CHAPTER 8 JESUS’ MIRACLES AND THE PASCHAL MYSTERY JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S REVELATION TO THE WORLD.

CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8

JESUSJESUS’’ MIRACLES AND THE MIRACLES AND THE PASCHAL MYSTERYPASCHAL MYSTERY

JESUS CHRIST:JESUS CHRIST:GODGOD’’S REVELATION S REVELATION

TO THE WORLDTO THE WORLD

Jesus, the Miracle Jesus, the Miracle WorkerWorker

JesusJesus’’ words were accompanied by many words were accompanied by many ““mighty works and wonders and signs.mighty works and wonders and signs.””

These prove that Jesus is the Messiah and These prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the Kingdom of God is present in him.the Kingdom of God is present in him.

Pattern of Miracle Pattern of Miracle StoriesStories

IntroductionIntroduction

Display of faithDisplay of faith

JesusJesus’’ response response

Result of the Result of the miraclemiracle

PeoplePeople’’s reactions reaction

Types of Types of MiraclesMiracles

Physical healingsPhysical healingsCaused blind to see and deaf Caused blind to see and deaf to hear, cured skin diseases to hear, cured skin diseases

and sufferingsand sufferings

Nature healingsNature healingsCalmed a storm, walked on Calmed a storm, walked on water, changed water into water, changed water into

wine, fed five thousand wine, fed five thousand people from five loaves of people from five loaves of

bread and two fishbread and two fish

Types of Types of MiraclesMiracles

ExorcismsExorcisms““Expulsion of an evil spiritExpulsion of an evil spirit””

Expulsion of a legion of spirits Expulsion of a legion of spirits from a crazy man which went from a crazy man which went

into a herd of swineinto a herd of swine

Raisings from the Raisings from the DeadDead

WidowWidow’’s son at Nain; the s son at Nain; the daughter of Jarius; his friend, daughter of Jarius; his friend,

LazarusLazarus

How JesusHow Jesus’’ Contemporaries Contemporaries Understood MiraclesUnderstood Miracles

Many took offense at JesusMany took offense at Jesus’’ refusal refusal to perform miracles to satisfy to perform miracles to satisfy

their curiosity.their curiosity.

Many today deny the reality of Many today deny the reality of supernatural events.supernatural events.

How Jesus Differed How Jesus Differed from Other Healers from Other Healers

of his Dayof his Day

There is no record There is no record that anyone else that anyone else

cured such a cured such a variety of problemsvariety of problems

Jesus did not Jesus did not engage in bizarre engage in bizarre

ritualsrituals

Jesus did not Jesus did not perform miracles perform miracles

for payfor pay

New Testament New Testament Understanding of MiraclesUnderstanding of Miracles

DynamisDynamis: : ““acts of acts of powerpower””

ErgonErgon: : ““workwork””SemeionSemeion: : ““signsign””

JesusJesus’’ miracles reveal miracles reveal GodGod’’s powers power

JesusJesus’’ miracles are signs miracles are signs of Godof God’’s Kingdoms Kingdom

Raising of LazarusRaising of Lazarus

It symbolizes that through Jesus our own resurrection takes place!It symbolizes that through Jesus our own resurrection takes place!

People Who People Who Encountered JesusEncountered Jesus

SadduceesSadducees

Most priests and Most priests and aristocratsaristocrats

Cared for the Temple Cared for the Temple practices and worship in practices and worship in JerusalemJerusalem

Believed only the Torah Believed only the Torah was inspiredwas inspired

Made up a large part of Made up a large part of the Sanhedrin—the major the Sanhedrin—the major law-making body and law-making body and supreme court of Judaismsupreme court of Judaism

PhariseesPharisees

Means Means ““separated onesseparated ones”” Strictly observed the Law Strictly observed the Law

to distinguish themselves to distinguish themselves from Gentiles and othersfrom Gentiles and others

Influential in the Influential in the synagoguessynagogues

Some didnSome didn’’t like Jesust like Jesus Most were good JewsMost were good Jews Preserved Judaism after Preserved Judaism after

the destruction of the the destruction of the TempleTemple

People Who People Who Encountered JesusEncountered Jesus

EssenesEssenes Apocalyptic groupApocalyptic group Believed that God Believed that God

would usher in his would usher in his Kingdom through a Kingdom through a catastrophic eventcatastrophic event

Many withdrew to a Many withdrew to a desert community in desert community in QumranQumran

Were celibate and Were celibate and engaged in ritual engaged in ritual washing throughout the washing throughout the dayday

ZealotsZealots

Believed in violence to Believed in violence to overthrow their enemiesoverthrow their enemies

Originated to protest Originated to protest foreign taxation and foreign taxation and occupationoccupation

Fomented the revolt Fomented the revolt against the Romansagainst the Romans

Famous stand at Famous stand at Masada is a source of Masada is a source of Jewish prideJewish pride

People Who People Who Encountered JesusEncountered Jesus

Other ContemporariesOther Contemporaries

Most were common Most were common people—called people—called ““people people of the landof the land”” by by PhariseesPharisees

Tax collectors—hated Tax collectors—hated by fellow Jewsby fellow Jews

Gentiles—proselytes Gentiles—proselytes and and ““God-fearersGod-fearers””

Women, who were Women, who were looked on as propertylooked on as property

The Paschal MysteryThe Paschal Mystery

PaschalPaschal: Passover, the Exodus : Passover, the Exodus experience when God led the Hebrews experience when God led the Hebrews

out of slavery to the Promised Landout of slavery to the Promised Land

JesusJesus’’ Sacrifice on the Cross is a passing Sacrifice on the Cross is a passing from the slavery of sin and death to the from the slavery of sin and death to the greatest freedom of all: Resurrection.greatest freedom of all: Resurrection.

