Chapter 4: Jesus Christ’s Revelation about God ©Ave Maria Press

Chapter 4:Chapter 4:Jesus Christ’s Jesus Christ’s

Revelation about Revelation about God God ©Ave Maria Press

Our Father’s AdviceOur Father’s Advice

Out of love for us, our fathers often give us valuable advice. They draw upon their wisdom and experience to point us in the right direction.

Because God is our heavenly

Father, we should also listen to his

advice.

At the Transfiguration, when Jesus appeared in a glorified state with the

prophets Moses and Elijah, God the Father spoke some advice for

us.

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Transfiguration_by_Lodovico_Carracci.jpg

The Transfiguration is an important The Transfiguration is an important event that confirms for us the event that confirms for us the

importance of the person of Jesus. importance of the person of Jesus. We know that we must pay close We know that we must pay close

attention to everything he says and attention to everything he says and does if we are to follow our does if we are to follow our heavenly Father’s advice.heavenly Father’s advice.

The The Mystery of Mystery of the Blessed the Blessed

TrinityTrinityWhat Jesus had to say becomes the most important source for our

understanding of the Blessed

Trinity.

The fact there are three persons The fact there are three persons in one God could only be revealed in one God could only be revealed

to us by God himself.to us by God himself.

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives these important instructions to the apostles: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The Church has faithfully passed on The Church has faithfully passed on the belief in three persons in one the belief in three persons in one

God.God.At the first At the first ecumenical councilecumenical council in in Nicaea (AD 325), St. Nicaea (AD 325), St. Athanasius strongly Athanasius strongly defended the defended the doctrine of the Trinity doctrine of the Trinity against the heresy of against the heresy of Arianism.Arianism.

An ecumenical council is an official gathering of the bishops of the world under the direction of the pope.

St. Athanasius said, “We St. Athanasius said, “We worship one God in Trinity, worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity … The and Trinity in unity … The Father is God, the Son is Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not God, and yet there are not three gods, but one God.”three gods, but one God.”

Recognizing that this is a mystery beyond human comprehension, the Church affirms what Jesus has revealed to us—that God is one being with three divine persons. It is only by God becoming flesh and living among us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we could have come to belief in the Trinity.

The Council of Nicaea produced the The Council of Nicaea produced the Nicene Nicene CreedCreed, which outlines the , which outlines the essential beliefs of Christianity.essential beliefs of Christianity.

A creed is a statement of belief—from the Latin credo, which means “I believe.”

The other major Christian creed is the Apostles’ Creed.

Over the next several centuries, Over the next several centuries, through reflection on Sacred Scripture through reflection on Sacred Scripture

and Tradition, the Church gradually and Tradition, the Church gradually defined the doctrine of the Trinity, and defined the doctrine of the Trinity, and proclaimed statements in the next six proclaimed statements in the next six ecumenical councils to clarify what the ecumenical councils to clarify what the

Church believes about God.Church believes about God.

The Church’s doctrine was proclaimed and explained by great

teachers like St. Patrick of Ireland.

God is a Loving God is a Loving FatherFatherMore than just the Creator,

God established a relationship of love with us,

his creation.

Creation did not happen by accident.Creation did not happen by accident.

God directs creation through divine providence—his watchful guidance

over us and all of creation.

This does not propose to give us This does not propose to give us an idea of what God looks like.an idea of what God looks like.

It tells us that like God human beings have an immortal soul and that we have been

endowed with great dignity. We are capable of choosing and loving.

God created human beings in his image.God created human beings in his image.

God’s traits shine forth in his creation. God’s traits shine forth in his creation. We can therefore look at the world We can therefore look at the world and see the handiwork of God behind and see the handiwork of God behind it all.it all.

The Old Testament tells us that God is:

Infinite – extending endlessly; having no limits.

Omnipotent – all powerful; he can do everything.

Eternal – existing without beginning or end.

God’s traits shine forth in his creation. God’s traits shine forth in his creation. We can therefore look at the world We can therefore look at the world and see the handiwork of God behind and see the handiwork of God behind it all.it all.

The God who created us is also:

Pure Spirit – Not limited to space and time.

Unchangeable – His perfection and love are unwavering.

Supremely Holy – Surpassing everything and everyone.

Personal – Alive and the source of all life.God loves and cares beyond limit.

Jesus reveals to us that Jesus reveals to us that God is our loving Father.God is our loving Father.

As a personal being,Father is who God is.

