" and the "Last"
It is also significant that the title "the First and the Last" is applied to Jesus. This is one of the Old Testament titles of Yahweh. In Chapter 4 of Isaiah, it says:
6 Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of armies: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides me there is no god’ (cf. Isaiah 41:4, 48:12).
This title is directly applied to Jesus three times in the book of Revelation:
When I saw him [Christ], I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, "Fear not, I am the First and the Last" (Revelation 1:17).
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "The words of the First and the Last, who died and came to life" (Revelation 2:8).
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:12–13).
This last quote is especially significant since it applies to Jesus the parallel title "the Alpha and the Omega," which Revelation earlier applied to the Lord God: "‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8).
This claim is, of itself, noteworthy. No other founder of any religion claimed to be divine and proved it.
See the article of Peter Kreeft. With the claims that he made, Jesus Christ was either God, or an impostor, or a madman.
2. What proofs does he offer to buttress his claim?
Jesus Christ claimed to be God. And he instructed both followers and those who did not believe to observe what he does so that they will believe that he is telling the truth.
36* "... these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me." (Jn 5:36-37)
2.1 Miracles
2.1.1 Jesus worked miracles to accompany his teachings
The Gospels tell us that aside from preaching, Jesus also wrought miracles. St Matthew tells us in Chapter 9:
35* And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.
In Chapter 6 of his Gospel, St Mark records the following scene:
1* He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2* And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands!
St Luke attests to this, for instance in Chapter 6 of his Gospel, where he says:
17* And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18 and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19* And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.
St John, in turn tells us, in his Chapter 3, how Nicodemus, a man of authority among the Jews, acknowledged Jesus' authority to teach:
1* Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2* This man came to Jesus * by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
But Jesus does not perform the miracles for the sake of impressing his crowd. In many passages of the Gospel, Jesus works the miracles only if the people have faith in him, only if they believe his words, only if they trust that he truly has God-given powers to make them happen. When that faith is absent, he does not perform a miracle. Note the following examples:
21* And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." 24* He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25* But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28* Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28)
46* And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47* And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, * let me receive my sight." 52* And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:45-51)
49 While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." 51 And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.... (Luke 8:49-55)
1* On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3* When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4* And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6* Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11* This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11)
The Gospels describe in detail at least 35 miracles.
2.1.2 Miracles prove the claims of Jesus
What are miracles? We can define it for the moment in the following way: A miracle is an observable act which goes beyond the manner of acting of created things--we say it exceeds the laws of nature--and can only be produced by Someone or Something greater than nature itself.
A miracle goes beyond the laws of nature in one of three ways:
when something is produced which is never found in nature, e.g. the earth stands still
when something is produced which is found in nature, but never found in a particular object in nature, e.g. raising a dead person to life
when something can be produced naturally, but is produced outside the normal process, e.g., a cure which is effected immediately
Do Christ's miracles fall under this description? Let us examine them using the classification above.
Something is produced which is never found in nature. This first type of miracle is a miracle of creation. By creation we mean producing something out of nothing, without using any existing raw material. Let us take a look at the following phenomena.
15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16 Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." 17 They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." 18 And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19* Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14:15-21; this is also narrated in Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-13)
1* In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him, and said to them, 2 "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; 3 and if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come a long way." 4 And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these men with bread here in the desert?" 5 And he asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven." 6 And he commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. 7 And they had a few small fish; and having blessed them, he commanded that these also should be set before them. 8 And they ate, and were satisfied; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 And there were about four thousand people. (Mark 8:1-9)
Something is produced which is found in nature, but never found in a particular object in nature. This second type of miracle is one of immediate substantial change. (Examples of substantial change: paper turns into ashes after burning, human body disintegrates into its many components after death). Consider the following miracles of Jesus:
Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" 41* So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42* I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44* The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." (John 11:39-44)
11* Soon afterward * he went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. 13* And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16* Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" (Luke 7:11-16)
49 While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." 51 And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Luke 8:49-55)
2* Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3* and said to him, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5* ... the dead are raised up.... (Matthew 11:2-5)
1* On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3* When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4* And Jesus said to her, "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6* Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9 When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11* This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. (John 2:1-11)
The most important of this type of miracle, which is also the most important among Christ's miracles, is that of his own Resurrection. But we will deal with this in another lesson.
Something can be produced naturally, but is produced outside the normal process. This third type of miracle is a miracle not because of what is produced, but how it is produced. This type is a moral miracle.
6* As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, 7* saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:6-7)
12* And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13* and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." 14* When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. (Luke 17:12-16)
2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3* And Jesus spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?" 4 But they were silent. Then he took him and healed him, and let him go. (Luke 14:2-4)
2.2 Prophecies
What are prophecies? A prophecy can be defined as a detailed and certain (i.e., sure) prediction of a definite future event, the foretelling of which is impossible by natural prevision or conjecture because the event predicted depends on many free causes (i.e., causes which have free will) for its fulfilment. Prophecy therefore requires an intellectual power that is beyond human powers.
Jesus Christ made prophecies of events. His prophecies can be divided into four categories:
Prophecies concerning himself. Here are some examples:
44 "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. (Luke 9:44-45)
21* * From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Matthew 16:21)
1* When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2* "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man will be delivered up to be crucified." (Matthew 26:1-2)
17* And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day." 20* * Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. (Matthew 20:17-20)
Prophecies concerning persons close to him.
31* Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' 32* But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." 33 Peter declared to him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." (Matthew 26:31-34. Fulfilled in Matthew 26:69-75)
21 and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. 24* The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" * He said to him, "You have said so." (Matthew 26:21-25)
Prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem.
41* And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, 42 saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. 43* For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, 44* and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:41-44)
20* "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it; 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written. 23* Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people. (Luke 21:20-23)
1* And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" 2* And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down. (Mark 13:1-2)
This prophecy came true in the year 70 A.D., when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. Details are recorded by the Jewish writer Josephus (ca 37-95 A.D.) in Jewish Wars.
Prophecy concerning his followers in future times.
12* * But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13* This will be a time for you to bear testimony. (Luke 21:12-13)
17* Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18* and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20* for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21* Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22* and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23* When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes. (Matthew 10:17-23)
The persecution that the Christians suffered is recorded in the early history of the Church.
Books
Anthony F. Alexander, College Apologetics, Chapter 8, "Christ Claimed to Be Divine", Chapter 9, "Christ Appealed to His Miracles to Prove His Divinity", Chapter 10, "The Probative Force of the Miracles of Christ", Chapter 11, "The Prophecies of Christ", Chapter 12, "The Probative Force of Prophecies", Chapter 13, "The Purpose of Christ in Coming to Earth", pp 79-131.
Charles Belmonte, ed, Faith Seeking Understanding, vol 1, Chapter 12 "The Divine Mission of Jesus", pp 86-89.
Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Chapter 8 "The Divinity of Christ", pp 58-68.
William G. Most, Catholic Apologetics Today, Chapter 11 "A Man Sent From God", Chapter 12 "Signs and Wonders to Believe", pp 59-68.
Websites
Charles F. Aiken, "Apologetics" in The Catholic Encyclopedia Online.
Arthur Devine, "Prophecy" in The Catholic Encyclopedia Online.
John T. Driscoll, "Miracle" in The Catholic Encyclopedia Online.
Peter Kreeft, "The Divinity of Christ".
A.J. Maas, "The Character of Jesus Christ" in The Catholic Encyclopedia Online.
A.J. Maas, "Early Historical Documents on Jesus Christ" in The Catholic Encyclopedia Online.