BISHOP BARRON'S EASTER SERMON: JESUS SPEAKS AND ACTS IN THE VERY PERSON OF GOD

TRULY OUR LORD JESUS HAS RESURRECTED! ALLELUIAH! HAPPY EASTER!

[8:14] Here’s the second implication of the Resurrection. Again, not as some thin gruels, some vague symbols of the fact of the Resurrection: That JESUS CLAIMES ABOUT HIMSELF are now ratified. Unlike any other religious founders, JESUS CONSISTENTLY SPEAKS and ACTS in the VERY PERSON OF GOD.

 

“My son your sins are forgiven.” He is… ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SINS. Right, that’s the point. JESUS IS SPEAKING and ACTING in the VERY PERSON OF GOD.

“Oh, you’ve heard Him said in the Torah… but I SAY…” Who for first century Jew claim AUTHORITY OVER the TORAH which is the SUPREME AUTHORITY? The only one who could possibly do that WOULD BE GOD HIMSELF.

 

“You got a greater than the temple here,” Jesus said in reference to Himself. Again, for a first century Jew, the Temple was THE TEMPLE DWELLING of GOD. Who could possibly say “greater than the Temple” except THE ONE WHO IN FACT DWELLS IN THE TEMPLE?

In fact, this is why JESUS IS BROUGHT to the CROSS, this is apparent BLASHPHEMY, this MAN CLAIMING TO BE GOD. And thus, when He DIED on the CROSS, even His most ardent followers, were convinced that He was a sad fraud.

 

Think of those two disciples on the road to Emmaus, oh yeah, we’ve thought He was the ONE but clearly, He is not. Because there was no greater proof possible. That someone was not the Messiah of Israel than His death at the hands of Israel’s enemies. Clearly, He isn’t God. Clearly, He was just a deluded figure.

 

BUT WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, not out of vague feeling that they may have been forgiven, come on. When HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, and He appeared ALIVE AGAIN to them, they KNEW NOW, He is EXACTLY WHO HE SAID HE WAS. They knew that JESUS’ DIVINITY is claimed to DIVINITY is RATIFIED. And therefore, we have to give our lives to Him. If He is Whom He says HE IS, not one teacher among many. But GOD from GOD. LIGHT from LIGHT, TRUE GOD from TRUE GOD, what choice do I have…