The Eucharist re-presents the Paschal The Eucharist re-presents the Paschal Mystery, enabling us to enter into the Mystery, enabling us to enter into the

events of our Salvation.events of our Salvation.

Historical Historical Background of Background of JesusJesus’’ Death Death

JesusJesus’’ opponents opponents felt threatened by felt threatened by

some of Jesussome of Jesus’’ words and actions.words and actions.

Some judged that Some judged that Jesus was a Jesus was a false false

prophet.prophet.

Members of the Members of the Sanhedrin accused Sanhedrin accused Jesus of blasphemy, Jesus of blasphemy, a crime punishable a crime punishable

by death.by death.

Theological Theological Background of Background of JesusJesus’’ Death Death

Responsibility for Responsibility for JesusJesus’’ Death is Death is

assigned historically assigned historically to Pontius Pilate.to Pontius Pilate.

The real The real instruments of Jesuinstruments of Jesu

ss ’’ crucifixion are crucifixion are sinners.sinners.

Holding all Jewish Holding all Jewish people responsible people responsible for Jesusfor Jesus’’ Death is a Death is a

form of form of anti-anti-Semitism.Semitism.

Why Jesus DiedWhy Jesus Died

In his suffering and Death, JesusIn his suffering and Death, Jesus’’ humanity became humanity became the free and perfect instrument of divine love, a self-the free and perfect instrument of divine love, a self-

surrendering gift of love on our behalf.surrendering gift of love on our behalf.

The Passion NarrativesThe Passion Narratives ““Christ died for our Christ died for our

sins in accordance sins in accordance with the Scriptures.with the Scriptures.””

Last SupperLast Supper– Jesus instituted the Jesus instituted the

Eucharist.Eucharist.– JesusJesus’’ Passion, Death Passion, Death

and Resurrection are and Resurrection are GodGod’’s New Covenant s New Covenant with us.with us.

GethsemaneGethsemane– ““Abba . . . Take this cupAbba . . . Take this cup””– Jesus took the path of Jesus took the path of

peace.peace.

The Passion NarrativesThe Passion Narratives Before the SanhedrinBefore the Sanhedrin

– Judged that Jesus Judged that Jesus committed the sin of committed the sin of blasphemyblasphemy

Pilate Condemns Jesus Pilate Condemns Jesus to Deathto Death– Jesus was charged with Jesus was charged with

sedition, punishable by sedition, punishable by death under Roman law.death under Roman law.

CrucifixionCrucifixion– Typically died by Typically died by

suffocationsuffocation– Jesus refused pain relief.Jesus refused pain relief.– ““My God, my God, why My God, my God, why

have you abandoned have you abandoned me.me.””

The Passion NarrativesThe Passion Narratives JesusJesus’’ Death Death

– Symbolized the end of Symbolized the end of the Old Covenantthe Old Covenant

– Fulfilled the mission of Fulfilled the mission of the Suffering Servantthe Suffering Servant

– ““Truly, this man was the Truly, this man was the son of God.son of God.””

JesusJesus’’ Burial Burial– His Mother, Mary, and His Mother, Mary, and

John the John the ““beloved beloved discipledisciple”” and other and other women were presentwomen were present

– Buried by Joseph of Buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Arimathea and NicodemusNicodemus

Resurrection of JesusResurrection of Jesus

Fundamental event of Salvation HistoryFundamental event of Salvation History“If Christ has not been raised,

then empty to is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.”

Scriptural Scriptural Accounts of the Accounts of the

ResurrectionResurrection

Disciples on the road to Disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24)Emmaus (Lk 24)

Women (Mt 28)Women (Mt 28) Mary Magdalene (Jn 20)Mary Magdalene (Jn 20) Peter (Lk 24, 1 Cor 15)Peter (Lk 24, 1 Cor 15)

Four separate Four separate appearances to the appearances to the

Eleven and some other Eleven and some other disciples (Jn 20, Mt 28, disciples (Jn 20, Mt 28,

Acts 1)Acts 1) Seven disciples (Jn 21)Seven disciples (Jn 21) More than five hundred More than five hundred

brothers (1 Cor 15)brothers (1 Cor 15) James (1 Cor 15)James (1 Cor 15)

Paul (Acts 9)Paul (Acts 9)

Theological Meaning Theological Meaning of the Resurrectionof the Resurrection

Many disciples would suffer Many disciples would suffer martyrdom for their belief martyrdom for their belief that Jesus Christ rose from that Jesus Christ rose from

the dead.the dead.

The event of the The event of the Resurrection is historical, but Resurrection is historical, but

it also goes beyond human it also goes beyond human experience.experience.

It proves that Jesus is divine.It proves that Jesus is divine.

He lives on in his Body, the He lives on in his Body, the Church.Church.

““Christ has died, Christ is Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.risen, Christ will come again.””

The The Ascension of Ascension of

JesusJesusThe Ascension The Ascension

““indicates a indicates a difference in difference in

manifestation manifestation between the glory between the glory of the risen Christ of the risen Christ

and that of the and that of the Christ exalted to the Christ exalted to the FatherFather’’s right hand.s right hand.””

On the day of On the day of Pentecost the Holy Pentecost the Holy

Spirit gives the Spirit gives the Apostles the power Apostles the power

to preach the to preach the message that Jesus message that Jesus

is Risen.is Risen.

The Second Coming of The Second Coming of ChristChrist

ParousiaParousia: the Second Coming of Christ when : the Second Coming of Christ when the Lord will judge the living and the deadthe Lord will judge the living and the dead

““I was a stranger and you welcomed me.I was a stranger and you welcomed me.””

““AMEN! COME, LORD JESUS!AMEN! COME, LORD JESUS!””MARANATHAMARANATHA