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