Jesus invites us to call God “Abba,” which means “Daddy,” because God created us out of his love and has adopted us as his children.

God is also the Father of Jesus in a unique way. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

While God is Father, the Scriptures also While God is Father, the Scriptures also reveal to us that God shows the reveal to us that God shows the

qualities of a loving mother as well.qualities of a loving mother as well.

The prophet Isaiah compares God’s constant love to that of a mother who comforts her children and will never forget them.

Jesus, too, sometimes used feminine imagery when speaking about God, comparing God to a woman who searches for a lost coin or a hen gathering her chicks under her protective wings.

As pure spirit, God is beyond sexual identity, but we should realize that God’s love can be compared to that of both fathers and mothers.

Revelation Revelation about God about God

the Sonthe SonThe Scriptures use the term “son of God” in a variety of ways.

How is Jesus, as the Son of God, different than any of the others?

In the Old Testament, “son of God” is In the Old Testament, “son of God” is used to refer to individuals or groups used to refer to individuals or groups who have a special relationship with who have a special relationship with

God, or an important role in God’s plan God, or an important role in God’s plan of salvation for his people.of salvation for his people.

In Exodus 4:22, for example, “son of God” refers to the people of Israel, whom God will save from slavery in Egypt.

In the Old Testament, “son of God” is In the Old Testament, “son of God” is used to refer to individuals or groups used to refer to individuals or groups who have a special relationship with who have a special relationship with

God, or an important role in God’s plan God, or an important role in God’s plan of salvation for his people.of salvation for his people.

In 2nd Samuel, “son

of God” refers to a

king, and in Job, it

describes angels.

In many passages, the Bible reveals that In many passages, the Bible reveals that Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. Rather than being a son by adoption, as Rather than being a son by adoption, as

one of God’s creatures, he is the only one of God’s creatures, he is the only begotten Son of the Living God.begotten Son of the Living God.

Jesus said, “No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”This clearly establishes a different kind of relationship between Jesus and God the Father.

In many passages, the Bible reveals that In many passages, the Bible reveals that Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. Rather than being a son by adoption, as Rather than being a son by adoption, as

one of God’s creatures, he is the only one of God’s creatures, he is the only begotten Son of the Living God.begotten Son of the Living God.

In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who sends servants and finally his own beloved son to receive his share of the crop. The tenants mistreat the servants, and finally kill the owner’s son.

The Parable of the Tenants becomes an allegory in which Jesus represents himself as the owner’s beloved son. With this allegory, Jesus criticized his enemies for rejecting his authority. In it, he also predicted his own suffering and death. The leaders of the Jews realized that Jesus was claiming a unique relationship with God as his Father.

The Gospel of John presents Jesus as The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the second person of the Blessed the second person of the Blessed

Trinity with the “I AM” statements.Trinity with the “I AM” statements.

Recall that God revealed

his name to Moses as “I AM who am.”

When Jesus makes a collection of “I AM” statements about

himself, he is also making the connection between himself and God the

Father.



Jesus said, “I AM the bread of life,” not only making the connection between himself and God the Father, who gave the Israelites

bread (manna) in the desert to sustain their earthly lives, but also

referring to the eternal life Jesus offers us in

the Eucharist.



Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world.” Remember that it is

God who is the author of light in the creation

story in the Book of Genesis.



When Jesus said, “I AM the good shepherd” and “I AM the gate for the sheep,” he reminds us

of God’s promise to shepherd his people. It

is through Jesus that the words of Psalm 23 are

fulfilled: “The Lord is my

shepherd …”



The Old Testament makes it clear that God is the author of life, and

it is God who will restore life—and Jesus

says, “I AM the resurrection and the

life,” so we can make no mistake about his

relationship to the one living God.



The Psalms tell us that God is the

way of life and truth.

Jesus tells us: “I AM the way and

the truth and the life.”



The prophets use the image of a

vineyard owner to describe God, who planted the vine—

an image for Israel.

Jesus tells us: “I AM the true

vine.”

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells the apostles, “Behold, I am with tells the apostles, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age,” you always, until the end of the age,”

promising never to abandon us.promising never to abandon us.

Jesus is truly Emmanuel: “God with us.”

Part of being “God with us” is that Part of being “God with us” is that Jesus provides us the perfect example Jesus provides us the perfect example

of how to live our lives.of how to live our lives.

He was humble and never abused his

power.

He even washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper to

show us the importance of humility and

service.



