Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Why do we follow Jesus anyway? Is it because he was a good guy? Is it because he was a great philosopher? Is it because he was a mystic or a prophet with insightful sayings?
The early apostles, most of them martyrs, and other disciples, many of them also martyrs, gave their lives for Jesus, not just because he was a wonderful teacher or charismatic personality. They gave their lives for him because he was dead and then he rose from the dead. They gave their lives to him because he was God and Lord.
Today Jesus gave us a hint of his divine nature when he said two simple words in response to his many detractors, “I AM”. This is the name that God told Moses to use whenever the Israelite slaves of Egypt asked him, “Who sent you?” God said, “This shall you say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”
Some people picked up stones to throw at Jesus because he called himself “I AM”, in effect saying that he was God. We respond very differently to Jesus who called himself, “I AM”, the one who declared his equality with God. We follow him. His resurrection is proof that we are following the right person – the one, true, living God.
Who is Jesus for you? A philosopher saint, a spiritual mystic, a highly moral man, or the God who took on flesh to walk with you, die for you, and rise up again for you and calls to you, “Follow me.”