Blasphemer or Messiah? (Passion Thursday)

Thursday of Passiontide

Genesis 17:3-9  ;  John 8:51-59

WE BESEECH thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people: that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Blasphemer or Messiah?

Jesus scandalised the Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners. He spoke against those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus scandalised them when He suggested that the mercy He showed to sinners was that of God’s own attitude to sinners; by sharing the table of sinners he was admitting them to the messianic banquet. Perhaps even more did He scandalise them by forgiving sins. Only God can forgive sins, so either Jesus was blaspheming, or He was speaking the truth and was God.

Only if Jesus is truly divine can He justify such claims that would otherwise be scandal and blasphemy. So all who listen to the Gospel must decide, is Jesus insane/wicked or is He divine – there is no other option if we take the evidence seriously.

Jesus’ divine identity was gradually revealed in what He said. When He said, “He who is not with me is against me”, this could only be taken seriously if Jesus was divine. Similarly when He said, “something greater than Jonah… greater than Solomon”, and something “greater than the Temple” was there. His reminder that David called his Messiah his Lord, was also revealing the Messiah as being divine. But then we come to the gospel of today (Jn 8:51-59) and Jesus then makes it quite plain: “Amen. Amen. I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM.” “I AM” was the divine name revealed by God to Moses at the burning bush.

Thus the Sanhedrin had to make a stark choice: was this man the Messiah God, or was Jesus a blasphemer deserving death? They made their choice and Jesus became the victim.

We too must make this choice. We make this choice when we accept the Christian Faith as our faith. But we must also make this choice in the moral decisions of daily life. When we choose to sin, we choose to go against the Way of Christ, and we thus make Him out to be a liar. Sin is an anti-Christ action, and in that sin we are identifying with the Sanhedrin who condemned Jesus. When we resist temptation, we affirm that Jesus is God the Saviour.

Psalm 105

Confitemini Domino

O GIVE thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his Name : tell the people what things he hath done.

2. O let your songs be of him, and praise him : and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.

3. Rejoice in his holy Name : let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

4. Seek the Lord and his strength : seek his face evermore.

5. Remember the marvellous works that he hath done : his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth.

6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant : ye children of Jacob his chosen.

7. He is the Lord our God : his judgements are in all the world.

8. He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise : that he made to a thousand generations;

9. Even the covenant that he made with Abraham : and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;

10. And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law : and to Israel for an everlasting testament;

11. Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan : the lot of your inheritance;

12. When there were yet but a few of them : and they strangers in the land;

13. What time as they went from one nation to another : from one kingdom to another people;

14. He suffered no man to do them wrong : but reproved even kings for their sakes;

15. Touch not mine Anointed : and do my prophets no harm.

16. Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land : and destroyed all the provision of bread.

17. But he had sent a man before them : even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;

18. Whose feet they hurt in the stocks : the iron entered into his soul;

19. Until the time came that his cause was known : the word of the Lord tried him.

20. The king sent, and delivered him : the prince of the people let him go free.

21. He made him lord also of his house : and ruler of all his substance;

22. That he might inform his princes after his will : and teach his senators wisdom.

23. Israel also came into Egypt : and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.

24. And he increased his people exceedingly : and made them stronger than their enemies.

25. Whose heart turned, so that they hated his people : and dealt untruly with his servants.

26. Then sent he Moses his servant : and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27. And these shewed his tokens among them : and wonders in the land of Ham.

28. He sent darkness, and it was dark : and they were not obedient unto his word.

29. He turned their waters into blood : and slew their fish.

30. Their land brought forth frogs : yea, even in their kings' chambers.

31. He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies : and lice in all their quarters.

32. He gave them hail-stones for rain : and flames of fire in their land.

33. He smote their vines also and fig-trees : and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.

34. He spake the word, and the grasshoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable : and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

35. He smote all the first-born in their land : even the chief of all their strength.

36. He brought them forth also with silver and gold : there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

37. Egypt was glad at their departing : for they were afraid of them.

38. He spread out a cloud to be a covering : and fire to give light in the night-season.

39. At their desire he brought quails : and he filled them with the bread of heaven.

40. He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out : so that rivers ran in the dry places.

41. For why? he remembered his holy promise : and Abraham his servant.

42. And he brought forth his people with joy: and his chosen with gladness.

43. And gave them the lands of the heathen : and they took the labours of the people in possession;

44. That they might keep his statutes : and observe his laws.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.