Lesson 1
Jesus the Saviour
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André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836), a famous French Physicist, was once asked by ajournalist: “Which is your biggest discovery?” The reporter who expected Ampere to speakabout one of his achievements in the scientific field was surprised when he replied: “My biggestdiscovery is that Jesus of Nazareth is my Saviour”. Though Ampère had many scientificachievements to his credit his greatest discovery was that he found his Saviour! This attitude ofAmpère should inspire us too.History is full of ever so many instances where people like A.M. Ampère acceptedChrist as their Saviour and followed Him closely. St. Augustine was an intellectual and a famousorator. He was renowned for his knowledge and erudition. When he was thirty three, heaccepted Jesus as his Saviour. Till then he was absorbed in worldly pursuits. But afterencountering Jesus, his life changed. He began to bear witness to Jesus by leading a life basedon and filled with faith. Like St. Augustine, there are numerous saints and martyrs whowelcomed Jesus as their Saviour and bore witness to Him until their death. People from differentcountries and different times raise questions about Jesus: “Who is Jesus?” “What is the natureof the salvation he promises?” Answers to these questions will help us live a life of Faith.
Jesus the Son of God
Who is Jesus? The first answer is that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus asked hisdisciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son ofthe living God” (Mt. 16:16). Upon this profession of faith Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simonson of Jonah For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven” (Mt.16:17). Thus Jesus revealed the truth that He is the Son of God.We have many other evidences in the Gospels to show that Jesus is the Son of God.Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Then a voice came from heaven which said “This ismy Son, the Beloved with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). It was the testimony of the Fatherabout His Son. Jesus himself had repeated many times that he was the Son of God. Jesusaddressed God as His Father “The works that I do in my Father's name, testify to me;” (Jn 10:25). “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20: 21). “Not every one who says to me,'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, only the one who does the will of my Father inheaven” (Mt. 7: 21). While dying on the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands Icommend my spirit” (Lk 23: 46). These words testify that there exists a very strong father-sonrelation between Jesus and God the Father.Jesus, the Saviour of the World
God the Father sent his only begotten Son Jesus to the world to bring salvation tomankind. He became man to redeem us from the bondage of sin and to make us participatorsof divine life. Salvation is a divine gift. In order to attain salvation we should have a rightunderstanding of the meaning of salvation brought through Jesus Christ.By the word 'Salvation' we mean liberation. The salvation which Jesus offers us is thetotal liberation and it is basically a spiritual liberation from sin. Men enslaved to evil, needGod's special intervention and help to ensure deliverance. Man cannot achieve this by his owneffort. Salvation is possible only through the forgiveness of sin. Jesus came to this world as theLamb of God who took away the sins of the world (Jn.1: 29). Those who believe in Jesus willenjoy this redemption, forgiveness of sins and share in divine life. The salvation which Jesusbrought not only sets us free from sin but also makes us participants of divine life.There are many who have tried to reform the world through teachings and gooddeeds. But none of them could redeem man from the bondage of sin. There is only one whocan absolve us of our sins. He is Jesus. Zacharias foretold that Jesus would give the salvationin the forgiveness of sins (Lk. 1:77). To prove that Son of Man has power in this world to forgivesins, Jesus cured the paralyzed man (Lk. 5: 24). Jesus, the Son of God, through His death onthe cross delivered us from the slavery of Satan and made us inheritors of the kingdom of God.The salvation that Jesus offers us is not restricted to a particular place, time or race.Itis for the whole human race. So Jesus is called the Redeemer of the world. The message givento the shepherds by the angel was about the Redeemer of the world. The angel said to them,“Do not be afraid for see-I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all the people; to you isborn this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the messiah the Lord”. (Lk. 2: 10-11). Whenthe Infant Jesus was brought to be presented in the temple, Simon took the child in his armsand said, “My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of allpeoples” (Lk 2: 30-31). The Samaritans realized that Jesus is the Saviour not only of the Jewsbut also of the Samaritans. (Jn. 4: 42). Jesus is the Saviour born for all – those before Him,those after Him and His contemporaries.Jesus - the Only Saviour
Jesus, the Savior of the world is the only Redeemer. There are many religions,founders of religions and leaders. All of them teach about God and salvation. Then what is themeaning of saying that Jesus is the only Saviour?Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to theFather except through me” (Jn 14:6). Thus Jesus makes it clear that He Himself is the only wayto salvation. St. Peter teaches, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other nameunder heaven given among mortal by which we must be saved” (Acts 4: 12). St. Paul says, “Forthere is one God, there is also one mediator between God and humankind, christ Jesus,himself human,” (1 Tim. 2:5). It is through Jesus that all are redeemed.St. Paul says, “For in him all things, in heaven and on earth were created, thingsvisible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have beencreated through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things holdtogether. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first- born from thedead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of Godwas pleased to dwell, and through God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whetheron earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross”. (Col 1: 16-20). Inrecent times, the documents of Second Vatican Council, and the teachings of St. Pope JohnPaul II like Redeemer of Man, The Lord Jesus, Church in Asia and the Catechism of theCatholic Church repeatedly assert that Jesus is the only Saviour and mediator for thesalvation of humankind. We need the grace of God to understand rightly the perennial truth ofthese teachings.In all religions, we can see that people expected a saviour to lead them to salvation.The rays of truth present in those religions account for this expectation can be considered as apreparation for the final revelation in Jesus. In the fullness of time, God revealed Himselfthrough Jesus (Nostra Aetate, no.2). In the letter to the Hebrews we read, “In many and variousways by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son , whom heappointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds” (Heb. 1: 1-2). So weshould understand that we receive the full divine revelation through Jesus.One who knows and imitates Christ in his life reaches in the experience of salvation.Those who do not have a chance to know the saviour are also saved by their good deeds.However redemption is only through Jesus Christ. Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, andthe life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn: 14:6). People of other religionsare also share the salvation offered by Jesus in a special way, because He shed His blood forthe whole humanity.Jesus-My Saviour
Once Jesus asked His disciples; “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And theysaid, some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of theprophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered You are theMessiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:13-16). Now Jesus asks the same question to us“Who do you say that I am?” What will be our answer? Each individual should answer to it. Weshould be able to admit and answer that Jesus, the Son of God is our saviour. If so the salvationis o u r s.Jesus said to Peter who proclaimed, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,“Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but myFather in heaven (Mt.16:17). It is the Father in heaven reveals Jesus as the savior and helps usto reach Him. So let us pray for the grace of heaven to learn, accept and proclaim Jesus as thes a v i o r and leader of our life.It is not enough to know Jesus is our saviour, with our intelligent, but we shouldexperience Him in our hearts. He should become the saviour for us personally. For that webelieve in Jesus, obey His words and proclaim Him as our saviour. Then and there Jesus, thesaviour of the world becomes saviour of each one of us. Jesus calls us to share and experienceit. Let us answer to His call.I. Let us discuss
1. Discuss in your group the life history of one or two individuals who witnessed Jesusthrough their lives and received Jesus as the Saviour.2. How can you lead a man, even though baptized, does not profess Jesus as the onlysaviour to the true faith in Jesus as the only saviour.III. Activity
Find out from the gospels a person who has accepted Jesus as the Saviour and explainhis experiences.IV. Let us Read and Reflect
Acts of the Apostles 16: 25-34.Find out Answers