JESUS CHRIST

The central figure of the Christian faith is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 2:7),
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried (John 19).
He descended to the dead (1 Peter 3:19). On the third day he rose from the dead (Mark 16:6),
ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19, Hebrews 12:2).
From there He will come again to judge the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31-46).

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word made flesh. He is the Authority on Scripture (Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 24:25-27, John 5:39-47, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, Galatians 1:11-12, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Hebrews 1:1-4, 2 Peter 1:21).

The New Testament writers each offer a different picture of Christ Jesus.

The Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke record the earthly life and teachings of Jesus.

The Gospel of Matthew stresses that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, as in the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah will be born of a virgin [Isaiah 7:14] and born in Bethlehem [Micah 5:2]. There are elements to Matthew's Gospel that are unique to it alone, such as the Star of Bethlehem, the complete Sermon on the Mount, and the Last Judgement ("As you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me"). The Gospel ends with a reference to the Trinity, when Jesus commissioned his Apostles to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit," reassuring us he will be with us to the end of the age.

The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, and God the Father and the Holy Spirit appear during his Baptism in the River Jordan, an early reference to the mystery of the Trinity. Jesus declares his mission in Mark 1:15, that "the Kingdom of God is at hand, to repent and believe in the Gospel." The human emotional side of Jesus is perhaps best portrayed in the Gospel of Mark.

The physician Luke, one of Paul's companions on his journeys, began his Gospel with the Virgin birth of Jesus conceived by the Holy Spirit. Parables unique to Luke reveal the mercy of God through the Parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, and his justice through the Parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The Gospel of Luke is the only Gospel with a sequel, The Acts of the Apostles, which details the fulfilling of Christ's mission, for the Apostles to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Luke 24:45-48, Acts 1:8), following their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

The Apostle and Evangelist John concerned himself with the spirit in his Gospel, three Letters, and the Book of Revelation. For John it was the mystery of the Incarnation, who Christ was. Jesus, whom the Apostles had known and followed for three years, was at the same time the Son of God and the Word made Flesh, a human as the rest of us. This principle of the Incarnation introduced in the Prologue became the guiding theme for John's entire Gospel, so that we must distinguish throughout the life of Jesus his human aspect and the mystery of "the Son who comes from the Father", a mystery that reveals itself in the man Jesus.


St. Paul knew only the risen Christ. Struck down as Saul, the Pharisee who had been so passionate in his persecution of Christians, Paul was saved by Christ himself! He then became just as passionate in spreading Christianity, with his fourteen letters and four missionary journeys from Antioch and the East to the European world of the time. It was thus natural for Paul, the man saved by Jesus, to write of Christ as Lord, Redeemer and Savior, to see the Cross and Resurrection as salvation for mankind.

Peter and his brother Andrew were the first two Apostles to follow Jesus. Peter was the first to recognize Jesus as the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Peter was made the "rock" upon which Jesus built his Church. Peter also denied Jesus three times, then broke down and wept. Inspired by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he became a dynamic evangelist, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. After preaching in Jerusalem, he established the Church in Antioch, before he became the first Bishop of Rome. Peter sees Jesus as the model for all Christians in his two letters.

The Apostles James and Jude Thaddeus were the two final New Testament writers, each contributing one letter each to the catholic (universal) letters. Their letters are pastoral in nature, calling upon early Christians to be faithful followers of Christ through their conduct and performance of good works.

It is important for you, the reader, to see for yourself.
This page includes passages by and about Jesus, which help us to appreciate that God is Love.

Click to see the Beatitudes, Miracles, Parables of Jesus, the Lord's Prayer, or his Seven Words on the Cross.



"Ask and it will be given to you;
Seek and you will find;
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks, it will be opened."
Gospel of Matthew 7:7-8




THE GOLDEN RULE

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you,
do so to them;
for this is the law and the prophets."
Gospel of Matthew 7:12




He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.'"
Gospel of Matthew 18:2-5




"For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them."
Gospel of Matthew 18:20




THE FINAL JUDGEMENT

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'


40 And the King will answer them,
`Truly, I say to you,
as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'


41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Gospel of Matthew 25:31-46




"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent, and believe in the Gospel."
Gospel of Mark 1:15




"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it;
and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?"
Gospel of Mark 8:34-36




THE END TIMES AND THE SECOND COMING

And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and they will lead many astray.

And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

But take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them.

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but
say whatever is given you in that hour,
for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake.
But he who endures to the end will be saved.

"But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything away; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.
And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if any one says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or `Look, there he is!' do not believe it. False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand.

