The teachings of Philip G. Roets & Lois Roets
Philip G. Roets STL, SSL
Jesus slowly came to understand himself and his role to establish the brotherhood of man because of the fatherhood of God. Like all humans, this self-identity grew from his parents, culture and events of the times, and personal conviction.
Bar Mitzvah was at the age of 12. Jesus was expected to pass this test to be admitted as an adult into the Jewish society of those days. Mary and Joseph left him with the teachers and examiners and went their way.
The feast was over. Mary and Joseph started for home. Mary was with the women and Joseph was with the men. Both thought Jesus was with the other. At the end of the first day, they realized Jesus was not with either one. The next day they hurried back to Jerusalem. There they found Jesus seated among the elders and teachers. He was asking them questions that they could not answer. They asked Jesus questions and were amazed as they listened to his answers.
Mary went to Jesus and asked him what was going on. Didn't Jesus realize how upset they were at his absence? Jesus, a typical pre-teen boy, was amazed that they were worried. His excuse: "I have to take care of my Father's business!"
This answer confused Mary and Joseph. With time, they understand what he meant. Jesus was talking about his sense of responsibility to give the right interpretation to the official teachings of Yahweh. Jesus is a member of the Chosen People. The people had failed because of poor leadership. Jesus felt responsible to correct the problem.
Jesus has received these teachings and their correct meaning and application from his parents, Joseph and Mary, and from his discussions with his cousin, John. We frequently overlook John but Jesus and the first Christians did not. Jesus was born six months later than John. The boys were together all through their growing up years.
At age 30, John began to teach publicly what he believed privately. He did not hesitate to reprimand and correct the people in authority. He had a huge following among the people but was despised and feared by the leaders of the Jews.
One day, as John was surrounded by a crowd of people, Jesus came to be baptized. John was taken aback. He had looked on Jesus as the leader and himself as the helper. He wanted Jesus to take over. Jesus smiled and said it was better to do just what he was doing. So Jesus is baptized.
The significance of this act was stated in all the gospels. A dove was seen hovering over Jesus as he came up out of the water. This was a reference to the Noah story in Genesis 6 to 9. The flood had ended and the earth was about to be re-peopled. Jesus was to inaugurate the saving work that Noah started. A voice said: "This is my beloved son. Listen to him."
The son of Yahweh was originally the whole chosen people. Then this sonship was incorporated into the King. Finally, the son of God was the wise man who listened and lived God's word. In short, Jesus was pointed out as the fulness of this sonship that had been promised. He was to carry on the contract made between Yahweh and the people. Jesus would establish the Kingdom promised in David. He would do this by inaugurating the reign of wisdom in the world.
As Jesus walked away from the Jordan, he started his career of the courageous adult who became the lone crusader. He began to teach and to preach. He explained the meaning of Yahweh's plan so that all could understand. He drew even the smallest children to himself. He did not hesitate to tackle the leaders of the times publicly. He used very harsh language on them because of the scandal they were giving.
He realized he would get by with this approach only a short while. The leaders would kill him as they had killed the prophets before him and as they did his cousin, John. He had to insure that his work would go on.
He chose some leaders from among his followers and set them up as a small group who would be in charge of furthering his work. Jesus had no doubt about his interpretation and understanding of the plan of the Father. He knew it had to be taught and established.
However, throughout his lifetime, he had a constant struggle within himself by way of an identity crisis. Time and time again, he asked the apostles "Whom do people think I am?" The climax of this struggle was detailed for us in the Garden just before he was captured for death. He saw all the suffering that was going to come. He seriously wondered whether he would be strong enough to support it all. He asked that the whole plan be voided for him. Yet, he wanted to be obedient and follow his conscience. And he did.
After the third solo bout in the Garden of Olives, Jesus came back to the apostles and found them asleep again. He let them sleep until he heard the noise of the crowd approaching. Then he woke them up and told them the hour has come. There was no more doubt, no more hesitancy. Jesus stepped forward to meet the crowd. Judas walked up and greeted Jesus with the kiss of friendship and the words, "Hello, Teacher!"
Jesus looked at Judas and tried to sting his conscience. There was no hope of changing the course of events but perhaps Judas would get back on track. Jesus asked him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Are you using the principal sign of friendship and loyalty to make sure your treachery is carried out?
Remember what was going through the head of Judas. He did not expect Jesus to be harmed. He had seen Jesus escape so easily before. He expected the same thing to happen again and then he could walk up to Jesus and the other apostles, and show the 30 pieces of silver he had made. Only when Judas saw Jesus being dragged from the Jewish courtroom to the Roman tribunal did he realize that Jesus was not going to deliver himself. He was going to suffer and die.
The other apostles all ran away. Only the teenager came back to be with Jesus at the foot of the Cross. John was there with Mary, the new Eve, to receive her as Mother of the human race and present all mankind to Mary in his offer.
Jesus saw himself as the obedient Son of Man, the New Adam. In John and Mary, at the command of Jesus, the Brotherhood of Man was again reestablished so that the Fatherhood of God could be seen and appreciated.
Judas could so easily have gone to Jesus and been forgiven with his confession. Instead, he went to the wrong priests. He made his confession. He was ignored and he threw the money on the floor and went off to hang himself. The real mistake of Judas was in confessing to the wrong priest. He went to the priests of the Old Law instead of the eternal high priest of the New Law — Jesus Christ.
Was Judas forgiven? Yes. All the perpetrators of the crime were forgiven with the first words from the lips of Jesus on the cross: "Father, forgive them for they do not understand what they are doing." Very often we forget to include Judas in this picture. He was one who failed but he did not truly understand the magnitude of his crime.
In many ways, the crime of Peter was worse. He was forewarned that he would deny Jesus. He knew the time that it would happen. He would commit his crime, not once, but three times. He would get a special warning when the cock crowed the first time. He committed the crime out in the open for all to see and hear. He did it all out of cowardice.
Peter made the right move when Jesus looked at him. He realized the horror of his crime, and he went out and wept bitter tears then and for the rest of his life. He made amends by telling the story on himself over and over again in his lifetime. Then he made sure it was included in the written story so that it would never be forgotten. Peter was a hero — not because of his crime but because of his confession and repentance and resolve to spread the message of Christ.