St.Francis Xavier

	Who is Jesus? Every Christian must ask that question every day, hoping to experience a little more deeply the man who was God.
	In describing who Jesus is we are presented with a unique challenge: How do you portray someone who is both completely human and completely divine? Before Vatican II many Christian writers emphasized Jesus' divinity, while after Vatican II the focus for many shifted to his humanity.
	We will never full understand Jesus, because He is God. But he is also a human being. He reveals the divine to us-yet there is always the mystery.
	Jesus is not some dim historical figure "way back there', but the friend who is actually present to us today in countless ways. Not only in the Eucharist, but in every truly loving human friendship, Not only in the sacraments, but in every "good News word that is spoken-a friend's consolation or admonition, a prayer or a pleasant conversation arising from a faith-filled heart.
	Jesus did not "do His thing" and go back to heaven to rest. He died to save us, He rose from the dead to bring us everlasting life, He gave us the Holy Spirit to show us the way. His saving action is let loose on the whole world today. At every turn in our life, whether we realize it or not, He offers us the power to be truly alive. It is Jesus Christ alone who gives meaning to our faith. He is its living center.
	V Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Not "I speak the truth" or "I reveal the truth" but "I am the truth". He did not only call upon the people to believe in his message; he called upon them to believe in Himself. He did not come to man merely as a messenger to tell people about God. In Jesus God is actually made present to all. That astounding fact shines through everything Jesus said and did. In every word and action, Jesus reveals God to us. He shows us in human terms what God is like. When Philip asks "Master, show us the Father and that will be enough for us" Jesus answers, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…" (John 14:8-9)
The Gospel writers also had there own particular views about Jesus. Most likely this was due to the particular audiences each wrote to which differed dramatically in religious background, culture, and ethnic origin. For example:
	In the gospel of Mark, we envision a Jesus is harried, hurried, and human.
		Mark wrote to the Roman followers of Jesus, most of whom had come to Christianity from pagan backgrounds.
		In Mark's gospel you will meet a Jesus who is earthy and easy to relate to, a Jesus with whom most of us would be very comfortable, a Jesus who is quite approachable providing you could catch up with Him, a Jesus constantly hemmed in by crowds (Mk 1:32-33, 3:9, 3:20)
		In Mark's gospel we also meet a most human Jesus. We identify with Him readily because he is a person whose feelings are obvious and much like our own. (Mk 1:41, 3:5, 14:33-34)
	In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is portrayed as a teacher.
		Matthew wrote for a different audience entirely, and therefore we see Jesus from a different point of view. Matthew wrote to the Jewish communities
		Jesus is portrayed as a teacher in by Matthew, His gospels are thoughtful. spotlighting a reflective Jesus and what He says.
		In His gospels, Jesus is frequently addressed as Teacher (Matt 8:19, 9:11, 12:38, 19:16, 22:16, 22:24, 22:36, 26:18)
		In Matthews Gospels Jesus instructs the entire community, much as Moses did before him, however He does not have go to the mountain to receive authority.
	In the gospel of Luke Jesus is compassionate, and forgiving
		Luke was a Greek convert who wrote for an audience of gentiles much like himself.
		The gentle, forgiving, compassionate Jesus portrayed in the pages of Luke's gospel is given greater emphases by Luke's own writing style. Violence, strong language, and raw emotion repelled Luke.
		Luke sees Jesus as a friend and advocate of those whom society ignores or turns from in distaste: the poor, the handicapped, public sinners, and all who found themselves relegated to the fringes of the community. Examples are:
			The story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)
			The cleansing of the ten lepers. (Luke 17:11-19)
			As Jesus hung from the cross in agony He prayed "Father forgive them, they know not what they do" (Luke 23:24)
			And when the thief on the cross next to him pleads "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus replies, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23: 42-43)
		The most famous of Jesus' parables on forgiveness is so familiar that many think it is related by all of the Gospel writers. It is, however Luke's alone. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
	In the gospel of John Jesus is noble, majestic, and divine
		The gospel of John is like entering a whole New World. John sets a Jesus of great nobility who deals with individuals;
			Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)
			The Samaritan women (John 4:4-42)
			The man born blind (John 9:1-41)
			Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
		Right from the beginning John wanted his audience to see Jesus' origins as divine, coexistent with the Father (John 1:1) From this point on, John makes it clear that he is speaking of someone whose humanity is undeniable, but who possesses another greater nature: divinity. The oneness of Jesus and His Father is a theme returned to again and again by John.
		The majestic side portrayed by John shows Jesus to be in total control of the situation at all times:
			"I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again." (John 10:17-18)
			Since Jesus new they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain alone. (John 6:15)
			Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, "Whom are you looking for? They answered him, 'Jesus the Nazorean' He said to them, I am (John 18:4-5)
			At His trial, Pilate says, "Do you know that I have the power to release you and I have the power to crucify you? Jesus answered, You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above" (John 19:10-11
We already mentioned earlier that Jesus is not some dim historical figure "way back there', but the friend who is actually present to us today. But for those of us who like some stability in our lives, let us not forget
"Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever" (Heb. 13:8 )