20220428 THE REASONS FOR ACCEPTING CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOUR
28 April, 2022, Thursday, 2nd Week of Easter
First reading | Acts 5:27-33 © |
We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit
When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 33(34):2,9,17-20 © |
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
The Lord turns his eyes to the just
and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears
and rescues them in all their distress.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Many are the trials of the just man
but from them all the Lord will rescue him.
This poor man called and the Lord heard him.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ has risen, he who created all things,
and has granted his mercy to men.
Alleluia!
Or: | Jn20:29 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
‘You believe, Thomas, because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Alleluia!
Gospel | John 3:31-36 © |
The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him
John the Baptist said to his disciples:
‘He who comes from above is above all others;
he who is born of the earth is earthly himself
and speaks in an earthly way.
He who comes from heaven
bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,
even if his testimony is not accepted;
though all who do accept his testimony
are attesting the truthfulness of God,
since he whom God has sent
speaks God’s own words:
God gives him the Spirit without reserve.
The Father loves the Son
and has entrusted everything to him.
Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life:
the anger of God stays on him.’
THE REASONS FOR ACCEPTING CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOUR
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ACTS 5:27-33; PS 34:2,9,17-20; JOHN 3:31-36]
Why is it that in spite of all the concrete evidence before the Sanhedrin, they remained defiant in rejecting Jesus? They were unable to even mention the name of Jesus. “The high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘ not to preach in this name, and what have you done?'” They were in denial because they saw the miracles and they knew the people were amazed at what had happened. They knew the people were on their side having seen the power of God at work. We read that “the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.” (Acts 5:26)
However, Peter and the apostles were adamant. There was no let down in their witnessing for the Lord. Indeed, they pressed on in their statement of fact. Instead of retracting, they reiterated, “it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right-hand God has now raised him up to be a leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.”
Firstly, they made it clear that they were the ones who were faithful to the Tradition passed on to them because “it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus.” This is a slap on the face of the religious leaders because they claimed to be the custodians and protectors of the Jewish Tradition received from Moses. If the God whom they worship had raised Jesus from the dead, it meant that they were wrong in rejecting Jesus. He was sent by God.
Secondly, they reiterated that the leaders were guilty of executing Him by hanging Him on a tree. It was a fact that could not be denied. They did not retract their charge against them simply because they felt threatened. Whether they admit to their guilt or not, in the gospel of John, it was clear that “Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.” (Jn 19:16) In Matthew’s gospel, he wrote, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!'” Clearly, they were guilty and yet they accused the apostles, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.”
Thirdly, “by his own right-hand God has now raised him up to be a leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.” In saying that God had raise Jesus up from the dead, St Peter wanted to remind the Jews of the great acts of God in the history of Israel. Just as God had raised up leaders to deliver Israel in the past, He had raised up Jesus as the Messiah to deliver Israel, not from their enemies but from their sins. Jesus was not just one of the saviours, like the Emperor of Rome, but the universal Saviour of the world.
Finally, there is the offer of salvation for those who repent. Christ’s exaltation from the dead was meant to bring people to repentance and acknowledgement of Him as the Saviour so that they would be saved from their sins. There is salvation in Him but repentance is a pre-requisite. Accepting Jesus as the Saviour is a choice we must make. Obedience in faith is necessary.
In the light of what they said, we can appreciate why Peter and the apostles replied, “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.” This power of witnessing is given in the power of the Holy Spirit. They said, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (vv. 29-32)
In the gospel, we have another instance of the evangelist who reiterating the divine authority of Jesus. In contrast with John the Baptist’s ministry, St John underscored the pre-eminence of Christ. Jesus is different from anyone of us because He comes from above. At the prologue, St John already said, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” (Jn 1:18) In the case of John the Baptist, although anointed by God, he cannot be compared to Christ who is from the Father. Hence, the evangelist remarked, “He who comes from above is above all others; he who is born of the earth is earthly himself and speaks in an earthly way.” This is even more true of human teaching because man’s words and thoughts cannot be compared to divine revelation. The irony is that man no longer believes in divine revelation except himself and his human reasoning based on science and empirical proofs.
Secondly, Christ’s testimony could be relied on because coming from God Himself, He “bears witness to the things he has seen and heard, even if his testimony is not accepted.” Regardless whether we accept His Words or not, His word remains true because we are of the earth. Faith in Him is required for us to accept His testimony. This faith is demonstrated in obedience to His Word. We know His word is true because those who submit to His Word will find that what Jesus taught and said is true. Indeed, “who do accept his testimony are attesting the truthfulness of God, since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words.”
Thirdly, Christ’s testimony is to be accepted because “God gives him the Spirit without reserve.” Jesus is the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit. Unlike the prophets of the Old Testament, where the Spirit is spasmodic, Jesus as the Word of God in person possesses the Spirit without reserve. Indeed, the whole life of Jesus is to give us not just the Word of God but His Holy Spirit. On the last day at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus who was at the Temple in Jerusalem, stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” St John provided us a footnote to say, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. On hearing his words, some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.'” (Jn 7:37-41)
Finally, Jesus is to be believed simply because He is the Beloved Son of the Father. “The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.” If Christ is the Son of God, faith in Him is tantamount to faith in God. The Father has placed everything in His hands. For this reason, the Lord said later, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.” (Jn 5:19-23)
Consequently, the conclusion is clear. Faith in Jesus is crucial for our salvation. Jesus has come to bring salvation to humanity by revealing the Father’s love and mercy, and bringing about forgiveness for our sins. Believing in Jesus therefore is the way to eternal life. It is a rebirth of the Spirit of God in us. Just as the Father gives Jesus His Spirit, Jesus in turn sends forth the Spirit to us. Jesus has come to give us the Holy Spirit so that we can be one with God. Thus, there is no other choice. Unless we come to Jesus, we will not have the full revelation of God. Rejecting Jesus is to reject His Word and His salvation. We will condemn ourselves. We will only suffer the wrath of God which is seen in living a life of darkness and sin. St Paul in Romans 1 spoke of the wrath of God at work in those who reject Him by “delivering” up His people to sin and the bitter fruits of their evil choices in life.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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