Jesus was also obedient to his

heavenly Father.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, he

prayed to be spared the

suffering that was in store for him—but he

added, “Thy will be done,” and

submitted to his Father’s plan

for our salvation.



The same attitude of obedience to God’s will is what Jesus conveys to us in the Our

Father when he tells us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”

Even though Jesus’ every word and Even though Jesus’ every word and deed were focused on showing us the deed were focused on showing us the

way to the Father, his disciples did not way to the Father, his disciples did not fully understand how he was God with fully understand how he was God with

us.us.

It was not until they met him

after his Resurrection

that the apostles finally

realized who and what Jesus

really was.

Tracing Our Tracing Our Understanding Understanding about the Holy about the Holy

SpiritSpirit

Our recognition of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Blessed Trinity was a more gradual process, and not as direct as revelation about the Father and the Son.

Jesus gradually revealed the Jesus gradually revealed the mystery of the Holy Spirit.mystery of the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospels, he made

references to various people about the Spirit that we can now understand refer

to the third person of the

Blessed Trinity.

Jesus gradually revealed the Jesus gradually revealed the mystery of the Holy Spirit.mystery of the Holy Spirit.

At the Last Supper, however, Jesus made

repeated references to the Holy Spirit, and

promised the apostles that, after his

Resurrection, he would send this Spirit to be an advocate for them, who

would give them help and comfort.

Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost.Spirit was fulfilled at Pentecost.

Fifty days after Jesus’ Resurrection,

the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles who were

gathered in the Upper Room along with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and other women who were his disciples. The

Spirit came to rest upon each of them as tongues of fire.


The Apostles then went out to the city to boldly proclaim the Gospel. They

were able to speak different languages

they had never learned—this gift of the Spirit is called

speaking in tongues, and enabled them to proclaim salvation

for all people through the power of the Holy Spirit.


All this happened at a time coinciding with the Jewish

harvest festival that occurs fifty days after Passover—“Pentecost” means “fiftieth

day.”

Those fifty days take on new

meaning for the world since it is also

fifty days after Christ’s

Resurrection.

Before the gift of the Holy Spirit at Before the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we did not have a clear Pentecost, we did not have a clear

idea of the Spirit’s personal idea of the Spirit’s personal nature.nature.

The Old Testament often refers to

God’s mysterious, powerful, and life giving presence with the Hebrew

word ruah, focusing on God’s

activity.



With Christ’s gift of the Spirit to us, we can look back upon many Old Testament passages, and

see that it is the Holy Spirit’s

presence as the third person of

the Blessed Trinity that is

being described.



It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that human beings are created with an immortal spirit, Abraham is

able to become the father of a nation, and it is the Holy

Spirit that inspires the prophets and

writers of the Psalms.

Recognizing that there is only one all-Recognizing that there is only one all-powerful God is called powerful God is called monotheismmonotheism. .

This is opposed to the idea of This is opposed to the idea of polytheismpolytheism – the belief in many gods. – the belief in many gods.

The other two monotheistic faiths The other two monotheistic faiths that use the Bible are Judaism that use the Bible are Judaism

and Islam, but they do not share and Islam, but they do not share the same conclusions about the the same conclusions about the

Trinity that Christianity embraces.Trinity that Christianity embraces.

Neither Judaism nor Islam recognizes the three distinct persons of the Trinity. Jews and Muslims fail to

recognize Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, and neither embraces the Holy Spirit as a distinct divine person.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, After Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit did come to guide the Holy Spirit did come to guide the Church until the end of time.the Church until the end of time.

But the Holy Spirit can be seen working

throughout the ministry of Jesus

from the beginning.

It was through the power of the Holy

Spirit that Jesus was conceived in the

Virgin Mary’s womb.




from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit inspired John the Baptist to

proclaim the way for Jesus, and the Spirit

makes himself known at the Lord’s baptism.




from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to fast and pray, and

sustained him in battling the

temptations of Satan.




from the beginning.

Jesus began his preaching ministry filled with the Holy

Spirit’s power.




from the beginning.

The Holy Spirit remained with Jesus during his suffering

and death.




from the beginning.

And it is through the power of the Holy Spirit that

Jesus rose from the dead.

True to his promise, Jesus sent the True to his promise, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be present with us and Holy Spirit to be present with us and to guide and strengthen the Church.to guide and strengthen the Church.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are showered on us at our Baptism and Confirmation.

These gifts are wisdom,

understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety,

and fear of the Lord.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Three persons in one God.

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Chapter 4: Jesus Christ’s Revelation about God ©Ave Maria Press