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
And then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven."
Gospel of Mark 13:5-27




THE LAST SUPPER

And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it,
and gave it to them, and said,
"Take; this is my body."
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them,
and they all drank of it. And he said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Gospel of Mark 14:22-25




THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying,
"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"
And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your strength,
and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
Gospel of Luke 10:25-28




THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'
Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Gospel of Luke 10:29-37




THE PROLOGUE OF JOHN

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God;
all things were made through him,
and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him,
yet the world knew him not.
He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God;
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh
nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father.
Gospel of John 1:1-14




JUDGEMENT

"There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen
and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores,
who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table;
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.
The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.'
But Abraham said, `Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'

And he said, `Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
Gospel of Luke 16:19-31


One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying,
"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Gospel of Luke 23: 11:39-43




HEAVEN AND SALVATION


"Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life;
he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
Gospel of John 5:24


"I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life."
Gospel of John 8:12


"I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die."
Gospel of John 11:25-26


"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to myself."
Gospel of John 12:32


"And when I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also."
Gospel of John 14:3

ON CHRISTIAN UNITY

"Holy Father,
keep them in your name that you have given me,
so that they may be one, just as we are."
Gospel of John 17:11



"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans 15:5-6

"I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose."
First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1:10

"I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, a striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-5

"Only conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear news of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind struggling together for the faith of the gospel."
Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 1:27



ON CHRISTIAN UNITY


The third Millennium is a time to restore Christian unity, as in the times of Jesus. Christian unity was the prayer of Jesus (John 17:11 and 17:21) and the plea of St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, throughout his Epistles.1


Human nature tragically led to divisions within the Church of Jesus Christ, which have primarily been those of the East and West. The Nestorians who rejected the teaching of the Council of Ephesus in 431 (on Mary as Theotokos) formed the Assyrian Church of the East. Those that rejected the teaching of the Council of Chalcedon in 451 (that Jesus was one Person with two natures, Divine and human) formed the Oriental Orthodox Churches of the East. The final split in the East occurred during the Great Schism of 1054 between Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic. The Protestant Reformation that began with Martin Luther in 1517 constituted the major division in the West. 2

This lack of Christian unity proved to be a grave impediment to bringing non-Christians into the Church. The loss of Christian unity led to the secularization of Western culture. Recognition of this problem served as an impetus toward Christian unity among the Protestants in the early twentieth century, beginning with the World Missionary Conference of Edinburgh in 1910, and the formal organization of the World Council of Churches in 1948. The call for Christian unity accelerated with the surprise announcement of Pope John XXIII for the Second Vatican Council on January 25, 1959. Pope John Paul II has made great efforts to continue the ecumenical movement throughout his Papacy.2

As we are more familiar with the Catholic approach to Christian unity, this paper will focus primarily on the ecumenical efforts of the Second Vatican Council and Pope John Paul II.

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST

THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST


With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.
He did not say anything to them without using a parable.
But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
Gospel of Mark 4:33-34

Jesus often taught in parables, an ancient Eastern literary genre. The prophet Ezekiel, for example, wrote in parables, such as the eagles and the vine (17:1-24) and the parable of the pot (24:1-14). The word parable in Hebrew מָשָׁל is present in both vignettes (17:2 and 24:3). A parable is a story that presents comparisons to teach an important moral lesson. The root meaning of the word parable means a placing side by side for the sake of comparison. A parable envisions the whole narrative to generate the spiritual message, whereas a proverb, metaphor, simile, or figure of speech focuses generally on a word, phrase or sentence. The Gospel writer identifies a narrative with a spiritual meaning by specifically calling the lesson a παραβολή (parable). At times the Gospel writer begins the story with the term like, as "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard" (Matthew 20:1).

The Parables are recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some parables are common to all three Synoptic Gospels, such as the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23, Mark 4:2-20, and Luke 8:4-15). Matthew relates ten Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven, seven of which occur in Chapter 13 and are central to his Gospel. Examples of parables unique to each Gospel are the Weeds Among the Wheat (Matthew 13:24-30), the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16); the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29); the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37); the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32); Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31); and the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14) .

The word parable does not appear in the Gospel of John. The related word παροιμιαν (figure of speech) appears in 10:6 and refers to the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). Jesus, by calling himself the Good Shepherd, recalls the imagery of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd," and the Prophets (Isaiah 40:1-11, Jeremiah 23:1-8, Ezekiel 34). By doing so, he fulfills Old Testament prophecy as he identifies himself as the Messiah. The word παροιμίαν also appears in John 16:25 and provides insight into the message of Jesus: "I have spoken to you in figures of speech; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but tell you plainly of the Father."

Jesus Christ - A Name Unlike Any Other
The name, Jesus Christ, has caused more division, agitation and controversy than any other name in history. If you bring up God in a coffee shop discussion, nobody is really offended. If you speak about Buddha or Brahman, Moses or Mohammed, you really don't irritate the listener. However, the name Jesus Christ seems to cut right to the soul. Something makes this religious leader more contentious and convicting than all the others combined. What is it?

Unlike any other widely followed religious leader in history, Jesus Christ made a unique claim. He declared Himself God. Not a god, not god-like, but God incarnate - the Creator of the universe in human flesh. Intellectually, that's disturbing. Spiritually, that's the most liberating thing that could ever happen to humankind.

THE HOLY TRINITY

THE BLESSED TRINITY


Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20.

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

Jesus Christ gave us the eight Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded for all posterity in the Gospel of Matthew, the first Book of the New Testament of the Bible. Jesus offers us a way of life that promises eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The teachings of Christ Jesus were simple but unique and innovative at the time of his life on earth. He began teaching about 30 AD in the time of the ruthless Roman occupation of Palestine. The four groups in the Jewish religion, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes and the Zealots, presented a different viewpoint to the Jewish people. The Pharisees and to some degree the Sadducees demanded strict observance of the Mosaic law as well as Jewish customs and rituals. Nazareth was in Galilee, an important center of the Zealots, a militant Jewish group who wanted freedom for their homeland. The Essenes awaited a Messiah that would establish a Kingdom on earth and free the Israelites from oppression.

The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, relates a series of "Thou shalt nots," evils one must avoid in daily life on earth.

In contrast, the message of Jesus was one of humility, charity, and brotherly love. He taught transformation of the inner person. Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life which will ultimately lead to reward. Love becomes the motivation for the Christian. All of the Beatitudes have an eschatological meaning, that is, they promise us salvation - not in this world, but in the next. The Beatitudes initiate one of the main themes of Matthew's Gospel, that the Kingdom so long awaited in the Old Testament is not of this world, but of the next, the Kingdom of Heaven.

One of the first contemplations on the Beatitudes came from St. Gregory of Nyssa, a mystic who lived in Cappadocia in Asia Minor around 380 AD. He described the Beatitudes this way:
"Beatitude is a possession of all things held to be good,
from which nothing is absent that a good desire may want.
Perhaps the meaning of beatitude may become clearer to us
if it is compared with its opposite.
Now the opposite of beatitude is misery.
Misery means being afflicted unwillingly with painful sufferings."

St. Augustine called the Beatitudes the ideal for every Christian life!

JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR

This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
Gospel of John 1:28-29

"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this, to lay down his life for his friends."
Gospel of John 15:12-13


Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, entered time and history through the Incarnation.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1, Romans 1:4), is a gift of love from the Father for the salvation of the world (John 3:16-17), the one who died for all of mankind (2 Corinthians 5:15), our "Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:21).

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, fulfills Old Testament prophecy. The Lamb of God recalls the Passover Lamb, whose blood was sprinkled on the houses of the Israelites to protect them during the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12). The Messiah as the suffering servant will give his life as an offering for sin (Isaiah 53). The Lamb anticipates the victorious Lamb of the Apocalypse (Revelation 5-7).

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10), affirmed the Ten Commandments of God (Matthew 5:17-20), and taught us the prayer of hope, the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Jesus promised the Apostles and his followers that "When I go I will prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you will be also" (John 14:3).

God is love (1 John 4:8)! The mystery of the Cross reveals the open arms of Christ Jesus. The Church Fathers interpreted his open arms to reveal his obedience and glorification of his Father and at the same time reveal his devotion to all of mankind. His open arms of prayer symbolically represent worship and brotherliness, the indivisibility of service to mankind and glorification of God.

The Paschal mystery in the Gospel of John reveals Christ as the new Adam. "One of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34). Eve came from the side of the first Adam. The open side of the new Adam is the beginning of the new definitive community of men with one another, a New Covenant in Christ, symbolized by water and blood, the sacraments of Baptism and the Lamb's Supper, the Eucharistic (Divine) Liturgy, and through them the Church as the sign of the new community of mankind.

Christ revealed to us the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Following his Resurrection, Jesus instructed his Apostles: "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you," that He will be with us to the end (Matthew 28:19f).

Jesus actually identifies himself with the Church in the Acts of the Apostles. Saul was persecuting the Church, consenting to the death of the first martyr Stephen, and laid waste the Church, dragging off men and women and throwing them into prison (Acts 8:1-3). But while going to Damascus, Saul was struck from his horse by a great light, and a voice asked "Why do you persecute me?" Saul asked who spoke: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" (Acts 9:4-5). Saul experienced the grace of Conversion, and Paul, as Apostle to the Gentiles, became just as passionate spreading the Christian faith as he was in persecuting the Church.